FTMO vs FundedNext

The short answer to FTMO vs FundedNext is that neither firm is the universal winner. In a normalized comparison of their $100K two-step CFD challenges, FundedNext Stellar 2‑Step has the lower Phase 1 target, while FTMO 2‑Step requires fewer minimum trading days, supports TradingView and unlocks the first reward request sooner. Both advertise a 5% daily loss limit and a 10% maximum loss limit, but their reset mechanics and funded-stage permissions are not identical.

Country eligibility can override every advantage in the table. Both firms restrict service to residents of Iran. FTMO also restricts Iranian nationals, subject to a narrow conditional exception involving verified EEA residence and a traditional EEA bank account. Confirm nationality, residence, KYC and a usable reward method before paying.

Written by: MyFxKit Content Team
Technical review: MyFxKit Technical Team
Official sources last checked: September 10, 2026
Dataset snapshot: MFK-CMP-FTMO-FN-2026-09-10-01

This comparison covers simulated CFD evaluation programs, not live brokerage accounts or investment products. Rules, prices, discounts, platforms and country access can change. Recheck the exact configuration and checkout shown to you on purchase day.

The 30-second verdict

FTMO is likely the better fit if you prioritize four minimum trading days per phase, TradingView access, first reward eligibility from day 14 and a clearly defined scaling path that adds 25% every four months when all conditions are met. Its two-step targets are 10% and 5%, and the base reward split on the FTMO Account is 80%.

FundedNext is likely the better fit if you prefer an 8% Phase 1 target, weekend holding on the Stellar 2‑Step FundedNext Account and a stated scale-up ceiling of $4 million. The trade-off is a five-day minimum in each phase and a 21-day first reward cycle on the standard configuration.

For Iran-based traders: neither option should be treated as purchasable without resolving eligibility first. See the prop firms for Iranian traders guide before comparing fees or targets.

Which exact programs are being compared?

This article normalizes two like-for-like configurations:

• FTMO Challenge: 2‑Step, $100K, Standard account type

• FundedNext: Stellar 2‑Step, $100K, standard 21-day reward option

Both have two evaluation phases, no direct passing deadline, a 5% daily loss limit and a static 10% maximum loss limit. “No time limit” does not necessarily mean an account can be left unused indefinitely; inactivity rules are separate and must be checked before purchase.

FTMO 1‑Step, FundedNext Stellar 1‑Step, Stellar Lite, Stellar Instant, add-ons and FTMO Swing are not blended into the main columns. Those options change the evaluation structure, leverage, payout timing or trading permissions. Read the prop challenge types guide if you need to compare those models separately.

FTMO vs FundedNext comparison table

FTMO figures were captured from its official 2‑Step Challenge page and Trading Objectives. FundedNext figures were captured from the official Stellar 2‑Step page, CFD Trading Objectives and CFD Challenge Terms.

Challenge fees: do not compare unlike currencies

In the September 10, 2026 capture, FTMO’s Global page displayed €439 as the current price beside a €540 reference price for the $100K 2‑Step. FundedNext displayed $549.99 for its $100K Stellar 2‑Step. These figures do not support a defensible “cheapest” verdict because the currencies differ and the final amount can change with region, tax, payment method, discount and add-ons.

Capture these fields from both checkouts at the same time:

• Published base price and promotional price

• Final payment currency

• Tax and payment-processing charges

• Selected add-on costs

• Fee-refund conditions and timing

The real prop challenge cost guide explains how to normalize the amounts into one currency and compare cost per dollar of permitted drawdown. A temporary discount is not the brand’s permanent price.

The evaluation burden also has two dimensions. FTMO requires 15% in combined nominal targets and at least eight trading days across both phases. FundedNext requires 13% in combined targets but at least ten trading days. FundedNext has the lower target burden; FTMO has the lower minimum-day burden. Neither metric predicts a trader’s pass probability on its own.

Drawdown mechanics: equal percentages, different daily floors

Both programs apply a static 10% maximum loss limit. On a $100K account, the lifetime floor is therefore $90,000. Later profits do not trail this floor upward. Open profit and loss matters, so an account can breach before a position is closed. Test your own sequence with the prop drawdown calculator.

FTMO daily loss formula

For FTMO 2‑Step, the Maximum Daily Loss Amount is 5% of initial simulated capital. The floor is recalculated at 00:00 CE(S)T from the balance recorded at that moment:

FTMO daily floor = balance recorded at 00:00 CE(S)T − $5,000

If the midnight balance is $102,000, the daily floor becomes $97,000. FTMO’s official wording says equity cannot drop below that floor. Equity includes open P/L, swaps and commissions. For MyFxKit risk controls, treat an exact touch of the threshold as a breach condition as well: spread, commission and reporting latency can move equity through the boundary immediately.

