Independent Guide — No Marketing Fluff
FTMO FAQ & Complete Guide
The two-step Challenge and Verification, daily and maximum loss limits, scaling plan, OANDA US access for American traders, automation rules.
Jump to a Section
FTMO Basics
What is FTMO?
FTMO is a proprietary trading firm that provides funded trading accounts to traders who pass an evaluation process. You pay an evaluation fee, hit a profit target without breaching drawdown rules, and graduate to a funded account where the firm pays you a share of profits. See the firm's official website for current rules, plans, and payout policies.
Is FTMO legit?
Always verify independently before purchasing. Check Trustpilot reviews, community forums like r/PropFirm, and the firm's official documentation. Read the funded trader agreement carefully before paying any evaluation fee. Prop firm rules, fees, and payout policies change frequently.
Are FTMO accounts real money or simulated?
Most retail prop firms, including FTMO, operate evaluations and funded accounts on simulated infrastructure mirroring real market data. Payouts come from the firm's evaluation revenue. Check the firm's terms for details on how funded accounts work at FTMO specifically.
Is FTMO regulated?
Most prop firms operate as technology or contractor companies, not as regulated broker-dealers or FCMs. They are not typically registered with the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, or FCA unless specifically stated. The legal relationship is governed by the firm's trader agreement. Always verify the firm's regulatory status on their official website.
Account Types
What evaluation models does FTMO offer?
FTMO offers evaluation programs that require traders to hit profit targets while staying within drawdown limits. See their official website for a current list of available evaluation models, as plans and structures change frequently.
What is the difference between the evaluation and funded account at FTMO?
The evaluation is the test phase where you must hit a profit target without breaching drawdown rules. The funded account is the phase you graduate into after passing, where you can request payouts based on your trading performance. Rules, drawdown types, and payout mechanics often differ between the two phases.
Does FTMO offer instant funding?
Some prop firms offer instant funding paths alongside standard evaluations. Check FTMO's official website for their current product lineup, as instant-funded offerings are frequently added or modified.
Can I run multiple funded accounts at FTMO?
Many prop firms allow multiple concurrent funded accounts, often with a maximum cap per household. Check FTMO's terms for their specific multi-account policy, including any rules on hedging across accounts or copying trades between accounts.
Plans & Pricing
What account sizes does FTMO offer?
FTMO offers multiple account sizes ranging from smaller starter accounts to larger funded accounts. Specific sizes and pricing vary; check their official website for current offerings. Evaluation fees often vary significantly based on promotional discounts.
Does FTMO charge monthly fees or one-time fees?
Prop firm fee structures vary — some charge recurring monthly subscriptions, others have moved to one-time evaluation fees. Check FTMO's current pricing page for their fee model, as this changes with product updates.
Does FTMO offer discount codes?
Most prop firms run regular discount promotions. Check FTMO's official website and their email newsletter for active promo codes. Aggregator sites also list current codes for major prop firms.
Profit Targets
What are the profit targets on FTMO evaluations?
FTMO sets profit targets as a percentage of the account balance for each evaluation. Always verify the exact current targets on FTMO's official website, as they change with product updates.
Do profit targets exist on funded accounts at FTMO?
Most prop firms remove mandatory profit targets once you're in the funded phase, focusing instead on drawdown limits and payout eligibility thresholds. Check FTMO's funded account terms for their specific rules.
Does FTMO evaluate on closing balance or floating equity?
Most prop firms evaluate profit target achievement on closed P&L (realized profit), not floating unrealized equity. This means you need to close your positions for the profit to count toward hitting the target. Verify FTMO's specific rule in their documentation.
Drawdowns: Trailing & Daily
What type of drawdown does FTMO use?
FTMO uses drawdown limits to cap your maximum loss. Common drawdown types include trailing drawdown (floor moves up with profits), static maximum drawdown (fixed from initial balance), and daily loss limits. Check FTMO's documentation for their specific drawdown mechanics on each account type.
