E8 Markets vs FTMO 2026: Prop Firm Comparison
The desk’s prop firm pick
E8 Markets
Through the prop-sector shakeout, E8 has kept paying and kept operating. Flexible challenge, fast verified payouts, EA and news trading allowed. Confirm the live rules on E8’s own site before you buy.
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E8 Markets wins because its static drawdown rule passes more traders than FTMO’s trailing high-water mark structure. A normal pullback after a winning week survives E8 but stops out FTMO. E8 allows news trading on funded E8 Pro, E8 Signature and E8 Zero accounts, while E8 One funded accounts block trades from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after high-impact news.
Two of the most established prop firms in 2026. E8 with a static drawdown option on E8 Pro and a partner code at checkout, FTMO with the longest track record and the trailing-stop rule. Which one passes more traders.
Verdict
E8 Markets for traders who get stopped by trailing drawdown rules and for news-event traders. FTMO has the longer track record and the slightly faster scale to 90% profit split, but E8’s static drawdown is structurally easier to pass and survive. For macro event traders (CPI, NFP, FOMC), E8 is the only choice between the two because FTMO restricts news trading on funded accounts. Use code KENMACRO.
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Side-by-side comparison
Confused by static versus trailing, or how the daily loss limit really works? The desk’s full breakdown: Prop Firm Drawdown Rules Explained 2026.
The desk’s funded-capital pick. E8 has paid out through the prop-sector shutdowns and takes US traders. The KENMACRO code applies E8's current offer at checkout.
| Feature | E8 Markets | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown structure | Static (fixed at account open) | Trailing high-water mark on overall, static on daily |
| Profit split (starter) | 80% (up to 100% on scale) | 80% (up to 90% on scale) |
| Daily loss limit | 5% | 5% |
| Maximum drawdown | 8% | 10% trailing |
| Profit target (Phase 1) | 8% | 10% |
| Profit target (Phase 2) | 5% | 5% |
| Minimum trading days | 5 | 4 |
| Maximum trading days | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| News trading | Allowed | Restricted on funded accounts |
| Weekend holding | Allowed | Allowed (some account types) |
| Account sizes | $25k, $50k, $100k, $250k | $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k |
| Best for | Traders who get punished by trailing drawdown | Traders with the longest-running track-record requirement |
The drawdown rule is the entire game
E8 Pro uses a static drawdown, while E8 One uses a dynamic drawdown that trails closed profit and locks at the starting balance. The maximum drawdown is set at account open and stays there. You can have a winning week, give some back, and still be in the game.
FTMO uses a trailing high-water mark on overall drawdown. As your equity rises, your max-drawdown level rises with it. You can be up 5% on the week, give back 4%, and find yourself stopped out because the drawdown ceiling moved up with you. This is the rule that fails most prop traders.
If you have ever blown a prop account on what felt like a normal pullback, the trailing drawdown rule is almost certainly the reason. E8’s static structure is materially friendlier to swing strategies. FTMO’s trailing structure punishes anything except continuously up-and-to-the-right equity curves.
Profit splits and scaling: similar starting points, different scaling speed
Both firms start at 80% profit split. FTMO scales to 90% after consistent performance, E8 scales to 100% on its higher account tiers. On the math, E8 has the higher ceiling but FTMO reaches its 90% level faster.
For most traders the profit split is the wrong metric to optimize. The drawdown structure and the rule-set fitting your style matters 10x more than the percentage split. A trader stopped out at FTMO at 80% earns 0%. A trader funded at E8 at 80% earns 80% of profits.
News trading: it depends on the E8 account
E8 Markets allows news trading in every challenge and on funded accounts except E8 One, which blocks trades from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after high-impact news. CPI, NFP, FOMC, all tradable.
FTMO restricts news trading on funded accounts. Major economic releases trigger account-suspension rules in some scenarios. This eliminates several institutional macro strategies that the desk runs.
If your edge is in macro event trading, E8 is the only one of the two that actually allows the strategy on a funded account.
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Which E8 account?
Find the E8 account that fits how you actually trade
Six quick questions. You get one match, the rule most likely to catch you out, and the trade-off if two accounts fit.
KenMacro is an E8 Markets affiliate and may earn a commission if you buy a challenge through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prop challenges are simulated evaluations. Most traders do not pass, and the fee is at risk.
Frequently asked questions
Which prop firm is easier to pass?
E8 can be structurally easier on E8 Pro, whose 8% drawdown is static rather than trailing. A normal swing strategy that gives back gains after a winning week survives the static rule but fails the FTMO trailing rule. The Phase 1 profit target is also lower at E8 (8% vs FTMO’s 10%).
Can I trade news on E8 vs FTMO?
Yes on E8 (challenge and funded). Restricted on FTMO funded accounts. CPI, NFP, and FOMC are tradable on E8, with caveats on FTMO.
What is the profit split on each?
E8 starts at 80%, scales to 100% on higher tiers. FTMO starts at 80%, scales to 90% after consistent performance. The math depends on which one you actually pass and stay funded on.
Does E8 offer a discount code?
Yes, code KENMACRO is entered at checkout. E8's offer varies by product, so check the final price at checkout, and only one code works per order.
Can I hold positions over the weekend?
E8 allows weekend holds on E8 One and E8 Pro, but E8 Signature and E8's futures accounts close positions daily. FTMO allows weekend holds on some account types but not all, check the FTMO account spec sheet for your specific account.
Related: All broker reviews · Best prop firms · Trading calculators · Trading glossary
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