TraderScale vs FTMO: which prop firm should you choose in 2026?
Our two highest-rated firms take different paths to the top. TraderScale wins on accessibility and clarity; FTMO wins on track record. Here is how they compare on every rule that matters — and which trader each one suits.
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The short answer
If you are a US-based trader, the decision is made for you: FTMO does not accept US traders, and TraderScale does. For everyone else, it comes down to what you value most. TraderScale wins on accessibility, funding ceiling and payout clarity. FTMO wins on track record, educational tooling and refunded challenge fees. Both use the trader-friendly static drawdown, so on that critical rule they are level.
Rule-by-rule comparison
The table below sets the two firms side by side on the rules that decide most accounts. Both score in our top two, so this is a comparison of two strong firms rather than a strong one against a weak one.
| Metric | TraderScale | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.4 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Max funding | $400,000 | $200,000 |
| Profit split | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Drawdown type | Static | Static |
| Max drawdown | 10% (static) | 10% (static) |
| Payout frequency | Bi-weekly | Bi-weekly |
| Platforms | MT5 / cTrader / Match Trader | MT4 / MT5 / cTrader / DXtrade |
| US traders | Yes | No |
| News trading | Permitted | Restricted |
| Evidence level | Tested challenge | Public terms verified |
Where TraderScale pulls ahead
US access. The single biggest differentiator. FTMO enforces a no-US-traders policy; TraderScale accepts US traders via Match Trader. For a US-based trader, this alone settles the question.
Funding ceiling. TraderScale funds up to $400,000 against FTMO's $200,000 — double the headroom for traders who scale successfully.
Payout clarity and structure. Both pay reliably, but TraderScale's terms are unusually clear and it offers a one-step route. FTMO's consistency rule at the payout stage, while documented, is the rule its traders most often discover late.
Where FTMO pulls ahead
Track record. FTMO has operated since 2015 with the largest, highest-rated Trustpilot base of any prop firm. That decade of unbroken payout history is something no newer firm can claim, and for risk-averse traders it carries real weight.
Refunded challenge fees. FTMO refunds your challenge fee with your first payout, so a successful trader effectively pays nothing for the evaluation. TraderScale's pricing is competitive, but this specific perk is FTMO's.
Educational tooling. FTMO's trading journal, performance coach and analytics are more mature than most firms', TraderScale included.
Which should you choose?
For most traders — and decisively for US-based ones — we rank TraderScale ahead. But FTMO remains an excellent firm, and for a non-US trader who prizes track record above all, it is a defensible #1 of your own.
Compare before you commit
Check current pricing and challenge rules on the firm's own site, then compare against our #1 pick before you buy.
Common questions
Is TraderScale or FTMO better for US traders?
Which has the higher funding ceiling?
Do both use static drawdown?
Does FTMO refund the challenge fee?
Which is better overall?
Our #1 prop firm for 2026
TraderScale tops our scorecard on rule transparency, US accessibility and payout clarity.
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