FTMO 2026 Audit: Is the King Losing Its Crown?
Account Tested: $200,000 Challenge & Funded
Duration: 180 Days (July – December 2025)
Total Trades: 412
Total Payouts: $34,200 (3 Requests)
1. The Executive Summary
FTMO remains the benchmark for stability in the proprietary trading industry. However, our 2026 audit reveals that while they excel in infrastructure reliability, the competitive gap in “Execution Speed vs. Spreads” is narrowing as smaller, more agile firms adopt newer liquidity bridging technologies.
The Verdict: FTMO is still the “Safest Choice,” but for high-frequency news scalpers, there are now faster alternatives.
2. Execution Intelligence: The Raw Data
We used a third-party latency monitor to track execution from the moment our limit/market orders were sent to the FTMO server.
A. Average Latency (Normal Volatility)
- FTMO Server (EU): 18ms – 24ms
- FTMO Server (US East): 85ms – 92ms
- Industry Avg: 45ms (Prop Sector)
B. High-Impact News Slippage (NFP, CPI, FOMC)
We tracked 24 trades executed within 60 seconds of high-impact news releases.
| Metric | FTMO Performance | Competition (Top 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Slippage (Pips) | 1.8 – 3.2 | 1.2 – 2.8 |
| Order Rejection Rate | 0% | 4% |
| Max Spread Expansion | 12.5 Pips (XAUUSD) | 14.2 Pips (XAUUSD) |
3. The “Payout Experience” Audit
The most critical part of our 6-month test was the withdrawal process.
- Request 1 ($12,000): Approved in 4 hours. Funds arrived via Deel in 2 hours.
- Request 2 ($8,500): Approved in 6 hours. Funds arrived via Crypto (USDT) in 45 minutes.
- Request 3 ($13,700): Approved in 5 hours. Funds arrived via Bank Wire in 2 business days.
Compliance Score: 10/10. FTMO remains the only firm in our database to never trigger a “manual review” flag for profit-taking strategies that other firms often label as “abusive.”
4. Platform Stability & Technology
In late 2025, FTMO fully migrated to its proprietary trading platform environment.
- Downtime: 0.02% (Only during scheduled weekend maintenance).
- Mobile Experience: The new FTMO app is significantly faster than the legacy MT4/MT5 mobile wrappers.
- Tools: The “Equity Simulator” and “Statistical App” remain the best-in-class for risk management.
5. Pros & Cons (2026 Edition)
The Good
- Trust Factor: Unmatched. They survived the 2023-2024 “Prop Apocalypse” without changing their payout structure.
- Rules: The most transparent terms of service in the industry. No hidden “Consistency Rules” or “Virtual Profit” traps.
- Customer Support: 24/7 human support with sub-2 minute wait times.
The Bad
- Pricing: Still 15-20% more expensive than competitors like Funding Pips or E8.
- Leverage: 1:100 (1:30 for Swing) is considered “low” by modern retail prop standards.
- Evaluation: The 2-step process is still rigorous compared to the “Instant Funding” models gaining popularity.
6. Final Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Trust & Longevity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| Execution Speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) |
| Payout Reliability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| User Interface | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) |
Overall Score: 9.6 / 10
Disclaimer: Top10Prop is independent. We purchased this challenge with our own funds to ensure an unbiased audit.