FTMO vs FundingPips: Trading Rules Compared
The published CFD rules of the two firms side by side: profit targets, loss limits, news trading windows and how each measures the daily limit. Every figure is read from the firms' own pages.
The 2-Step programmes have the same loss limits: 5% daily and 10% overall (static). 2-Step profit targets: FTMO 10%, then 5%; FundingPips 8%, then 5%. 2-Step minimum trading days: FTMO at least 4 trading days; FundingPips at least 3 trading days per phase. 1-Step programmes: FTMO 1-Step Challenge, target 10%, 3% daily and 10% overall loss (end-of-day trailing); FundingPips 1 Step Flex, target 12%, 3% daily and 12% overall loss (static). We do not rank the two: fees, payout terms, platforms and country availability were not compared.
Important risks
Evaluations carry fees and strict rules. Outcomes are not guaranteed and the fee can be lost. Trading in these programmes is simulated. Rules change and differ by account type: VERIFY CURRENT DATA on each firm's own page before you pay.
Where FTMO and FundingPips differ
- The 2-Step programmes have the same loss limits: 5% daily and 10% overall (static).
- 2-Step profit targets: FTMO 10%, then 5%; FundingPips 8%, then 5%.
- 2-Step minimum trading days: FTMO at least 4 trading days; FundingPips at least 3 trading days per phase.
- 1-Step programmes: FTMO 1-Step Challenge, target 10%, 3% daily and 10% overall loss (end-of-day trailing); FundingPips 1 Step Flex, target 12%, 3% daily and 12% overall loss (static).
- News windows on funded accounts: FTMO ±2 min on restricted events; FundingPips ±5 min on high-impact news.
- The daily limit is measured differently: FTMO from the account balance recorded at the daily reset, FundingPips from the higher of balance and equity at the daily reset.
2-Step programmes side by side
| Item | FTMO | FundingPips |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | 2-Step Evaluation | 2 Step Standard |
| Profit target | 10%, then 5% | 8%, then 5% |
| Max daily loss | 5% | 5% |
| Max overall loss | 10% (static) | 10% (static) |
| Minimum trading days | At least 4 trading days | At least 3 trading days per phase |
| Time limit | Not stated on the page we read | No time limit |
1-Step programmes side by side
| Item | FTMO | FundingPips |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | 1-Step Challenge | 1 Step Flex |
| Profit target | 10% | 12% |
| Max daily loss | 3% | 3% |
| Max overall loss | 10% (end-of-day trailing) | 12% (static) |
| Minimum trading days | Not stated on the page we read | No minimum trading days |
| Time limit | None | No explicit time limit stated |
| Notes | Max loss trails: 10% below the highest end-of-day balance, recalculated daily. Best Day Rule: your most profitable day may not exceed 50% of your total profit. Reward 90% from the start; fee not refunded. | None on the page we read |
News trading rules
| Item | FTMO | FundingPips |
|---|---|---|
| During the evaluation | No news restriction during the Evaluation Process (FTMO Challenge and Verification), for Standard and Swing account types, as long as no forbidden trading practice is used. | No restriction on holding trades during news in the evaluation, but FundingPips states that purposely trading news is prohibited in both the evaluation and the master phase and can lead to account closure. |
| On the funded account | Standard FTMO Account: restricted around selected news. Swing account type: no news restriction. | Master accounts: restricted windows around high-impact news and speeches. |
| Restricted window | 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after the release. | 1 Step Flex, 2 Step Standard, 2 Step Flex and 2 Step Pro: 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after a high-impact news event, and 10 minutes before a speech starts to 10 minutes after it ends. FundingPips Zero: 10 minutes before and after. |
| What happens to trades in the window | No opening or closing trades, including pending orders, stop loss or take profit executions, in the window on the affected instruments. Positions opened earlier may stay open, but a stop or target triggered inside the window is a violation. Breaking the rule may lead to termination of the FTMO Account. | Profits from trades opened or closed in the window may be deducted. |
| Which events count | Announcements marked "Restricted event" in FTMO's economic calendar. FTMO's FAQ gives examples: US Non-Farm Employment, the Federal Funds Rate, CPI, GDP, the UK Official Bank Rate, the ECB main refinancing rate, equivalent releases for other currencies, and Crude Oil Inventories. | High-impact events in the FundingPips Economic Calendar on the trader dashboard. |
| Exceptions | Instruments not affected by the announcement can be traded normally. | Trades opened 5 hours or more before the event are excluded from the restriction. Separately, weekend holding on master accounts is temporarily not allowed (effective 29 Jan 2026). |
How each firm measures the daily limit
| Item | FTMO | FundingPips |
|---|---|---|
| How the daily limit is measured | From the account balance recorded at the daily reset | From the higher of balance and equity at the daily reset |
| Daily reset | 00:00 CE(S)T | 00:00 platform time (UTC+3) |
"Not stated on the page we read" means exactly that; it does not mean the rule does not exist. Both firms count open-position profit and loss in their limits.
