FTMO vs E8 Markets: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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FTMO product scope: The FTMO rules, fees, platforms and reward terms on this page describe its CFD 1-Step and 2-Step programs. FTMO also offers separate Futures Growth and Pro programs, with their own subscriptions, reset fees, risk limits and payout conditions. Use the official Futures comparison for those accounts.
Introduction
FTMO and E8 Markets are leading proprietary trading firms offering funded trading accounts to qualified traders. FTMO, established in Prague, has built a strong reputation with transparent evaluation processes and high profit splits, with Trustpilot data deferred (not specifically cited in the JoinProp review). E8 Markets, a newer entrant, differentiates itself with more flexible trading conditions and competitive pricing structures, currently holding a 4.3/5 Trustpilot rating from 3,277 reviews (June 2026). Both firms enable traders to access significant capital without risking personal funds, though they differ in their evaluation methods, account offerings, and overall trader experience.
Quick Facts
| Feature | FTMO | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2015 | 2021 |
| Profit Split | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 80%, rising to 90% The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: 90% from day one | Up to 100%, configuration-dependent; Signature 80%. Pro share applies to requestable half; retained buffer carries forward |
| Maximum Account Size | CFD: up to $2,000,000 through scaling. Futures: up to $450,000 across 3 Sim-Funded accounts | $500,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | CFD: 1 phase (1-Step), 2 phases (2-Step). Futures: Evaluation, then Sim-Funded, then invitation-only Live Funded | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | Public Track Record and Ratings: 4.8/5 from 53,102 reviews | 4.4 |
| Expert Grade | 9.1 | 9 |
Program Types
| Program | FTMO | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes. CFD 2-Step from EUR 89 one-time; Futures Growth from $119 per month | Yes |
| Advanced Program | FTMO Challenge and Verification (CFD 2-Step); Futures Pro path with hard daily loss and 100% withdrawals | Yes |
| Scaling Options | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: Subject to eligibility The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: Subject to eligibility; see Scaling Plan | No |
| Demo Account | Free Trials for 1-Step and 2-Step; practice only, not qualification. No free trial on Futures | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | FTMO | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 10% then 5% The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: 10% Evaluation objectives — Growth $50K: $3,000 Evaluation objectives — Growth $100K: $6,000 Evaluation objectives — Growth $150K: $9,000 Evaluation objectives — Pro $50K: $3,000 Evaluation objectives — Pro $100K: $6,000 Evaluation objectives — Pro $150K: $9,000 | One 6%-21% by configuration; Pro 8% standard; Signature 6%; Zero $3K/$6.5K/$13.5K on $50K/$100K/$200K |
| Maximum Drawdown | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 10% The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: 10% Evaluation objectives — Growth $50K: $2,000 Evaluation objectives — Growth $100K: $3,500 Evaluation objectives — Growth $150K: $5,000 Evaluation objectives — Pro $50K: $3,000 Evaluation objectives — Pro $100K: $4,500 Evaluation objectives — Pro $150K: $6,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $50K: $2,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $100K: $3,500 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $150K: $5,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $50K: $3,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $100K: $4,500 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $150K: $6,000 | The Products Compared — E8 Zero: 3% EOD trailing The Products Compared — E8 One: 4–14% closed-balance trailing The Products Compared — E8 Pro: 8% static standard; first payout raises floor The Products Compared — E8 Signature: EOD trailing: $1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500 on 25K / 50K / 100K / 150K |
| Minimum Trading Days | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 4 per phase The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: None | One/Signature can pass in 1 day; Zero practically 3 via 40% best-day rule; standard Pro at least 4 via daily profit cap |
| News Trading | Evaluation: allowed within trading rules. Standard FTMO Account: affected instruments restricted 2 minutes before/after selected releases; Swing exempt. Futures: news trading allowed | One Performance: restricted on affected instruments 5 minutes before/after high-impact news. One challenge, Pro, Signature and Zero: allowed |
| Daily Loss Limit | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 5% The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: 3% Evaluation objectives — Growth $50K: None Evaluation objectives — Growth $100K: None Evaluation objectives — Growth $150K: None Evaluation objectives — Pro $50K: $1,000 hard Evaluation objectives — Pro $100K: $1,500 hard Evaluation objectives — Pro $150K: $2,000 hard Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $50K: $1,000 soft Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $100K: $2,000 soft Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $150K: $3,000 soft Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $50K: $1,000 hard Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $100K: $1,500 hard Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $150K: $2,000 hard | — |
| Drawdown Type | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: STATIC – the floor never moves The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: END-OF-DAY TRAILING | — |
| Time Limit | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: Unlimited The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: Unlimited | — |
