FTMO vs FundedNext: Which $100K 2-Step Is Cheaper? (2026)
FundedNext’s Stellar 2-Step is the cheaper of the two at checkout, but the sticker price is only part of the story. We compare what FTMO and FundedNext charge for a $100K two-step evaluation, how much profit each requires before it pays out, and what a trader actually receives at first payout.
By Propify Compare · Last updated 25 October 2026 · Prices checked 16 October 2026
Key takeaways
- FundedNext’s $100K Stellar 2-Step costs $549.99. FTMO’s $100K 2-Step Challenge lists at €540, about $606.
- FundedNext requires $13,000 of profit to pass (8% then 5%). FTMO requires $15,000 (10% then 5%), with identical 5% daily and 10% maximum loss limits.
- Forex commission is lower at FundedNext ($3 per lot, as reported) than at FTMO ($5 per lot round turn).
- FTMO pays sooner: a first reward can be requested 14 days after the first funded trade, against a 21-day first cycle at FundedNext.
- Verdict: FundedNext is cheaper on every cost we can measure, unless FTMO shows you its conditional €439 price.
Is FundedNext cheaper than FTMO?
Yes. On the $100K two-step evaluation, FundedNext’s Stellar 2-Step is cheaper than FTMO’s 2-Step Challenge on every cost we can measure. The fee is lower, forex commission is lower and, most significantly, the Phase 1 profit target is 8% rather than 10%, so a trader needs around $2,000 less profit to qualify for a funded account.
FTMO’s advantages lie elsewhere. It pays out sooner, it has been operating since 2015, and its conditional €439 offer, when shown, undercuts FundedNext’s fee. Some traders will reasonably pay a premium for that track record.
A note on scope
This is a price comparison. It sets out what each evaluation costs and what it takes to reach a first payout, not whether either firm suits a particular trading strategy. Before buying, check each firm’s rules in full, particularly the less visible ones: how the daily loss limit treats open trades, news and weekend restrictions on funded accounts, and any consistency rules attached to payouts. The Hidden Rule Detector and Rules Deconstructed sections of our FTMO profile and FundedNext profile set these out in detail.
Figures are list prices and published rules as at 16 October 2026, using Propify Compare’s standard benchmark, the $100K two-step evaluation. FTMO prices in euros, which we convert at €1 = $1.12. As with most prop firms, both firms’ funded accounts are simulated, which is why payouts are described as rewards (see Do Prop Firms Use Real Money?).
FTMO vs FundedNext at a glance
| FTMO 2-Step Challenge | FundedNext Stellar 2-Step | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2022 |
| List price | €540 (about $606) | $549.99 |
| Cost per $1,000 of buying power | About $6.06 | $5.50 |
| Phase 1 profit target | 10% ($10,000) | 8% ($8,000) |
| Phase 2 profit target | 5% ($5,000) | 5% ($5,000) |
| Total profit to pass | $15,000 | $13,000 |
| Daily loss limit | 5% | 5% |
| Maximum loss | 10%, static | 10%, static |
| Minimum trading days | 4 per phase | 5 per phase |
| Time limit | None | None |
| Forex commission | $5 per lot round turn | $3 per lot (reported) |
| Fee refunded? | Yes, with first reward | Yes, with first reward |
| Profit split | 80%, rising to 90% via scaling | 80%, rising to 90% via scaling; 95% as a paid add-on |
| First payout | From day 14 after first funded trade | After a 21-day first cycle, then every 14 days |
| Challenge-phase reward | None | 15% of challenge targets ($1,950), paid at first scale-up |
How much does each $100K challenge cost?
FTMO lists its $100K 2-Step Challenge at €540, roughly $606 at current exchange rates and about $56 more than the $549.99 FundedNext charges for its $100K Stellar 2-Step. On Propify’s cost-per-$1,000 measure, that is about $6.06 for FTMO against $5.50 for FundedNext. Neither firm prices in sterling, so UK traders paying by card should expect a non-sterling transaction fee of around 3% on either.
FTMO’s pricing has one complication. Visitors without an active FTMO account are often shown a conditional price of €439 (around $493), which undercuts FundedNext by some $57. FTMO does not present this as a permanent price, so it is worth checking what appears at checkout. FundedNext runs promotional codes of its own, although none applied to the $100K account when we checked, and it discounts resets by 10%, bringing a second attempt down to about $495.
Both fees are refundable, but only with the first reward from the funded account, not on passing the evaluation. A trader who breaches the funded account before that first payout does not get the fee back. To see how both prices compare with the rest of the market, read our guide to the cheapest 100K 2-step prop firm challenges.
