When is the earliest I can request a reward?

After at least 14 days from your first trading day on the FTMO Rewards Account, provided the account is in profit and there are no open or pending orders at request time.

What platform does FTMO US use?

MetaTrader 5 only, in netting mode (FIFO enforced; hedging disabled).

What leverage is available?

Maximum 1:33 (3% minimum margin) on selected instruments, applied to simulated capital.

Are there recurring fees?

No. There is a one-time Challenge fee that is refunded with your first reward after passing the evaluation.

FTMO US Review : Pros, Cons, and Who Should Apply

Q: Is FTMO US a brokerage account?

No. FTMO US is an educational, simulated program. Participation does not create a client relationship with OANDA Corporation and services are not provided under financial-regulatory oversight.

Updated: August 27, 2025

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TL;DR: FTMO is back for U.S. traders via a partnership with OANDA, offering a two-step evaluation and a simulated Rewards Account that can pay up to 90% of simulated profits. Earliest reward request is after 14 days (when flat and in profit). Platform is MT5-only, max leverage 1:33, with no restrictions on news or weekend holding on the U.S. account type.

What FTMO US is (and isn’t)

FTMO US is an educational, simulated program that mirrors real-market structure. You trade a demo environment through MT5, complete the FTMO Challenge and Verification, and—if you pass—access an FTMO Rewards Account that shares a portion of your simulated profits as a monetary reward. It is not a brokerage account and does not create a client relationship with OANDA Corporation; services aren’t provided under financial-regulatory oversight. See the “How it works” and technical FAQs for the exact framing.

Disclosure: U.S. access is restricted to U.S. residents and U.S.-incorporated entities. Rewards are paid only if you meet program rules and eligibility checks (e.g., W-9, bank ownership proof).

Key numbers at a glance

Feature	FTMO US details	Why it matters
Profit share	Up to 90% of simulated profits (baseline 80% with scaling/premium path to 90%)	High revenue share for consistent performers
Earliest reward	After 14 days from first trading day, if account is in profit and flat	Sets realistic cash-flow timing for U.S. traders
Platform	MetaTrader 5 only; netting mode (FIFO; no hedging)	Simple stack, algos and EAs supported within rules
Leverage	Max 1:33 on selected instruments	Encourages risk discipline vs offshore high-leverage models
Assets	42 simulated FX pairs + 3 U.S. indices, Gold, Oil, BTCUSD	Enough breadth for FX/gold + index strategies
Holding rules	No restriction on news trading or weekend holding (U.S. account type)	Good for swing/fundamental styles
Fees	One-time Challenge fee; no recurring fees; fee refunded with first reward	Lower ongoing cost vs subscription prop models
Allocation cap	Max simulated allocation $400k per trader/strategy at a time	Defines realistic ceiling for scaling

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Pros

High potential share Up to 90% of simulated profits through Scaling Plan and Premium tiers for consistent traders.
No subscription One-time evaluation fee; no recurring program fees, and fee is refunded with your first reward.
News + weekend friendly U.S. account type allows trading around news and holding over weekends—useful for swing/fundamental strategies.
MT5 only Stable, well-known platform in netting mode, with FIFO—clean execution structure and EA support within rules.
Clear U.S. eligibility A U.S.-tailored setup with defined KYC/TIN requirements and bank ownership checks for payouts.

Cons

Lower leverage vs offshore FX Max 1:33 may feel tight if you’re used to 1:100+; adjust sizing and expectations.
MT5-only, netting No MT4 or TradingView, no hedging; FIFO and one-position-per-symbol discipline required.
Simulated environment Not a brokerage account; no regulatory client protections; requires accurate expectations about fills and behavior.
Eligibility constraints U.S. residents/entities only; moving abroad or entity mismatch requires transfer to the relevant FTMO entity.

Who should apply (and who shouldn’t)

Best fit

FX/gold/index traders who prefer MT5 and can thrive under FIFO and netting.
Strategy profiles that benefit from news trading and weekend holds (e.g., macro swing, multi-day momentum).
Traders comfortable with a 14-day earliest reward window and long-term compounding toward scaling/premium status.

Probably not for

Hedging-dependent systems—or those built around MT4/TradingView only.
High-leverage scalpers expecting 1:100–1:500 margin profiles.
Anyone seeking a brokerage account; FTMO US is simulated, educational, and outside regulatory client protections.

Pricing & fees: simple and non-recurring

FTMO US uses a one-time fee for the FTMO Challenge with no recurring charges. If you pass the two steps and process your first reward, FTMO refunds 100% of the initial fee. That means your long-term cost basis can be neutral if you succeed. For transparency, bank/payment rails may charge their own receiving fees, but FTMO does not add extra commissions for requesting a reward.

How payouts (“rewards”) work in the U.S.

Trade your FTMO Rewards Account (simulated) after passing Verification.
When at least 14 days have elapsed from your first trading day—and you’re flat and in profit—the “Claim Reward” button appears in Account MetriX.
FTMO queues a review and typically emails next steps within 1–2 business days. U.S. participants submit a W-9 for the first reward and may be asked for proof of bank-account ownership.
Baseline share is 80% of simulated profits, with a route to 90% via Scaling Plan or Premium Program status.

Nice perk: You can choose not to withdraw and instead keep your reward on the simulated account to build a larger buffer, or convert rewards into FTMO Points to discount a future Challenge.

Execution, platform & assets

Platform: MetaTrader 5 only; U.S. product runs in netting mode (FIFO; no hedging).
Server time: MT5 server clock is GMT+2 (+DST).
Leverage: Max 1:33 (3% minimum margin) on selected instruments; applied to simulated capital.
Symbols: 42 FX pairs plus 3 U.S. indices, Gold, Crude Oil and BTCUSD—accessible in MT5 (look for .sim suffix where applicable).
Policy highlights: No restriction on news trading or holding over the weekend on the U.S. account type. Futures-style instruments with expiries must be closed before contract expiration.

Risk, rules & realism

FTMO US explicitly positions itself as simulated and educational, but the configuration is designed to nudge you toward pragmatic behavior: FIFO, netting, and moderate leverage mirror common U.S. market rules. For many traders, that’s a plus: you learn discipline under constraints similar to live environments without risking your own capital.

Real-world sentiment (social proof)

External review platforms routinely highlight fast processing and fee refunds after the first reward, alongside the occasional complaint typical of any large program. Use public review data as context, not a guarantee—your results depend on consistent, rules-aligned trading.

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Comparison snapshot: FTMO US vs typical subscription prop models

Dimension	FTMO US	Typical subscription firm
Fees	One-time fee; refunded with first reward; no recurring fees	Monthly subscription during evaluation; no refund
Payout window	Earliest request at 14 days; review email in 1–2 business days	Varies: weekly, biweekly, or monthly cycles
Leverage	Max 1:33 on selected instruments	Often higher nominal leverage on paper
Platform	MT5 only, netting (FIFO; no hedging)	Often multiple platforms; hedging sometimes allowed
News & weekends	No restriction on U.S. account type	Frequently restricted
Regulatory framing	Educational, simulated; no brokerage client relationship	Also simulated; framing varies

Verdict: is FTMO US worth it in 2025?

Yes—if you want a U.S.-ready program that rewards consistency, keeps costs simple (no recurring fees), and enforces structure that feels close to real-market rules. The leverage cap and MT5-only constraint are trade-offs; for many, they’re healthy guardrails. If you’re a hedger or need ultra-high leverage, you’ll find the rules limiting. But for disciplined FX/gold/index traders who can operate under FIFO and netting, FTMO US is one of the cleaner U.S. options right now.

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