Analysis: what the differences mean
Analysis, not fact
On 2-Step the loss floor is the same, so the choice comes down to the target (10% then 5% against 8% then 5%), minimum days and the rules around news. On 1-Step they diverge: FTMO's 10% maximum loss trails your highest end-of-day balance and comes with a best-day rule, while FundingPips 1 Step Flex has a fixed 12% floor and no minimum days.
The news rules differ in form. FTMO says there is no news restriction during its evaluation, then bans opening or closing trades two minutes either side of restricted events on funded Standard accounts. FundingPips says purposely trading news is prohibited in both the evaluation and the master phase, and may deduct profits from trades in a five-minute window on master accounts. Read both pages for the account type you would actually hold.
The daily limit is also measured differently (the balance at the reset at FTMO, the higher of balance and equity at FundingPips), which changes how much room a profitable day gives you. Use the drawdown calculator with your own numbers rather than comparing the percentages alone.
Test your own numbers
- The drawdown calculator applies each firm's own formula to your balance and equity.
- The lot size calculator turns a risk percentage into a lot size, checks it against the daily and overall limits and counts down to the next CPI, NFP or FOMC with the news window of the firm you pick.
- The news trading rules page has the full wording and sources for both firms.
Check the current terms
Read our review, then check the current rules on the official site. Marlin may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we write. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, FTMO or FundingPips?
There is no single better one. The published rules differ in ways that suit different trading styles, and we did not compare fees, payout terms, platforms or country availability, so we do not rank the two. Compare the rules for the account type you would hold and check the current terms on each official site.
Do FTMO and FundingPips have the same daily loss limit?
On their 2-Step programmes yes: 5% daily and 10% overall, static. The 1-Step programmes differ (FTMO 3% daily, FundingPips 3% daily), and the two firms measure the daily limit from different baselines. Use the drawdown calculator for your own numbers.
Can I trade news with FTMO and FundingPips?
It depends on the phase and the account type. FTMO: ±2 min on restricted events (Standard FTMO Account). FundingPips: ±5 min on high-impact news (Master accounts). The evaluation and funded-account rules differ, so read the full comparison above and each firm's own page.
Is trading at FTMO and FundingPips done with real money?
According to the pages we read, no. FTMO says it only provides simulated trading services. FundingPips says all its accounts are demo accounts in a simulated environment. The money you put at risk is the fee you pay.
Are these rules current?
They were read from each firm's own pages on 2026-09-21 (objectives), 2026-09-23 (news rules) and 2026-09-26 (limit calculations). Rules change often. VERIFY CURRENT DATA on the official pages linked in the sources before you pay.
Does Marlin earn a commission?
Marlin may earn a commission if you sign up through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. The commission does not decide what we write. See the affiliate disclosure.
How this comparison was prepared
Every figure comes from the firms' own pages listed below. We did not open accounts, pay fees or test any programme, and we quote no prices, promotions or pass rates. The same data drives our four-programme comparison, the news rules page and the drawdown calculator, so they cannot disagree. Where a page did not state a rule we say so. Re-read the sources before each update: VERIFY CURRENT DATA.
Sources (5)
ShowHide
Official or primary sources used for the facts above. Figures and terms change, so check the source before acting on them.
- FTMO — Trading objectives1-Step and 2-Step (CFD) targets, daily and max loss, best-day rule, minimum trading days. States that FTMO only provides simulated trading services.Accessed
- FTMO — Can I trade news?Page shows last update 3 Sep 2026.Accessed
- FundingPips Help Center — 2 Step StandardPhase targets, daily and overall loss, minimum days, no time limit, and the statement that all accounts are demo accounts in a simulated environment.Accessed
- FundingPips Help Center — 1 Step FlexTarget, daily and overall loss, no minimum trading days, and the same simulated-account statement.Accessed
- FundingPips — News Trading & Weekend HoldingAccessed
Written by
Volodymyr KravchenkoIndependent market researcher focused on Forex, Gold, commodities, macroeconomic data and AI-powered financial intelligence.
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Educational research, not personal advice. See our editorial policy and methodology.
This content is provided for educational purposes only and is not investment advice. Trading involves risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Affiliate relationships may exist. Always conduct your own independent research before making financial decisions.