FTMO vs Tradeify: 2026 Head-to-Head Prop Firm Comparison

FTMO vs Tradeify: Key Differences at a Glance

Challenge Structure & Evaluation Process

FTMO

FTMO uses a classic two-phase evaluation: Phase 1 (30 days) and Phase 2 (60 days). You must hit a 10% profit target in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2, with a 10% max loss and 5% daily loss cap. Four minimum trading days per phase are required—no instant passes. If you hit the profit target but don't violate any rules, you get a free retake.

This structure is demanding—10% in 30 days is a real challenge for most traders, especially with the daily 5% cap. However, it does filter for consistency and risk control, which is why FTMO is trusted by many serious traders. The evaluation is strict, but the rules are transparent and fairly enforced.

Tradeify

Tradeify lets you pass in as little as one day, with a 6% profit target and a 4% trailing max drawdown (2.5% daily). The evaluation period is unlimited—you can take as long as you need. This is a big relief for traders who want to wait for optimal setups or who can't trade every day. However, the trailing drawdown is enforced in real time, which can catch out traders who aren't careful with open positions.

Tradeify's consistency rule on most account types requires your trading to be balanced—no single trade can account for more than a set percentage of your profits. This can trip up traders who rely on occasional outsized wins. Make sure you understand these rules in detail before starting.

Costs & Account Sizes

FTMO

• Challenge fees range from $155 (10K) to $1,080 (200K).
• Refundable if you pass and get funded.
• Account sizes: $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K.

FTMO's fee structure is higher than many competitors, but the range of account sizes is broader. The 200K account is one of the largest available in the industry, and you can scale up to $2M after four months of profitable trading.

Tradeify

• Challenge fees: $139 (50K), $299 (100K), $509 (150K).
• Refundable after 5 total payouts, not immediately after passing.
• Account sizes: $50K, $100K, $150K.

Tradeify's fees are lower, but the largest account is $150K. The refund is tied to real payouts, not just passing the challenge, so you must be consistently profitable before recouping your fee.

Drawdown Rules: What Actually Matters

FTMO

• Max overall drawdown: 10%
• Daily drawdown: 5%
• Example: On a $100K account, you can lose $5,000 in a day or $10,000 total before failing.
• Equity and balance are both monitored—no "cheating" with floating losses.

FTMO's rules are strict but clear. You can't "game" the system by holding large losers overnight. The 5% daily cap forces disciplined position sizing—one rogue trade can end your challenge.

Tradeify

• Trailing max drawdown: 4% (moves up as you profit, locks at initial balance)
• Daily loss cap: 2.5% (on select funded plans)
• Example: $100K account, trailing drawdown starts at $96K, and stays there as your balance grows; if you hit $106K, your drawdown lock is $100K.
• Drawdown is enforced in real time, even though it's calculated EOD. You can be stopped out intraday.

This trailing system is less forgiving—if you hit a new high, your cushion "locks in" and never increases. You must avoid big intraday losses, even if your end-of-day balance is healthy. This can be a surprise for traders used to static drawdown.

Profit Split & Payouts

FTMO

• 80/20 split, scaling to 90/10 with longevity and performance
• Monthly payouts, reliable and on schedule
• Minimum 10 trading days per period before payout

The split starts at 80%, but you can reach 90% after consistent profits. Payouts are monthly, not instant, but FTMO's reliability is a major plus—delays are rare. You're rewarded for longevity.

Tradeify

• 90/10 split from day one
• Daily or 5-day payouts available
• 60-minute payout processing goal

Tradeify is aggressive here—90% split immediately, and you can request a payout as soon as you hit the threshold. If you value frequent access to profits, this is a meaningful difference.

Markets, Instruments, & Platform Support

FTMO

• Forex, indices, commodities, crypto, stocks
• Leverage: 1:100
• News trading, weekend holding, and EAs allowed (with restrictions)
• MT4, MT5, cTrader, and WebTrader platforms

FTMO is unmatched in instrument variety. If you want multi-asset flexibility or to automate FX/CFD strategies, it's a clear leader. Note: No swing trading during major news events, so plan accordingly.

