FTMO set the standard for prop trading. But in 2026, several firms offer better profit splits, lower prices, and faster evaluations. Here are 5 alternatives worth considering, starting from $12.
The best FTMO alternative in 2026 is Funded Trading Plus ($84 with code BDNQ10), offering up to 100% profit split vs FTMO's 90/10 maximum. For the cheapest option, The5ers starts at $12. For futures traders, Apex Trader Funding at $17.70 (DEALPROPFIRM) offers 90/10 split at a fraction of FTMO's price. After comparing 20+ firms against FTMO's feature set, these 5 alternatives offer better value or unique advantages.
Let us be clear from the start: FTMO is an excellent prop firm. They pioneered the modern evaluation model, have paid over $200M to funded traders, and maintain one of the best reputations in the industry. If you are already funded with FTMO and getting paid consistently, there is no urgent reason to switch. This article is not about bashing FTMO.
However, the prop trading landscape in 2026 looks very different from when FTMO first launched. New competitors have entered the market with aggressive pricing, higher profit splits, and streamlined evaluation processes. FTMO starting price of $89 for a 10K account with an 80/20 profit split and a mandatory 2-step evaluation was competitive five years ago. Today, you can get a funded account with a 90% profit split for $17.70 (Apex), start for $12 (The5ers), or scale to a 100/0 split (Funded Trading Plus).
This article is for traders who want more from their prop firm relationship: a cheaper entry point, a faster path to funding, a higher profit split, or a different market altogether. We compare five legitimate alternatives across different strengths, so you can find the one that matches your specific trading style and priorities. Every firm on this list has a verified payout history and has been reviewed on our platform.
We earn affiliate commissions from some of these firms. But we also have an FTMO review page and would happily recommend FTMO where it makes sense. Our goal is honest comparison, not one-sided promotion.
Before we present alternatives, here is an honest assessment of where FTMO still wins. They have paid over $200M to traders, giving them the longest and most verifiable payout track record in the industry. Their instrument range is one of the widest available, covering forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and crypto across multiple account currencies. FTMO has been operating for nearly a decade, surviving market cycles that eliminated dozens of smaller competitors.
If reputation, instrument variety, and long-term stability are your top priorities, FTMO remains the safest choice. The 2-step evaluation, while slower, also serves as a more thorough vetting process that some traders appreciate. Not every trader needs the cheapest option. Some need the most trusted one.
Based on community feedback and our own analysis, these are the five most common reasons traders explore alternatives to FTMO.
FTMO starts at $89 for a 10K account. Competitors offer entry points from $12 (The5ers) to $25 (Blueberry Funded). For traders who budget for multiple evaluation attempts, the price difference compounds quickly. Three failed FTMO attempts cost $267+, while three Apex attempts cost $53.
FTMO requires passing two separate phases before funding. Many competitors now offer 1-step evaluations: pass one challenge and you are funded. For traders who are confident in their edge, the second step feels like unnecessary friction that delays funding by weeks.
FTMO starts you at 80/20 and caps at 90/10 through their scaling plan. Funded Trading Plus offers scaling to 100/0, and Apex gives you 90% from day one. On a $5,000 monthly profit, the difference between 80% and 90% is $500 per month. Over a year, that is $6,000 left on the table.
Some alternatives like Apex offer payout requests much faster after getting funded. FTMO requires a minimum number of trading days before your first withdrawal is eligible. For traders who pass quickly and want to see their profits sooner, this waiting period can be frustrating.
FTMO processes payouts on a set bi-weekly schedule. While reliable, some competitors offer weekly or even more frequent payout windows. For funded traders generating consistent profits, faster access to earnings improves cash flow and reduces counterparty risk exposure.
FTMO included as baseline reference. Click any row to jump to the detailed review.
The only prop firm offering a genuine path to keeping 100% of your profits. While FTMO caps you at 90/10, FTP lets you scale all the way to 100/0.
Funded Trading Plus has quietly become one of the most trader-friendly prop firms in the industry. Their headline feature is the scaling plan that takes your profit split from 80/20 all the way to 100/0, meaning you eventually keep every dollar you earn. No other major prop firm offers this. The evaluation process is flexible: you can choose a traditional 2-step challenge similar to FTMO, or opt for a faster 1-step evaluation if you prefer to get funded sooner. The 1-step option has a slightly higher profit target, but many traders prefer the speed. At $84 with code BDNQ10, the entry price undercuts FTMO by $5-$71 depending on account size. The platform supports forex, indices, commodities, and metals, giving you plenty of instruments to trade. Payout processing is bi-weekly, and the firm has built a solid reputation for honoring withdrawals. The trading rules are straightforward: hit your profit target, respect the drawdown limits, and meet the minimum trading day requirement. There are no exotic restrictions or hidden gotchas in the fine print.
