Loading The Prop Examiner research
Head-to-head · Independent comparison
Alpha Capital Group vs FTMO
How Alpha Capital Group and FTMO stack up on profit split, pricing, payouts and the rules that bind a funded account — advertised claims separated from what we could verify.
Evidence desk · Independent analysisLast updated
Flexible model range and transparent risk figures, offset by unconfirmed corporate/pricing detail and notable payout/holding constraints.
The established benchmark: long track record, transparent objectives, documented scaling plan; $200K per-account ceiling before scaling.
On our five-dimension scorecard, FTMO rates marginally higher overall — but the dimension-by-dimension breakdown below matters more than the average.
Advertised maximums
The numbers, head-to-head
Headline figures from the structured plan data for each firm. “Up to” splits and max funding are ceilings reached via tiers or scaling — not the figure every trader gets.
Profit split — headline maximum (%)
Higher is betterAlpha Capital Group
80%
FTMOBest
90%
Entry price — lowest advertised ($)
Lower is betterAlpha Capital Group
$697
FTMOBest
$155
Max funding — headline ($)
Higher is betterAlpha Capital GroupBest
$200K
FTMOBest
$200K
Our editorial scorecard (0–5)
Who wins each dimension
| Dimension | Alpha Capital Group | FTMO | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing & value | 4.0 | 3.0 | Alpha Capital Group |
| Profit split | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| Payout speed | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| Rules flexibility | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| Transparency | 3.0 | 5.0 | FTMO |
Scores are The Prop Examiner’s editorial assessment, not user reviews. See our methodology.
Advertised vs verified
At a glance
Alpha Capital Group
- Purchasable account sizes
- Up to $200,000 simulated per account ($400K total allocation across accounts)verified
- Founded
- