If you are a trader looking for a streamlined route to a simulated funded account, a 1-step evaluation is often the most efficient path. Recently, FTMO, a veteran firm that has been highly respected in the industry since 2015, introduced its new 1-Step FTMO Challenge.
Because FTMO has been around for a long time, many traders naturally gravitate toward their brand. However, the Funded Trading Plus (FT+) 1-Step Express Challenge has been our flagship evaluation since 2021, establishing us as one of the earliest pioneers of the 1-step model.
While both firms offer premium simulated trading experiences, diving into the fine print reveals significant differences in drawdown limits, scaling potential, and consistency rules.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the reality of trading these two accounts.
| FTMO 1 Step | FT+ 1 Step | |
| Profit Target | 10% | 10% |
| Max Daily Loss | 3% | 4% |
| Max Drawdown | 10% | 6% |
| Drawdown Type | Trailing | Trailing |
| Consistency Rule | 50% | None |
| 1st Withdrawal (Days) | 14 | 1 |
| On-going Withdrawals (Days) | 14 | 7 |
| Max Scaling | $2 Million | $5 Million |
| Price for $100,000 | $587.00 | $549.00 |
Note: Prices and data taken from FTMO’s website April 2026
1. The Consistency Rule (The “Best Day” Rule)
This is the single biggest difference between the two programs.
It is important to stress that all prop firms have to balance the difficulty of their challenges with the price and features of the program. Consistency rules are not the “bad guy”; in fact, we utilise a 50% consistency rule on our own 2-step challenge to promote sustainable trading. We even have a separate blog post explaining why consistency rules can be a sign of a healthy firm.
However, on a 1-Step program, with a trailing drawdown, getting to funded status more directly is usually the trader’s priority.
- FTMO’s 1-Step Challenge: Imposes a strict 50% consistency rule (the “Best Day” rule). What makes this particularly restrictive is that FTMO applies this rule not just to the evaluation phase, but also to the simulated funded account. This makes it much harder to take a reward if the market hands you an exceptional, high-probability trend day.
- The FT+ 1-Step Express: Has no consistency rule whatsoever. If the market presents a high-probability setup and you capture a move that meets your 10% simulated profit target, you have successfully completed the objective. You are not forced to artificially adjust your lot sizes, cut your winners short, or take unnecessary trades just to satisfy an arbitrary consistency calculation. This gives you more autonomy to execute your strategy naturally.
2. Daily Drawdown Limits
The reality of prop trading is that the vast majority of drawdown breaches happen on the daily drawdown limit, not the maximum total drawdown.
- FTMO’s 1-Step Challenge: Features a tight 3% maximum daily loss limit.
- The FT+ 1-Step Express: Offers a 4% maximum daily loss limit.
While a 1% difference might sound small on paper, in practice, that 33.3% extra breathing room is important. It allows you to navigate normal daily market volatility without instantly losing your account.
3. The Scaling Program
If you are a consistently profitable trader, your ultimate goal is to scale your simulated capital to maximise your performance rewards. The pace at which you can achieve this is drastically different between the two firms.
- FTMO’s Scaling Plan: Allows for a 25% scale-up of the initial account size every 4 months. Because of this time constraint, a trader starting with a $100,000 account would need 14 scale-ups over a minimum of 5 years to reach $2 million.
- The FT+ Scaling Plan: We offer a simple, performance-based scaling process with no time constraints. You can request a scale-up every time you reach a 10% simulated profit target. Your simulated account size is essentially doubled with each scale. This means that each FT+ scale-up is 4 times bigger than FTMO’s. A trader starting with a $100,000 account can reach $2 million in just 5 scale-ups with no time constraint, so if the market provides the setups, they can do it in a fraction of the time it would take at FTMO.
4. Payout Frequency (Withdrawal Times)
Once you reach the simulated funded stage, your goal is to access your performance rewards. The speed at which you can do this varies significantly.
- FTMO’s 1-Step Challenge: Requires a minimum of 14 calendar days from your first trade before you can request a reward, and this 14-day cycle applies to all subsequent reward requests.
- The FT+ 1-Step Express: We believe you should have faster access to your earned performance rewards. You can request your first reward from day one of trading your simulated funded account. After that, subsequent requests are available every 7 days.
5. News Trading Rules
For traders whose strategies rely on macroeconomic events and market volatility, understanding a firm’s news trading policy is essential.
- FTMO’s 1-Step Challenge: While FTMO allows you to trade freely during macroeconomic news releases during the 1-Step evaluation phase, these conditions change once you pass. When you transition to the simulated funded account, standard restricted rules for trading during selected macroeconomic news releases apply. This means you may be forced to alter your strategy exactly when you reach the funded stage.
The FT+ 1-Step Express: We provide total autonomy over what and when you trade, including news trading, provided it remains within our transparent risk review policy. This flexibility stays consistent, meaning you do not have to adapt to new, restrictive news trading rules once you transition to your simulated funded account.
The Verdict
FTMO is a fantastic, long-standing company with a great reputation. However, when comparing these specific 1-step products, the Funded Trading Plus 1-Step Express Challenge offers clear structural advantages.
With a wider daily drawdown, a trailing drawdown that permanently locks at your starting balance, a performance-based time-free scaling plan, and absolutely zero consistency rules to hold you back, the FT+ 1-Step Express is designed to reward your best trading days without restriction.
👉 Explore the FT+ 1-Step Express Challenge Here
Whether you are looking for a direct route to a simulated funded account or prefer a different evaluation structure, Funded Trading Plus has a program designed to suit your individual trading style. You can explore our streamlined one step challenge for complete trading autonomy, opt for our traditional two step evaluation if you prefer a phased approach, or discover our instant funding program with no profit targets to begin trading a simulated funded account immediately. Choose the path that best fits your risk management strategy and start your journey today.