Why This Guide Matters for Traders in 2025
If you are aiming for an FTMO funded account, you are not just chasing capital; you are making a business decision that directly affects your financial security. That makes this a Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) topic, which means accuracy, transparency, and reliability are not optional. They are mandatory.
In this 2025 guide, I will break down every cost including upfront, ongoing, and potential expenses to ensure there are no hidden charges in the fine print. Think of it as your full pre-flight checklist before you board the FTMO funding rocket.
What is FTMO and How Does It Work?
FTMO is a proprietary trading firm that provides skilled traders with access to significant capital once they prove they can trade profitably and responsibly. Rather than risking your own funds, you go through a structured evaluation process to demonstrate your ability to manage risk, hit profit targets, and remain consistent.
The process involves two main phases:
- The FTMO Challenge: This is the first step, where traders must meet specific profit targets while following strict risk management rules. It is essentially your audition for a funded account.
- Verification: If you pass the Challenge, the Verification phase confirms that your trading approach is consistent and reliable under similar rules but often with slightly less pressure in terms of profit targets.
Once you pass both phases, you are granted a funded account. At this point you can trade without risking your own money and keep the majority of the profits you earn.
Does FTMO Charge a Monthly Fee?
FTMO does not charge traders a recurring monthly fee. Instead, you pay a single fee to enter the FTMO Challenge. This one-time payment covers both the Challenge phase and the Verification phase.
One of the main benefits for traders is that if you successfully pass the Challenge, complete Verification, and make your first profit withdrawal, FTMO refunds your initial fee. This means that if you succeed, your evaluation effectively costs nothing.
This approach is different from many other proprietary trading firms, which often require ongoing subscription payments to keep your funded account active. FTMO’s structure allows you to focus on meeting the trading objectives without worrying about continuous costs reducing your profits.
Are FTMO Fees Recurring?
FTMO fees are not recurring. After you pay for the Challenge, there are no additional charges to keep your account active. You will not be billed monthly, quarterly, or annually for platform access or account maintenance.
This is a key difference compared to some other prop firms that operate on a subscription model. Those firms may require you to pay every month to retain your funded account, which can eat into your profits over time. With FTMO, once the initial fee is paid, you can focus on your trading performance without worrying about constant charges.
FTMO Challenge: Costs and What’s Included
The cost of the FTMO Challenge depends on the account size you choose. Each fee is a one-time payment and covers the full two-phase evaluation process. As of 2025, the pricing is:
- $10,000 account: €155
- $25,000 account: €250
- $50,000 account: €345
- $100,000 account: €610
- $200,000 account: €1,220
When you pay for the Challenge, you receive access to:
- Professional-grade trading platforms and analytical tools
- Performance coaching and educational resources
- Both evaluation phases (Challenge and Verification)
- A refund of your fee once you pass and make your first profit withdrawal
This structure means you are not only paying for a test but also gaining access to resources that can help you trade more effectively. If you succeed, the cost becomes an investment that is returned to you.
Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Fees
The fee you pay for the FTMO Challenge is refundable, but only if you successfully pass both phases of the evaluation and make your first profit withdrawal from a funded account. When these conditions are met, FTMO returns the full amount of your initial payment.
If you do not pass the Challenge, the fee is not refunded. However, FTMO does offer a free retry if you meet certain conditions, such as not violating any trading rules and finishing the evaluation with a positive account balance. This gives traders a second opportunity without having to pay again right away.
Understanding this distinction is important so you know what is at stake before entering the Challenge.
Funded Accounts: Are There Ongoing Costs?
Once you earn a funded account with FTMO, there are no ongoing costs to maintain it. You will not pay any platform fees, maintenance charges, or hidden service costs.
FTMO operates on a profit-sharing model. By default, traders keep 80 percent of the profits they generate, and this can increase to 90 percent through FTMO’s scaling plan. The firm covers any trading losses, as long as you follow their rules, which means you can trade without risking your own capital.
This setup allows traders to focus entirely on performance and strategy rather than worrying about extra fees reducing their returns.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
FTMO is known for having a transparent fee structure, and traders generally do not encounter unexpected charges once the Challenge fee is paid. There are no platform usage fees, inactivity charges, or withdrawal costs that appear later.
