FTMO vs The Trade Pool: Elite Prop Firm Comparison

Table of Contents

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.

🕑 Last updated: Jul 24, 2026⚖ How we rank firms ↗

FTMO ▲ Higher rated

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

Visit FTMO →🎟 FTMO discount code

Trade The Pool

Grade 8.5/10 · 70 split

Visit Trade The Pool →🎟 Trade The Pool discount code

TL;DR: FTMO (grade 9.1) offers a 80-90% (2-Step); 90% flat (1-Step) profit split; Trade The Pool (grade 8.5) offers 70. Full side-by-side below, plus who each is best for. Our higher-rated pick: FTMO (9.1 vs 8.5).

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

Real trader stories

Read a trading story of a FTMO trader →Read a trading story of a Trade The Pool trader →

Fees & Pricing

Option	FTMO	Trade The Pool
$10K Account	$79	—
$25K Account	$199	$120
$50K Account	$319	$285
$100K Account	$499	$545
$200K Account	$999	$1,475
Refund Policy	100% refund 2-Step with first payout; 1-Step non-refundable	—
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

Verdict: Who each is best for: FTMO — 2-Step recommended for most; 1-Step only if 90% split outweighs other concerns. Trade The Pool — US stock traders seeking day trading without $25K minimum or PDT restrictions.

Visit FTMO →Read full FTMO review

Visit Trade The Pool →Read full Trade The Pool review

FAQ

What makes FTMO popular among users?

FTMO has gained popularity primarily due to its established reputation in the proprietary trading industry, transparent evaluation process, and comprehensive educational resources. Traders appreciate the company’s robust analytics dashboard that helps them improve their strategies, along with the opportunity to trade multiple asset classes across three different platforms (MT4, MT5, and cTrader). The 90% profit split for funded traders is among the most competitive in the industry, and their scaling program allows successful traders to potentially manage accounts up to $2,000,000.

How does The Trade Pool differ from other similar organizations?

The Trade Pool differentiates itself as the only major prop firm built specifically for US stock traders. It offers direct access to over 12,000 instruments (US stocks, ETFs, penny stocks) via the Trader Evolution platform backed by Interactive Brokers. Standout features include no PDT rule (unlimited day trades regardless of account size), short-selling with locate fees covered by the firm, pre-market and after-hours access, and a single-step evaluation starting from $47. The firm is operated by the same team behind The5ers.

Which platform has better customer support, FTMO or The Trade Pool?

FTMO offers comprehensive customer support with 24/7 availability via live chat, email, WhatsApp, and phone (in 20+ languages). They support over 10 languages and typically respond within 1-2 hours. The Trade Pool provides support primarily during business hours through chat and email, with response times usually within 24 hours and support in fewer languages. FTMO’s larger team and longer market presence have allowed them to develop more robust support infrastructure, though The Trade Pool continues to improve their customer service capabilities.

Do I get my evaluation fee back with either company?

Both companies offer some form of fee refund, but with different approaches. FTMO provides a full refund of your challenge fee upon successful completion of the evaluation and receiving your first profit split payment as a funded trader. The Trade Pool offers a partial credit system where your evaluation fee can be applied toward larger account sizes as you progress, but they don’t provide a complete refund in the same way FTMO does. These policies can change, so it’s worth checking the current terms on each company’s website before signing up.

Which company is better for beginner traders?

The two firms target different trader profiles rather than different experience levels. FTMO offers comprehensive education and a structured 2-Step (or 1-Step) evaluation across Forex, indices, commodities, and crypto with no time limits and 4-day minimums per phase — useful for traders building disciplined multi-asset workflows. The Trade Pool is purpose-built for US equity traders who want 12,000+ stocks, no PDT rule, and covered short-selling locate fees via Interactive Brokers; its single-step evaluation rewards stock traders who already understand intraday and swing equity dynamics.

How was this 2 companies Comparison Created?

1. We Collect

Our team meticulously gathered information from official sources including FTMO and The Trade Pool websites, terms of service documents, and pricing pages. We supplemented this data with reviews from Trustpilot, Forex Peace Army, and other independent review platforms to understand the user experience. Additionally, we interviewed current and former traders from both platforms to gain insights not readily available in marketing materials. Industry reports and proprietary trading firm rankings were also consulted to provide market context.

2. We Examine

All collected information underwent thorough verification by our team of experienced traders and financial analysts. We cross-referenced data points across multiple sources to ensure accuracy, particularly regarding fee structures, profit splits, and evaluation criteria which can change over time. Any discrepancies were resolved through direct communication with the companies where possible. Our analysis focused not only on stated policies but also on real-world implementation and user experiences.

3. We Score

Our scoring methodology evaluates both companies across seven key categories: reputation and track record (20%), evaluation criteria fairness (20%), platform and tools quality (15%), customer support (15%), fee structure (10%), educational resources (10%), and scaling opportunities (10%). Each category contains multiple sub-factors that receive individual ratings. The final scores reflect both objective measures (such as exact profit targets) and subjective assessments (such as user interface quality) weighted according to their importance to most traders.

4. You Choose

This comparison aims to provide you with comprehensive, accurate information to make your own informed decision based on your specific trading style, experience level, and goals. Consider prioritizing factors most relevant to your situation – experienced traders might value reputation and advanced tools most highly, while beginners might focus on evaluation difficulty and educational resources. We recommend visiting both companies’ websites to explore their current offerings, as proprietary trading firms regularly update their programs and conditions.