This hub is the firm-specific corner of the glossary: one dated entry per major firm, each routed to our full review or comparison rather than duplicating it. Brand searches tell you who is big; the comparisons tell you who fits. Entries and cross-references checked 28 October 2026.

Key Takeaways

  1. FTMO is the benchmark firm: euro-priced CFD challenges, an Instant Account, and a separate futures product - all reviewed here.
  2. The CFD comparisons live under the FTMO review: FundedNext, E8 Markets and The 5%ers.
  3. Topstep is the futures counterpart, and Vest Markets is the instant-funding alternative with its own review.

The Firms, Defined

FTMO. The largest retail prop firm by recognition, running since 2015, with euro-priced CFD evaluations (1-Step, 2-Step, Swing as an account type), a no-evaluation Instant Account, and FTMO Futures on simulated CME markets. FTMO states $650M+ paid in rewards (its own figure; company details are on file in the Czech public register, where FTMO s.r.o. is registered). Full review: FTMO review.

FTMO Challenge. The brand name most traders use for FTMO's CFD evaluations - the 1-Step (one phase, 10% target, 90% split) and the 2-Step (two phases, 10% then 5%, fee refunded with the first reward). Costs and rules per size: the FTMO challenge guide.

FTMO Funded Account. What FTMO calls the FTMO Account you trade after passing, on a 14-day payout cycle with scaling available. The funded stage explained.

FTMO Instant funding. The Instant Account: pay once, trade immediately, no evaluation to pass - $5,000 to $100,000, 90% reward share, 10% max loss, fee not refundable (all per ftmo.com, checked 28 October 2026). Where it sits in the price list: FTMO account prices.

FTMO Futures. FTMO's separate futures product: Growth and Pro plans on simulated CME markets, $50K-$150K, monthly subscriptions of $119-$269, 90/10 split, no consistency rule once funded (checked 28 October 2026). How it stacks up: FTMO vs Topstep and the futures hub.

The 5%ers. A long-established CFD firm known for its High Stakes plan (no consistency percentage, 80-100% scaling split) and lower-cost evaluations. Compared directly: FTMO vs The 5%ers; the firm's own listing sits in our rankings.

FundedNext. A fast-growing firm whose Stellar 2-Step lets you choose the payout cycle at checkout - 21-day at 80%, 3-profitable-day at 60%, on-demand at 90% - with a 95% lifetime add-on. The trade-offs, dated: FTMO vs FundedNext.

Topstep. The benchmark futures prop firm: a monthly-subscription Trading Combine on simulated CME markets ($49-$199), a $149 activation on the funded account, and per-request payout caps that double with a daily loss limit add-on (checked 28 October 2026). Head to head: FTMO vs Topstep.

E8 Markets. A CFD firm selling four account types, one per product, with materially different drawdown mechanics between them - which is exactly where most third-party comparisons get it wrong. Sorted out with quoted rule text: FTMO vs E8 Markets.

Vest Markets. A newer entrant selling instant funded accounts from $10 and evaluations from $15, where the fee buys a loss budget rather than an evaluation pass - a genuinely different model rather than a cheaper clone. Vest Markets review.

For the vocabulary these entries assume - drawdown types, consistency rules, payout cycles - start at the prop firm glossary and its drawdown hub.