Some traders assume there may be extra expenses, but FTMO’s model is straightforward. The only payment required is the initial Challenge fee, which covers the entire evaluation process. After that, all focus is on your trading performance and profit targets rather than avoiding surprise bills.
This level of transparency is one reason many traders consider FTMO one of the more trustworthy proprietary trading firms.
Does FTMO Charge for Withdrawals?
FTMO does not charge traders any fees for withdrawing profits. You can request a payout once per month, or as soon as two weeks after starting to trade on your funded account.
Withdrawals can be made through several methods, including:
- Bank transfer
- Skrill
- Cryptocurrency payments
Since FTMO covers the transaction costs on their side, traders receive the full amount of their profit share. This policy allows you to keep 100 percent of your earnings without losing a portion to processing fees.
FTMO vs. Other Prop Firms: Which is More Affordable?
When compared to other proprietary trading firms, FTMO often stands out for its long-term value. Several factors make their pricing more attractive:
- No Monthly Fees: Many competitors charge ongoing subscription costs to keep an account active, which can add up quickly over time.
- Refundable Challenge Fee: Passing both evaluation phases and making a profit withdrawal earns you a full refund of your initial payment.
- High Profit Splits: FTMO offers an 80 percent default profit share, which can increase to 90 percent through scaling, while other firms may offer less.
- No Hidden Costs: Some firms add extra charges for account maintenance or withdrawals, but FTMO avoids these practices entirely.
This combination of fair costs and generous profit sharing makes FTMO an appealing choice for traders who want to maximize their earnings while keeping expenses predictable.
Pros and Cons of FTMO Pricing
Advantages
- One-Time Payment: You only pay once for the Challenge, with no monthly or recurring fees.
- Refundable Fee: If you succeed and make your first withdrawal, you get your Challenge fee back.
- Generous Profit Split: Keep up to 90 percent of your profits through the scaling plan.
- No Withdrawal Fees: You keep 100 percent of the profits you are entitled to without processing deductions.
Disadvantages
- Upfront Cost: You must pay for the Challenge before trading any FTMO capital.
- No Refund if You Fail: If you do not pass, your fee is lost unless you qualify for a free retry.
This balanced structure benefits consistent and disciplined traders, but it can be a risk for those who are unprepared for the evaluation’s strict rules.
Conclusion
FTMO offers a clear and transparent pricing structure that stands out among proprietary trading firms. There are no recurring monthly fees, no hidden charges, and no withdrawal costs. The only payment required is the one-time Challenge fee, which can be refunded once you pass the evaluation and make your first profit withdrawal.
For traders who are confident in their skills and discipline, this model can be highly rewarding. The generous profit splits, scaling opportunities, and absence of surprise fees make FTMO a competitive choice for those seeking to trade with significant capital without risking their own funds.
FAQ’s
FTMO seldom provides discounts, as their business is around a single Challenge payment that one can get back if they do well. At times FTMO might do special deals, such as during important days for finance, holidays or anniversaries. The best way to learn about any deals is to sign up for FTMO’s emails, view their social media or check their website often. Some groups online may share short deals but people must be aware of fake offers to avoid scams.
One can get the FTMO Challenge payment back but only in some situations. If a person does well in both the Challenge and Check stages and then gets money from their live account for the first time, FTMO returns the whole Challenge payment. If they do not do well in the Challenge or Check stage, they do not get the payment back. FTMO does give free Challenge tries if people follow all rules about risk and finish the Challenge with money without going over the limits.
FTMO has a clear payment system with no hidden costs. The only needed payment is the single Challenge payment. This gives people entry to both the Challenge and Check stages. Not like some firms FTMO does not ask for regular payments, platform payments or money taken out payments. After a person gets capital, there are no costs to keep going and people keep much of their gains. People could think there are costs because of other firms. FTMO is clear about their payment and gain share.
FTMO does not ask for a regular payment to have a live account. After someone does well in the test, they get a live account and can trade without more costs. In comparison to some in the business that ask for payments, FTMO does not have payments like that. This makes FTMO a good pick for people who want capital without regular costs.
About the Author
Andrew Edwards is the co-founder of SecretsToTrading101 and has years of practical experience in online trading, prop firm evaluations and financial content review. He specialises in helping traders understand trading rules, challenge requirements and platform conditions so they can make informed decisions. Andrew oversees the accuracy of our prop firm guides and ensures all information is reviewed against current firm terms and risk standards.
