As proprietary trading (prop trading for short) continues to grow in popularity, you might be looking to ply your trading skills with a firm. What trader wouldn’t be attracted to leveraging their skills with someone else’s capital for potentially high profits with little risk?
Finding a proprietary trading firm that fits your trading style can be a challenge.
Two of the most popular prop trading firms are SurgeTrader and FTMO. Here’s a helpful comparison of SurgeTrader versus FTMO to help you decide whether one of these platforms might take your trading mastery to a new level.
Table of Contents
- What Is SurgeTrader?
- Who SurgeTrader Is Best For
- What Is FTMO?
- Who FTMO Is Best For
- Comparing SurgeTrader and FTMO
- Evaluation Process
- Profit Splits
- Tradable Assets
- Trading Platforms
- Costs and Leverage
- Trading Conditions and Restrictions
- Customer Support
- Safety and Regulations
- Which Prop Firm Comes Out on Top?
- Find the Firm That Fits Your Trading Goals
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is SurgeTrader?
SurgeTrader is a proprietary trading firm founded in 2021. With capital backing from Valo Holdings, the firm's primary objective is offering clients long-term success.
As one of the newer firms on the block, SurgeTrader has made waves by changing the rules.
Some key features positively reviewed by clients include a transparent fee structure, scaled account options and straightforward, simple trading rules. For example, the drawdown limits and profit targets stay the same regardless of the account size chosen.
Who SurgeTrader Is Best For
If you’re an experienced trader who values flexibility in your strategy, SurgeTrader might be a good choice. The firm doesn’t encumber traders with strict trading rules, going so far as to encourage clients to use the strategy that works best for them.
What Is FTMO?
FTMO, which stands for Forex Trading Money Online, is a proprietary trading firm started by three traders in Prague. It was born from a desire to give traders more than access to a funded trading account.
Hand-in-hand with more funding, the dual needs of discipline and feedback led to FTMO establishing a multistep evaluation process, educational support and diverse account options. The goal is to turn confused newcomers into confident, professional traders.
Who FTMO Is Best For
FTMO is best for serious traders. FTMO’s value proposition is its extensive education resources, scalability in managing account balances up to $400,000 and profit-sharing of 80%.
The platform has trading conditions that help you demonstrate that you can manage risk and are disciplined and experienced. Moreover, the company rewards traders who meet its standards by increasing their funded trading accounts by 25% and changing their payout to 90%.
Comparing SurgeTrader and FTMO
While SurgeTrader invites everyone to the table with its simplicity, FTMO seeks to turn the people on its platform into better traders.
Evaluation Process
SurgeTrader and FTMO both invite everyone from beginners to seasoned traders to join their platforms, but their evaluation processes differ. SurgeTrader’s process is simplified and trader-friendly, while FTMO’s is more rigorous.
SurgeTrader offers an audition phase in one or two steps, with the only real difference in trading plans being the funding level. Once you qualify, you receive funds.
FTMO has a more challenging two-step evaluation that requires you to showcase your trading skills and discipline. If you pass, you must be verified before trading on the platform.
Profit Splits
Beyond the evaluation process, SurgeTrader and FTMO also diverge in how they split profits.
As a trader, you can initially keep 75%, with SurgeTrade taking 25%, and your managed account is capped at $500,000. With FTMO, the initial profit split is 80% for you and 20% for the company, with a managed account maximum of $400,000.
Both firms offer successful traders the opportunity to reach a 90/10 profit split. The most successful traders could eventually graduate to managing account sizes of $1 million on SurgeTrader and $2 million on FTMO.
| Profit Splits | SurgeTrader | FTMO |
| Managed amount | $500,000 | $400,000 |
| % of profit split | 75% | 80% |
Tradable Assets
SurgeTrader and FTMO both offer numerous tradable assets, although they are somewhat limited. Giving traders access to a wide range of assets allows them to diversify their portfolios, guarding against volatility and creating the opportunity for gains across a spectrum of assets.
| Asset | SurgeTrader | FTMO |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| Stock options | No | No |
| Metals | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | No |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual funds | No | No |
Trading Platforms
Trading platforms must be robust and agile and meet strict regulatory requirements. They offer tools for market analysis, trade execution and risk management.
| Platform | SurgeTrader | FTMO |
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| NinjaTrader | No | No |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Other | No | Yes |
Costs and Leverage
Both SurgeTrader and FTMO offer varying account sizes that have upfront fees. With SurgeTrader, users are charged an audition fee and can pay for add-ons that increase their profit split and maximum leverage, although the leverage split only applies to forex and metals.
