FTMO vs The5ers: which prop firm is cheaper to trade?
Both are popular proprietary trading firms offering funded accounts on similar terms. The headline challenge prices look alike, so the real question is what each one costs you per trade once spread and commission are included. Here is the side-by-side on EUR/USD.
The verdict
The per-trade gap is about $3.00 per standard lot. With prop firms the challenge fee, payout split, and trading rules usually matter more than the spread, so weigh those alongside cost.
Cost breakdown
| Account | Spread (EUR/USD) | Commission (round trip) | Cost per 1.0 lot | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO · proprietary trading firm | ||||
| Raw Spread | 0.0 pips | $6.00 | $6.00 | 1:100 |
| The5ers · proprietary trading firm | ||||
| Hybrid | 0.5 pips | $4.00 | $9.00 | 1:100 |
Cost = round-trip spread ($10 per pip per standard lot on EUR/USD) + round-trip commission. Illustrative typical values; live spreads vary with market conditions. *Leverage applies to funded or simulated accounts and varies by program.
How they differ
What you’re comparing
FTMO and The5ers are proprietary trading firms, not brokers. You trade the firm’s capital on a simulated or funded account after passing an evaluation, so “cost” here is the spread and commission charged on your funded trades, on top of the one-off challenge fee.Cost model
Raw accounts charge near-zero spreads plus a commission, while standard accounts fold the cost into a wider spread. On EUR/USD the cheapest route is FTMO’s Raw Spread account at $6.00 per round-trip lot.Leverage
Both firms typically offer around 1:100 on major FX on funded accounts, though exact leverage, instruments, and rules vary by program. Always check the current terms before buying a challenge.Compare with your own strategy
Cost per lot is only half the story. What matters is how much each firm erodes your edge: your win rate, stop, and target. PipRival’s free tool strips each firm’s spread and commission out of your strategy and ranks them by expectancy per trade, so you see the one that’s cheapest for the way you actually trade.
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