FTMO vs Earn2Trade: Traditional Challenge vs Gauntlet Mini
Last updated: August 8, 2026 | 16 min read
Most prop firms sell the same thing: a challenge, a drawdown, a split. Earn2Trade sells something different - an evaluation that is also a trading course. Its Gauntlet Mini bundles education into the test itself, which raises an interesting question: is a firm that teaches you to trade a better path to funding than the firm that simply tests you? I ran both to find out.
The short answer: the Gauntlet Mini is the better deal for futures traders who still have gaps in their process, and FTMO remains the better deal for forex traders who already have a process and just want the industry's most reliable payout machine.
The Big Picture
FTMO is the benchmark two-phase challenge: 10% then 5% targets, a 5% daily loss cap, a 10% static drawdown, 30 days per phase, and 4 minimum trading days. It covers forex, indices, and crypto across MT4, MT5, and cTrader, starts funded traders at 80% (scaling to 90% with consistency), and has paid out for a decade. In 2025 it became FTMO Global - same product, cleaner entity.
Earn2Trade is an education-first firm. Its Gauntlet Mini is a single-phase futures evaluation with a 6% profit target, a 3% daily loss limit, and a trailing drawdown, run on Tradovate, NinjaTrader, or Rithmic. The evaluation includes structured training, and the fee is refunded when you pass. Pricing runs around $375 for a $100K Gauntlet, with subscription options (about $240/month or $480 one-time) on some programs.
Comparison Table: FTMO vs Earn2Trade
| Feature | FTMO | Earn2Trade (Gauntlet Mini) |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Forex, indices, crypto | Futures |
| Profit Split | 80%, up to 90% | 80% |
| Max Account | $400K | $150K |
| Evaluation | 2-phase (10% + 5%) | Gauntlet Mini (single phase, ~6%) |
| Daily Loss | 5% | 3-4% |
| Max Drawdown | 10% (static) | 8% (trailing) |
| Time Limit | 30 days per phase | 60 days total |
| Min Trading Days | 4 | 10 |
| Cost ($100K) | $540 | ~$375 (or $240/mo subscription) |
| Education | Not included | Included (defining feature) |
| Refund on Pass | Yes (with first payout) | Yes |
Fees Compared
FTMO charges a flat, transparent fee: $350 for $50K, $540 for $100K. Earn2Trade's Gauntlet Mini undercuts at the top end - about $375 for $100K - and also offers subscription-style access (roughly $240/month or $480 one-time) that FTMO has no equivalent for. If you plan one attempt, the Gauntlet is cheaper at $100K; if you want a fixed one-time cost with no subscription complexity, FTMO is simpler.
The refund-on-pass matters at both firms, just differently. Earn2Trade refunds your Gauntlet fee when you pass — a successful attempt costs you nothing. FTMO also refunds the full challenge fee with your first payout, so its $540 is effectively a deposit for traders who reach funded status. Either way, the successful-path economics are far better than the sticker price suggests.
Rules Compared
FTMO's framework is wide and simple: 5% daily, 10% static total, two phases of 10% and 5% inside 30-day windows, 4 minimum days. It punishes slow bleeds less than trailing models because the drawdown floor never moves.
The Gauntlet Mini is tighter by design. A 3-4% daily loss and an 8% trailing drawdown leave little room for error, and the 6% single-phase target must be hit in one continuous run within 60 days, with 10 minimum trading days. The trailing drawdown means your floor rises with equity - profitable but sloppy traders get caught. It is a test of control, not just of profit.
Education: The Real Difference
FTMO tests you and, if you pass, funds you. It does not teach. That is fine if you already have an edge; it is expensive if you do not - a $540 evaluation is a costly way to discover your process has holes.
Earn2Trade treats the evaluation as the final exam of a course. The Gauntlet bundles structured training on trade management, risk, and platform mechanics with the live test. For a trader who knows they need to tighten execution, that is genuinely valuable - you are paying for instruction that also happens to fund you when you pass.
Payouts Compared
FTMO pays 80% rising to 90% with consistency, roughly 14 days after request, with on-demand withdrawals after two free splits. Earn2Trade pays an 80% split on the Gauntlet path and has a strong record of processing payouts on the standard futures-firm cadence.
For futures traders the more relevant comparison is per-contract economics: ES and NQ move in larger increments than forex pips, so a funded Gauntlet account can reach meaningful payout sizes faster per unit of risk - again, if you survive the trailing drawdown.
Background: The Mega-Firm vs The Educator
FTMO (2015 – Present)
FTMO is the industry's most-copied model: two phases, 5% daily loss, 10% static drawdown, 30-day clocks, and a payout record stretching back to 2015. After becoming FTMO Global, it kept the same product while cleaning up its legal entity. It covers forex, indices, and crypto on MT4, MT5, and cTrader, scales accounts to $400K with a dividend-style consistency boost up to a 90% split.
Earn2Trade (2016 – Present)
Earn2Trade began as an education company — courses, coaching, and simulators — before adding the Gauntlet evaluation. That origin shapes everything: its flagship Gauntlet Mini is a futures evaluation with structured training built in, a 6% single-phase target, a tight 3% daily loss, an 8% trailing drawdown, and a refund on pass. It is the only major firm where the evaluation fee also buys tuition.
