E8 vs FTMO (2026)
A cheaper, highly configurable newer firm against the long-established one with plainer rules. Both run simulated accounts, and neither publishes everything you'd want to read.
Disclosure: this page contains affiliate links. If you buy through the E8 Markets link I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. FTMO does not pay us anything right now; its link is a plain link with no commission. FTMO has paid me, but that does not make it the better choice for you, so I've judged both on their rules.
Short answer: for most people FTMO's 2-Step is the safer pick: 10% then 5% targets, a 5% daily limit, a 10% static maximum loss and a 4-day minimum, all on FTMO's own rules page. E8 is cheaper on list price and far more configurable, and its E8 Pro option has an 8% static drawdown with no minimum days. But E8's Trustpilot score is hidden, its withdrawal rules (buffers, best-day limits, caps) can cut what you keep, and I couldn't read E8's own rules. Judge on the rules, not the price.
Side by side
| E8 Markets (unverified) | FTMO | |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge models | E8 One (1-step, customizable), E8 Pro (1-step), E8 Signature Forex (1-step) | 1-Step (one phase) and 2-Step (Challenge plus Verification) |
| Profit target | One: preset 9%, configurable 6–21% (sources differ on the preset). Pro 8%. Signature 6% | 2-Step 10% then 5%. 1-Step 10%. None once funded |
| Daily loss | One: preset about 3–4%, configurable (sources differ). Pro 2.5%. Signature 2% soft pause | 2-Step 5%. 1-Step 3%. Reset at 00:00 Prague time from the prior day's closing balance |
| Maximum loss | One: dynamic, preset about 4–6%, configurable (sources differ). Pro 8% static. Signature end-of-day dynamic ($1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500 on 25K / 50K / 100K / 150K) | 2-Step 10% static. 1-Step 10% end-of-day trailing: based on your highest end-of-day balance, and it only rises |
| Minimum trading days | None | 2-Step: 4 per phase (a day counts if you open a position). 1-Step: not stated on the official page |
| Time limit | Unlimited, per affiliate reviews | Not stated on the rules page |
| Fees (one-time, list) | Roughly $228–$288 for 50K and $488 for 100K depending on model; Signature Forex is lower ($150 / $260). A promo banner showed One 50K at $235. Higher split, looser drawdown or swap-free cost extra | Third-party: 2-Step 50K €345, 100K €540 (promos of €439–€449 seen). 1-Step 50K €319, 100K €499. No official price page was readable |
| Fee refund | Not found | 2-Step fee refunded with your first Reward request. 1-Step fee not refundable |
| Profit split | 80% preset; sources differ on higher tiers (90% or 100% as a paid add-on) | Not stated on the readable official pages. The 2-Step Scaling Plan reaches 90% after 4 months, 10% net profit and 2 Rewards. Starting split unverified |
| Consistency / best day | One funded: 40%; Signature funded: 35%; Pro: none. On One, net profit must also exceed 50% of the daily drawdown to withdraw | 1-Step: best day must be 50% or less of total profit on orders from 12 October 2026. Going over is not a breach; you keep trading. 2-Step: not stated |
| Payout speed | One on demand, first around day 3. Pro daily from 1% profit. Signature on demand, $100 minimum, 5 profitable days between payouts. E8's own claim of an 11-hour median approval is unverified | Not stated officially. For me, about 2–3 days to process |
| Platforms | MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, Match-Trader, E8 Terminal (varies by region) | Official page: TradingView via an OANDA broker profile. Third-party lists also name MetaTrader, cTrader, DXtrade and Match-Trader (unverified) |
| News / EAs | One: no trades within 5 minutes of high-impact news when funded. Pro and Signature allowed. EAs allowed on forex, but identical EAs across users can trigger action | Not read |
| Trustpilot | No score shown. Trustpilot hides it for a breach of its guidelines | 4.8/5 shown on ftmo.com |
Where the sources disagree
Drawdown: the biggest difference
FTMO's 2-Step is the simplest rule set here: 10% maximum loss, static, so your floor never moves. FTMO's 1-Step is different. Its 10% trails your highest end-of-day balance, so a profitable run raises the floor. E8 splits across models. E8 Pro is reported as 8% static, which fits the rule I follow on CFD firms. E8 One uses a dynamic drawdown whose size you pick, and Signature uses a small end-of-day dynamic limit in dollars. Read the drawdown type on the exact model before you pay.
Fees and refunds
E8 is cheaper on list price, with a 50K roughly $228 to $288 against FTMO's reported €319 to €345. The currencies differ and I haven't converted them. FTMO's 2-Step fee comes back with your first Reward request, which narrows the gap if you get paid. E8's extras (higher split, looser drawdown, swap-free) raise the price, so compare the final checkout total, not the headline.
Payouts, splits and consistency
E8 advertises fast, frequent payouts: on demand on One and Signature, daily on Pro. But the reported conditions matter. Funded best-day limits of 35–40%, minimum-profit thresholds and per-request caps can shrink what you actually withdraw. FTMO's consistency rule currently applies to the 1-Step, and exceeding it is not a breach. On payout speed, I can only speak to FTMO: about 2–3 days to process, four times. I can't say the same of E8 because it hasn't paid me.
Where E8 wins
- Lower list prices and more choice. Three models, configurable targets and drawdown, and no minimum trading days.
- An 8% static option. E8 Pro, as reported, has no trailing component.
- More platforms reported. MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker and Match-Trader, depending on region.
Watch out (E8): Trustpilot hides E8's rating for a breach of its guidelines, and says fake reviews were removed. The Trustpilot page also carries payout complaints, including denials and effective splits far below the headline once buffers and caps apply. Those complaints are unverified, but they are the thing to test: start small and request a first payout early. I haven't traded E8, and it hasn't paid me. E8 may also act against affiliates whose codes appear on coupon sites, so use our code only through our link.
Where FTMO wins
- Plainer, readable rules. Targets, loss limits and the minimum days are on FTMO's own page.
- A static 10% on the 2-Step and a fee refunded with your first Reward.
- A long track record. FTMO has operated since 2015 and displays a 4.8/5 Trustpilot score on its own site (we haven't verified it).
Watch out (FTMO): it costs more up front, and its 1-Step fee is not refundable. The 1-Step trails at 10% end-of-day and has the new 50% best-day rule from 12 October 2026. The 2-Step needs 4 trading days per phase. I couldn't find an official price, split or payout-timing page. FTMO pays us nothing here, and I'm not telling you it's perfect: it's a simulated-account service, not a regulated broker, and so is E8.
Choose E8 if…
- You want a lower entry price and configurable limits
- You'll pick Pro for 8% static drawdown, and read every withdrawal condition first
- You can live with a hidden Trustpilot score and test a small payout early
Choose FTMO if…
- You want static 10% drawdown and simple published rules (2-Step)
- You prefer a firm operating since 2015 with a visible rating
- You accept a higher fee and 4 minimum trading days
Full reviews: E8 Markets · FTMO · FTMO vs FundedNext · Trailing vs end-of-day drawdown · all CFD firms