Blue Guardian vs FTMO
Blue Guardian and FTMO both sell a $100K two step with a static maximum loss and no time limit, but they differ on loss room, targets, payout fees, weekend rules and platforms.
Blue Guardian suits traders who want a lower list price, an 85% split from the first payout, weekend holding on funded accounts and processing within 24 business hours, and who accept an 8% static limit and a 3% fee on each payout. FTMO suits traders who want more room, with a 10% static limit and a 5% daily limit, no commission on withdrawals, a platform list that includes MetaTrader 4, cTrader and TradingView, and a long operating record. Both offer a $100K two step with no time limit, so the choice turns on loss room, payout costs and funded account rules.
All prices are list prices at the time of review in September 2026. Blue Guardian prices in US dollars and FTMO in euros, and both run frequent discounts.
Blue Guardian vs FTMO at a glance
The table compares the Blue Guardian 2 Step Standard at $100,000 with the FTMO Challenge 2 Step at $100,000.
| Feature | Blue Guardian 2 Step Standard $100K | FTMO 2 Step $100K |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $463 | €540 |
| Steps | Two | Two |
| Profit target | 8% in phase 1, 4% in phase 2 | 10% in the challenge, 5% in the verification |
| Daily loss limit | 4% of the initial balance, from the higher of balance or equity at the 5 pm EST reset | 5% of the initial balance, from the balance at midnight CET |
| Maximum loss | 8%, static | 10%, static |
| Minimum trading days | Three profitable days of at least 0.5% to pass | Four in each phase |
| Profit split | 85%, or 90% with an add on | 80%, rising to 90% through the Scaling Plan |
| First payout | 14 days after the first funded trade | From the 14th day after the first trade |
| Payout frequency | Every 14 days, or every 7 days with an add on | A new cycle starts after each withdrawal |
| Fee refund | After the fourth payout | With the first reward |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5, Match Trader, TradeLocker | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Trustpilot | No rating shown (2,102 reviews) | 4.8 from 53,284 reviews |
Rules and drawdown
Both firms fix the maximum loss from the starting balance on these products, so it does not trail profit. FTMO allows 10%, which puts the floor of a $100K account at $90,000. Blue Guardian allows 8%, a floor of $92,000. The trailing vs static drawdown guide explains how static limits work, and the drawdown calculator shows the room each leaves.
The daily limits differ in size and reference point. Both are a fixed share of the initial balance, 4% at Blue Guardian and 5% at FTMO. Blue Guardian subtracts it from the higher of balance or equity at the 5 pm EST reset, so open profit at the reset raises the floor for the day. FTMO subtracts it from the balance at midnight Central European time.
Blue Guardian’s targets are lower, at 8% and then 4%, against 10% and then 5% at FTMO. Blue Guardian needs three profitable days of at least 0.5% to pass, while FTMO needs four trading days in each phase. Neither applies a consistency rule on these products or sets a time limit, although Blue Guardian needs at least one trade every 30 days to avoid an inactivity breach.
Blue Guardian adds a risk tool FTMO does not have. On funded Standard accounts an automatic Guardian Shield closes all trades at a set floating loss, and the first trigger permanently cuts the split to 50%. It also sets a minimum holding time of two minutes under its tick scalping rule. The soft breach vs hard breach guide explains how rules that do not fail the account still affect earnings.
Each firm sells other routes. Blue Guardian’s 1 Step Standard costs $398 for $100K with a 9% target, a 4% daily limit and a 6% limit that trails the highest closed balance until it locks at the starting balance, and its 2 Step Nano costs $239 with a 10% static limit but caps each payout at 2% of the starting balance. 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 and a 90% split.
News, holding and automation
Both firms allow news trading in the challenge and restrict it once funded. Blue Guardian funded accounts cannot open or close trades from five minutes before to five minutes after high impact news and FOMC events, and profits made in that window are removed without a breach. FTMO funded Standard accounts cannot open or close trades on affected instruments from two minutes before to two minutes after selected releases. The news trading rules guide compares these windows.
Weekend holding favours Blue Guardian. It allows overnight and weekend holding on all account types. FTMO allows it during the evaluation, but funded Standard accounts must close before the weekend unless the trader chooses the Swing account type on the 2 Step, which removes the rule and the news restriction at leverage of up to 1:30.
