Skip to main content

FTMO vs Pipster: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

FTMO

8.4 A+
Czech Republic CFD
VS
Key Differences
Payouts Bi-Weekly vs Weekly Split 90% vs 80% Price $79 vs $2

Verdict: Who Wins?

FTMO 6 wins Decisive Win
6 - 2
Pipster 2 wins
Overall Rating 8.4 vs 0.0 Decisive
TrustPilot 4.8 vs 4.1 Decisive
Starting Price $2 vs $79 Decisive
Profit Split Up to 90% vs 80% Decisive
Safety Grade A+ vs Decisive
Trust Score 79/100 vs 40.8/100 Decisive
Challenge Variety 22 vs 10 options Decisive
Platform Choice 3 vs 1 platforms Narrow

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders Pipster
Maximum profit potential FTMO
Trust & reputation FTMO
Fast payouts Pipster

Visual Comparison

FTMO Pipster
FTMO
Grade A+ 4.8

Save 20% on FTMO today

from $79
Save 20% Now Code listed by the firm 31 Aug 2026

Head-to-Head Comparison

FTMO Metric Pipster
8.4/10 PFM Score -
4.8/5 (51,254) TrustPilot 4.1/5 (22)
A+ Safety Grade -
79 B+ Trust Score 40.8 D
Up to 90% Profit Split 80%
Maximum Daily Loss Amount, which is 5% of the Initial Simulated Capital (2-Step) or 3% (1-Step) Daily Drawdown 4% on the 1-Phase (evaluation and funded), 5% on both 2-Phase stages and when funded, 3% on Instant Funded. Pipster Entry has NO daily loss limit during evaluation and 3% once activated. Every daily limit is static for the day, set from the equity recorded at the 22:00 UTC New York session rollover.
Bi-weekly (every 14 days) Payout Frequency Weekly
$79 Starting Price $1.99
Proprietary Technology White-Label
cTrader, MT5, MT4 Platforms Match Trader
No Direct Path to Funded No
Czech Republic Country United Kingdom
Jan 2015 Established Jun 2025
10 options Challenge Options 22 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

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

Account Size FTMO Pipster Savings
$10K $79 $2 Save $77
$25K $199 $2 Save $197
$50K $319 $2 Save $317
$100K $439 $2 Save $437

FTMO vs Pipster: Detailed Analysis

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

Pricing

In terms of pricing, Pipster is more affordable with challenges starting at $2, which is $77 less than FTMO's starting price of $79. FTMO offers 10 challenge options, while Pipster offers 22.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, FTMO offers account sizes from $10 to $200 across 5 funding tiers, while Pipster offers account sizes from $1 to $100 across 6 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, FTMO supports cTrader, MT5 and MT4, while Pipster runs on Match Trader. If you already trade on a specific platform, this can be the deciding factor between the two.

Profit Split & Payouts

FTMO offers Up to 90% profit split, while Pipster offers 80%. FTMO pays out Bi-weekly (every 14 days), and Pipster pays out Weekly.

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: FTMO lists its daily drawdown as "Maximum Daily Loss Amount, which is 5% of the Initial Simulated Capital (2-Step) or 3% (1-Step)", while Pipster lists "4% on the 1-Phase (evaluation and funded), 5% on both 2-Phase stages and when funded, 3% on Instant Funded. Pipster Entry has NO daily loss limit during evaluation and 3% once activated. Every daily limit is static for the day, set from the equity recorded at the 22:00 UTC New York session rollover.". Always confirm the drawdown type before buying, since a trailing rule behaves very differently from a static end-of-day one.

Payout Methods

Pipster supports withdrawals via Rise, Crypto and Wire Transfer.

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, FTMO has a 4.8/5 TrustPilot rating with 51,254 reviews, while Pipster has 4.1/5 with 22 reviews.

Who Should Choose Which

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

Overall, FTMO edges ahead winning 6 out of 8 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

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
Pipster
Pros
Four distinct routes to funding rather than one: a 1-Phase (10% target), a 2-Phase (8% then 5%), an Instant Funded account, and Pipster Entry, a pay-after-you-pass product costing $1.99 up front with the activation fee due only if you pass. No consistency rule on any standard challenge or funded account, stated in those words, with no cap on how much profit may come from a single day and no consistency-based payout holds. No time limit on any evaluation phase. Entry to a $1,000 1-Phase challenge costs $8.88. Founders are named and verifiable: Cormac Munnelly (CEO, 14 years trading bonds, futures and FX) and Alan Shannon (CTO, 20 years building trading systems at JPMC, UBS, RBC and MUFG), with the operating company registered at Companies House. Payouts run weekly after a 14-day first-payout wait, at an 80% split that the risk team may raise to 90%, with a $100 minimum and RISE, bank transfer or crypto as methods. 100+ instruments across forex, indices, commodities, crypto and metals on Match-Trader.
Cons
Every account carries a Payout Reward Capacity, a lifetime cap on total payouts per account: 12% of the starting balance on purchased accounts and 6% on reward, competition and free accounts. On a $100,000 account that is $12,000 in total, reached after roughly $15,000 of simulated profit, after which the account stops generating rewards and a new one must be bought. A stop loss is mandatory on every position within 60 seconds of opening, and any profitable trade opened and closed inside 60 seconds is treated as high-frequency trading and may be cancelled. Funded and Instant traders may not risk more than 50% of the permitted daily drawdown on open positions at once, and Instant Funded adds a hard 3% maximum loss per trade idea. Copy trading is banned outright. Funded traders must close all positions before the weekend and cannot open positions within 5 minutes either side of a high-impact news release. The firm is unregulated by its own statement, and it is young: the company was incorporated 25 June 2025 and carries only 22 TrustPilot reviews.

Active Deals & Promo Codes

FTMO
20% OFF 20% off the $100K 1-Step FTMO Challenge (no code needed)
Pipster

No active deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, FTMO or Pipster?

FTMO scores higher overall, winning 6 out of 8 comparison categories including Overall Rating, TrustPilot, Profit Split. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, FTMO or Pipster?

Pipster has the lower starting price at $2. FTMO offers 10 challenge options starting from $79, while Pipster offers 22 options starting from $2.

Which has better reviews, FTMO or Pipster?

FTMO has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.8/5. FTMO has 51,254 reviews while Pipster has 22.

Which offers a higher profit split, FTMO or Pipster?

FTMO offers a higher maximum profit split. FTMO offers Up to 90% while Pipster offers 80%.

How fast do FTMO and Pipster pay out?

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

Are FTMO and Pipster legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. FTMO holds a A+ safety grade and a 4.8/5 TrustPilot rating. Pipster holds a unrated safety grade and a 4.1/5 TrustPilot rating. Safety grades are based on payout history, community trust signals, and regulatory transparency.

Which is better for beginners, FTMO or Pipster?

Pipster 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.

Not sold on either? Explore alternatives

See the closest-matched prop firms ranked head-to-head against each contender, with live 2026 prices and safety grades.