Atlas Funded vs FTMO: Which Prop Firm Is Better in 2026?

Atlas Funded vs FTMO: Quick Comparison Table

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FTMO is the name that comes up in almost every prop firm conversation. They've been around longer than most and built a reputation that newer firms get measured against. But being first doesn't mean being best.

Atlas Funded is newer to the scene but has been turning heads with a different approach. Pay-after-you-pass evaluations, on-demand payouts, and a model built around giving traders fewer obstacles.

So does FTMO's reputation hold up when you put the two side by side? Or has the industry moved on while they stayed the same?

This comparison digs into everything that matters.

What Is Atlas Funded?

Atlas Funded launched in 2024 and made noise almost immediately. While most prop firms ask for your money before you've proven anything, Atlas flipped the script with their Access Challenge. Take the evaluation first, pay only if you pass. That alone got people paying attention.

The firm is registered in Saint Lucia and operated by Atlas Vanquish FZCO, with teams in the UAE and UK. They offer accounts up to $300k, with traders able to hold multiple accounts for a maximum capital allocation of $400k. Profit splits reach 100%, and payouts are processed within 24 hours. If they miss that window, they add $1,000 to your withdrawal.

Beyond the Access model, they also run standard 1-Step, 2-Step, and 3-Step challenges, plus instant funding for traders who want to skip evaluations entirely. Platforms include TradeLocker, MT5, and Match Trader.

What Is FTMO?

FTMO is the prop firm that most others get compared to. Founded in 2015 by Marek Vašíček and Otakar Šuffner in Prague, Czech Republic, they were early to the modern prop trading model and helped shape what the industry looks like today.

Their setup is a two-phase evaluation. Pass the Challenge, then the Verification, and you get access to a funded FTMO Account. Profit splits go up to 90%, and you can trade forex, indices, and crypto on MetaTrader 4 or 5.

The numbers back up their reputation. Over 3.5 million customers across 140+ countries. A 4.8 rating on Trustpilot with 35,000+ reviews. Their platform is translated into 8 languages with 24/7 support in 20 languages. They've also paid out over $1.2 million to a single trader in simulated profits.

FTMO isn't just a prop firm at this point. It's the benchmark everyone else tries to beat.

Account Types and Funding Options

This is where you'll see a real difference in philosophy between the two firms.

Atlas Funded Account Types

Atlas Funded gives you five paths to get funded.

• Instant Funding lets you skip evaluations completely. Pay the fee, start trading right away. Accounts range from $5,000 to $300,000 with a 100% profit split and no targets to worry about.
• 1-Step Challenge has one phase with an 11% profit target. Hit it, and you're funded.
• 2-Step Challenge comes in Standard and Pro versions. Standard asks for 9% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2.
• 3-Step Challenge spreads things across three phases at 6% each. Lower individual targets if you prefer less pressure per phase.
• Atlas Access is where things get interesting. Take the 1-Step or 2-Step challenge without paying upfront. You only pay after you pass. Failed attempts cost you nothing but time.

Maximum single account is $300k, with total capital allocation up to $400k through multiple accounts.

FTMO Account Types

FTMO keeps it to one path. Their two-phase evaluation requires you to pass the Challenge (10% profit target) and then the Verification (5% profit target). No instant funding option exists.

Account sizes run from $10,000 to $200,000, with scaling available up to $400k total. Minimum of 4 trading days required per phase, though there's no time limit to complete.

Fees range from €89 for a $10k account to €1,080 for $200k. A $100k account costs €439 on sale. One nice touch is that FTMO refunds your fee 100% once you're funded and receive your first payout.

Comparison Table – Account Types

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Verdict: Atlas Funded offers more ways in. FTMO's fee refund is a nice gesture, but it only helps if you pass and get paid. Atlas lets you avoid that risk entirely with the Access program.

