FTMO vs SabioTrade Comparison

Buyer-first forex comparison · reviewed July 25, 2026

FTMO vs SabioTrade Buyer’s Scorecard

Compare the same account size and the same evaluation type. Then compare total attempt cost, how daily and maximum loss are calculated, whether drawdown is static or trailing, the funded-account rules, platform fit, and evidence of trust. Branded challenge names identify products; they are not decision criteria by themselves.

Decision point	SabioTrade	FTMO
Starting price	$139 ($20K)	Varies by account size; fee refunded on first reward
Profit target	10%	10% (1-Step); 10% then 5% (2-Step)
Daily loss limit	5%	3% (1-Step); 5% (2-Step)
Max drawdown	6% trailing	10% (trailing on 1-Step; static on 2-Step)
Reward / profit share	80% to 90%	80%, up to 90% via Scaling Plan
Minimum trading days	None	None (1-Step); 4 (2-Step)
Platform	QuadCode proprietary	MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader

Advanced checks before paying

• Calculate all-in attempt cost: evaluation or subscription fee, resets, activation, data or platform fees, and payout charges.
• Convert drawdown into a per-trade loss budget and model your normal losing streak.
• Audit funded-stage consistency, qualifying days, minimum balance, payout cap, number of payouts, scaling, and live-account transition.
• Check the contracting entity, recent complaint themes, support answer for your strategy, and a smaller first payout before scaling purchases.

This scorecard surfaces only decision rows without unresolved verification placeholders. Keep each row tied to the exact account size and program described; verify current checkout and official rules before purchasing.

Choosing between SabioTrade and FTMO comes down to one question: how do you actually like to trade? One firm is built around a fast, single-step evaluation across stocks, forex, and crypto. The other is a long-established forex and CFD specialist that lets you pick between a quick one-step path or a more measured two-step process. Both can pay a 90% share of simulated profits, but they get there differently: SabioTrade sets the share by plan tier, while FTMO starts at 80% and reaches 90% through its Scaling Plan.

Last verified: June 2026. All pricing and rules below are taken from each firm's official site and can change at any time.

This comparison breaks down evaluation models, pricing, rules, payouts, platforms, and the kind of trader each firm suits best, so you can match a firm to your style rather than the other way around.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Prop firm rules and pricing change often, so always confirm current terms on each firm's official site before purchasing.

SabioTrade vs FTMO at a Glance

The table below summarizes the headline differences using each firm's published terms. Specific conditions can vary by plan, so treat this as a starting point rather than the final word.

Feature	SabioTrade	FTMO
Evaluation model	1-step evaluation	1-Step or 2-Step Challenge
Profit target	10%	10% (1-Step); 10% then 5% (2-Step)
Daily loss limit	5%	3% (1-Step); 5% (2-Step)
Max drawdown	6% trailing	10% (trailing on 1-Step; static on 2-Step)
Minimum trading days	None	None (1-Step); 4 (2-Step)
Reward / profit share	80% to 90%	80%, up to 90% via Scaling Plan
Account sizes	$20K to $1M	$10K to $200K
Starting price	$139 ($20K)	Varies by account size; fee refunded on first reward
Primary instruments	250+ (as CFDs): stocks, forex, crypto, commodities, indices, ETFs	Forex and CFDs
Platform	QuadCode proprietary	MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader
Automated trading (EAs/bots)	Not permitted	Permitted on MT4/MT5
U.S. participants	Yes	Yes, via the FTMO US entity
Operating since	2021	2015

How the Evaluations Differ

The evaluation is where these two firms diverge the most, and it is the single biggest factor in deciding which one suits your style.

SabioTrade uses a single-step model. You buy an evaluation plan, hit a 10% performance target while staying inside the daily loss and drawdown limits, and you move to a reward-eligible account. There is no minimum number of trading days and no time limit, as long as you place at least one simulated trade every 30 days to keep the account active. For traders who dislike drawn-out, multi-phase processes, this is a clean, fast path.