Profit targets: the cost that isn’t on the price tag
The profit target is where this comparison is really decided. FTMO requires 10% in Phase 1; FundedNext requires 8%. Both ask for 5% in Phase 2. On a $100K account, that means $15,000 of profit to pass FTMO and $13,000 to pass FundedNext.
The loss limits are identical: 5% of the starting balance in a single day and 10% overall, measured as static drawdown from the starting balance. In other words, FTMO asks for around 15% more profit with exactly the same margin for error. For a trader close to the pass mark, that $2,000 is likely to matter far more than a $56 difference in fees, particularly as every failed attempt means paying the fee again.
The mechanics differ slightly. FTMO resets its daily limit at midnight Central European Time, based on that day’s opening balance. FundedNext sets its limit at 5% of the initial balance, counts floating losses, swaps and commission towards it, and resets at midnight server time. FTMO requires at least four trading days per phase and FundedNext five; neither imposes a time limit.
How do FTMO and FundedNext commissions compare?
Commission is deducted from the simulated balance, so it counts against both the profit target and the loss limits. FTMO charges $2.50 per lot per side on forex, or $5 round turn, a rate it introduced in September 2025. FundedNext’s Stellar 2-Step is reported to charge $3 per lot on forex and metals. FundedNext does not publish a per-account schedule that we could verify, so traders should confirm the rate in the platform before relying on it. Both firms list US30 as commission-free.
A $2 difference per lot looks marginal, but over a 150-lot evaluation it comes to $300, and at FTMO that cost has to be recovered on top of a larger profit target.
Which firm pays out faster?
FTMO. Traders can request a first reward 14 days after their first trade on the funded FTMO Account, and FTMO says requests are processed within one to two business days. FundedNext’s standard reward cycle runs for 21 days before the first payout and every 14 days thereafter. It commits to processing requests within 24 hours, or paying $1,000 if it misses that deadline.
FundedNext also offers two alternative reward structures, chosen at checkout: a 60% split paid every three days, provided each cycle includes three days of at least 1% profit, and a 90% on-demand option that requires 2% account growth and applies a 40% consistency rule. It also sells a lifetime 95% split for an additional 30% on the fee, which pays for itself at roughly $1,100 of net funded profit. Our guide to prop firm payouts explains how reward cycles work more generally.
FundedNext’s 15% challenge reward is a further consideration. It pays 15% of the challenge profit targets, $1,950 on a $100K 2-Step, but for accounts bought since 12 January 2026 only once the trader meets FundedNext’s scale-up criteria, which takes several months of consistent profitability. It is a genuine benefit for traders who stay funded, but not a reason to choose FundedNext at the outset. It is not available to US traders.
News and weekend rules on funded accounts
Neither firm restricts news trading during the evaluation; the differences apply once a trader is funded. On an FTMO Standard account, trading targeted instruments is restricted from two minutes before to two minutes after selected releases, and positions must be closed before the weekend. FTMO’s Swing account, available on the 2-Step only, removes both restrictions in exchange for lower leverage of around 1:30.
FundedNext allows weekend holding as standard. Trades opened or closed within five minutes of high-impact news on a related instrument keep only 40% of their profit, although the account is not breached. Swing traders can add swap-free trading for an extra 10%, about $55. Our news trading rules guide and best prop firms for swing trading compare these rules across the firms we list.
What does a $100K 2-Step really cost? A worked example
Consider the same trader buying each account with a UK card. They trade forex intraday at two lots a trade, pass both phases at the first attempt and make $4,000 gross on the funded account before taking a first payout at an 80% split. Because FTMO’s Phase 1 target is higher, we assume 100 lots are needed to pass it, against 80 at FundedNext. Phase 2 takes 50 lots and the funded stage 60 lots at both firms. Swaps are excluded, as they would be broadly similar.
| FTMO | FundedNext | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee plus ~3% card charge | $624 | $567 |
| Evaluation commission | 150 lots × $5 = $750 | 130 lots × $3 = $390 |
| Gross profit needed to pass | $15,750 | $13,390 |
| Funded commission | 60 lots × $5 = $300 | 60 lots × $3 = $180 |
| Net funded profit | $3,700 | $3,820 |
| Trader’s 80% share | $2,960 | $3,056 |
| Fee refund | +$606 | +$550 |
| Received at first payout | $3,566 | $3,606 |
| Net of cash paid | $2,942 | $3,039 |
| Earliest first payout | Day 14 funded | Day 21 funded |
After a first-time pass, the difference at payout is about $100 in FundedNext’s favour. The more important figure is the gross profit needed to pass: our FTMO trader had to make $2,360 more to get funded. If FundedNext’s scale-up reward is eventually paid, a further $1,950 follows.
