The premise
FTMO has been operating for 11 years (since 2015) and holds a top trust rating on this site. Traders still search for alternatives for three concrete reasons:
- The profit split caps at 90%, while several firms advertise 100%
- The two-step Challenge model doesn’t suit every trading style
- There is no evaluation-free entry route
This guide compares the realistic alternatives using the same criteria we apply everywhere: operating record, payout history, and transparency. Affiliate partnerships do not move rankings here — see how we handle the conflict of interest.
The five alternatives at a glance
| Firm | Founded | Base | Model | Split | Trust (this site) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO (baseline) | 2015 | Czech Republic | 2-step | 80→90% | High |
| The5%ers | 2016 | Israel | 1-step / 2-step / 3-step | 75–100% | Low (re-rated 2026-08) |
| Topstep | 2012 | USA | Futures Combine | 90% (new accounts) | High (futures only) |
| Fintokei | — | JP/KR-focused | 3 plans, 1–3 steps | 50–100% | Medium–High |
| FundedNext | 2022 | UAE | 4 Stellar models | 80–95% | Medium |
| FundingPips | 2022 | UAE | 1–3 steps | 60–100% | Medium |
Figures reflect official pages as of July 2026. Terms change often in this industry — always confirm on the official site before buying.
The veteran pick that no longer is: The5%ers
The5%ers has the years — 10 in operation, payouts published throughout — but it can no longer be recommended as the FTMO-grade alternative: on 2026-08-01 this site re-rated it from High to Low trust (★4.6→3.3) after the firm itself acknowledged payout delays in March 2026.
- High Stakes (2-step): 10% → 5% targets (Classic: 8% → 5%), 5% daily / 10% max loss — nearly the same skeleton as FTMO, from $19
- Hyper Growth (1-step): a single 10% target with a 3% daily loss and 6% stop-out — note the old no-evaluation Instant Funding has been discontinued
- Split starts at 75–80% and scales to 100%, with monthly salary tiers once you manage $350K+, but a flat 3.5% is deducted from every withdrawal
For the head-to-head, see FTMO vs The5%ers; for choosing between its programs, The5%ers programs compared. If you test it, do so at the $19 minimum and confirm your first payout arrives.
The localized pick: Fintokei
Fintokei targets Japanese and Korean traders with fully localized support — the exact gap FTMO leaves open in those markets.
- ProTrader (2-step): 8% → 6% targets, 5% daily / 10% max loss, 80% split
- SwiftTrader (1-step): 10% target, 3% daily / 6% max loss; the plan table lists a 100% split (official pages differ in places, so verify before purchase)
- StartTrader (3-step): low-cost entry, 50–100% dynamic split
See the full breakdown in Fintokei plans compared. It is younger than FTMO or The5%ers, so we position it as the pick when localized support is a hard requirement.
The futures pick: Topstep
Topstep (Chicago, since 2012) has been operating longer than FTMO — but it is futures only. No FX pairs.
- The Trading Combine runs on a monthly subscription
- Payouts are 90/10; accounts created after January 12, 2026 are 90/10 from the first dollar (older accounts keep the legacy 100%-of-first-$10,000 arrangement)
- Drawdown trails your high-water mark, which is harder to manage than FTMO’s static limits
Not a substitute for FX traders, but strong if you can move to futures. Details in Topstep rules explained.
The budget picks: FundedNext and FundingPips
Both founded 2022, both Dubai-based, both attractive on paper — and both with roughly a third of FTMO’s operating history. Weigh that first.
FundedNext
- Stellar 2-Step: 8% → 5% targets, 5% daily / 10% max — a lower phase-1 target than FTMO’s 10%
- Split up to 95% (with add-on); a distinctive 15% reward on challenge-phase profits, paid with your first payout
- Four models: Stellar 2-Step / 1-Step / Lite / Instant
FundingPips
- 2-step: 8% → 5% targets, 5% daily / 10% max
- Among the cheapest fees in the industry (from around $30)
- The split is tied to your payout-cycle choice — shorter cycles pay a lower percentage, the longest cycle reaches 100%. This scheme changes often; check the official site for the current version
For these two head-to-head, see FundedNext vs FundingPips.
How to decide
- FTMO-grade record, different terms → The5%ers
- Japanese/Korean support is non-negotiable → Fintokei
- Willing to trade futures → Topstep
- Lowest-cost small-scale testing → FundingPips (or FundedNext)
You don’t have to quit FTMO to try any of these. Running two structurally different firms at small size and consolidating into the better fit is the practical route — see running multiple prop firms in parallel.
Always make your final investment decisions yourself. This site does not provide investment advice.
Recommended firms
FTMO — still the industry standard
11 years in operation (since 2015). Publishes one of the industry’s largest cumulative payout records.
The free trial lets you test everything at no cost, and the 2-Step Challenge fee is refunded with your first payout after passing (no refund if you fail). See the FTMO free trial guide.
Fintokei — for Japanese/Korean-language support
Fully localized site and support, JPY-denominated plans, three programs from one to three steps.
→ Visit Fintokei official site (the public code “FINTO5KEI” gives 5% off, but Fintokei confirmed on 2026-08-19 that using a coupon code overrides referral attribution, so this site earns nothing on those purchases)
The5%ers — for building up from a small ticket
Operating since 2016. Three plans run in parallel — the one-step Hyper Growth, the two-step High Stakes and the three-step Bootcamp — with fees from $19. The profit split climbs in steps toward 100%, but a flat 3.5% is deducted from every withdrawal. On 2026-08-01 this site re-rated The5%ers from High to Low trust (★4.6→3.3) after the firm itself acknowledged payout delays in March 2026. If you use it, keep the ticket small and confirm your first payout arrives before scaling up.
→ Visit The5%ers official site (referral code “HZZS4” — 0% discount as of 2026-08-19)