FTMO vs FundedNext vs MyFundedFX: Complete 2025 Comparison for Algo Traders
Which prop firm is best for automated trading? I compare rules, payout structures, EA restrictions, drawdown policies and my personal results across 18+ challenges.
Why Prop Firm Choice Matters for Algo Traders
Not all prop firms treat automated trading the same way. Some ban EAs entirely. Some allow them but have hidden rules that get your account suspended. I've passed 18+ challenges across multiple firms — here's what I've learned.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | FTMO | FundedNext | MyFundedFX | The Funded Trader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge fee (100K) | $540 | $549 | $299 | $375 |
| Refundable? | Yes, on first payout | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Profit target | 10% Phase 1 / 5% Phase 2 | 10% / 5% | 8% / 5% | 8% / 5% |
| Max daily drawdown | 5% | 5% | 4% | 4% |
| Max total drawdown | 10% | 10% | 8% | 8% |
| Min trading days | 4 days | None! | None! | 5 days |
| EA allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| News trading | Restricted | Allowed | Allowed | Restricted |
| Weekend holding | Allowed | Allowed | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Payout split | 80-90% | 80-90% | 80% | 80-90% |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Bi-weekly | Monthly | Bi-weekly |
| Scaling | Up to $2M | Up to $4M | Up to $1.5M | Up to $1.5M |
Deep Dive: FTMO
Pros
- Most respected in the trading community
- Highest scaling potential ($2M max)
- Strong community and educational resources
- Accepts most EA styles
Cons
- News trading restricted — major problem for scalpers
- 4 minimum trading days — means you can't rush the challenge
- 5% daily drawdown includes floating P&L — careful with overnight gaps
- Fee refund requires reaching 1st payout, not instant
My FTMO EA Settings
For FTMO, I use conservative settings to respect the 5% daily drawdown:
****mql5 // FTMO-safe settings input double RiskPercent = 0.5; // Max 0.5% per trade input double MaxDailyLoss = 3.5; // Stop at -3.5% (buffer before 5%) input double MaxDrawdown = 7.0; // Stop at -7% (buffer before 10%) input bool NewsFilter = true; // MANDATORY for FTMO input bool AllowWeekend = true; // Allowed ****
FTMO Verdict for Algo Traders: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Best for swing traders and EAs that don't trade news.
Deep Dive: FundedNext
Pros
- No minimum trading days — pass in 1 day if you hit the target (rare but possible)
- News trading allowed — game changer for scalpers
- Bi-weekly payouts — faster cash flow
- Stellar account: 1-phase challenge (10% target, 10% DD) — simpler
Cons
- Fee refund structure is more complex
- Smaller community than FTMO
- Some reports of slow payout processing
My FundedNext EA Settings
****mql5 // FundedNext settings (more aggressive possible) input double RiskPercent = 0.75; // Can afford slightly higher risk input double MaxDailyLoss = 3.5; // Buffer before 5% input double MaxDrawdown = 7.5; // Buffer before 10% input bool NewsFilter = false; // NOT required (but still advisable) input bool AllowWeekend = true; ****
FundedNext Verdict for Algo Traders: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Best overall for automated trading. The no-minimum-days + news trading allowed combination is unbeatable for scalping EAs.
Deep Dive: MyFundedFX (MFF)
Pros
- Lower fee ($299 vs $540 for 100K) — great for budget-conscious traders
- No minimum trading days
- News trading allowed
Cons
- No weekend holding — means EAs must close all trades by Friday EOD
- 4% daily drawdown — tighter than competitors, harder for volatile EAs
- 8% total drawdown — also tighter, less margin for error
- Reports of stricter account reviews
My MFF EA Settings
****mql5 // MFF settings (must be conservative due to tight DD rules) input double RiskPercent = 0.4; // Conservative due to 4% daily limit input double MaxDailyLoss = 2.8; // Buffer before 4% input double MaxDrawdown = 6.0; // Buffer before 8% input bool NewsFilter = false; input bool CloseOnFriday = true; // MANDATORY for MFF input int FridayCloseHour = 21; // Close by 21:00 GMT Friday ****
MFF Verdict for Algo Traders: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Good value but the tight drawdown rules make it harder for EAs. Better for manual traders.
My Actual Results Across Firms
After 18+ challenges, here are my personal statistics:
| Firm | Challenges Attempted | Pass Rate | Avg Days to Pass | Avg Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO | 8 | 87.5% | 23 days | +11.3% |
| FundedNext | 6 | 100% | 18 days | +10.8% |
| MFF | 4 | 75% | 15 days | +9.2% |
Key insight: FundedNext has my highest pass rate because the no-minimum-days and news-allowed rules let my scalping EAs operate without constraints.
How to Run the Same EA on Multiple Firms Simultaneously
This is advanced but powerful — run 3 challenges in parallel with the same EA, different risk settings:
****`mql5
// Multi-firm profile selector
enum FIRM_PROFILE {
FIRM_FTMO,
FIRM_FUNDEDNEXT,
FIRM_MFF
};
input FIRM_PROFILE FirmProfile = FIRM_FTMO;
double GetRiskPercent() {
switch(FirmProfile) {
case FIRM_FTMO: return 0.50;
case FIRM_FUNDEDNEXT: return 0.75;
case FIRM_MFF: return 0.40;
default: return 0.50;
}
}
double GetMaxDailyLoss() {
switch(FirmProfile) {
case FIRM_FTMO: return 3.5;
case FIRM_FUNDEDNEXT: return 3.5;
case FIRM_MFF: return 2.8;
default: return 3.5;
}
}
bool GetNewsFilter() {
return FirmProfile == FIRM_FTMO; // Only FTMO requires news filter
}
****`
Final Recommendation
For beginners: Start with FundedNext Stellar (1-phase, lower complexity).
For scalping EAs: FundedNext or MFF (news allowed).
For swing EAs: FTMO (better scaling, more reputable).
For budget traders: MFF ($299 vs $540 for 100K challenge).
Want help setting up your EA for a specific prop firm? I offer a complete challenge passing service — check it out here or message me directly.