The 100/0 profit split through scaling is the standout advantage. FTMO maxes out at 90/10, which means you are always giving up 10% of your profits no matter how consistently you perform. FTP also offers a 1-step evaluation option, while FTMO requires 2 steps. The entry price is lower at $84 vs $89-$155. For traders who plan to stay funded long-term, the scaling plan makes a significant financial difference over months and years of trading.
FTMO has a longer track record and wider brand recognition. FTMO also offers a broader range of instruments including stocks and crypto on some account types. The FTMO community is larger, and their educational resources (FTMO Academy) are more developed. If brand trust and instrument variety are your top priorities, FTMO still has the edge.
At $12, The5ers is 7x cheaper than FTMO minimum entry. The progressive Bootcamp model lets you prove yourself at micro size before scaling up.
The5ers has been operating since 2016, making them one of the oldest and most established prop firms in the forex space. Their Bootcamp program is uniquely designed for traders who want to start small and scale progressively. At just $12, you get access to a 5K micro account where you prove your consistency before the firm gradually increases your capital. This model is fundamentally different from FTMO, where you pay $89+ upfront for a single evaluation attempt. The5ers approach treats funded trading as a career development path rather than a pass-or-fail exam. Beyond the Bootcamp, they also offer a traditional 1-step Hyper Growth program for traders who want faster access to larger accounts. The profit split is 80%, which is the same as FTMO starting split. The firm provides educational webinars, market analysis, and a supportive community. Their payout track record is clean, with consistent bi-weekly processing. The main limitation is that they focus exclusively on forex, so futures and crypto traders need to look elsewhere.
The price difference is enormous: $12 vs $89-$155. The Bootcamp model eliminates the pressure of a single high-stakes evaluation. You can take your time developing consistency without burning through expensive evaluation fees. The5ers also has a longer operational history than FTMO (since 2016), and their scaling model can take you up to $4M in funded capital, which exceeds what most firms offer.
The 80% profit split never scales beyond 80%, while FTMO offers 90/10 for consistent traders. The Bootcamp starting account is only 5K, so you are trading very small positions initially. The evaluation and scaling process takes longer than FTMO, where you can be fully funded within weeks. FTMO also offers more instruments and account currencies.
Different market entirely (futures vs forex), but the 1-step evaluation, 90% split, and $17.70 price point make Apex the best value alternative for traders open to futures.
Apex Trader Funding operates in the futures market rather than forex, which makes it a fundamentally different product from FTMO. However, many traders switching from FTMO consider Apex because of its dramatically lower price and simpler evaluation process. At $17.70 with code DEALPROPFIRM (90% off the regular $187), Apex is the cheapest way to get a funded trading account in the industry. The evaluation is a simple 1-step process: hit the profit target without exceeding the trailing drawdown. There is no daily loss limit, no consistency rule, and no minimum trading days requirement. You can trade during news events and hold positions overnight. The profit split is 90/10 from day one, with no need to scale up. Apex has paid over $600M to funded traders and has one of the largest trading communities with 200K+ members on Discord. The firm trades CME futures contracts including ES, NQ, CL, GC, and micro contracts. For forex traders considering a market switch, futures offer the advantage of a centralized exchange, transparent pricing, and no broker manipulation of spreads.
Apex is 80-90% cheaper than FTMO ($17.70 vs $89-$155). The 1-step evaluation is simpler than FTMO 2-step. The 90% profit split matches FTMO maximum but is available from day one without scaling. No daily loss limit removes a major failure point. Weekly payouts are faster than FTMO bi-weekly. The $600M+ payout history exceeds any forex prop firm.
Apex is futures-only, so if you specifically want to trade forex pairs, it is not an option. There is a $149 activation fee after passing the evaluation, which FTMO does not charge. The trailing drawdown can be tricky for traders accustomed to static drawdown. Futures markets have different trading hours and characteristics than forex, requiring a learning curve for forex traders switching over.
FundedNext combines forex and crypto trading with frequent promotional pricing. The Express 1-step model at $49 is a faster, cheaper path than FTMO 2-step.