Both allow expert advisors. Blue Guardian permits EAs set up for the trader’s own strategy and allows copy trading only between accounts the same person owns. 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
At list price Blue Guardian costs $463 for the $100K 2 Step Standard against €540 at FTMO. At the time of review Blue Guardian was running a 25% discount 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, while Blue Guardian refunds the evaluation fee after the fourth payout. Blue Guardian accepts cards and crypto, and FTMO adds a 3% fee on PayPal, Skrill and crypto payments.
Trading costs are published at Blue Guardian: $5 per lot on forex and commodities and no commission on indices or crypto.
Payouts
Blue Guardian pays 85% by default, or 90% with an add on. The first payout is available 14 days after the first funded trade once the minimum days are met, then every 14 days, or every 7 days with an add on. Approved requests are processed within 24 business hours, with an extra 10% profit share if an eligible payout runs late. Every payout carries a 3% processing fee, and the minimum is $100 by crypto or $500 through Rise.
FTMO pays 80% on the 2 Step, rising to 90% through the Scaling Plan. 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. The payout calculator shows how split and fees combine.
The scaling plans differ. Blue Guardian adds 30% of the initial balance after 12% profit within three months, with active funded allocation capped at $400,000. FTMO adds 25% every four months for traders with at least 10% net profit and two processed rewards, up to $2 million.
Platforms and markets
Blue Guardian supports MetaTrader 5, Match Trader and TradeLocker, and its help centre limits clients in the United States to Match Trader and TradeLocker. Markets cover forex, indices, gold and other commodities, and crypto, with forex leverage of 1:50 listed in the help centre. The firm operates through Blue Guardian Limited in Saint Lucia, with payments handled from Dubai. Trustpilot shows no rating for Blue Guardian 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 Blue Guardian if
- You want a lower list price and an 85% split from the first payout.
- You hold positions over weekends on a funded account.
- You want payouts processed within 24 business hours, or every 7 days with an add on.
Choose FTMO if
- You want a 10% static limit and a 5% daily limit on $100K.
- You want no fee on withdrawals and the challenge fee back with the first reward.
- You trade on MetaTrader 4, cTrader or TradingView, or trade stock CFDs.
Read the Blue Guardian review and FTMO review, compare Blue Guardian with Instant Funding, or see FTMO alternatives. Filter every firm in the comparison table, browse more comparisons or visit the CFD prop firms hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Guardian cheaper than FTMO?
At list price, yes. Blue Guardian's 2 Step Standard costs $463 for $100K, against €540 for the FTMO 2 Step. At the time of review Blue Guardian ran a 25% discount code and FTMO offered its $100K 2 Step at €439. FTMO refunds the fee with the first reward, while Blue Guardian refunds it after the fourth payout and charges 3% on every payout.
Which firm gives more drawdown room on $100K?
FTMO does. Its 2 Step sets a 5% daily limit and a 10% static maximum loss. Blue Guardian's 2 Step Standard sets a 4% daily limit and an 8% static maximum loss, and measures the daily limit from the higher of balance or equity at the 5 pm EST reset. Blue Guardian's targets are lower, at 8% and 4%.
What is the Blue Guardian Guardian Shield?
It is an automatic tool on Blue Guardian's funded Standard and Instant accounts that closes all open trades once floating loss reaches a set level. It does not fail the account, but the first trigger permanently cuts the profit split to 50%. FTMO has no equivalent tool and relies on its daily and maximum loss limits.
How do payouts compare at Blue Guardian and FTMO?
Both allow the first request 14 days after the first funded trade. Blue Guardian pays 85% every 14 days, or every 7 days with an add on, processes within 24 business hours and charges 3% per payout, with a $100 minimum by crypto. FTMO pays 80% on the 2 Step, rising to 90% through scaling, with no commission.
Can I hold trades over the weekend at Blue Guardian and FTMO?
Blue Guardian allows overnight and weekend holding on all account types. FTMO allows it during the evaluation, but funded Standard accounts must close positions before the weekend. FTMO's Swing account type, available on the 2 Step only, removes that rule and the funded news restriction, with leverage of up to 1:30.