FTMO gives you a choice. The 1-Step Challenge mirrors the quick approach: a 10% profit target, a tighter 3% daily loss limit, and a 10% trailing maximum loss, with no minimum trading days. The 2-Step Challenge spreads the assessment across two phases, a 10% target in the Challenge phase followed by a 5% target in the Verification phase, with a 5% daily loss limit, a 10% static maximum loss, and a minimum of four trading days per phase. The two-step route asks more of your patience but rewards consistency over a single hot streak.

If you want a single decision and a single sprint, both firms offer it. If you want the option to prove yourself more gradually, only FTMO gives you that built-in flexibility.

Pricing and Account Sizes

SabioTrade publishes a clear, tiered price list. The Essential plan is $139 for a $20K simulated balance, Plus is $339 for $50K, Advanced is $549 for $100K, Ultimate is $1,079 for $200K, and the Supreme plan reaches a $1M simulated balance for $6,889. Reward shares are 80% on the Essential and Plus tiers and 90% on Advanced and above. SabioTrade also offers a free seven-day trial for traders who want to test the platform first.

FTMO offers simulated account sizes of $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, and $200K across both its 1-Step and 2-Step Challenges. Its fee scales with account size, and the challenge fee is refunded with your first reward, which effectively lowers the real cost for traders who pass and get paid. Because FTMO runs promotions and updates products regularly, confirm the current fee for your chosen size and model directly on FTMO's pricing page before buying.

The practical takeaway: SabioTrade has the lower entry point and a higher ceiling on simulated balance, while FTMO concentrates its sizes in the $10K to $200K range and offsets cost through its fee refund.

Rules and Risk Limits

Risk rules decide who passes and who washes out, so read them closely.

SabioTrade applies a 5% daily loss limit based on the previous day's end-of-day balance and measured on equity, meaning open-position losses count. Its maximum trailing drawdown is 6%, calculated from your highest recorded balance, and your equity must not fall below your initial balance even after rewards begin. SabioTrade also enforces consistency rules: no single trade and no single trading day may account for more than 40% of your total simulated profit. If one day exceeds that share, the system raises your profit target to keep performance balanced. Prohibited practices include high-frequency trading, automated systems and bots, scalping, mirror trading, hedging, and all-in trades.

FTMO's limits depend on the model. On the 1-Step Challenge, the daily loss amount is 3% of initial capital and the maximum loss is 10%, recalculated daily as an end-of-day trailing limit that can rise but never fall. The 1-Step path also adds a Best Day Rule: your single best day cannot represent more than 50% of your total positive days' profit, which pushes traders toward steady gains rather than one outsized session. On the 2-Step Challenge, the daily loss limit is 5% and the maximum loss is a 10% static figure, with a four-day minimum trading requirement per phase.

Both firms clearly reward consistency over gambling. SabioTrade caps single-day and single-trade contribution at 40%, while FTMO's 1-Step Best Day Rule does something similar with a 50% ceiling. If your edge is grinding out small, repeatable gains, either firm works. If you rely on occasional big swings, both will slow you down by design.

Payouts and Profit Splits

Both firms top out at a 90% share of simulated profits, but the route there differs.

SabioTrade sets reward shares by plan: 80% on Essential and Plus, and 90% on Advanced, Ultimate, and Supreme. That higher share applies from your first reward with no scaling required. You can request a performance reward once every seven days, provided your account is verified, you have no open trades, and you meet the consistency rules. Rewards are paid by bank transfer or cryptocurrency.

FTMO pays 80% of simulated profits by default and raises that to 90% for traders who meet its Scaling Plan requirements, which also increase your account balance by 25% as you perform. In other words, FTMO's top split is earned over time, while SabioTrade's top split is bought upfront by choosing a higher tier.

If you want the maximum share immediately, SabioTrade's higher plans deliver it on day one. If you are comfortable earning your way to 90% and value the account growth that comes with FTMO's Scaling Plan, FTMO's structure may appeal more.

Instruments and Platforms

This is the other major fork in the road.

SabioTrade offers more than 250 instruments spanning forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices, and ETFs, all traded as CFDs in a simulated setting on QuadCode's proprietary platform, accessible from your dashboard and mobile. Leverage varies by asset class, with forex at 1:30, equities and ETFs at 1:20, commodities at 1:25, indices at 1:100, and crypto at 1:3. The stock and ETF coverage is notable, since many prop firms skip single-name equities entirely. One important constraint: SabioTrade prohibits automated systems, bots, and trade copiers, so its platform is built for discretionary, manual trading.

