Sway Funded vs FTMO: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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FTMO product scope: FTMO runs two product lines. The rules and reward terms discussed on this page are its CFD 1-Step and 2-Step programs, while the pricing table also lists its Futures Growth and Pro plans, which are sold on a monthly subscription and carry their own risk limits and payout terms. Both lines are covered in full in our FTMO review.
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 Trustpilot snapshot of 4.8/5 from 53,102 reviews (checked September 27, 2026), 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 | The Programmes — Regular (2-phase): 80% The Programmes — Rapid (1-phase): 80% The Programmes — Instant: 55–75% only | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 80%, rising to 90% The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: 90% from day one |
| Maximum Account Size | $200,000 | CFD: up to $2,000,000 through scaling. Futures: up to $450,000 across 3 Sim-Funded accounts |
| Evaluation Phases | 2 | CFD: 1 phase (1-Step), 2 phases (2-Step). Futures: Evaluation, then Sim-Funded, then invitation-only Live Funded |
| Trustpilot Rating | — | Public Track Record and Ratings: 4.8/5 from 53,102 reviews |
| Expert Grade | 8.1 | 9.1 |
Program Types
| Program | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes. CFD 2-Step from EUR 89 one-time; Futures Growth from $119 per month |
| Advanced Program | Yes | FTMO Challenge and Verification (CFD 2-Step); Futures Pro path with hard daily loss and 100% withdrawals |
| Scaling Options | Yes | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: Subject to eligibility The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: Subject to eligibility; see Scaling Plan |
| Demo Account | Yes | Free Trials for 1-Step and 2-Step; practice only, not qualification. No free trial on Futures |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | The Programmes — Regular (2-phase): 10% then 8% The Programmes — Rapid (1-phase): 15% The Programmes — Instant: 8 / 12 / 16% step targets | 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 |
| Maximum Drawdown | The Programmes — Regular (2-phase): 10% (20%) The Programmes — Rapid (1-phase): 10% (20%) The Programmes — Instant: 8% | 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 |
| Minimum Trading Days | The Programmes — Regular (2-phase): 12 total The Programmes — Rapid (1-phase): 8 The Programmes — Instant: 8 | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 4 per phase The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: None |
| News Trading | Yes | Evaluation: allowed within trading rules. Standard FTMO Account: affected instruments restricted 2 minutes before/after selected releases; Swing exempt. Futures: news trading allowed |
| Daily Loss Limit | The Programmes — Regular (2-phase): 5% (10% with add-on) The Programmes — Rapid (1-phase): 5% (10%) The Programmes — Instant: 3% | 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 Programmes — Regular (2-phase): None The Programmes — Rapid (1-phase): None The Programmes — Instant: 20% | 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% |
| 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 | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $10K Account | Listed challenge / USD 66 / One-time | 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 |
| CFD $25K Account | Listed challenge / USD 156 / One-time | 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 |
| CFD $50K Account | Listed challenge / USD 289 / One-time | 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 |
| CFD $100K Account | Listed challenge / USD 499 / One-time | 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 |
| CFD $200K Account | Listed challenge / USD 849 / One-time | 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 |
| Futures $50K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | 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 |
| Futures $100K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | 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 |
| Futures $150K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | 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 |
| Refund Policy | Refundable challenge fees upon first profit withdrawal | The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 2-Step: 100% The Two CFD Challenges Compared — 1-Step: None |
| Coupons / Discount | Sway Funded discount | FTMO discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | Sway Charts, Sway Charts Pro, Liquid Charts, Liquid Charts Pro | CFD: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView. Futures: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | — | Not verified for CFD accounts; check current Symbols |
| EA/Algo Trading | No | Allowed subject to trading rules, allocation and platform limits; third-party EAs can create allocation conflicts. |
Payout
| Feature | Sway Funded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT (1.5% withdrawal fee, typically 24 hours) | 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 |
| 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 | 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 on CFD; zero withdrawal commission; scaling to $2M; futures line with no minimum trading days and no activation fee |
| Weaknesses | Relatively new firm (founded Feb 2024), Proprietary platform only, 1.5% withdrawal fee, No phone support, Not regulated broker | 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 |
| Best For | Traders seeking flexible challenge formats with no time pressure | 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 |
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 carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10, scored on the same nine weighted factors, led by payout reliability at 20%, then fee structure, drawdown rules and profit split at 15% each. The scores come from our own firm reviews, built from each firm’s current terms rather than its marketing pages and re-checked at least every 90 days. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold. The tables above are the evidence behind those scores. Read our full ranking methodology.
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