FTMO 1-Step vs 2-Step vs Swing: every rule compared
The 2-Step is the industry reference; the 1-Step adds the two rules it never had. All three FTMO routes on one grid.
Three ways into an FTMO account
The 2-Step Challenge is the reference rulebook of the industry; the Swing variant relaxes news and weekends at the cost of leverage, and the 1-Step Challenge, new in 2026, swaps the static floor for a trailing one and adds the first consistency rule FTMO has had. The table lines them up.
| Rule | 2-Step Challenge | 2-Step Swing | 1-Step Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phases | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Targets | 10% then 5% | 10% then 5% | 10% |
| Maximum loss | 10% static | 10% static | 10% end-of-day trailing, resetting to 90% of capital on each reward |
| Daily loss | 5% | 5% | 3% on the higher of equity or balance |
| Minimum days | 4 per phase | 4 per phase | none |
| Consistency | none (MetriX review once funded) | none | 50% Best Day rule |
| News | 2-minute lockout on Tier-1 releases on funded Normal accounts | allowed at every stage | per help center |
| Overnight and weekend | no weekend holding on Normal | allowed | per help center |
| Leverage | 1:100 forex | 1:30 forex | per help center |
| Split | 80% rising to 90% via scaling | same | 90% from the first payout |
| Fee | refunded with the first payout | refunded | not refunded |
| Size cap | up to $200K, $400K exposure cap | $100K | per help center |
Which one for a systematic strategy
2-Step Normal for intraday systems on MT4/MT5 with a news filter: static floor, 5% daily, no consistency, refundable fee. Swing for anything that holds overnight or trades releases, if 1:30 is enough leverage for the position sizes. 1-Step only for strategies with even days and small give-back: the EOD trailing floor and the 50% Best Day rule are exactly the two rules the 2-Step never had, and the fee is not refunded.
Payout timing and the scaling plan on FTMO payouts and scaling; the full card at FTMO rules; comparisons with FundingPips, The5ers and FundedNext.
FAQ
Does FTMO have a consistency rule?
Not on the 2-Step Challenge, which uses a MetriX review once funded. The 1-Step Challenge carries a 50% Best Day rule.
What is the difference between FTMO Normal and Swing?
Swing allows news trading and weekend holding at every stage, with forex leverage capped at 1:30 and account size at $100K; Normal has a 2-minute news lockout on funded accounts and no weekend holding, at 1:100.
Is the FTMO 1-Step drawdown static?
No. The 1-Step uses a 10% end-of-day trailing maximum loss that resets to 90% of capital on each reward; the 2-Step uses a 10% static maximum loss.
Source: the firm’s help center and program pages, cross-checked with the FTMO rules card, September 2026. Rules change quarterly; the help center is binding.