E8 Markets and FTMO are two prominent proprietary trading firms providing traders with opportunities to manage significant capital. While both firms aim to attract traders with diverse needs, their offerings, rules, and structures differ significantly. This detailed comparison highlights the nuances of each prop firm, helping traders determine which one aligns better with their trading goals and strategies.
1. Evaluation Process
E8 Markets
- Evaluation Models:
- E8 Classic Account: Two-phase evaluation requiring:
- Phase 1: Achieve an 8% profit target with a 5% daily loss limit and a 10% maximum drawdown.
- Phase 2: Achieve a reduced 5% profit target under the same risk parameters.
- E8 One Account: A single-phase evaluation with a 10% profit target and a trailing drawdown.
- Custom Evaluations: Allows traders to tailor profit targets, risk limits, and timeframes.
- E8 Classic Account: Two-phase evaluation requiring:
- Trading Days: No minimum trading days, giving traders flexibility to complete evaluations at their own pace.
- Leverage: Offers leverage of up to 1:50.
FTMO
- Evaluation Structure:
- FTMO Challenge (Phase 1): Achieve a 10% profit target within 30 days while adhering to:
- A 5% daily loss limit.
- A 10% overall maximum drawdown.
- Verification Phase (Phase 2): Meet a 5% profit target within 60 days under the same risk rules.
- FTMO Challenge (Phase 1): Achieve a 10% profit target within 30 days while adhering to:
- Minimum Trading Days: Requires 10 minimum trading days per phase, adding structure to the evaluation process.
- Leverage: Up to 1:100, offering greater flexibility for high-risk, high-reward strategies.
Key Differences:
- E8 Markets provides flexibility with no minimum trading days and customizable evaluations.
- FTMO enforces structured timelines but offers higher leverage, catering to traders who rely on larger position sizes.
2. Account Sizes and Costs
E8 Markets
- Account Sizes: Ranges from $25,000 to $250,000, accommodating small to large-scale traders.
- Evaluation Fees:
- $228 for a $25,000 account.
- $888 for a $250,000 account.
- Evaluation fees are competitive and refundable upon successful completion.
FTMO
- Account Sizes: Ranges from $10,000 to $200,000, with options to merge multiple accounts for higher funding.
- Evaluation Fees:
- €155 for a $10,000 account.
- €1,080 for a $200,000 account.
- Fees are refundable upon completing the evaluation phases successfully.
Key Differences:
- E8 Markets offers slightly higher account sizes for its top-tier accounts but lower leverage.
- FTMO provides scalable options with account merging and slightly higher fees.
3. Profit Splits and Payouts
E8 Markets
- Profit Split: Traders keep 80% of profits, with the potential for increases based on performance.
- Payouts: Available bi-weekly, with no minimum payout amount required.
- Processing Speed: Payouts are typically processed quickly, ensuring traders receive funds in a timely manner.
FTMO
- Profit Split: Starts at 80% and increases to 90% for consistent and long-term performers.
- Payouts: Available monthly, with the first payout accessible after 14 trading days.
- Processing Speed: Renowned for reliability and fast payout processing.
Key Differences:
- E8 Markets offers bi-weekly payouts, ideal for traders who prefer frequent withdrawals.
- FTMO provides monthly payouts with a higher potential profit split for loyal traders.
4. Risk Management Rules
E8 Markets
- Daily Loss Limit: 5% of account balance, including both realized and unrealized losses.
- Overall Drawdown: Capped at 10% of the account’s starting balance.
- Trailing Drawdown: Applies in some accounts, adjusting based on the highest account balance achieved.
FTMO
- Daily Loss Limit: 5% of account equity, similar to E8 Markets.
- Overall Drawdown: Capped at 10%, consistent across all accounts.
- No Trailing Drawdown: FTMO uses static drawdown rules, providing traders with more room to manage unrealized profits.
Key Differences:
- E8 Markets enforces trailing drawdown on some accounts, which can limit traders’ ability to capitalize on unrealized profits.
- FTMO’s static drawdown system offers more flexibility for swing and position traders.
5. Tradable Instruments and Platforms
E8 Markets
- Tradable Instruments: Includes forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and stocks.
- Platforms: MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and Match-Trader are supported.
- Special Features: Offers innovative account setups and user-friendly interfaces.
FTMO
- Tradable Instruments: Includes forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and bonds.
- Platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, and DXtrade.
- Special Features: Provides access to an advanced trader’s dashboard for analytics and insights.
Key Differences:
- FTMO supports a broader range of platforms, including MT4 and cTrader, which may appeal to traders accustomed to these environments.
- E8 Markets focuses on MT5 and Match-Trader, which are modern but less widely adopted.
6. Transparency and Reputation
E8 Markets
- Established in 2021, E8 Markets has quickly gained recognition but is still building its reputation.
- User Feedback: Generally positive reviews, but some traders have expressed concerns about trailing drawdown rules and occasional delays in payouts.
FTMO
- Established in 2015, FTMO is one of the most reputable firms in the industry with a proven track record.
- User Feedback: Consistently high ratings for transparency, reliability, and user experience.
Key Differences:
- FTMO’s established reputation and extensive user base provide confidence to traders.
- E8 Markets, while newer, is gaining traction but has yet to reach the same level of trust.
7. Community and Support
E8 Markets
- Customer Support: Provides live chat, email support, and educational resources.
- Community Engagement: Building a growing base of loyal traders.
FTMO
- Customer Support: Known for responsive, 24/7 support via chat, email, and phone.
- Community Engagement: Established forums, webinars, and a global community of traders.
Key Differences:
- FTMO’s extensive community and robust support system make it more appealing for traders seeking active engagement and learning opportunities.
- E8 Markets is still developing its community and support infrastructure.
Conclusion
Both E8 Markets and FTMO are strong contenders in the proprietary trading space, offering valuable opportunities for traders. E8 Markets is ideal for those who prefer flexible evaluation options and frequent payouts, while FTMO caters to traders seeking a proven track record, higher leverage, and advanced trading tools.
Traders should carefully assess their priorities—whether it’s account size, evaluation flexibility, payout frequency, or community engagement—to choose the firm that best aligns with their trading style and goals.
