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Empire Funded vs FTMO: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

Empire Funded

5.7 C
United Kingdom CFD
VS

FTMO

8.3 A+
Czech Republic CFD
Key Differences
Safety C vs A+ Payouts Weekly vs Bi-Weekly Price $9 vs $79

Verdict: Who Wins?

Empire Funded 2 wins
2 - 5
FTMO 5 wins Decisive Win
Overall Rating 8.3 vs 5.7 Decisive
TrustPilot 4.8 vs 3.7 Decisive
Starting Price $9 vs $79 Decisive
Profit Split Both Up to 90% (Instant/1-Step/2-Step); 80% on Spartan Tie
Safety Grade A+ vs C Decisive
Trust Score 84/100 vs 34.7/100 Decisive
Challenge Variety 25 vs 10 options Decisive
Platform Choice 3 vs 1 platforms Narrow

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders Empire Funded
Trust & reputation FTMO
Fast payouts Empire Funded

Visual Comparison

Empire Funded FTMO

Head-to-Head Comparison

Empire Funded Metric FTMO
5.7/10 PFM Score 8.3/10
3.7/5 (14) TrustPilot 4.8/5 (42,594)
C Safety Grade A+
34.7 F Trust Score 84 A
Up to 90% (Instant/1-Step/2-Step); 80% on Spartan Profit Split Up to 90%
3% (Instant), 5% (1-Step), 3%/5% (2-Step phase 1/2), N/A (Spartan) Daily Drawdown Maximum Daily Loss Amount, which is 5% of the Initial Simulated Capital (2-Step) or 3% (1-Step)
Weekly Payout Frequency Bi-weekly (every 14 days)
$9 Starting Price $79
White-Label Technology Proprietary
MT5 Platforms cTrader, MT5, MT4
No Direct Path to Funded No
United Kingdom Country Czech Republic
Apr 2025 Established Jan 2015
25 options Challenge Options 10 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

Cheapest challenge price at each account size (where both firms offer the same size)

Account Size Empire Funded FTMO Savings
$10K $99 $79 Save $20
$25K $99 $199 Save $100
$50K $159 $319 Save $160
$100K $209 $439 Save $230
$200K $793 $999 Save $206

Empire Funded vs FTMO: Detailed Analysis

Empire Funded and FTMO are both CFD firms. FTMO has been in business longer, established in 2015, while Empire Funded was founded in 2025.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, Empire Funded is more affordable with challenges starting at $9, which is $70 less than FTMO's starting price of $79. Empire Funded offers 25 challenge options, while FTMO offers 10.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, Empire Funded offers account sizes from $1 to $200 across 10 funding tiers, while FTMO offers account sizes from $10 to $200 across 5 funding tiers. Picking the right tier matters because both the entry cost and the maximum capital you can scale to are tied to the account size you start with.

Trading Platforms

For trading platforms, Empire Funded supports MT5, while FTMO runs on cTrader, MT5 and MT4. If you already trade on a specific platform, this can be the deciding factor between the two.

Profit Split & Payouts

Empire Funded offers Up to 90% (Instant/1-Step/2-Step); 80% on Spartan profit split, while FTMO offers Up to 90%. Empire Funded pays out Weekly, and FTMO pays out Bi-weekly (every 14 days).

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: Empire Funded lists its daily drawdown as "3% (Instant), 5% (1-Step), 3%/5% (2-Step phase 1/2), N/A (Spartan)", while FTMO lists "Maximum Daily Loss Amount, which is 5% of the Initial Simulated Capital (2-Step) or 3% (1-Step)". Always confirm the drawdown type before buying, since a trailing rule behaves very differently from a static end-of-day one.

Payout Methods

Empire Funded supports withdrawals via Crypto.

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, Empire Funded has a 3.7/5 TrustPilot rating with 14 reviews, while FTMO has 4.8/5 with 42,594 reviews. Safety grades: Empire Funded C, FTMO A+.

Who Should Choose Which

So who should pick which? Empire Funded is the stronger choice for budget-conscious traders and fast payouts, while FTMO is the better fit for trust & reputation.

Overall, FTMO edges ahead winning 5 out of 7 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

Empire Funded
Pros
Spartan instant-funded entry from $9, MetaTrader 5 platform, 6% profit target on Instant/1-Step/2-Step, 12% max drawdown (1-Step/2-Step), up to 90% profit split, Weekly payouts, Fx/Commodities/Indices/Stocks/Crypto, Discord support, 24/7 support, multi-currency payouts (Visa/MasterCard/Bitcoin/ETH/USDT/UPI)
Cons
Newly incorporated (April 2025) so limited operating track record; TrustPilot page carries a 'received regulatory attention' badge; only 14 TrustPilot reviews; sole platform is MetaTrader 5; some negative reviews cite dashboard 'LOADING ERROR' and support-email bounces; restricted countries include Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, North Korea, Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk
FTMO
Pros
Up to 90% of your simulated profits as a reward, accounts up to $200,000 FTMO Account, established 2015 with 3.5M+ customers worldwide, MT4 MT5 cTrader supported, 100% refund of initial fee on first reward (2-Step), Prague-based with $500M+ paid in rewards
Cons
All accounts we provide to our clients are demo accounts with fictitious funds and any trading is in a simulated environment only; prices charged in EUR; 2-Step Verification phase required before reaching FTMO Account

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Empire Funded or FTMO?

FTMO scores higher overall, winning 5 out of 7 comparison categories including Overall Rating, TrustPilot, Safety Grade. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, Empire Funded or FTMO?

Empire Funded has the lower starting price at $9. Empire Funded offers 25 challenge options starting from $9, while FTMO offers 10 options starting from $79.

Which has better reviews, Empire Funded or FTMO?

FTMO has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.8/5. Empire Funded has 14 reviews while FTMO has 42,594.

Which offers a higher profit split, Empire Funded or FTMO?

Empire Funded offers a higher maximum profit split. Empire Funded offers Up to 90% (Instant/1-Step/2-Step); 80% on Spartan while FTMO offers Up to 90%.

How fast do Empire Funded and FTMO pay out?

Empire Funded has Weekly payouts while FTMO offers Bi-weekly (every 14 days) payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are Empire Funded and FTMO legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. Empire Funded holds a C safety grade and a 3.7/5 TrustPilot rating. FTMO holds a A+ safety grade and a 4.8/5 TrustPilot rating. Safety grades are based on payout history, community trust signals, and regulatory transparency.

Which is better for beginners, Empire Funded or FTMO?

Empire Funded may be more accessible for beginners due to its lower entry price. When starting out, consider challenge cost, drawdown rules, and profit split. Use the comparison table above to find which firm fits your experience level and risk tolerance.

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