FTMO has a one-time evaluation fee based on the size of the account the user opens. Once they’ve selected an account level, it can’t be changed.
For SurgeTrader and FTMO, the leverage levels vary with the asset class.
SurgeTrader offers up to 20:1 for forex and metals and up to 5:1 for stocks and variable leverage for cryptocurrencies. With FTMO, traders can access leverage up to 100:1 for forex in the normal program. For the aggressive program, the leverage is 30:1.
SurgeTrader
| Plan | Managed amount (USD) | Min. trading days/trading period | Profit target (USD) | Daily loss | Max. total loss | Max. leverage | Price (USD) |
| Starter | $25,000 | No limit | $2,500 | 5% | 8% | 10:1; increases up to 20:1 with add-on purchase and applies only to FX and metals | $250 (one-time payment) |
| Intermediate | $50,000 | No limit | $5,000 | 5% | 8% | $400 | |
| Seasoned | $100,000 | No limit | $10,000 | 5% | 8% | $700 | |
| Advanced | $250,000 | No limit | $25,000 | 5% | 8% | $1,800 | |
| Expert | $500,000 | No limit | $50,000 | 5% | 8% | $3,500 | |
| Master | $1,000,000 | No limit | $100,000 | 5% | 8% | $6,500 |
FTMO
| Plan | Managed amount (USD) | Min. trading days | Profit target (USD) | Daily loss | Max. total loss | Max. leverage | Price |
| Normal | $10,000 | 4 | 1,000 (Stage 1); 500 (Stage 2) | 5% | 10% | 10:1 | 155 EUR (one-time payment) |
| $25,000 | 4 | 2,500 (Stage 1); 1,250 (Stage 2) | 5% | 10% | 250 EUR | ||
| $50,000 | 4 | 5,000 (Stage 1); 2,500 (Stage 2) | 5% | 10% | 345 EUR | ||
| $100,000 | 4 | 10,000 (Stage 1); 5,000 (Stage 2) | 5% | 10% | 540 EUR | ||
| $200,000 | 4 | 20,000 (Stage 1); 10,000 (Stage 2) | 5% | 10% | 1,080 EUR | ||
| Aggressive | $10,000 | 4 | 2,000 | 5% | 10% | 250 EUR | |
| $25,000 | 4 | 5,000 | 5% | 10% | 345 EUR | ||
| $50,000 | 4 | 10,000 | 5% | 10% | 540 EUR | ||
| $100,000 | 4 | 20,000 | 5% | 10% | 1,080 EUR |
Trading Conditions and Restrictions
FTMO has several delineated rules users must follow during the evaluation process, along with reaching their profit targets. The platform’s requirements for adherence to certain trading rules are much more stringent than SurgeTrader’s straightforward approach.
Customer Support
Quick responses are critical in the fast-paced prop trading world, and SurgeTrader and FTMO provide speedy support for clients. Resolving queries, technical issues and client concerns quickly helps minimize trading disruptions.
SurgeTrader provides 24/7 telephone support, as well as email and chat. With FTMO, you can only call between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central European Time, but you can communicate in 16 languages. FTMO also offers customer service through email, live chat and WhatsApp.
Safety and Regulations
SurgeTrader works through the Melbourne-based brokerage Eightcap Global Ltd., which is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Like most prop firms, FTMO isn’t directly regulated. However, the company focuses on providing a secure trading environment for its users, stressing risk-management practices and conducting independent audits.
Which Prop Firm Comes Out on Top?
In the end, the clash of SurgeTrader versus FTMO isn’t a fair comparison. Neither firm outshines the other, as both platforms offer a unique approach to becoming a better trader. For this reason, both are worth exploring.
Find the Firm That Fits Your Trading Goals
Due diligence is required before jumping into proprietary trading. If you’re considering using SurgeTrader or FTMO, take some time to do your homework before deciding which one best fits your personality and trading style.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q
Why is FTMO banned in the U.S.?
A
The complexity of regulatory and legal requirements made it increasingly challenging for the company to serve clients in the U.S.
Q
Is SurgeTrader regulated?
A
All trader accounts are managed by Eightcap, an Australian brokerage regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Q
Does SurgeTrader have a time limit?
A
No, SurgeTrader doesn’t have a time limit.
