FTMO vs The5ers: Which Prop Firm Has Better Profit Splits?

Last updated: August 8, 2026 | 16 min read

I passed both FTMO and The5ers. Comparing their unique models — FTMO's two-phase evaluation vs The5ers' scaling plan and high profit split.

Comparison Table: FTMO vs The5ers

Winner for Payouts: The5ers

Bi-weekly payouts mean you get paid faster. Their scaling plan grows your account automatically as you prove consistency. Starting at 50%, your split climbs to 80% over time.

Winner for Structure: FTMO

FTMO's two-phase evaluation is more rigorous, which means funded traders tend to be better prepared. The static drawdown is easier to track than trailing.

FTMO vs The5ers: The Quick Answer

FTMO is the structured two-phase evaluation with a 90% split ceiling and the industry's most trusted name. The5ers is the one-phase 8% target with unlimited time and a scaling engine that grows your account — and your split — as you prove consistency. FTMO wins on brand, structure, and headline split. The5ers wins on patience-friendly rules, bi-weekly payouts, and long-term capital compounding.

Background: The Standard vs The Scaler

FTMO (2015 – Present)

FTMO is the benchmark. Since 2015 it has processed millions of evaluations, paid out over half a billion dollars, and set the rulebook standard that most competitors copy. Its strengths are institutional: flawless execution, a polished dashboard, support that answers in minutes, and a static 10% drawdown that's simple to track. Its weakness is structural: 30-day phases create deadline pressure that forces many traders into bad trades.

The5ers (2016 – Present)

The5ers was founded by active traders and operates on a different philosophy: patience and compounding. Its High Stakes program is one phase (8% target) with unlimited time, and its defining feature is account scaling — your $200K account can grow toward $1M+ as you hit payout milestones, with the split stepping from 50% toward 80%. Nearly a decade of verified payouts makes it one of the most trusted forex firms in the world.

Evaluation Models: Two Phases vs One Phase

FTMO

• Phase 1: 10% target, 30 days, 5% daily loss, 10% static drawdown, 4 minimum trading days.
• Phase 2: 5% target, 30 days, same drawdowns.
• Funded: 80% split → 90% with consistent payouts; scale to $400K.

The5ers High Stakes

• One phase: 8% target, unlimited time, 5% daily loss, 8% trailing drawdown, 5 minimum trading days.
• Funded: 50% split, scaling to 80%, with the account size growing on payout milestones.

The math is simple: FTMO asks for 15% total (10% + 5%) under two deadlines. The5ers asks for 8% once, with no deadline. For a trader with a day job, The5ers' structure is dramatically easier to fit into real life. For a trader who wants the discipline of a deadline and the brand of the market leader, FTMO is the choice.

Drawdown Math: Static vs Trailing

FTMO's static drawdown gives you a bigger, predictable cushion — $10,000 of room on $100K, no matter what. The5ers' trailing system is tighter and rises with your equity, which protects profits but punishes give-back. Swing traders with deep floating losses generally prefer FTMO; steady compounders rarely notice The5ers' trailing level.

The Scaling Difference: Why The5ers Wins the Long Game

Here's where the two firms diverge completely:

• The5ers: Hit payout milestones and your account size increases automatically — from $200K toward $1M+ — while your split climbs from 50% to 80%. You never pay another challenge fee for the growth.
• FTMO: Your split improves to 90% with consistent payouts, and you can scale to $400K — but scaling means buying bigger evaluations, not growing the account you already have.

FTMO's 90% headline split beats The5ers' 80% ceiling. But a 90% split on a fixed $100K account can be worth less over three years than an 80% split on an account that has scaled to $300K. The5ers' model is the only one in this comparison that compounds your trading capital without re-buying.

Cost of Entry

The5ers is cheaper at every size — roughly 35% below FTMO. Both refund the challenge fee with your first payout. For retry economics, The5ers' lower fees make failed attempts less expensive.

Payouts and Profit Splits

The5ers pays bi-weekly (faster access to earnings); FTMO pays on a monthly/on-request cycle. FTMO's split ceiling is 90% vs The5ers' 80% — but The5ers' split starts at 50% and scales with milestones, so early payouts are smaller on paper. If you want the highest percentage per dollar earned immediately: FTMO. If you want more frequent payouts and a growing account: The5ers.

Real Trader Experiences (2026)

Case Study 1: The Full-Time-Employee

Client works 9-6 and can only trade evenings. FTMO's 30-day phases nearly ended him twice — he forced trades in week 4 both times. Switched to The5ers High Stakes, passed in 38 relaxed days trading only A+ setups. "Unlimited time isn't a feature, it's the whole difference between passing and failing for people with jobs."

Case Study 2: The Split Optimizer

Client's priority was maximum dollars kept. He passed FTMO, took the 90% split tier, and withdraws monthly. "The5ers' 50% start felt like leaving money on the table. FTMO's 90% is the best immediate split in forex prop trading."

Case Study 3: The Scaler

Client passed The5ers High Stakes in January and by August had scaled from $100K to $140K with the split at 60%. "No firm grows your account without asking you to pay again. In three years I'll be at $300K+ and never re-bought a challenge. That math beats any headline split."

FAQs: FTMO vs The5ers

Which is easier to pass?

The5ers — 8% target, one phase, unlimited time. FTMO's 10% + 5% across two 30-day phases is objectively harder, especially for part-time traders.

Which pays more per dollar of profit?

FTMO at the 90% tier. But The5ers' account scaling can make its 80% worth more in total dollars over multiple years. It depends on your time horizon.

Can I use EAs on both?

Yes — both allow automated trading. Neither permits coordinated multi-account copy trading. The5ers reviews aggressive EA strategies more carefully.

Do both refund the challenge fee?

Yes — both refund the fee with your first payout from the funded account.

Which firm is safer?

Both are top-tier: FTMO since 2015, The5ers since 2016, both with decade-long payout histories. This is a style choice, not a safety choice.

The Decision Matrix

Final Verdict

Choose FTMO if you want the market leader, a simple static drawdown, and the 90% split ceiling — and you can handle 30-day deadlines. Choose The5ers if you want a patient, one-phase path with unlimited time and an account that grows with you — the best long-game structure in forex prop trading.

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