FTMO Challenge: The Evaluation Product, Defined

FTMO Challenge: The Evaluation Product in Brief

By PropTrader1 2 min read Published October 28, 2026

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Keep up to 90% of your profits. Start from €79.

Rewards up to 90% — the 1-Step pays from day one.
2-Step fee refunded in full with your first reward.
$650M+ paid to 4.5M+ traders — the 11-year standard.

Get the latest discount (affiliate link)

The FTMO Challenge is FTMO's CFD evaluation, sold in two shapes. The 1-Step: one phase, a 10% profit target, a 10% trailing maximum loss, a 3% daily loss limit and a 90% split from the first payout - fee €79 to €999 by size, not refundable. The 2-Step: 10% then 5%, a 10% static maximum loss, 5% daily, an 80-90% split - fee €89 to €1,080, refunded in full with your first reward. A conditional promo takes the $100K sizes to €399/€439 (all per ftmo.com, checked 25-28 October 2026).

Two rules catch most candidates: the consistency rule - your best day must stay at or below 30% of total profit before a reward on the 2-Step - and the refund asymmetry, where the FAQ excludes the 1-Step fee despite a legacy refund card on its pricing page.

Swing is not a separate product: it is an account type inside the 2-Step that lifts news and overnight restrictions. The full guide: the FTMO challenge guide; every fee: FTMO account prices.

Contract specifications for the CME products traded elsewhere in FTMO's range are published by CME Group.

Part of the firm cluster and the full prop firm glossary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a 50% drawdown harder to recover than a 10% one?

A 50% drawdown requires a 100% gain to recover, while a 10% drawdown only needs 11.1%. Recovery math is exponential. At 30% drawdown you need 42.9% to break even. This is why prop firms cap drawdown at 10-12% rather than higher percentages.

What is the 3-5-7 rule in forex?

The 3-5-7 rule suggests risking 1-3% per trade, keeping total open risk at 5% or less, and limiting single market exposure to 7%. It is a general risk guideline, not a prop firm rule, but following it naturally keeps you within most max drawdown limits.

What is a good maximum drawdown?

For prop firm trading, keeping your actual drawdown under 5% is excellent. Most firms allow 10-12%, but staying well below the limit demonstrates strong risk management and gives you a buffer for unexpected market events.

Is maximum drawdown calculated on balance or equity?

It depends on the firm and drawdown type. Static drawdown is typically calculated on starting balance. Trailing drawdown follows your highest equity. Some firms include floating losses in their calculation, making equity the relevant measure.

What happens when you breach maximum drawdown?

Breaching maximum drawdown results in immediate and permanent account closure. All positions are closed automatically, the challenge is terminated, and there is no refund or appeal. It is the final rule with no second chances.

What is the difference between daily drawdown and maximum drawdown?

Daily drawdown resets every day and limits your loss within a single session. Maximum drawdown is cumulative across the entire challenge or funded period. You can breach max drawdown through many small daily losses that accumulate over time.