FTMO vs The5ers (2026): rules, payouts, fees and AI visibility compared

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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · FTMO facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24 · The5ers facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24

FTMO

AI visibility score 47.5 / 100 · AI visibility rank #1 · Founded 2015

FTMO is a proprietary trading firm based in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 2015. It offers one-step, two-step evaluations on forex, indices, commodities, crypto, stocks, futures. Funded accounts go up to $200,000…

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The5ers

AI visibility score 37.9 / 100 · AI visibility rank #3 · Founded 2016

The5ers is a proprietary trading firm based in London, United Kingdom, founded in 2016. It offers one-step, two-step, three-step, instant-funding evaluations on forex, indices, commodities, crypto, futures. Funded accounts go up to…

Open the The5ers profile

FTMO (Prague, Czech Republic, founded 2015) scores 47.5 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #1 of 76 prop firms), named in 58% of AI answers, runs One-step, Two-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $200,000 (scaling to $2M), pays a 80% (up to 90%; 90% on 1-Step) profit split and offers cTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5, TradingView. The5ers (London, United Kingdom, founded 2016) scores 37.9 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #3 of 76 prop firms), named in 49% of AI answers, runs Instant funding, One-step, Three-step, Two-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $100,000 (scaling to $4,000,000), pays a 80% (up to 100%) profit split and offers MT5.

Verdict at a glance

  • FTMO leads on AI visibility, how often AI names it, AI sentiment, track record, asset-class range, platform choice and maximum allocation.
  • The5ers leads on choice of evaluation models.
  • Level on profit split.

Scored on 9 measurable dimensions where both prop firms have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

FTMO vs The5ers: side-by-side data

CriteriaFTMOThe5ers
AI visibility score47.5 / 10037.9 / 100
AI visibility rank#1#3
Named in AI answers58%49%
AI sentiment (0–100)5444
Founded20152016
HeadquartersPrague, Czech RepublicLondon, United Kingdom
Evaluation modelsOne-step, Two-stepInstant funding, One-step, Three-step, Two-step
Asset classesCommodities, Crypto, Forex, Futures, Indices, StocksCommodities, Crypto, Forex, Futures, Indices
PlatformscTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5, TradingViewMT5
Maximum allocation$200,000 (scaling to $2M)$100,000 (scaling to $4,000,000)
Profit split80% (up to 90%; 90% on 1-Step)80% (up to 100%)
Challenge fee from€79 (1-Step $10k); €89 (2-Step $10k)$19 (High Stakes $2.5k)
Account sizes$10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k$2.5k, $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k
Payout frequencybi-weekly (on demand after 14 days)monthly (on request; scaling at each 10% target)
Daily drawdown limit5% (2-Step); 3% (1-Step)5% (High Stakes); 3% (Hyper Growth)
Maximum drawdown10% static (2-Step); trailing 10% end-of-day (1-Step)10% (High Stakes); 6% (Hyper Growth)
Minimum trading days4 (2-Step); none (1-Step)3 profitable days
Time limitnonenone (account expires after 30 days without activity)
News tradingRestrictedRestricted
Weekend holdingRestrictedYes
EAs / algos allowedRestrictedNot verified
Broker backingOANDA (FTMO Group acquired OANDA Global Corporation, 2025)Not verified
Statusactiveactive

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that prop firm — we never fill gaps with estimates.

AI visibility by engine: FTMO vs The5ers

EngineFTMOThe5ers
ChatGPT65.953.2
Perplexity60.849.1
Gemini49.344.4
Claude5828.5
Google AI Mode48.750.1
Google AI Overview64.457.8
Google top-100.80

Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.

FTMO vs The5ers: common questions

Which prop firm do AI assistants recommend more, FTMO or The5ers?

FTMO scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (47.5 / 100 vs 37.9 / 100), which measures how often ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Google name a firm when traders ask which prop firm to use.

What profit split do FTMO and The5ers pay?

FTMO pays 80% (up to 90%; 90% on 1-Step); The5ers pays 80% (up to 100%) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).

Which is cheaper to start, FTMO or The5ers?

Entry-level challenge fees start at €79 (1-Step $10k); €89 (2-Step $10k) at FTMO and $19 (High Stakes $2.5k) at The5ers. Fees change often and discounts are common, so treat these as the floor.

Which platforms do FTMO and The5ers support?

FTMO: cTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5, TradingView. The5ers: MT5.

How do the drawdown rules compare at FTMO and The5ers?

FTMO: maximum drawdown 10% static (2-Step); trailing 10% end-of-day (1-Step), daily 5% (2-Step); 3% (1-Step). The5ers: maximum drawdown 10% (High Stakes); 6% (Hyper Growth), daily 5% (High Stakes); 3% (Hyper Growth).

Keep comparing

FTMO

The5ers

Risk warning: prop firms are not regulated brokers or investment firms. Evaluations are paid, fees are usually non-refundable, most accounts are simulated, and a firm can change its rules or stop paying out. Most participants fail the evaluation. Nothing on this page is financial advice; read the firm's terms before you pay. Full risk disclosure.