Does the drawdown at FTMO apply to unrealized (floating) P&L?
Whether drawdown is calculated on equity (including open positions) or balance (only closed trades) varies by firm and account type. Intraday-style trailing drawdowns typically track unrealized P&L, while end-of-day drawdowns only update at session close. Verify FTMO's specific rule in their terms.
What happens when I breach the drawdown at FTMO?
Breaching the drawdown limit typically results in automatic position liquidation and account closure. On evaluations, you would need to purchase a new evaluation to try again. Some firms offer paid resets; check FTMO's policy for options after a drawdown breach.
What is a daily loss limit (DLL) at FTMO?
A daily loss limit caps how much you can lose in a single trading day. Breaching the DLL typically suspends trading for that day without permanently closing the account. You resume trading the next session. Check FTMO's documentation for their exact DLL amounts per account size.
Consistency Rule
Does FTMO have a consistency rule?
Many prop firms enforce a consistency rule that limits how much of your total profit can come from a single trading day — typically expressed as a maximum percentage (e.g., 30–50%). This prevents traders from qualifying via one large lucky trade. Check whether FTMO enforces this rule and the exact threshold.
Does violating the consistency rule fail my account at FTMO?
Typically, violating the consistency rule blocks a payout request rather than failing the account. You would need to trade additional smaller-profit days to bring your best-day percentage back under the threshold before requesting a payout. Confirm FTMO's exact policy.
Does the consistency rule reset after a payout at FTMO?
At most prop firms, the consistency clock resets after each approved payout, starting fresh for the next payout cycle. Verify this behavior in FTMO's funded account terms.
Trading Days, Hours & Holidays
Does FTMO require a minimum number of trading days?
Many prop firms require a minimum number of qualifying trading days before you can request a payout. A qualifying day usually means you traded and met a minimum profit threshold for that day. Check FTMO's specific minimum-day requirements for evaluations and funded accounts.
Can I trade news events at FTMO?
Some prop firms restrict trading around high-impact news events (e.g., NFP, FOMC). Others allow it freely. Check FTMO's trading rules for their current news trading policy, as this varies significantly between firms.
Can I hold positions overnight at FTMO?
Overnight holding rules differ by firm and account type. Some firms (especially futures-focused ones) require all positions to be flat before the daily close. Others allow swing trading with positions held overnight or over weekends. Verify FTMO's overnight/weekend holding policy in their terms.
Instruments & Markets
What instruments can I trade at FTMO?
FTMO supports a range of tradeable instruments. Depending on the firm's focus, this may include forex pairs, futures contracts, indices, commodities, crypto, or a combination. Check the firm's permitted instruments list on their official website, as it can change with product updates.
What are the contract/lot size limits at FTMO?
Most prop firms enforce maximum position size limits to manage risk. These are typically expressed as maximum contracts (futures) or maximum lot sizes (forex). Check FTMO's position size rules per account size in their official documentation.
Automation & EAs
Does FTMO allow automated trading / EAs?
Most prop firms allow algorithmic trading and Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4/MT5, but may restrict certain strategies like HFT, latency arbitrage, or tick scalping. Check FTMO's automation policy in their trader agreement for exactly what is and isn't permitted.
Can I automate FTMO with TradingView via PickMyTrade?
PickMyTrade bridges TradingView alerts to your broker account connected to FTMO. When your TradingView strategy triggers, PickMyTrade receives the webhook and executes the trade on your broker within ~200ms — no coding required. Set up takes about 5 minutes. Try it free at app.pickmytrade.io.
Does FTMO allow copy trading?
Copy trading policies vary. Many firms allow copying your own trades across multiple accounts but prohibit copying from external sources or signal providers. Some firms prohibit copy trading entirely. Verify FTMO's specific copy trading policy before using any copying service.
How do I use PickMyTrade's trading time controls with FTMO?