| Consistency / Best Day Rule | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: – The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: 50% Evaluation objectives — Growth $50K: 40% Evaluation objectives — Growth $100K: 40% Evaluation objectives — Growth $150K: 40% Evaluation objectives — Pro $50K: 50% Evaluation objectives — Pro $100K: 50% Evaluation objectives — Pro $150K: 50% | The Products Compared — E8 Zero: 40% challenge; none Performance The Products Compared — E8 One: 40% Performance The Products Compared — E8 Pro: None; 2% daily profit cap The Products Compared — E8 Signature: 35% Performance |
| Maximum Contracts | Evaluation objectives — Growth $50K: 5 Evaluation objectives — Growth $100K: 10 Evaluation objectives — Growth $150K: 15 Evaluation objectives — Pro $50K: 5 Evaluation objectives — Pro $100K: 10 Evaluation objectives — Pro $150K: 15 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $50K: 2 to 5 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $100K: 4 to 10 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $150K: 6 to 15 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $50K: 2 to 5 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $100K: 4 to 10 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $150K: 6 to 15 | — |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | FTMO | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $5K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 48 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $10K Account | FTMO 2-Step (regular fee) / EUR 89 / One-time Fee refundable 100% with first payout. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO 1-Step (regular fee) / EUR 79 / One-time Fee not refunded. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | E8 One / SimFi / USD 88 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $25K Account | FTMO 2-Step (regular fee) / EUR 250 / One-time Fee refundable 100% with first payout. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO 1-Step (regular fee) / EUR 199 / One-time Fee not refunded. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | E8 One / SimFi / USD 188 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $50K Account | FTMO 2-Step (regular fee) / EUR 345 / One-time Fee refundable 100% with first payout. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO 1-Step (regular fee) / EUR 319 / One-time Fee not refunded. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | E8 One / SimFi / USD 288 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $100K Account | FTMO 2-Step (regular fee) / EUR 540 / One-time Fee refundable 100% with first payout. Regular fee shown. Offer observed September 26, 2026: EUR 439 only if you do not already have that Challenge active; confirm current eligibility. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO 1-Step (regular fee) / EUR 499 / One-time Fee not refunded. Regular fee shown. Offer observed September 26, 2026: EUR 399 only if you do not already have that Challenge active; confirm current eligibility. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | E8 One / SimFi / USD 488 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $200K Account | FTMO 2-Step (regular fee) / EUR 1080 / One-time Fee refundable 100% with first payout. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO 1-Step (regular fee) / EUR 999 / One-time Fee not refunded. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | E8 One / SimFi / USD 798 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $400K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 1598 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $500K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 1998 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| Futures $50K Account | FTMO Futures Growth / USD 119 / Monthly Soft daily loss, Sim-Funded only. Payout cap from $2,500. Payout eligibility 4 days. No activation fee. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO Futures Pro / USD 139 / Monthly Hard daily loss. Payout caps $5,000 to $8,000. Payout eligibility 5 days. No activation fee. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $100K Account | FTMO Futures Growth / USD 169 / Monthly Soft daily loss, Sim-Funded only. Payout cap from $2,500. Payout eligibility 4 days. No activation fee. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO Futures Pro / USD 199 / Monthly Hard daily loss. Payout caps $5,000 to $8,000. Payout eligibility 5 days. No activation fee. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $150K Account | FTMO Futures Growth / USD 229 / Monthly Soft daily loss, Sim-Funded only. Payout cap from $2,500. Payout eligibility 4 days. No activation fee. Source Checked 2026-09-28 FTMO Futures Pro / USD 269 / Monthly Hard daily loss. Payout caps $5,000 to $8,000. Payout eligibility 5 days. No activation fee. Source Checked 2026-09-28 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Refund Policy | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 100% The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: None | Non-refundable per Terms |
| Coupons / Discount | FTMO discount | E8 Markets discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | FTMO | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | CFD: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView. Futures: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView | CFDs: TradeLocker, Match-Trader, cTrader, MetaTrader 5. Perpetual Futures: E8 Terminal. Futures: Tradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Not verified for CFD accounts; check current Symbols | No |
| EA/Algo Trading | Allowed subject to trading rules, allocation and platform limits; third-party EAs can create allocation conflicts. | Eligible Classic/Perpetual accounts: allowed subject to strategy/order rules. Futures: EAs prohibited. Own-account copying allowed |
Payout
