FTMO vs FTUK
On 25 Oct 2026, FTMO and FTUK differed on 3 of 8 rules checked for both: Payout frequency (FTMO: First Reward request from the 14th day after the first trade on the FTMO Account; FTMO reviews within 1-2 business days, FTUK: One-/Two-Step: every 14 calendar days (7 days with the weekly-payout add-on); Instant Funding and Flex: on demand); Profit split (FTMO: 80% default on 2-Step accounts (90% with Scaling Plan or Premium Programme); 90% on 1-Step and Instant accounts, FTUK: One-/Two-Step: 80%; Instant Funding: 65–90% by level; Flex: 60–90% by level); Account, device and IP rules (FTMO: VPN/VPS generally allowed; do not log in to MetaTrader/cTrader from, or set VPN geolocation to, the United States, FTUK: A fixed VPS or VPN is allowed if trades come from the same IP; using many IPs from different countries or hiding your IP leads to termination).
Receipts: FTMO 0, FTUK 0.
FTUK: FTUK's facts here are for its forex programs (One-Step, Two-Step and Instant Funding). Where a rule's text names futures, its futures rule differs; other futures rules are not shown here.
Which fits you
- If you copy trade: FTMO (allowed with conditions), FTUK (allowed with conditions).
- If you run EAs: FTMO (allowed with conditions), FTUK (allowed with conditions).
- If you trade the news: FTMO (allowed with conditions), FTUK (allowed with conditions).
- If you hedge: FTMO (allowed with conditions), FTUK (allowed with conditions).
- If you hold trades over the weekend: FTMO (allowed with conditions), FTUK (allowed with conditions).
Side by side
| Rule | FTMO | FTUK |
|---|---|---|
| Payout frequency Differs | First Reward request from the 14th day after the first trade on the FTMO Account; FTMO reviews within 1-2 business daysThis can be done on the 14th or any following day after the first trade is placed on the specific account. | One-/Two-Step: every 14 calendar days (7 days with the weekly-payout add-on); Instant Funding and Flex: on demandon standard one and two-step programs, payout frequency is limited to once every 14 calendar days. |
| Profit split Differs | 80% default on 2-Step accounts (90% with Scaling Plan or Premium Programme); 90% on 1-Step and Instant accountsBy default, you receive a Reward according to 80% of the simulated profit. If the Scaling Plan or Premium Programme conditions are met, the Reward Ratio is increased to 90%. | One-/Two-Step: 80%; Instant Funding: 65–90% by level; Flex: 60–90% by levelFlex Challenge Instant Funding One Step Two Step Level 1 60% 65% 80% 80% |
| Copy trading | Allowed with conditions: Copying between your own accounts is allowed if each account follows the rules; copying third-party signals, master accounts or trade copiers is forbidden (stated on the FTMO Futures rules page; the CFD rules forbid third parties trading for you)Copy trading across your own accounts is permitted, provided each account independently and fully complies with all applicable rules. | Allowed with conditions: Only from personal accounts tied to you; copying between a non-FTUK and an FTUK account is allowed, but copying between multiple FTUK accounts is notCopy trading is permitted for our clients, but only from personal accounts legally tied to the account holder. |
| EAs and bots | Allowed with conditions: EAs allowed; third-party EAs risk breaching the maximum capital allocation rule; server limits of 200 open orders and 2,000 positions per dayIf you intend to use trading robots (Expert Advisors – EAs), keep in mind that if you use an EA from a third party ... you potentially run a risk of being denied the FTMO Account | Allowed with conditions: Forex: risk-management EAs allowed; martingale, tick scalping, arbitrage, grid and HFT (trades under 30s) banned with or without an EA. Futures: no bots or EAsFTUK allows the use of any risk management EAs (trading bots), but the following strategies are strictly prohibited, whether or not an EA or trading bot is used |
| News trading | Allowed with conditions: On the FTMO Account, no orders 2 minutes before or after selected news releases; Challenge, Verification and Swing accounts can trade news freelyFTMO restricts order execution for 2 minutes before and 2 minutes after selected news releases for all accounts, excluding the exceptions mentioned below. | Allowed with conditions: Allowed on Instant Funding (forex) and futures Instant Sim Funding; One-/Two-Step rule tables don't state it, and FTUK's add-on article excludes 'news Trading' from purchased add-onsNews Trading Allowed |
| Hedging | Allowed with conditions: Opposite positions on a single account allowed; forbidden across connected accounts or when used to get around the Best Day or Consistency rulessimultaneously entering into opposite positions (with the exception of entering into such positions on a single simulated account) | Allowed with conditions: Hedge arbitrage is banned; hedging within one account is not coveredHedge arbitrage trading |
| Weekend holding | Allowed with conditions: Allowed on Swing accounts and during Challenge/Verification; standard FTMO Accounts must close positions before market breaks longer than 2 hoursFTMO restricts holding positions through market breaks longer than 2 hours for all accounts, excluding the exceptions mentioned below. | Allowed with conditions: Forex programs (One-Step, Two-Step, Instant Funding): overnight and weekend holding allowed. Futures: not allowedHolding Overnight & Weekend Allowed |
| Account, device and IP rules Differs | VPN/VPS generally allowed; do not log in to MetaTrader/cTrader from, or set VPN geolocation to, the United StatesThe use of VPN/VPS is also generally allowed. | A fixed VPS or VPN is allowed if trades come from the same IP; using many IPs from different countries or hiding your IP leads to terminationYou are allowed to use a fixed VPS or VPN as long as the trades originate from the same IP address. |
Payout receipts compared
FTMO: 0 receipts forwarded to us, 0 denials. FTUK: 0 receipts forwarded to us, 0 denials.
Share of receipts forwarded to us, not of all payouts. People forward denials more often than approvals, so absolute numbers run high; compare firms with each other, not with zero.
Rule changes in the last 90 days
None detected in the last 90 days.
FAQ
Does FTMO or FTUK allow copy trading?
FTMO's own rules say allowed with conditions: Copying between your own accounts is allowed if each account follows the rules; copying third-party signals, master accounts or trade copiers is forbidden (stated on the FTMO Futures rules page; the CFD rules forbid third parties trading for you). FTUK's own rules say allowed with conditions: Only from personal accounts tied to you; copying between a non-FTUK and an FTUK account is allowed, but copying between multiple FTUK accounts is not.
Does FTMO or FTUK allow EAs and bots?
FTMO's own rules say allowed with conditions: EAs allowed; third-party EAs risk breaching the maximum capital allocation rule; server limits of 200 open orders and 2,000 positions per day. FTUK's own rules say allowed with conditions: Forex: risk-management EAs allowed; martingale, tick scalping, arbitrage, grid and HFT (trades under 30s) banned with or without an EA. Futures: no bots or EAs.
Does FTMO or FTUK allow news trading?
FTMO's own rules say allowed with conditions: On the FTMO Account, no orders 2 minutes before or after selected news releases; Challenge, Verification and Swing accounts can trade news freely. FTUK's own rules say allowed with conditions: Allowed on Instant Funding (forex) and futures Instant Sim Funding; One-/Two-Step rule tables don't state it, and FTUK's add-on article excludes 'news Trading' from purchased add-ons.
Does FTMO or FTUK allow hedging?
FTMO's own rules say allowed with conditions: Opposite positions on a single account allowed; forbidden across connected accounts or when used to get around the Best Day or Consistency rules. FTUK's own rules say allowed with conditions: Hedge arbitrage is banned; hedging within one account is not covered.