Sabiotrade vs FTMO: Elite Prop Firms Comparison

Published: April 29, 2025 · Last updated: August 7, 2026

Table of Contents

Introduction

Sabiotrade and FTMO are two leading proprietary trading firms that provide traders with funded accounts to trade financial markets. Sabiotrade stands out with its beginner-friendly approach and competitive profit splits, while FTMO has established itself as an industry pioneer with robust trading infrastructure and comprehensive educational resources. Sabiotrade holds a Trustpilot rating of 3.6/5 from 721 reviews (April 2026). FTMO holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating (43,791 reviews, June 2026); FTMO has been an established prop firm since 2015 with 3.5M+ customers worldwide and $500M+ paid in rewards (per FTMO homepage).

🕑 Last updated: Aug 7, 2026⚖ How we rank firms ↗

Sabio Trade - Elite

Grade 8.5/10 · 80-90% split

Visit Sabio Trade - Elite →🎟 Sabio Trade - Elite discount code

FTMO ▲ Higher rated

Grade 9.1/10 · 80-90% (2-Step); 90% flat (1-Step) split

Visit FTMO →🎟 FTMO discount code

TL;DR: Sabio Trade - Elite (grade 8.5) offers a 80-90% profit split; FTMO (grade 9.1) offers 80-90% (2-Step); 90% flat (1-Step). Full side-by-side below. Best for: Sabio Trade - Elite - Discretionary swing traders comfortable with proprietary platforms. FTMO - 2-Step recommended for most; 1-Step only if 90% split outweighs other concerns. Our higher-rated pick: FTMO (9.1 vs 8.5).

Quick Facts

Feature	Sabio Trade - Elite	FTMO

Founded	2021	2015
Profit Split	80-90%	80-90% (2-Step); 90% flat (1-Step)
Maximum Account Size	$1,000,000	$2,000,000
Evaluation Phases	1	2
Trustpilot Rating	—	4.8/5 (43,791 reviews)
Expert Grade	8.5	9.1

Program Types

Program	Sabio Trade - Elite	FTMO
Entry Level Program	Yes	Yes
Advanced Program	Yes	FTMO Challenge + Verification
Scaling Options	No	Yes
Demo Account	Yes	No

Rules & Assessment

Criteria	Sabio Trade - Elite	FTMO
Profit Target	10%	10% then 5% (2-Step); 10% (1-Step)
Maximum Drawdown	6% trailing	10% static (2-Step); 10% trailing (1-Step)
Minimum Trading Days	—	4 per phase (2-Step); none (1-Step)
News Trading	No	Restricted on Standard; unrestricted on Swing

Real trader stories

Read a trading story of a FTMO trader →Read a trading story of a FTMO trader →

Fees & Pricing

Option	Sabio Trade - Elite	FTMO
$10K Account	—	$79
$25K Account	—	$199
$50K Account	$289	$319
$100K Account	$479	$499
$200K Account	$939	$999
Refund Policy	No	100% refund 2-Step with first payout; 1-Step non-refundable
Coupons / Discount	Sabio Trade - Elite discount	FTMO discount

Platforms & Markets

Feature	Sabio Trade - Elite	FTMO
Trading Platforms	Proprietary Sabio Traderoom	MT4, MT5, cTrader
Forex	Yes	Yes
Stocks	Yes	Yes
Indices	Yes	Yes
Commodities	Yes	Yes
Cryptocurrencies	Yes	Yes
Bonds	—	Available
EA/Algo Trading	No	Yes

Payout

Feature	Sabio Trade - Elite	FTMO
Payout Terms	Weekly, 24-hour processing, $1 crypto minimum	Bi-weekly via bank transfer, e-wallets, wire transfer, cryptocurrencies
See all prop firm payouts →

Verdict

Key Element	Sabio Trade - Elite	FTMO
Strengths	One-step evaluation, No monthly fees, 7-day trial account, Weekly payouts within 24 hours, $1 crypto minimum, 250+ instruments	Full fee refund on 2-Step; static drawdown; no consistency rules; zero withdrawal commission; scaling to $2M
Weaknesses	6% trailing drawdown tested against equity, First payout deletes drawdown buffer, Breach forfeits all unpaid profits, 90% split can be cut to 70%, Scalping and EAs prohibited, Proprietary platform only, No refunds	No reset product; 1-Step fee never refunded; 50% Best Day Rule blocks payouts; 1-Step payout resets buffer
Best For	Discretionary swing traders comfortable with proprietary platforms	2-Step recommended for most; 1-Step only if 90% split outweighs other concerns

Visit Sabio Trade - Elite →Read full Sabio Trade - Elite review

Visit FTMO →Read full FTMO review

Real funded traders – in their own words

Named traders JoinProp interviewed who passed and traded with these firms. Read their full stories:

Traders who chose FTMO

FAQ

What makes Sabiotrade popular among users?

