u/ICT_Trades

Very curious how they have become the most popular prop on prop firm match.

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With so many traders asking which firm to go with in 2026, I put together a proper comparison of the two most established 2-step evaluation firms: FTMO and The5ers High Stakes. Both have been around for nearly a decade, both have verified payout histories, and both updated their rules this year. Here's everything you need to know before spending money on a challenge fee.

🏗️ THE EVALUATION PHASE

FTMO's 2-step path is: Challenge (10% target) → Verification (5% target). The5ers High Stakes is: Step 1 (8% target) → Step 2 (5% target).

On paper, The5ers Phase 1 is easier — 8% vs FTMO's 10%. Neither firm requires a mandatory stop-loss on the High Stakes plan.

Both firms have no time limit. No countdown clocks, no pressure to force trades.

Minimum activity requirements differ. FTMO requires at least 4 calendar trading days per phase — any day you open at least one trade counts. The5ers requires a minimum of 3 profitable trading days per phase, defined as days where your closed trades generate at least 0.5% profit based on the initial balance. A losing day does not count. This is actually more demanding than it sounds.

News trading is where these two firms differ most during eval. FTMO is fully unrestricted during the challenge — trade NFP, CPI, FOMC, whatever you want. The5ers High Stakes applies a 2-minute buffer even during evaluation: you cannot open or close positions within 2 minutes before or after high-impact news releases. You can hold trades through news, you just can't execute in that window.

Drawdown rules are identical on both: 5% max daily loss, 10% max total loss, both static from initial balance.

💰 FUNDED ACCOUNT & PAYOUTS

FTMO starts at an 80% profit split, scaling up to 90% after hitting 10% profit over 4 consecutive months with at least 2 payouts in that period. Each qualifying cycle gives you a 25% balance increase, capped at $2M per account. Maximum capital allocation per trader across all accounts is $400K.

The5ers High Stakes also starts at 80% but scales all the way to 100% — eventually you keep every dollar of profit. Their scaling cap is $4M, making it the better long-term vehicle for serious capital growth.

Both pay bi-weekly. Both refund the challenge fee with the first payout.

The 3 profitable days requirement at The5ers also applies to the funded stage for scaling — it's not just an eval condition.

News rule on funded accounts: both firms apply the same 2-minute buffer around high-impact events. No difference here.

⚠️ THINGS PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH

FTMO's platform advantage — FTMO supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade. The5ers only offers MT5 and cTrader. If your EA or setup is built on MT4, The5ers won't work for you.

🏁 VERDICT

Choose FTMO if: You want fully unrestricted news trading during the challenge, more platform choice, and a solid 80% split from day one. The 10% Phase 1 target is harder and the 4-day minimum is easier to hit than The5ers' profitable day requirement.

Choose The5ers High Stakes if: You're thinking long-term. The 8% Phase 1 target is more forgiving, and the path to 100% split + $4M is genuinely better for traders who plan to scale seriously. Just be aware of the 2-min news buffer during eval, the 3-profitable-day minimum per phase, and the 30-day inactivity rule on the funded account.