This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Choosing between The5ers, FTMO, and FundedNext is one of the most common dilemmas for aspiring funded traders. All three are established, reputable firms with years of track record and thousands of successful payouts. But they differ significantly in pricing, rules, profit splits, and trading conditions.
In this detailed comparison, we put all three firms head-to-head to help you make the right choice. We also include exclusive promo codes to save on each firm.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | The5ers | FTMO | FundedNext |
|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2015 | 2022 |
| Trustpilot | 4.75/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Max Profit Split | 100% | 90% | 95% |
| Lowest Entry | $19 | $155 | $32 |
| Drawdown Type | Static | Trailing | Both options |
| Time Limit | None | 30 days | 30 days |
| US Traders | No | No | Yes |
| Max Scaling | $4M | $2M | $4M |
| Min Trading Days | 0 (HyperGrowth) | 4 | 5 |
| Promo Code | PFKEY (5%) | — | PFK (50%) |
Pricing Comparison
Affordability matters, especially if you are taking multiple attempts. Here is how the pricing stacks up for a $10,000 account:
| Firm | Program | Price | With Discount |
|---|
| The5ers | HyperGrowth 1-step | $450 | $427.50 (PFKEY) |
| The5ers | HighStakes 2-step | $78 | $74.10 (PFKEY) |
| FTMO | Standard 2-step | $155 | $155 (no code) |
| FundedNext | Stellar 2-step | $65 | $32.50 (PFK) |
Evaluation Rules Comparison
Profit Targets
| Firm | 1-Step Target | 2-Step Phase 1 | 2-Step Phase 2 |
|---|
| The5ers | 10% | 10% | 5% |
| FTMO | — | 10% | 5% |
| FundedNext | 10% | 10% | 5% |
Drawdown Rules
This is where The5ers shines:
| Firm | Daily Loss | Max Loss | Drawdown Type |
|---|
| The5ers HyperGrowth | 3% | 6% | Static |
| The5ers HighStakes | 5% | 10% | Static |
| FTMO | 5% | 10% | Trailing |
| FundedNext Stellar | 5% | 10% | Trailing or Static |
Time Limits
| Firm | Time Limit |
|---|
| The5ers | None |
| FTMO | 30 days per phase |
| FundedNext | 30 days per phase |
Profit Splits & Scaling
| Firm | Starting Split | Maximum Split | Max Scaling |
|---|
| The5ers | 50-80% | 100% | $4M |
| FTMO | 80% | 90% | $2M |
| FundedNext | 80% | 95% | $4M |
Trading Conditions
| Feature | The5ers | FTMO | FundedNext |
|---|
| News Trading | Yes | Restricted | Yes |
| Weekend Holding | Yes | No | Yes |
| EAs/Bots | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scalping | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hedging | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | MT5, Proprietary | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5 |
Payouts
| Firm | Frequency | First Payout |
|---|
| The5ers | Bi-weekly | After first profitable period |
| FTMO | Bi-weekly/Monthly | 14 days after first trade |
| FundedNext | Bi-weekly | After first profitable period |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose The5ers If:
- You want no time pressure on your evaluation
- You prefer static drawdown (more forgiving)
- You aim for 100% profit split through scaling
- You trade news events or hold positions over weekends
- You want to scale up to $4M in funding
- Use code PFKEY for 5% off
Choose FTMO If:
- You want the most established brand name
- You need cTrader platform support
- You can pass within 30 days comfortably
- You are OK with 90% maximum profit split
Choose FundedNext If:
- You are a US-based trader (The5ers and FTMO don't accept US traders)
- Budget is your primary concern
- You want 95% profit split potential
- Use code PFK for 50% off
Verdict
For most traders, The5ers is the best overall choice in 2026. The combination of static drawdown, no time limits, and 100% profit split potential creates the most trader-friendly environment. The lack of time pressure alone is worth the slightly higher price — because a challenge you can take your time on is a challenge you are far more likely to pass.
Save 5% on The5ers with code PFKEY.