Sabiotrade has gained popularity through its 1-step evaluation (10% profit target, 5% daily loss, 6% trailing max drawdown with no time limit), challenge-fee refund on the first payout from the funded account, weekly payouts with no minimum withdrawal, and a proprietary SabioTraderoom platform (QuadCode-powered) across 250+ instruments. Account sizes range from $20K (Essential) up to $1M (Supreme) on the Single category, plus a Day Trading category (Flash to Apex) with 95% profit split on the top tier. Founded 2021 in Dublin, Ireland as CODEVIL IT ENGINEERING LIMITED.

How does FTMO differ from other similar organizations?

FTMO stands out as the most established prop firm in the industry, founded 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic. It offers a choice between a 2-Step Challenge (10% target Phase 1, 5% Phase 2) and a 1-Step Challenge (10% target, 3% daily, 10% max, no minimum trading days advertised). Three trading platforms are supported: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. Scaling reaches up to $2,000,000 via a 25% account-balance scale-up per step (4-month consistency criteria). Customer support is 24/7 in 20 languages via live chat, email, WhatsApp, and phone. Tradable instruments cover Forex, Indices, Commodities, and Cryptocurrencies (per FTMO Symbols page, FTMO does not currently offer Stocks or Bonds). Payouts are bi-weekly with average 8-hour processing.

Are the evaluation fees refundable with both companies?

Yes, both firms refund the challenge fee, tied to the first payout from the funded account. Sabiotrade refunds the full challenge fee on the first withdrawal from a successfully passed account. FTMO refunds the initial challenge fee on the first payout from the funded account similarly. In both cases the refund is contingent on actually reaching a funded payout, so traders need to first pass the evaluation and then trade the funded account to profit before receiving the fee refund. The refund applies to the first account; subsequent challenges require new fees on both firms.

Can I use automated trading systems with these firms?

Yes, both firms allow Expert Advisors (EAs) and automated trading, but with documented restrictions. Sabiotrade permits EAs within SabioTraderoom; prohibited strategies include latency arbitrage, HFT exploiting pricing delays, and copy trading from external signal services or third-party account managers not approved by Sabio. FTMO explicitly allows EAs across its account types; prohibited strategies include arbitrage, price-latency exploitation, external manipulation of trading results, and dangerous trading that could lead to significant slippage. On either firm, rule breaches or manipulative algorithms typically result in account termination.

What happens if I fail the evaluation with either company?

If you fail the evaluation on either firm, you can purchase a new challenge at full price. Sabiotrade: a rule breach (daily 5% or trailing 6%) closes the account and a new challenge purchase is required to restart (the challenge fee is refunded on the first payout from any subsequently passed funded account). FTMO: a rule breach (daily 5% or maximum 10%) terminates the account; you receive a detailed report explaining the breach and can purchase a new FTMO Challenge at any time to restart from Phase 1. Neither firm publicly advertises a guaranteed free retry programme tied to a specific profit-progress threshold.

How was this 2 companies Comparison Created?

1. We Collect

Our team gathered comprehensive data from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and completeness. We analyzed the official websites of both Sabiotrade and FTMO to document current offerings, pricing structures, and program details. We supplemented this with verified user reviews from Trustpilot, TradingView forums, and Reddit communities. Additionally, we conducted interviews with current and former traders from both platforms and consulted industry experts who have analyzed proprietary trading firms extensively.

2. We Examine

All collected information underwent a rigorous verification process by our team of experienced traders and financial analysts. We cross-referenced data points across multiple sources to eliminate inconsistencies and ensure accuracy. Any discrepancies were resolved through direct contact with company representatives. Our experts test-traded on both platforms to personally evaluate the user experience, platform functionality, and execution quality. We paid special attention to terms and conditions documents to understand the nuances of each program beyond marketing materials.

3. We Score

Our scoring methodology evaluates both companies across ten key categories: reputation/trustworthiness, platform reliability, trading conditions, evaluation criteria fairness, pricing, profit-sharing structure, educational resources, customer support quality, account types/flexibility, and additional value-added features. Each category receives a weighted score based on its importance to traders, with reliability and trustworthiness weighted most heavily. We use a 5-point scale with half-point increments to provide nuanced ratings that reflect both quantitative metrics and qualitative assessments.

4. You Choose

Now it’s your turn to make an informed decision based on your specific trading needs and preferences. Consider your trading style, experience level, and financial goals when comparing these firms. If you’re a beginner with limited capital seeking a straightforward path to funding, Sabiotrade may be your better option. If you’re an experienced trader valuing institutional-grade tools and comprehensive education, FTMO might better suit your needs. Remember that success with any prop firm depends on disciplined trading that aligns with their rules and expectations. We recommend starting with a demo account before committing to a paid challenge.