FTMO is forex and CFD focused, with a deep set of currency pairs and CFD instruments suited to traders who live in the FX and indices world. It supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, and allows Expert Advisors (EAs) on its MetaTrader platforms, which matters a great deal to algorithmic traders.

This is a decisive split for some traders. If you run EAs, custom indicators, or copy tools, FTMO's MetaTrader support fits and SabioTrade does not. If you trade stocks or ETFs, or you want one account that touches many asset classes by hand, SabioTrade has the broader menu. If you are a dedicated discretionary forex or indices trader, either firm works, with FTMO squarely in its lane.

Reputation and Track Record

FTMO has been operating since 2015 and publicly reports more than 3.5 million customers worldwide and over $500M paid in rewards, alongside strong third-party review scores. That longevity and scale are a meaningful part of its appeal for traders who prioritize an established name.

SabioTrade, operating since 2021, is newer but has built visibility through industry awards and coverage in trading media, and it positions itself around education with its Sabio Academy and PRO Club preparation tracks. As with any prop firm, treat marketing claims and user testimonials as marketing, and weigh independent reviews and your own testing of the free trial before committing.

Which Firm Fits Your Trading Style?

Choose SabioTrade if you want a single-step evaluation, the lowest entry price, multi-asset access including stocks and ETFs, and an immediate 90% reward share on its higher tiers. It suits discretionary traders who value speed and breadth.

Choose FTMO if you want a long, established track record, the flexibility to pick a 1-Step or 2-Step evaluation, MetaTrader support with Expert Advisors for automated strategies, a forex and CFD focused toolset, a challenge fee that is refunded on your first reward, and a Scaling Plan that grows your account as you perform.

Both firms accept U.S. traders, so location is unlikely to be your deciding factor here. The real fork is automated versus discretionary trading and FX-focus versus multi-asset breadth.

Many traders find the decision is less about which firm is "better" and more about which model matches their temperament. Fast and broad points to SabioTrade. Established and structured points to FTMO.

Page-one comparison check · US desktop results reviewed August 6, 2026

What to verify before choosing FTMO or SabioTrade

Decision summary: The headline account size and profit split do not identify the better fit on their own. Compare the complete cost, loss calculation, first-payout path, platform route, and restrictions for two specific programs before paying.

Decision point	How to compare it
Support and dispute path	Save the applicable rule version and confirm the support, appeal, and dispute route before buying, especially when your strategy needs written clarification.
Simulated versus live status	Read the agreement for each stage and distinguish a simulated funded account from any later live-capital route; the word funded does not settle that question.

Promotions and program rules can change independently. Use this page to narrow the choice, then confirm every decision-critical term in each firm’s current official program document, checkout, and trader agreement. Screenshots or saved copies help if a rule changes after purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Word

SabioTrade and FTMO solve the same problem, proving your skill to access a funded simulated account, with two distinct philosophies. SabioTrade leans into speed, low cost, and asset variety. FTMO leans into longevity, structure, and forex specialization. Decide how you like to trade first, then pick the firm that gets out of your way.

Your next step: shortlist the one that matches your style, read its full terms on the official site, and test the free trial or smallest account before scaling up.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Prop trading evaluations involve simulated accounts and fees that you can lose. Firm rules, pricing, and availability change frequently; always verify current terms on each firm's official website before making any purchase decision.

Research and disclosure

How this comparison was reviewed

Basis

Document-based comparison of official product pages, trading objectives, and help-center material cited in this page.

Scope

FTMO and SabioTrade programs and the exact account comparisons stated on this page. Other firms and changing checkout promotions are outside this comparison.

Limitations

BestProps did not purchase an account or perform first-hand trading, support, identity-check, or payout testing for this comparison. Recheck current terms before purchase.

Commercial state

BestProps currently has no active affiliate or sponsor relationship with FTMO, SabioTrade, or any firm named on this page. Any future relationship will be disclosed next to affected links and in this record.

Editorial methodology · Corrections · Commercial disclosure