The Risk Frameworks Side by Side
| Rule | FTMO ($100K) | Gauntlet Mini ($100K) |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 10% + 5% (two phases) | ~6% (one phase) |
| Daily loss | $5,000 (5%) | $3,000-$4,000 (3-4%) |
| Max drawdown | $10,000 (10%, static) | $8,000 (8%, trailing) |
| Time limit | 30 days per phase | 60 days total |
| Minimum trading days | 4 per phase | 10 |
Two opposing philosophies: FTMO gives you a wide, predictable floor and asks for a lot of profit in two windows. The Gauntlet asks for less profit but wraps you in a much tighter risk cage — 3-4% daily and an 8% trailing floor — and forces 10 repetitions. FTMO tests whether you can grow; the Gauntlet tests whether you can control.
The Trailing vs Static Drawdown in Practice
FTMO's 10% static drawdown never moves: you always know exactly how much room remains, which suits swing traders who tolerate deep floating drawdowns. The Gauntlet's 8% trailing floor rises with your equity peak — lock in a 4% gain and your floor rises with it, so giving back profits feels like losing twice. Sloppy but profitable traders get caught by the trailing level; disciplined traders barely notice it. This single mechanic determines which style fits which firm.
Real Trader Experiences (2026)
Case Study 1: The Futures Beginner
Client was new to NQ and knew he lacked structure. He chose the Gauntlet Mini for the bundled education: "I wasn't just buying a challenge — I was buying a course with a live test at the end. The 10 minimum trading days forced the repetition I needed. I passed and the fee came back. No other firm works that way."
Case Study 2: The Seasoned Forex Trader
Client trades EUR/USD with a decade of experience and wanted maximum flexibility: "I didn't need anyone to teach me anything. I needed a clean, wide rulebook on MT5 with the most reliable payouts in the industry — that's FTMO. I'll take the 90% split over a course any day."
Case Study 3: The Subscription Shopp
Client liked Earn2Trade's $240/month subscription option: "I spread the cost over three months instead of $540 up front. When I passed, the fee was refunded. As budgeting goes, that was the smartest evaluation purchase I've made — and I kept the education even if I'd failed."
Who Should Choose Earn2Trade
- Futures traders who want education bundled with the evaluation.
- Traders who prefer a smaller single-phase target over a two-phase grind.
- Traders who want a refund-on-pass or subscription pricing.
- Disciplined, controlled traders who can respect a 3-4% daily loss and 8% trailing drawdown.
Who Should Choose FTMO
- Forex, crypto, or multi-market traders on MT4/MT5/cTrader.
- Traders who want max account sizes up to $400K.
- Traders who prefer a wide, predictable static drawdown.
- Anyone who wants the industry's longest verified payout record.
Cost Comparison: One Attempt, Multiple Attempts, Subscriptions
| Cost Path ($100K) | FTMO | Earn2Trade Gauntlet |
|---|---|---|
| Single attempt | $540 | ~$375 |
| Subscription path | None | ~$240/month |
| Refund on success | Yes, with first payout | Yes, on pass |
| Education included | No | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions (Expanded)
Q: Can I trade forex on Earn2Trade?
A: No — the Gauntlet covers futures (ES, NQ, CL, etc.) on Tradovate, NinjaTrader, or Rithmic. Forex traders should choose FTMO.
Q: Which has the higher profit split?
A: FTMO — 80% rising to 90%. Earn2Trade pays an 80% split on the Gauntlet path.
Q: Is the education really included in the price?
A: Yes — Earn2Trade bundles structured training with the evaluation; it is the defining feature of the Gauntlet. FTMO's challenge includes no training.
Which Is Better for Beginners?
The Gauntlet Mini is the best beginner evaluation in the industry for one reason: it teaches while it tests. A new futures trader who completes the training and passes the Gauntlet has actually learned something durable, not just dodged a drawdown for 30 days. The 10 minimum trading days force repetition, which is how skill is built.
FTMO is the better beginner pick for forex traders who prefer the widest risk caps and the deepest pool of community knowledge. Every question you can ask about FTMO already has a documented answer somewhere. That ecosystem is worth a lot when you are learning.
Who Should Pick Which?
Pick Earn2Trade if: you trade futures, you want education bundled with your evaluation, you want a refund on pass, or you need a subscription pricing option.
Pick FTMO if: you trade forex, you want $400K accounts, a static drawdown, cTrader, or the industry's longest payout track record.
The Final Verdict
For futures traders, the Gauntlet Mini is the smarter buy: a smaller single target, built-in education, refund on pass, and cheaper at $100K. FTMO wins for forex traders and for anyone who wants the widest drawdown buffer and a decade of documented payouts. If you are still building your process, Earn2Trade is the better school; if you already have an edge, FTMO is the better bank.
Need Help Passing FTMO or Earn2Trade?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Gauntlet Mini?
A: Earn2Trade's single-phase futures evaluation with built-in education - a 6% target with a 3% daily loss on most models, refunded when you pass.
Q: Is Earn2Trade cheaper than FTMO?
A: At $100K the Gauntlet is about $375 versus FTMO's $540, and subscription options exist. FTMO's flat fee is simpler to compare.
Q: Does the Gauntlet include education?
A: Yes - that is its defining feature. FTMO does not include formal training in its challenge.
Q: Which is easier to pass?
A: The Gauntlet has a smaller single target but much tighter daily and trailing drawdowns. FTMO's wider caps suit aggressive styles; the Gauntlet suits disciplined traders.
Q: Should I choose FTMO or Earn2Trade in 2026?
A: Earn2Trade for futures traders wanting education and a refund on pass; FTMO for forex traders wanting the largest accounts and longest payout record.
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