Profit Splits Compared

Profit split determines how much of your hard work you actually keep. A 10% difference might not sound like much until you're looking at a $5,000 profit and realizing $500 of it went to the firm instead of your pocket.

Atlas Funded starts at 80% and lets you upgrade to 100% whenever you want. It's a paid add-on, not a reward you have to earn over months of trading. If keeping everything matters to you, Atlas makes it simple.

FTMO takes a different route. You start at 80%, and that's where most traders stay for a while. Getting to 90% requires their Scaling Plan, which has some hoops to jump through. You need at least 4 months of trading, 10% total net profit during that period, and a minimum of two completed payouts. Hit those target,s and you get the 90% split plus a 25% bump to your account balance.

The catch is that FTMO caps out at 90%. Atlas can get you to 100% from day one if you're willing to pay for it. And there's no Scaling Plan required to unlock it.

Comparison Table – Profit Splits

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Verdict: Atlas Funded wins on split ceiling. 100% beats 90%, and you don't need to wait four months to get it. FTMO's Scaling Plan does add capital to your account, which has value. But if your priority is keeping more of what you earn, Atlas gets you there faster.

Payout Speed and Withdrawal Terms

Getting funded means nothing if withdrawing your profits feels like pulling teeth. Some firms drag their feet, others nickel and dime you with fees. Here's how these two handle your money once you've earned it.

Atlas Funded Payout Policy

Atlas Funded runs on-demand payouts. Request your money whenever you want, and they process it within 24 hours. Most traders report getting funds even faster than that. Miss the 24-hour window, and Atlas adds $1,000 to your withdrawal as a penalty to themselves.

Default payout cycle is 30 days, with add-ons available for bi-weekly or weekly. No minimum withdrawal on most accounts, except $50 on Access Challenge.

FTMO Payout Policy

FTMO operates on a bi-weekly schedule. Your first payout becomes available 14 days after your first trade, then every 14 days after that. Processing takes 1-2 business days once you submit the request.

Minimum withdrawal is $20 for bank transfers or $50 for crypto. Payment options include bank wire, Skrill, crypto (USDT, BTC, LTC), and sometimes PayPal. Crypto and Skrill come with a 3% fee. Bank transfers are free from FTMO's side, but your bank might charge you.

No late payout guarantee exists. If something delays your withdrawal, there's no compensation.

Comparison Table – Payouts

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Verdict: Atlas Funded is the clear winner here. On-demand beats waiting for a 14-day cycle, and that $1,000 late penalty shows they're confident in their speed.

Trading Rules and Restrictions

This is where prop firms show their true colors. Some let you trade your way. Others hand you a rulebook thicker than your trading plan. Here's what you're signing up for with each firm.

Atlas Funded Trading Rules

Daily drawdown at Atlas sits between 4-5% depending on account type. Maximum drawdown ranges from 6-10%. Standard stuff.

Atlas Funded is also among the very few firms with no minimum trading days. No time limits to pass challenges. No consistency rules telling you how to distribute your profits across trades.

News trading is allowed during evaluations. On funded accounts, you can still trade around news events, but profits from trades opened or closed within 5 minutes of high-impact releases may be deducted. It won't blow your account, though.

Weekend holding is permitted, but opening new positions on Saturday or Sunday isn't allowed. Stop losses aren't mandatory. Trades under 3 minutes as your primary strategy are prohibited.

FTMO Trading Rules

FTMO runs a 5% daily drawdown and 10% maximum drawdown across all accounts. Both are calculated from your initial balance.

Minimum of 4 trading days required during Challenge and Verification phases. Once funded, that requirement disappears. No time limit to complete the evaluation.

Here's where it gets complicated. FTMO offers two account types with different rules. Normal accounts don't allow weekend or overnight holding. Positions must be closed before the market closes on Friday. News trading is also restricted on Normal accounts, with a 2-minute blackout window before and after high-impact releases.

