FTMO vs The 5%ers (2026): Challenge vs Career

In the beginning, there was FTMO (2015) and The 5%ers (2016). While thousands of other firms have come and gone (RIP MyForexFunds), these two stand as the pillars of legitimacy.

But they represent two completely different philosophies.

• FTMO: "Prove you can trade, and we will simulate a funded account."
• The 5%ers: "We are a fund. Show us talent, and we will give you real capital."

Round 1: The Model

FTMO (The Exam)

You pay a fee. You have to hit 10% profit without losing 10%. It is high pressure.

• Leverage: 1:100.
• Style: Good for aggressive traders who want to flip an account.

The 5%ers (The Job Interview)

Their Bootcamp is a low-cost entry (€95). You trade through 3 demo stages to prove consistency.

• Leverage: 1:10 (Bootcamp) or 1:30 (Hyper).
• Style: Low leverage forces you to trade responsibly. It filters out gamblers.

Round 2: Scaling (Growth)

FTMO scales you by 25% every 4 months if profitable. It is slow.

• Year 1 Potential: $100k -> $175k.

The 5%ers offers Hyper-Growth.

• Every time you hit 10% profit, they double your account.
• Year 1 Potential: $10k -> $20k -> $40k -> $80k -> $160k -> $320k.
• Winner: The 5%ers. The scaling potential is exponential.

Round 3: The Trader Profile

FTMO is for the Independent Contractor. You want to trade your strategy, high risk, high reward. You want your payout every 2 weeks to pay bills.

The 5%ers is for the Portfolio Manager. You want to build a track record. You are okay with starting small ($100k bootcamp actually starts with $6k live buying power) and compounding it into a $4M account over 2 years.

The Verdict

Choose FTMO If:

1. You need Income Now. The capital is available immediately after passing.
2. You need High Leverage. 1:100 allows for tighter stops and bigger lot sizes relative to equity.

Choose The 5%ers If:

1. You want a Career. The scaling plan is a retirement vehicle.
2. You are on a Budget. The €95 entry for the Bootcamp is the best value "test" in the world.

Winner: FTMO for Income. The 5%ers for Wealth.