PickMyTrade's Trading Time Settings let you define sessions that automatically close all open positions and cancel orders when the session ends — keeping you flat before broker cutoffs. You can define multiple trading sessions, apply settings per account, and combine with news-aware controls. Full guide: docs.pickmytrade.trade.
Platforms
What trading platforms does FTMO support?
FTMO supports one or more trading platforms depending on the asset class. Common platforms include Tradovate, Rithmic/NinjaTrader (futures), MetaTrader 4/5, cTrader, DXTrade, and TradeLocker (forex/CFD). Check their official site for the current list of supported platforms.
Can I use FTMO on Mac?
Mac compatibility depends on which platforms FTMO supports. Web-based platforms work on any OS. Native applications like NinjaTrader are Windows-only (Mac users typically use Parallels). Check whether FTMO's supported platforms offer Mac-native clients or web alternatives.
Can I trade FTMO on mobile?
Mobile availability depends on FTMO's supported platforms. Many platforms (Tradovate, MetaTrader) have iOS and Android apps. Mobile is generally suitable for monitoring and emergency exits but most traders use desktop for active trading.
PickMyTrade Webhook Setup
How do I connect TradingView to FTMO via PickMyTrade?
Setup takes about 5 minutes: (1) Create a PickMyTrade account at app.pickmytrade.io. (2) Connect your broker account (the one linked to your FTMO evaluation or funded account). (3) Configure your strategy settings — instrument, order size, direction. (4) Click "Generate Alert" to get the JSON payload and webhook URL. (5) Paste both into your TradingView alert. Done — your TradingView signals will now fire trades on your FTMO account within ~200ms.
How much does PMT cost on top of FTMO fees?
$50/month per broker connection. PickMyTrade supports unlimited accounts under the same broker login with a single subscription. If you have accounts under different broker logins, each login requires its own subscription. There is a 5-day free trial, no card required — start at pickmytrade.io.
What TradingView plan do I need for PickMyTrade?
TradingView's webhook feature requires a paid plan — Essential ($12.95/month) or higher. The free TradingView plan does not support webhooks. Once you have a paid TradingView plan, webhooks are unlimited.
Does PickMyTrade require coding?
No coding required. PickMyTrade auto-generates the alert JSON for you. You paste the generated JSON and webhook URL into TradingView — no programming knowledge needed. PickMyTrade also supports custom JSON for advanced users who want fine-grained control.
How fast does PickMyTrade execute trades on FTMO?
PickMyTrade processes webhooks and submits orders to your broker in approximately 200 milliseconds from when TradingView fires the alert. This is suitable for most strategy types. High-frequency or pure tick-scalping strategies should evaluate whether webhook latency is acceptable for their edge.
Payouts
What is the profit split at FTMO?
FTMO's profit split determines what percentage of funded account profits you keep. Most firms offer 70–100% trader profit splits. Check FTMO's current funded account terms for the exact split, as this can vary by account type or scaling tier.
How often can I request payouts at FTMO?
Payout frequency varies by firm — some allow on-demand payouts once eligibility is met, others have weekly or monthly payout cycles. Check FTMO's funded account terms for their payout cadence and any minimum profit thresholds required to request a withdrawal.
How does FTMO pay out — bank transfer, crypto, or other methods?
Prop firms pay via various methods including bank wire, ACH, cryptocurrency, PayPal, or payment platforms like Deel, Rise, or Tipalti. The available options depend on your country of residence. Check FTMO's payout documentation for supported methods and processing times.
Is FTMO income taxable?
Yes — prop firm payouts are generally taxable income in most jurisdictions. In the US, payouts are typically self-employment income reported on Schedule C, subject to income tax and self-employment tax. Consult a licensed tax professional familiar with trading income for guidance specific to your situation.
Does FTMO scale funded accounts?
Many prop firms offer scaling programs that increase your funded account balance after demonstrating consistent profitability. Check FTMO's scaling program details — including the profit milestones required, the maximum account size, and whether scaling affects profit splits.