FundedNext has grown rapidly since its launch, positioning itself as a direct competitor to FTMO with a more aggressive pricing strategy. The firm offers both 1-step (Express) and 2-step (Evaluation) challenge models. The Express model starts at $49 for a 6K account, making it significantly cheaper than FTMO entry-level pricing. What sets FundedNext apart is the combination of forex and crypto trading on a single platform. If you want to trade EUR/USD during London session and then switch to Bitcoin during US hours, FundedNext supports that workflow. The profit split starts at 80/20 and scales to 90/10 based on consistent performance. The firm runs frequent promotional campaigns with discounted evaluation fees, making the effective entry cost even lower during sales events. FundedNext has paid out millions to funded traders and maintains an active social media presence with regular proof-of-payout posts. The trading rules are similar to FTMO: profit target, daily loss limit, and maximum drawdown. The main differentiator beyond price is the crypto offering and the frequency of promotional discounts.
FundedNext is cheaper at $49 vs $89 for the entry-level evaluation. The 1-step Express option gets you funded faster than FTMO mandatory 2-step. Crypto trading is included, which FTMO does not fully support on all account types. Frequent promotional sales make the effective cost even lower. The scaling to 90/10 matches FTMO maximum split.
The starting 80/20 split is the same as FTMO, but FTMO traders can reach 90/10 faster through their scaling plan. FundedNext is a newer firm with less operational history than FTMO. The instrument range for forex is narrower than FTMO. The Express 1-step accounts start at smaller sizes (6K) compared to FTMO entry-level. Customer support response times can be slower during promotional periods when sign-up volumes spike.
Backed by Blueberry Markets, a regulated Australian broker. The only FTMO alternative where your trades execute through a licensed brokerage.
Blueberry Funded is the prop firm arm of Blueberry Markets, a regulated Australian forex broker (ASIC-regulated). This distinction matters more than most traders realize. While most prop firms are standalone companies with no brokerage license, Blueberry Funded operates under the umbrella of a regulated financial institution. This means your trades are executed through real market infrastructure, not a simulated environment or B-book setup. At $25 with code DEALPROPFIRM, the entry price significantly undercuts FTMO. The evaluation is a straightforward 1-step process with clear profit targets and drawdown limits. The profit split ranges from 80% to 90% depending on your performance tier. Blueberry Funded offers a solid range of forex pairs, indices, and commodities. The platform uses MetaTrader 4 and 5, which are industry standards most forex traders are already familiar with. Payout processing is bi-weekly with a clean withdrawal history. For traders who value regulatory oversight and real-market execution, Blueberry Funded provides a level of institutional credibility that standalone prop firms simply cannot match.
Regulated broker backing provides institutional credibility that FTMO lacks. The $25 entry is 72% cheaper than FTMO minimum. The 1-step evaluation is simpler than FTMO 2-step process. Real-market execution through a licensed brokerage means transparent pricing and no conflict of interest. MT4/MT5 platform support means no learning curve for experienced forex traders.
The instrument range is more limited than FTMO, focusing primarily on forex and major indices. The firm is newer to the prop trading space compared to FTMO decade-long track record. The community is smaller, so there is less peer support. The maximum profit split of 90% requires scaling, while FTMO offers 90/10 through their standard scaling plan. Account size options may be more limited than FTMO full range.
Based on our side-by-side comparison, Funded Trading Plus is the best FTMO alternative for profit split (up to 100%), The5ers for budget ($12), and Apex for futures traders ($17.70 with DEALPROPFIRM).
If you want the highest possible profit split, go with Funded Trading Plus. Their scaling plan takes you to 100/0, meaning you keep every dollar you earn. At $84 with code BDNQ10, it is also cheaper than FTMO entry and offers a 1-step option for faster funding.
If you want the cheapest possible start, The5ers at $12 is unbeatable. The Bootcamp model lets you prove yourself at micro size before scaling to $4M. It is the lowest-risk way to enter prop trading.
If you are open to futures trading or are a US-based trader, Apex Trader Funding at $17.70 with code DEALPROPFIRM offers extraordinary value. Simple 1-step evaluation, 90% profit split from day one, no daily loss limit, and $600M+ in verified payouts.
And if reputation and instrument variety remain your top priorities, FTMO is still a strong choice. Their decade-long track record, $200M+ in payouts, and wide instrument range are genuine competitive advantages that newer firms have not yet matched. There is no shame in sticking with a proven winner.
The best prop firm is the one that matches your trading style, budget, and goals. Use this comparison as a starting point, then read our detailed reviews for the firms that interest you most.
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