FundedNext daily loss formula

FundedNext sets the Stellar 2‑Step Daily Loss Limit at 5% of initial balance and resets it at 00:00 server time. Its published general rule includes realized and unrealized P/L, swaps and commissions in the day’s loss calculation:

FundedNext daily loss amount = 5% × initial balance

Practical daily floor = start-of-day balance − daily loss amount

For a $100K account, the daily loss amount is $5,000. FundedNext’s Challenge Terms state that reaching or exceeding a DLL or MLL threshold can trigger automatic account restrictions. Do not build a strategy that relies on touching the limit safely.

The percentage alone is not enough. Reset time, reference balance, open equity, swaps and commissions all affect the remaining room. The prop firm drawdown guide and floating loss rule guide explain these mechanics in full.

Trading permissions: separate evaluation from the funded stage

News trading

FTMO permits news trading during its Evaluation Process on both Standard and Swing configurations. Once a trader reaches the FTMO Account, Standard accounts cannot open or close targeted instruments—including Stop Loss or Take Profit execution—from two minutes before until two minutes after selected announcements. Swing accounts are exempt. The current event list is maintained in FTMO’s official news-trading FAQ.

FundedNext markets news trading as allowed during both the Stellar 2‑Step Challenge and the FundedNext Account. However, the current program configurator also displays “News Trading Profit: 40%” within its funded reward rules. Because that label can affect how much news-related profit is eligible, news traders should obtain a worked example for the exact checkout configuration. Use the news trading prop firms guide as a checklist, not as a substitute for the account rulebook.

Overnight and weekend holding

FTMO does not apply overnight or weekend restrictions during the Evaluation Process. After passing, Standard accounts must close before the weekend market closure or a market break longer than two hours. Swing accounts are exempt. FTMO documents the distinction in its overnight and weekend FAQ.

FundedNext currently states that weekend holding is allowed during both the Stellar 2‑Step Challenge and its FundedNext Account. Swing traders should still verify the selected instruments, swap treatment and leverage before purchase. The weekend-holding collection provides a broader shortlist.

Simultaneous risk and EA access

FundedNext’s current Stellar 2‑Step configuration displays a 3% maximum risk at any time for the funded stage. The page also lists EA/VPS access as available through add-ons. The presence of MT4 or MT5 therefore does not prove that automated trading is included at no extra cost. Match the checkout selection against the EA prop firms guide.

FTMO also subjects strategies to its prohibited-practices and real-market replicability rules. At either firm, drawdown compliance does not override separate restrictions on exploitative trading, account sharing or prohibited coordination. The executed agreement takes precedence over a marketing summary.

Platforms and execution testing

FTMO lists four platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView. FundedNext also lists four CFD platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader and Match-Trader. FundedNext describes MetaTrader as its route for automated strategies and notes that EA usage can involve a fee. Platform availability can also differ by jurisdiction.

A platform count does not prove execution quality. Test the following on the instruments and sessions you actually trade:

• Spread during the active session and rollover

• Round-turn commission per lot

• Slippage in normal conditions and around news

• Order-entry, modification and closing latency

• Contract size, swaps, leverage and symbol naming

FTMO offers a 14-day Free Trial for its 2‑Step configuration. If a FundedNext trial is available to your jurisdiction, repeat the same small, controlled test. MyFxKit’s scoring process is documented in the comparison methodology.

Payout timing and the challenge-fee refund

FTMO states that a Reward can be requested on day 14 or any later day after the first trade, provided all positions and pending orders are closed. FTMO describes account review as taking one to two business days and typically sends the Reward within another one to two business days after invoice approval. The 2‑Step base split is 80%, increasing to 90% when Scaling Plan or Premium conditions are met.

FundedNext’s standard Stellar 2‑Step configuration sets the first withdrawal at 21 days and subsequent withdrawals every 14 days, with an 80% base share. Its three-day and On-Demand options change both timing and share and should be treated as separate products. FundedNext’s Reward page says 99.99% of requests are processed within 24 hours after submission. This is a self-published company claim, not independent evidence that every eligible request will be approved.

The official FundedNext reward-share guide describes an 80% share for the standard 21-day option, 60% for the three-day option and 90% for On-Demand. A paid add-on can increase the share to 95%. Do not present 95% as the default free split.

