FundingPips 1-Step vs FTMO 1-Step Challenge: Which is Easier to Pass in 2026?

In February 2026, FTMO launched its first-ever 1-Step challenge — one of the most significant product updates in the firm's 10-year history. For the first time, traders can reach an FTMO funded account without a two-phase challenge. But FTMO's 1-Step comes with a tighter drawdown structure, an EOD trailing maximum loss, and a unique Best Day Rule that no other major prop firm currently applies.

FundingPips has offered a 1-Step challenge since launch — with a 10% profit target, 3% daily drawdown, and 6% static maximum loss. No best day rule. No trailing drawdown. Just one phase, unlimited time, and a minimum of 3 trading days.

On paper, both challenges look similar. In practice, they are very different in difficulty, mechanics, and what happens after you pass.

This breakdown covers every rule difference — profit targets, drawdown types, minimum trading days, the Best Day Rule, trading strategy access, and the funded account rule changes that catch traders off guard — so you can choose the right challenge before spending a single cent.

Ready to start trading? Join FundingPips today, where you can finish the 1-step challenge with advanced tools and platforms and solid risk management in a balanced and flexible manner.

FundingPips 1-Step vs FTMO 1-Step: Side-by-Side Rules, Drawdown Types, and Key Differences 

The table below covers all the fundamentals of the one-step challenge model for each prop firm.

Same Single Phase, Completely Different Difficulty: How Each Challenge Is Structured 

Both FundingPips and FTMO 1-step challenges have only one phase to clear. But their execution and approach are quite different. With FundingPips, traders are required to trade within the mentioned drawdown limits and achieve the profit target. By meeting these requirements, they can complete the challenge in a straightforward way.

Similarly, FTMO also requires traders to trade within the drawdown limits and meet all the required profit targets. But it also introduces the concept of the best day rule. This rule ensures that traders’ profits are not limited to a single trade or a trading day. As a result, traders need to follow the trading objectives in a structured and consistent manner for challenge completion, making it slightly complex. 

Profit Target and Drawdown Limits Compared: Same 10% But Different Difficulty Levels.

Both FundingPips and FTMO require traders to complete the 1-step challenge by meeting profit targets and drawdown limits. Although the profit target for both is 10%, the main difference is triggered by their drawdown limits. 

In FundingPips’ 1-step challenge, the drawdown limits include:

• 3% daily loss limit and 6% maximum loss limit

In FTMO’s 1-step challenge, the drawdowns include:

• 3% daily loss and 10% maximum loss limit

• The challenge also has a best day rule of 50%, which states that your most profitable day must not account for more than 50% of your total profits. If it exceeds that limit, then traders must earn additional profit until no single day represents more than half of the positive days.

Considering the requirements both firms require for challenge completion, it is clear that FundingPips offers a fast and easy way of completing the challenge. However, FTMO adds additional requirements that make the challenge completion harder and more complex. 

Minimum Trading Days Compared: 3 Days vs 4 Days and What That Means in Practice 

Both FundingPips and FTMO allow traders to pass the challenge without any maximum time limit. At FTMO, for the 1-step challenge, there are no time constraints to clear the challenge. Traders only have to trade within the specified requirements for challenge completion. 

In comparison, FundingPips also offers no maximum time limit, but it requires traders to demonstrate a minimum of 3 days of trading to pass the challenge. Both firms require traders to demonstrate consistency and discipline while trading. FundingPips offers a much clearer and more flexible path. But FTMO demands the same effort, along with some additional requisites. This approach makes the path to completing the challenge slightly steadier instead of rapid growth. 

Allowed Trading Strategies and Platforms: Flexible vs. Controlled

Both FundingPips and FTMO offer multiple trading strategies and platforms to help traders trade with advanced tools. At FundingPips, traders can use the following strategies to complete the FundingPips 1-step challenge:

• News trading (while it’s allowed, traders are restricted to open or close trades before or after 5 minutes of a high-impact news event on affected currencies)

• Weekend and overnight holding

FundingPips allows these trading platforms:

• MT5

• Match-Trader

• cTrader

Comparatively, in FTMO’s 1-step challenge, traders can use the following strategies to clear the challenge:

• Discretionary trading

• Algorithmic trading 

• EAs (third-party EAs are restricted, as that could cause traders to lose their trading accounts)

FTMO offers these trading platforms:

• MT4

• MT5

• cTrader

• DXtrade

Both prop firms offer these advanced trading platforms and the use of multiple trading strategies, making it easier for traders to clear the challenges with ease and minimum inconvenience. However, traders are required to avoid engaging in prohibited practices, as that could lead to financial or account loss.

Join FundingPips today, where you can pass the 1-step challenge following your favorite trading strategies, including news trading, etc. 

Profit-to-Drawdown Ratio Analysis: Which 1-Step Challenge Is Objectively Easier to Pass? 

Both FundingPips and FTMO aim to provide as much ease as possible to their trading customers globally. But each model could suit a different trader type better. It is because different traders have different trading styles, strategies, and objectives that make them stand out. 

What works for one may not work for the other. Traders who prefer a quick execution and a straightforward process should go for FundingPips’ 1-step, as that’s flexible and balanced. However, traders who prefer long-term and steady growth with no minimum trading days requirement should opt for FTMO’s 1-step. 

Final Verdict: FundingPips 1-Step vs FTMO 1-Step Challenge in 2026 

FundingPips and FTMO are among the leading prop firms in the financial trading markets. Both offer 1-step challenges for their trading community. While there is only a single step to complete, the challenge structure varies.

FundingPips follows a simplistic structure where traders are required to meet the profit targets and follow the drawdown limits while trading. Similarly, FTMO also has profit targets and drawdown limits to be followed, but it also applies the best day rule, adding complexity to the challenge. Regardless of the prop firm traders choose, it is necessary for them to see if the trading model aligns with their trading style, risk appetite, and trading strategy for the best results.

Ready to start trading? Join FundingPips today and complete the challenge models in a simple and flexible manner with zero pressure and hassle.