Two factors change the picture. If FTMO offers the €439 price, a trader has about $113 less at risk per attempt, although the refund falls by the same amount, so the net position at payout barely moves. And a trader focused on commission-free indices rather than forex will see the commission gap largely disappear.
FTMO or FundedNext: which should you choose?
On price alone, the answer depends on how confidently you expect to pass and what you value beyond cost. Remember to check each firm’s rules against your own strategy before deciding.
FundedNext may suit you if:
- you want the lowest overall cost and the lower 8% Phase 1 target
- you trade forex or gold actively, where lower commission adds up
- you hold positions over the weekend and would rather not choose a separate account type to do so
- you expect to stay funded long enough to collect the 15% challenge reward
FTMO may suit you if:
- you are offered the €439 price and are comfortable with a 10% target
- you want access to your first payout a week sooner
- you place a high value on FTMO’s longer track record
- you trade around news or hold for days and prefer the clarity of FTMO’s Swing account
Frequently asked questions
Is FundedNext cheaper than FTMO?
Yes, on the $100K 2-Step at list prices. FundedNext’s Stellar 2-Step costs $549.99, while FTMO’s 2-Step Challenge costs €540 (about $606). FundedNext also requires less profit to pass and charges lower forex commission. FTMO’s conditional €439 offer can undercut FundedNext’s fee when shown.
How much does the FTMO $100K challenge cost?
FTMO’s $100K 2-Step Challenge lists at €540, about $606. Some new visitors are offered a conditional price of €439. The fee is refunded with the first reward from the funded account.
How much does the FundedNext $100K Stellar 2-Step cost?
FundedNext’s $100K Stellar 2-Step costs $549.99. The fee is refunded with the first reward, and resets are discounted by 10%.
Which is easier to pass, FTMO or FundedNext?
FundedNext, on paper. Its Phase 1 target is 8% against FTMO’s 10%, with the same 5% daily and 10% maximum loss limits, so a $100K trader needs $13,000 of profit to pass FundedNext and $15,000 to pass FTMO.
Do FTMO and FundedNext refund the challenge fee?
Yes. Both refund the 2-Step fee with the first reward from the funded account, not when the evaluation is passed. A trader who breaches before that first reward does not receive a refund.
Which pays out faster, FTMO or FundedNext?
FTMO. A first reward can be requested 14 days after the first funded trade. FundedNext’s standard cycle pays after 21 days, then every 14 days.
What commission do FTMO and FundedNext charge?
FTMO charges $5 per lot round turn on forex. FundedNext’s Stellar 2-Step is reported at $3 per lot on forex and metals. Both list US30 as commission-free.
What is FundedNext’s 15% challenge reward?
A payment of 15% of the challenge profit targets, $1,950 on a $100K 2-Step. For accounts bought since 12 January 2026, it is paid once the trader meets FundedNext’s scale-up criteria. It is not available to US traders.
The Propify view
FundedNext is the cheaper of the two, and by a meaningful margin: a lower fee, lower commission and, above all, $2,000 less profit to find before anything is paid. FTMO is the more established firm, it pays out sooner, and its €439 offer can reverse the headline comparison. For most traders buying their first $100K evaluation, FundedNext offers better value. For a trader who passes comfortably and values a long track record, FTMO’s premium is modest.
Price is only one part of the decision. Compare both firms’ full rules, payout records and Propify Scores on their FTMO and FundedNext profiles, or see how they rank against every firm we track.
Related guides
- Cheapest 100K 2-Step Prop Firm Challenges in 2026
- Trailing vs Static Drawdown: Why It Matters More Than You Think
- FTMO vs FundingPips: Which Prop Firm Is Better in 2026?
- FTMO Instant Account Review: Rules, Prices and the Drawdown Catch
- Prop Firm News Trading Rules Explained
- Best Prop Firms With No Consistency Rule
- Why Prop Firms Deny Payouts
Sources: FTMO Trading Objectives, 2-Step Challenge and trading update of 25 September 2025; FundedNext Stellar 2-Step, Stellar 2-Step help article, add-ons and trading objectives; FXEmpire (FundedNext commission); Proptradingvibes (FTMO pricing); OFX (exchange rate). Accessed 16 October 2026. Prices are list prices at the time of writing and exclude promotions; the worked example is illustrative. Terms change frequently; verify before acting. This article is for information only and is not financial advice.
