Verdict
The FTMO Free Trial is a 14-day practice account, not an evaluation phase: passing it produces no FTMO Account and removes no step from a paid challenge. Use the 2-Step trial to test a 5% daily and 10% static loss structure; use the 1-Step trial to test a 3% daily limit, 10% end-of-day trailing loss, and 50% Best Day rule.
Start with FTMO when the purpose is to compare its 2 current challenge rule sets across MT4, MT5, cTrader, or TradingView. Compare FundedNext when a single 14-day trial, 3 minimum days, MT5, and a completion-linked 5% coupon are more useful; its trial prohibits EAs and does not reproduce every paid FundedNext product.
Test before paying. FTMO permits 1 active Free Trial at a time and lets the trader delete it and start another. The outbound FTMO link is non-affiliate.
Open FTMO’s Free Trial or read the current FTMO review before choosing a paid 1-Step or 2-Step account.
FTMO Free Trial quick facts
| Price | €0; no card payment |
| Duration | 14 days |
| Trial choices | 1-Step or 2-Step rule set; each trial has 1 phase |
| Profit target | 5% on either trial |
| Concurrent trials | 1 active Free Trial per client |
| Maximum account size | $200,000 in simulated capital |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView |
| Funding after passing | No; a paid challenge still starts from Phase 1 |
The facts above were captured on 2026-09-14 from FTMO’s Free Trial landing page and its named Free Trial FAQ. The official FAQ says the trial is an abridged practice experience, allows 1 active account at a time, and does not create eligibility for an FTMO Account.
FTMO 1-Step vs 2-Step Free Trial rules
| Rule | 1-Step Free Trial | 2-Step Free Trial |
|---|---|---|
| Trial phases | 1 | 1 |
| Profit target | 5% | 5% |
| Minimum trading days | No separate minimum captured; 50% Best Day still affects completion | 2 days |
| Maximum daily loss | 3% | 5% |
| Maximum loss | 10% end-of-day trailing | 10% static |
| Consistency gate | 50% Best Day rule | No percentage rule captured |
The 2-Step Free Trial uses the paid 2-Step objectives except for 2 explicit adjustments: the Phase 1 target falls from 10% to 5%, and minimum trading days fall from 4 to 2. It does not include a free Verification phase, so reaching 5% completes only the practice account.
The 1-Step Free Trial uses the paid 1-Step objectives with 1 stated adjustment: the target falls from 10% to 5%. That leaves the 3% Maximum Daily Loss, 10% end-of-day trailing Maximum Loss, and 50% Best Day rule in place; exceeding 50% is a completion gate, not a hard breach.
Worked rule examples on a $100K trial
2-Step: the static $90,000 floor
A $100,000 2-Step trial has a $5,000 daily-loss amount and a static $90,000 overall floor. If the account closes Day 1 at $104,000, the next day’s overall floor remains $90,000; the $4,000 gain does not move a static maximum-loss line.
1-Step: the floor can move to $94,000
A $100,000 1-Step trial starts with a $90,000 overall floor and a $3,000 daily-loss amount. If the highest end-of-day balance becomes $104,000, the next recalculation lifts the maximum-loss floor to $94,000; a later losing day does not lower it.
1-Step: a $3,000 best day needs $6,000 of positive-day profit
The 50% Best Day formula is best day ÷ positive-days profit. A $3,000 best day divided by $5,000 of positive-days profit equals 60%, so the 5% trial target alone is not enough; the positive-days total must reach at least $6,000 for that $3,000 day to equal 50%.
Read the drawdown guide for static versus trailing floor behavior and the consistency-rule guide for the Best Day denominator before choosing the 1-Step trial.
Free Trial vs paid FTMO Challenge
| Path | Fee | Target | Time / days | What passing unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step Free Trial | €0 | 5% | 14 days; no separate minimum captured | Practice result only |
| Paid 1-Step $100K | €499; non-refundable | 10% | No maximum-day limit captured | Account review after 1 phase |
| 2-Step Free Trial | €0 | 5% | 14 days; 2 minimum days | Practice result only |
| Paid 2-Step $100K | €540; refundable with first approved reward | 10% then 5% | No maximum-day limit; 4 minimum days per phase | Verification after Phase 1 |
The paid comparison uses FTMO’s structured challenge capture dated 2026-07-27 and keeps prices in euros. A passed trial does not refund, discount, or replace either €499 1-Step or €540 2-Step at $100K; compare the full fee-recovery math in the FTMO review and True-Cost guide.