Tradeify

• Futures only (CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX)
• Full contract leverage—no artificial limits
• News trading fully allowed
• Supports major futures trading platforms

Tradeify is for futures specialists. No forex, no stocks, no crypto. If you only trade ES/NQ/CL/GC, this is not a problem—but it's a total dealbreaker for multi-asset traders.

Scaling & Long-Term Potential

FTMO

• Accounts scale up to $2,000,000 after four months of profitable trading
• Profit split can increase to 90%
• Multiple accounts can be merged for larger exposure

The scaling plan is among the most generous in the industry. If your goal is to trade a seven-figure account, FTMO is one of the few firms that makes this possible within a year of consistent performance.

Tradeify

• Path to live trading after 5 total payouts (across all accounts)
• Max 5 sim funded accounts at once
• No explicit scaling to $1M+ accounts

Tradeify focuses on speed to live trading and frequent payouts, not on building huge account sizes. If you want to compound quickly and potentially go live, their structure is appealing. But if you want to manage $1M+, this is a limitation.

Who Should Choose FTMO?

FTMO is ideal if you:

• Trade forex, indices, commodities, crypto, or stocks—not just futures
• Want the security of a globally recognized, highly rated firm (4.8/5)
• Value generous scaling (up to $2M) and long-term career development
• Are comfortable with strict, transparent rules and a challenging 10% profit target
• Need weekend holding and swing trading (outside of news windows)
• Don't mind monthly payouts in exchange for reliability

If you're building a professional trading career, FTMO's structure, educational resources, and reputation offer a clear edge. For more details, see our FTMO review.

Who Should Choose Tradeify?

Tradeify is a strong fit if you:

• Are a futures-only trader focused on CME, CBOT, NYMEX, or COMEX
• Want a lower, more attainable 6% profit target and real-time trailing drawdown
• Prefer fast challenge completion (can pass in 1 day) and unlimited evaluation time
• Value rapid, frequent payouts (daily or 5-day, 60-minute processing goal)
• Don't need to hold trades over the weekend
• Are comfortable with consistency rules and max 5 sim funded accounts

Tradeify is built for futures day traders who want to scale quickly and access profits often. It's less suited to swing traders or those who want large account sizes. See our Tradeify review for deeper analysis.

Non-Obvious Trade-Offs & Hidden Rules

• FTMO's strict minimum trading days mean you can't pass in a weekend or with one big trade. You need at least four active days per phase.
• Tradeify's trailing drawdown is enforced in real time—even though EOD is the reference. You can lose your funded status mid-day if you aren't careful, especially during volatile futures sessions.
• Tradeify's consistency rule can disqualify traders who rely on "home run" trades. If your P&L is lumpy, read the fine print.
• FTMO's news trading restriction means you can't hold trades through major scheduled events if you're a swing trader. Always check the calendar.
• Scaling at FTMO is based on sustained profitability, not just hitting a target once. If you want to manage $1M+, plan on months of consistent results.
• Tradeify's refund policy is payout-based, not pass-based. If you plan to pass and withdraw, you may not see your fee returned.

Bottom Line: Which Prop Firm Fits Your Trading Style?

There's no universal "best"—only the best fit for your needs.

• Choose FTMO if you want multi-asset flexibility, plan to scale to $1M+ accounts, and can thrive under strict (but fair) evaluation rules. You're in this for the long haul and value reputation and reliability.
• Choose Tradeify if you specialize in futures, want to pass quickly, need frequent payouts, and don't mind real-time trailing drawdown or consistency rules. You want to compound aggressively and don't need to trade weekends or hold overnight positions.

Before committing, review both firms' health metrics at PropSurvivalEngine Health Grades and use our profit/drawdown calculator to stress-test your strategy under each firm's rules.