Swing accounts remove these restrictions. Weekend holding, overnight positions, and news trading are all allowed. But you have to choose Swing when you purchase the challenge.

No consistency rules exist. Stop losses aren't required. EAs and copy trading are permitted as long as they follow FTMO's guidelines. One thing to watch is the 30-day inactivity rule. If you don't place at least one trade within 30 days, your account could be closed.

Comparison Table – Trading Rules

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Verdict: Atlas gives you one rulebook. FTMO gives you two, and picks the more restrictive one by default. Swing accounts level the playing field, but you have to know to ask for it. Atlas doesn't make you choose.

Trading Platforms and Instruments

Platform availability matters more than most traders think. Stuck with a platform you hate, and every trade feels like a chore. Here's what each firm puts on the table.

Atlas Funded Platforms

Atlas Funded offers three platforms. TradeLocker, MetaTrader 5, and Match Trader. All work across desktop, web, and mobile. No MT4 and no cTrader.

FTMO Platforms

FTMO goes wider with four options. MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and DXtrade. If you're attached to MT4 or prefer cTrader's interface, FTMO has you covered. DXtrade adds another option for traders who want something more modern.

Instruments

Atlas Funded covers forex (majors, minors, exotics), commodities (metals, energy, agricultural), indices (US, European, Asian), and crypto.

FTMO offers the same spread. Forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and crypto. The addition of stocks gives FTMO a slight edge if equities are part of your strategy. It also makes FTMO one of the best prop firms for stock.

Comparison Table – Platforms & Instruments

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Verdict: FTMO wins on platform variety. MT4 and cTrader are still industry favorites, and FTMO offers both. Atlas covers the essentials, but if your workflow depends on a specific platform, FTMO is less likely to disappoint.

Key Takeaways – Atlas Funded vs FTMO

• Best for instant funding: Atlas Funded. They offer it, FTMO doesn't. If you want to skip evaluations entirely, Atlas is your only option here.
  
  
• Best profit split: Atlas Funded. 100% is available as a paid upgrade from day one. FTMO caps at 90% and makes you wait four months to get there.
  
  
• Fastest payouts: Atlas Funded. On-demand processing within 24 hours, backed by a $1,000 penalty if late. FTMO runs on a bi-weekly cycle with 1-2 day processing.
  
  
• Most flexible rules: Atlas Funded. One rulebook for everyone. FTMO splits rules between Normal and Swing accounts, with Normal being more restrictive by default.
  
  
• Best for beginners: FTMO. Their reputation, 4.8 Trustpilot rating, fee refund policy, and extensive educational resources make it a safer first step for newer traders still building confidence.
  
  
• Best for experienced traders: Atlas Funded. Pay-after-you-pass evaluations, faster payouts, higher profit splits, and fewer restrictions. Skilled traders can move quickly and keep more of what they earn.
  
  
• Best platform variety: FTMO. Four platforms, including MT4 and cTrader. Atlas covers the basics but can't match that range.
  
  

Overall Winner: Atlas Funded edges ahead for traders who prioritize speed, flexibility, and earnings. FTMO's legacy and beginner-friendly ecosystem still hold value, but their bi-weekly payouts, 90% profit cap, and split rulebook feel dated compared to what Atlas offers. If you know what you're doing and want fewer obstacles, Atlas is the better fit.

Conclusion

FTMO earned its reputation for a reason. They've been around since 2015, have millions of customers, and offer a polished experience with strong educational resources. For beginners testing the waters, it's still a solid choice.

But the industry has moved on. Bi-weekly payouts, a 90% profit cap, and account type restrictions feel like relics when competitors are offering on-demand withdrawals, 100% splits, and evaluations you don't have to pay for upfront.

Atlas Funded built their model around what traders actually want. Fewer rules, faster access to your money, and no four-month wait to unlock better terms.

FTMO set the standard. Atlas Funded raised it.

Start trading with Atlas Funded and see the difference for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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