| Feature | FTMO | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | CFD: request from day 14 after the first trade on the specific account, subject to eligibility; close all positions and pending orders. Review usually 1-2 business days; payment usually 1-2 business days after invoice approval. Futures Sim-Funded: every 4 days on Growth (50% withdrawable, cap $2,500 to $4,000), every 5 days on Pro (100% withdrawable, cap $5,000 to $8,000). Live Funded: daily, no cap | $100 minimum received after split plus product conditions. One: 40% best-day and net payout above half daily DD. Pro: 1% fresh profit, 50% retained buffer. Signature: 35% best-day, buffer/caps. Zero: daily eligibility, Starter/Max caps, 5 requests then free challenge. Processing may take up to 5 business days |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
| Payout Frequency | Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $50K: Every 4 days Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $100K: Every 4 days Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $150K: Every 4 days Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $50K: Every 5 days Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $100K: Every 5 days Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $150K: Every 5 days | — |
| Payout Cap | Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $50K: $2,500 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $100K: $3,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $150K: $4,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $50K: $5,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $100K: $6,000 Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $150K: $8,000 | — |
| Payout Eligibility | Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $50K: 4 days at $150+ Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $100K: 4 days at $250+ Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $150K: 4 days at $300+ Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $50K: 5 days at $200+ Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $100K: 5 days at $300+ Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $150K: 5 days at $500+ | — |
| Withdrawable Amount | Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $50K: 50% Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $100K: 50% Sim-Funded account and payouts — Growth $150K: 50% Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $50K: 100% Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $100K: 100% Sim-Funded account and payouts — Pro $150K: 100% | — |
Verdict
| Key Element | FTMO | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Full fee refund on 2-Step; static drawdown; no consistency rules on CFD; zero withdrawal commission; scaling to $2M; futures line with no minimum trading days and no activation fee | Single-phase programs; configurable One accounts; Pro automatic payout buffer; Signature daily soft pause; own-account copying allowed |
| Weaknesses | 1-Step fee non-refundable; 50% Best Day condition for passing/rewards; new 1-Step account after reward starts with a 90%-of-initial-capital loss floor; futures is a recurring monthly subscription, Growth pays out only 50% per request, and the Live Funded step is by invitation only | Product/market rules differ; Zero cycle caps; Pro daily profit cap and retained buffer; One Performance news restriction; Futures 7-day inactivity |
| Best For | CFD: 2-Step for most, 1-Step only if the 90% split outweighs other concerns. Futures: Pro if you want 100% withdrawals, Growth if you want the cheapest entry | Traders who match the market, loss-limit model and payout conditions to their strategy |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Consider FTMO if you want a choice of 1-Step or 2-Step evaluations and MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView. Its Free Trials let you practise before buying. Choose E8 Markets if a higher profit split, up to 100%, a one-phase evaluation and a cheaper entry, from USD 48 matter 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 a one-phase 1-Step and a two-phase 2-Step evaluation. The 2-Step has targets of 10% then 5%, a 5% daily loss limit and four minimum trading days per phase. The 1-Step has a 10% target, a 3% daily loss limit, no minimum trading days and a 50% Best Day Rule. Both have unlimited completion time. FTMO program comparison.
FTMO offers Free Trials for both evaluation models; they are practice accounts, not a qualification route. Supported platforms are MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, selected in the Challenge configurator.
What should I know about E8 Markets’s programs?
E8 Signature Forex is a one-step simulated evaluation with a 6% profit target and end-of-day dynamic drawdown. It is one E8 product, not a rulebook for every E8 account. E8 Markets official rules.
How do payouts differ between FTMO and E8 Markets?
FTMO pays a 90% reward share on 1-Step and 80% on 2-Step, rising to 90% under applicable scaling or premium conditions. Requests can be made from day 14 after the first trade on the specific account, subject to eligibility, with all positions and pending orders closed. Review usually takes 1–2 business days; payment usually follows within 1–2 business days after invoice approval. FTMO reward terms.
E8 Signature Forex lists an 80% share, a $100 net minimum, a 35% Best Day Rule, a payout buffer and per-request caps. Five qualifying profitable days are required between later payouts, but not the first. E8 Markets official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing FTMO and E8 Markets?
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.
There is no overall completion deadline, but a trade must be opened and closed at least every 60 days. The Performance account also has a 2% daily pause. E8 Markets official rules.
Is FTMO or E8 Markets automatically the better choice?
No. Each firm wins on a different axis. FTMO has the larger funded ceiling at $2M. E8 Markets has the higher profit split at 100% and a one-phase evaluation. 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 the evaluation objectives for the exact program you buy, 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 E8 Markets
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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