Sway Funded vs FTMO: 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
Sway Funded and FTMO are two leading proprietary trading firms offering traders the opportunity to access funded accounts after passing evaluation challenges. FTMO, established in 2015, has built a strong reputation with a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating across 29,000+ reviews, known for its robust trading platform and comprehensive educational resources. Sway Funded, a newer entrant founded February 2024 (Saint Lucia), has quickly gained popularity with a 4.1/5 Trustpilot rating from 800+ reviews, offering competitive profit splits and trader-friendly evaluation parameters. Both firms cater to traders seeking capital without personal financial risk, but differ significantly in their assessment models and compensation structures.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2024-02 | 2015 |
| Profit Split | 80-90% | 80-90% (2-Step); 90% flat (1-Step) |
| Maximum Account Size | $200,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 2 | 1 phase (1-Step); 2 phases (2-Step) |
| Trustpilot Rating | — | 4.8/5 (43,791 reviews) |
| Expert Grade | 8.1 | 9.1 |
Program Types
| Program | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | Yes | FTMO Challenge + Verification |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Yes |
| Demo Account | Yes | Free Trials for 1-Step and 2-Step; practice only, not qualification |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 10% p1, 5% p2 (Standard); 8% p1, 4% p2 (Professional) | 10% then 5% (2-Step); 10% (1-Step) |
| Maximum Drawdown | 10-12% | 10% static (2-Step); 10% trailing (1-Step) |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 (challenge), 3 (verification) | 4 per phase (2-Step); none (1-Step) |
| News Trading | Yes | Restricted on Standard; unrestricted on Swing |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| $10K Account | USD 66 / Listed challenge / One-time | EUR 89 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time |
| $25K Account | USD 156 / Listed challenge / One-time | EUR 250 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time |
| $50K Account | USD 289 / Listed challenge / One-time | EUR 345 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time |
| $100K Account | USD 499 / Listed challenge / One-time | EUR 540 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time |
| $200K Account | USD 849 / Listed challenge / One-time | EUR 1080 / FTMO 2-Step / One-time |
| Coupons / Discount | Sway Funded discount | FTMO discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | Liquid Charts, Liquid Charts Pro | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | — | Available |
| EA/Algo Trading | No | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT (1.5% withdrawal fee, typically 24 hours) | 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. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | No trailing drawdown, No consistency rule, No overnight holding restrictions, Weekend holding permitted, No time limits, Active in 150+ countries | Full fee refund on 2-Step; static drawdown; no consistency rules; zero withdrawal commission; scaling to $2M |
| Weaknesses | Relatively new firm (founded Feb 2024), Proprietary platform only, 1.5% withdrawal fee, No phone support, Not regulated broker | No reset product; 1-Step fee never refunded; 50% Best Day Rule blocks payouts; 1-Step payout resets buffer |
| Best For | Traders seeking flexible challenge formats with no time pressure | 2-Step recommended for most; 1-Step only if 90% split outweighs other concerns |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Sway Funded – Elite if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 66, news trading allowed and a demo account to test the platform first (FTMO also offers Free Trials). 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. 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 Sway Funded’s programs?
Sway Funded lists Rapid, Regular and Instant options and uses simulated accounts. Its challenge selector shows different targets and loss-limit configurations. Sway Funded official rules.
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.
How do payouts differ between Sway Funded and FTMO?
Sway advertises rewards of up to 90% of simulated profits. The exact share and reward eligibility should be taken from the selected account configuration, rather than treating that maximum as every account’s starting share. Sway Funded official rules.
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.
Which account rules matter when comparing Sway Funded and FTMO?
The displayed challenge has four minimum trading days and no overall time limit. Its configurable drawdown limits mean a headline maximum is not the loss allowance on every Sway account. Sway Funded official rules.
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.
Is Sway Funded or FTMO automatically the better choice?
No, neither is the default pick. Sway Funded – Elite has the cheaper entry at USD 66 and unrestricted news trading, and FTMO has the larger funded ceiling at $2M. 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 Sway Funded and FTMO
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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