A 14-day test plan that produces a decision
| Stage | Record | Decision gate |
|---|---|---|
| Before Day 1 | Chosen 1-Step or 2-Step formula, server reset time, personal session stop, and maximum risk per trade | Every rule is written as a number or formula |
| Days 1–4 | Balance, equity, floating P&L, commissions, swaps, and rule distance after every session | 0 unexplained dashboard differences |
| Days 5–10 | Rule deviations, revenge trades, size increases, and Best Day share where applicable | 0 hard-rule breaches and no unplanned size escalation |
| Days 11–14 | Target progress, maximum drawdown used, largest loss, largest win, and positive-day distribution | Buy only if the same plan fits the paid target without a deadline |
A 14-day pass is weaker evidence than 14 days of rule-clean execution. If the result required oversized risk, a last-day target chase, or a 60% Best Day share, repeat the trial; the overtrading guide shows how to measure plan drift, while the challenge-passing guide converts the result into a risk budget.
FTMO Free Trial vs FundedNext Free Trial
| Field | FTMO 1-Step trial | FTMO 2-Step trial | FundedNext trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days from first trade |
| Target / minimum days | 5% / no separate minimum captured | 5% / 2 days | 5% / 3 days |
| Daily / maximum loss | 3% / 10% EOD trailing | 5% / 10% static | 5% / 10% maximum |
| Platform | 4 FTMO choices | 4 FTMO choices | MT5 outside the US; Match-Trader in the US |
| EA test | Use must follow FTMO strategy restrictions | Use must follow FTMO strategy restrictions | Not permitted |
| Completion benefit | No funded account or paid-step credit | No funded account or paid-step credit | 5% CFD-plan coupon for eligible new users; valid 14 days |
FundedNext’s 1 trial also permits news trading and weekend holding, caps open positions at 30, offers $6,000–$200,000 balances, and has no reset option. Those trial rules do not prove how Stellar Lite, 1-Step, 2-Step, or Instant will behave after purchase; the FundedNext review compares all 4 paid products and 22 captured prices.
Prefer FundedNext’s 3-day trial structure? Its 5% completion coupon applies only to eligible new users, lasts 14 days, covers CFD plans, and excludes resets.
Check the 4 paid-product rule sets first, verify the earned-coupon conditions on the checked-offer hub, then open FundedNext’s current Free Trial and plans. We may earn a commission if a later purchase qualifies; that relationship does not change the 5% target or 14-day coupon terms.
What a Free Trial can and cannot prove
- It can test rule fit: 14 days expose whether the 3% or 5% daily limit, static or trailing floor, and 50% Best Day calculation match the strategy.
- It can test the workflow: 1 trial can expose platform friction, dashboard timing, commissions, swaps, and mistakes around the CE(S)T reset.
- It cannot prove payout eligibility: €0 practice accounts have no KYC approval, reward review, fee recovery, or bank settlement.
- It cannot reproduce a long sample: 14 days may contain too few trades for a low-frequency system and can reward a short favorable run.
- It cannot justify larger risk: a 5% target reached through one oversized day can still fail the 1-Step 50% Best Day gate or hide unsustainable execution.
Use the global challenge comparison after the trial to compare the same phase count, loss type, starting split, payout gate, and fee-refund timing across current products.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FTMO Free Trial really free?
Yes. The captured price is €0, and FTMO presents the account as a no-entry-fee practice experience. No payment is required to start the 14-day trial.
Does passing the FTMO Free Trial give me a funded account?
No. Passing either 1-phase trial grants no FTMO Account and skips no paid stage. A trader must still buy and complete the selected 1-Step or 2-Step Evaluation Process.
How many FTMO Free Trials can I take?
FTMO permits 1 active Free Trial per client at a time. The current landing page says the trader can delete the active trial and create another, or start a new one after the 14-day period.
Is the FTMO Free Trial 14 calendar days?
FTMO states a 14-day trial period. Because the live dashboard controls the exact expiry timestamp, record the displayed start and end time before placing Day 1’s trade.
Which FTMO Free Trial should I choose?
Choose the 2-Step trial to test a 5% daily limit, 10% static floor, and 2 minimum days. Choose the 1-Step trial to test a 3% daily limit, 10% end-of-day trailing floor, and 50% Best Day rule.
Is FundedNext’s Free Trial the same as FTMO’s?
No. FundedNext uses 1 rule set with a 5% target, 3 minimum days, 5% daily loss, 10% maximum loss, a 30-position cap, and no EAs. FTMO offers separate 1-Step and 2-Step trial formulas and 4 platform choices.