BrightFunded vs FTMO

BrightFunded suits traders who hold positions over weekends, run expert advisors and plan to keep a funded account for many months, since its scaling plan lifts the split to 100% with no ceiling on growth. FTMO suits traders who want a first payout from day 14 rather than day 30, a platform list that includes MetaTrader 4 and TradingView, a long operating record and access for US clients through an affiliated entity. On a $100K two step both firms set the same targets and loss limits and both price in euros, so the choice turns on funded account rules, payout timing and scaling.

All prices are list prices at the time of review in September 2026. Both firms price in euros and run frequent discounts.

BrightFunded vs FTMO at a glance

The table compares the BrightFunded 2 Step Classic at $100,000 with the FTMO Challenge 2 Step at $100,000.

Rules and drawdown

On these two products the core limits match. Both ask for 10% and then 5%, set a 5% daily limit and fix a 10% maximum loss from the starting balance, so a $100K account fails at $90,000 however much profit is made. Neither applies a consistency rule or a time limit. The trailing vs static drawdown guide explains why a fixed floor is easier to plan around, and the drawdown calculator shows how much room remains after a losing run.

The daily limit is calculated differently. FTMO uses a fixed 5% of the initial balance, deducted from the balance at midnight Central European time, with equity required to stay above it. BrightFunded’s plan articles measure the daily limit from the higher of equity or balance at the start of the day, reset at the rollover between 11:30 pm and 11:59 pm CET, so open profit at the rollover raises the reference point.

Minimum days and inactivity also differ. BrightFunded needs five trading days in each stage, with a day counting only when a trade stays open for at least 60 seconds, and sells an add on that removes the minimum. It deactivates accounts after 30 calendar days without a trade. FTMO needs four trading days in each phase.

Both firms sell other routes. BrightFunded’s 2 Step Bright costs €477 for $100K with an 8% first target and limits of 4% daily and 8% overall. Its 1 Step costs €497, with a 10% target, a 3% daily limit and a 6% limit that trails the equity high in real time until it locks at the starting balance, and it offers a free $1,000 challenge on the same rules. The FTMO 1 Step costs €499, with a 10% target, a 3% daily limit, a 10% limit that trails the highest end of day balance, a 50% best day rule and a 90% split.

News, holding and automation

Weekend holding is the clearest difference on funded accounts. BrightFunded allows overnight and weekend holding, including on funded accounts. FTMO allows it in the evaluation, but funded Standard accounts must close before the weekend and before market breaks longer than two hours, unless the trader chooses the Swing account type on the 2 Step, which removes the rule at leverage of up to 1:30. The weekend and overnight holding rules guide compares firms.

Both firms allow news trading in the evaluation and restrict it once funded. FTMO funded Standard accounts cannot open or close trades on affected instruments from two minutes before to two minutes after selected releases. BrightFunded funded accounts cannot execute trades, including stop loss and take profit fills, from five minutes before to five minutes after major news, and profit from such trades is deducted as a soft breach. FTMO’s Swing account has no news restriction.

Both allow expert advisors. BrightFunded permits them within the loss limits, except on DXtrade, where API and automated trading are not available, and allows copy trading only between accounts owned by the same person. FTMO requires the strategy to be replicable in real markets, with a capital allocation limit of $400,000 per trader or strategy.

Pricing and fees

BrightFunded’s 2 Step Classic costs €497 for $100K against €540 at FTMO. At the time of review BrightFunded was running a 30% anniversary code, and FTMO offered its $100K 2 Step at €439 to traders without an active challenge of that size. FTMO refunds the 2 Step fee with the first reward and adds a 3% fee on PayPal, Skrill and crypto payments. BrightFunded accepts cryptocurrencies for challenge fees, including Bitcoin, USDT and USDC.

BrightFunded publishes its trading costs: $3 per lot on currency pairs, no commission on indices, and 0.024% of volume on crypto, with swaps charged unless a swap free add on is bought. Add ons also change the split, the payout schedule and the minimum days, so the checkout price depends on the options chosen.

Payouts

BrightFunded’s first payout falls 30 days after the first funded trade, then every 14 days, and add ons bring the cycle down to 14 or 7 days. There is no minimum amount, requests are processed within one day, and BrightFunded charges no payout fee. Payouts go by bank transfer, paid in euros, or in USDC. Once a new funded account is 10% up and has paid out, BrightFunded adds 15% of the evaluation profits.

FTMO rewards can be requested from the 14th day after the first trade. FTMO reviews requests within one to two business days, typically sends funds within one to two business days of invoice approval and charges no commission. Methods include bank wire from $20, card payouts up to $20,000, Skrill and crypto.

Scaling is where BrightFunded goes further. Each funded account is reviewed over four months, and at least two profitable months, 10% total profit, two payouts and a balance at break even or better earn a 30% increase, with the split rising to 90% at the first scale up and 100% from the third, and no ceiling on growth. FTMO adds 25% every four months for traders with at least 10% net profit and two processed rewards, up to $2 million, and lifts the 2 Step split to 90%. The scaling plans guide and payout calculator help compare the two paths.

Platforms and markets

BrightFunded supports MetaTrader 5, cTrader and DXtrade, with MetaTrader 5 unavailable to citizens and residents of the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Markets cover forex, indices, gold and commodities, and crypto, with leverage of 1:100 on forex, 1:40 on gold and commodities and 1:20 on indices. The firm was established in 2023, is based in Dubai and has team hubs in Amsterdam and Warsaw. Trustpilot shows no rating for BrightFunded because of a breach of its guidelines.

FTMO supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView, with forex, indices, commodities, stocks and crypto and leverage of up to 1:100 on Standard accounts. It has operated from Prague since 2015, serves US clients through an affiliated entity and offers support around the clock in 21 languages.

Who should choose each firm

Choose BrightFunded if

• You hold positions over weekends on a standard funded account.
• You plan to keep one account for many months and want a split that reaches 100%.
• You want no minimum payout and processing within one day.

Choose FTMO if

• You want your first reward from day 14 rather than day 30.
• You trade on MetaTrader 4 or TradingView, or trade stock CFDs.
• You want the fee refunded with the first reward and a long operating record.

Read the BrightFunded review and FTMO review, compare BrightFunded with Blueberry Funded, or see FTMO alternatives. Filter every firm in the comparison table, browse more comparisons or visit the CFD prop firms hub.