Both compared programs describe the Challenge fee as refundable with the first eligible reward. “Refundable” does not mean automatically returned after passing: the trader must reach the next stage, satisfy reward and KYC requirements, and receive approval. Review the prop payout guide before selecting a withdrawal method.

Scaling: account-growth rate and ceiling

FTMO’s official Scaling Plan offers a 25% account-balance increase every four months, up to $2 million across all FTMO Accounts. The requirements include at least four months as an FTMO Trader, 10% net simulated profit over the prior four months, at least two processed Rewards and a positive balance at scale-up. The 2‑Step reward ratio increases to 90%.

FundedNext’s Scale-Up guide applies its newer structure to Stellar Challenges purchased or reset after January 12, 2026. It describes a four-month review and a potential 40% balance increase up to $4 million. Eligibility includes at least 10% accumulated growth over four consecutive months, two Performance Rewards and a profitable final trading cycle.

A larger advertised ceiling is not automatically a faster or easier path. Model the time required to satisfy every review period, growth condition and reward cycle. The account must survive long enough for the ceiling to matter.

Country access, KYC and Iranian traders

FTMO’s eligibility page restricts both Iranian nationals and residents. Its conditional exception may accept an Iranian national only when FTMO can verify valid residence in an EEA country and a traditional bank account in that person’s name within the EEA. A VPN, false address or third-party payment account does not satisfy those requirements.

FundedNext’s jurisdiction disclosure says it does not serve residents of Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Belarus or Russia. A website loading successfully or a payment screen appearing is not proof that KYC and reward withdrawal will be available.

FundedNext’s official KYC process is triggered after passing a Stellar Challenge and must reach Approved status. The current guide calls for valid identity documentation, a liveness check and proof of address when requested. It also describes 90-day KYC renewal. The post-Challenge Stellar 2‑Step guide states that account delivery follows review and approved KYC, generally within 24 to 48 hours.

The practical conclusion for a resident of Iran is straightforward: both options fail the access gate before their trading rules can matter. If you are an Iranian national legally resident elsewhere, confirm nationality, residence, proof of address, the receiving bank or wallet and account-name matching in writing before purchase.

Which trader fits each firm?

This is a fit matrix, not an absolute ranking. A rule that can invalidate your strategy should carry more weight than a discount or headline reward percentage. Use the prop firm rule-burden guide to score the trade-offs.

Red flags before buying

• Comparing euro and dollar prices without currency conversion and tax

• Comparing FTMO Standard with a FundedNext configuration containing paid add-ons without showing their cost

• Presenting FundedNext’s 95% share as the default for every account

• Writing “5% drawdown” without the formula, reset time and open-equity effect

• Combining evaluation permissions with funded-stage restrictions

• Assuming country eligibility because the site or checkout opens

• Claiming one firm pays more reliably without a denominator covering approvals and rejections

Some MyFxKit outbound links may have a commercial purpose. That cannot change the data table, remove a material restriction or create a universal winner. Unverified values remain unknown.

Purchase-day verification checklist

1. Open the exact $100K two-step configurations at the same time.

1. Record base price, discount, tax, add-ons, currency and final charge.

1. Verify targets, minimum days, daily-loss formula, maximum loss and reset timezone.

1. Read news, overnight and weekend rules separately for evaluation and the funded stage.

1. Confirm platform, symbols, leverage, commission, swaps and lot limits.

1. Record reward cycle, base split, review, KYC and fee-refund conditions.

1. Confirm country, nationality, residence, proof of address and reward method in writing.

1. Save date-stamped captures and check the MyFxKit change log.

Final verdict

In a normalized $100K comparison, FundedNext Stellar 2‑Step is the stronger paper fit for a trader prioritizing an 8% Phase 1 target, weekend holding and a higher stated scaling ceiling. Its five-day minimum per phase, 21-day standard first reward cycle and funded-stage conditions remain material trade-offs.

FTMO 2‑Step is the stronger fit for a trader prioritizing four minimum days per phase, TradingView, day-14 reward eligibility and a simpler 25% periodic scaling path. The trade-off is a 10% Phase 1 target and news/weekend restrictions on the Standard FTMO Account; choosing Swing changes some of those permissions.

For an Iran-based trader, neither is the practical winner until eligibility and KYC are resolved. Use the correct decision order: access first, risk formula second, platform and payout third, price last. Open the FTMO profile and FundedNext profile beside their official rulebooks on purchase day.

Change log

This page is reviewed monthly and after a material change to fees, programs, rules, payouts, platforms or access. Submit documented corrections through the corrections policy.