FTMO vs The Trade Pool: Elite Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
FTMO and The Trade Pool stand as leading proprietary trading firms in the financial industry, each offering traders the opportunity to access funded accounts after passing qualification assessments. FTMO, established in 2015, has built a strong reputation with its comprehensive evaluation process and extensive educational resources, with a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating (43,791 reviews, June 2026). The Trade Pool, founded in September 2022, has built recognition as the only major prop firm specialising in US equity trading — 12,000+ stocks/ETFs via the Trader Evolution platform backed by Interactive Brokers, with a single-step evaluation and a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating from 672 reviews (June 2026). Both firms provide pathways to funded trading accounts, but with distinct approaches to evaluation criteria, profit sharing, and trader support.
Quick Facts
| Feature | FTMO | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2015 | 2022 |
| Profit Split | 80-90% (2-Step); 90% flat (1-Step) | 70 |
| Maximum Account Size | $2,000,000 | $200,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 2 | 2 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8/5 (43,791 reviews) | — |
| Expert Grade | 9.1 | 8.5 |
Program Types
| Program | FTMO | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | FLEX |
| Advanced Program | FTMO Challenge + Verification | MAX |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Yes |
| Demo Account | No | No |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | FTMO | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 10% then 5% (2-Step); 10% (1-Step) | 6% (day), 15% (swing) |
| Maximum Drawdown | 10% static (2-Step); 10% trailing (1-Step) | 4% daily, 4% max (Flex day); 3% daily, 3% max (Max day); 3% daily, 7% max (swing) |
| Minimum Trading Days | 4 per phase (2-Step); none (1-Step) | — |
| News Trading | Restricted on Standard; unrestricted on Swing | No |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | FTMO | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $10K Account | EUR 89 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $25K Account | EUR 250 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $50K Account | EUR 345 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $100K Account | EUR 540 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $200K Account | EUR 1080 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time | Not offered |
| Stocks $2K Account | Not offered | USD 87 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $5K Account | Not offered | USD 59 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $10K Account | Not offered | USD 420 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $20K Account | Not offered | USD 670 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $25K Account | Not offered | USD 120 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $40K Account | Not offered | USD 1240 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $50K Account | Not offered | USD 285 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $100K Account | Not offered | USD 545 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $200K Account | Not offered | USD 1475 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Coupons / Discount | FTMO discount | Trade The Pool discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | FTMO | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | Proprietary (TraderEvolution-based) |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | No |
| Commodities | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Available | No |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | — |
Payout
| Feature | FTMO | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bi-weekly via bank transfer, e-wallets, wire transfer, cryptocurrencies | Minimum $300 profit ($150 on $5K accounts); available 14 days after inception |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | FTMO | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Full fee refund on 2-Step; static drawdown; no consistency rules; zero withdrawal commission; scaling to $2M | US traders accepted, no PDT rule, static max drawdown, one-time fee, free real-time data, 24/5 overnight trading |
| Weaknesses | No reset product; 1-Step fee never refunded; 50% Best Day Rule blocks payouts; 1-Step payout resets buffer | 70% split below CFD rates, 3x daily loss trap, 30-second hold rule, 10-cent minimum move, overnight buying power reduced, stocks/ETFs only, dated platform |
| Best For | 2-Step recommended for most; 1-Step only if 90% split outweighs other concerns | US stock traders seeking day trading without $25K minimum or PDT restrictions |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose FTMO if you want a higher profit split, up to 90%, a larger funded ceiling at $2M and coverage of forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and bonds that the other does not offer. Choose Trade The Pool if a cheaper entry, from USD 59 matters more to you. Neither firm is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on your strategy, your budget and the instruments you trade, so read both full reviews before you commit. Verify current rules and pricing on each firm’s own site before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I know about FTMO’s programs?
FTMO offers separate 1-Step and 2-Step CFD evaluations. The 2-Step route requires at least four trading days per phase; the 1-Step route uses different objectives, including a Best Day Rule. FTMO official rules; FTMO official program information.
What should I know about Trade The Pool’s programs?
Trade The Pool has stock-trading programs with different MAX and FLEX requirements. Buying power and a loss allowance are different measures. Trade The Pool official rules.
How do payouts differ between FTMO and Trade The Pool?
FTMO lists a 90% reward ratio for 1-Step and 80% for 2-Step, with an increase to 90% under applicable scaling or premium conditions. Reward requests are available from day 14 after the first trade, subject to eligibility. FTMO official rules; FTMO official program information.
The published program guide allows funded requests after 14 days from account inception or the previous withdrawal. The stated minimum is $300, with a $150 exception for $5,000 accounts. Trade The Pool official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing FTMO and Trade The Pool?
Do not apply the 2-Step objectives to 1-Step: drawdown and consistency requirements differ. Both routes have no maximum evaluation completion period. FTMO official rules; FTMO official program information.
FLEX also requires three profitable days of at least 0.5% of buying power within a 14-day period. This specific requirement does not apply to MAX. Scaling starts a new withdrawal waiting period. Trade The Pool official rules.
Is FTMO or Trade The Pool automatically the better choice?
No. The two firms lead on different things: FTMO has the higher profit split at 90% and the larger funded ceiling at $2M, while Trade The Pool has the cheaper entry at USD 59. Which of those matters more depends on how you actually trade, so compare how each firm measures drawdown, the total fee once add-ons and resets are included and platform availability, rather than the headline numbers. If you fail an evaluation, do not assume either firm offers a fixed reset discount: check the reset terms for the specific account you bought.
How We Compared FTMO and The Trade Pool
Both firms on this page carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10. We produce that rating with the same 9-factor methodology we apply to every firm we review: payout reliability (20%), fee structure (15%), drawdown rules (15%), profit split (15%), evaluation terms (10%), trading rules (10%), support access and responsiveness (5%), scaling plan (5%), and track record and transparency (5%).
The inputs come from our firm reviews, not from this page. For each firm we work from the current terms and conditions rather than marketing pages, track rule and pricing changes over time, and read payout and support reports across Trustpilot, Reddit and Discord, looking for recurring patterns rather than isolated complaints. Every firm is re-checked at least every 90 days, or sooner after a material change. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold.
The tables above show the evidence behind those factors. A few rows, including trading platforms, available instruments, maximum account size and demo availability, are there to help you judge fit and do not affect either rating.
Read our full ranking methodology
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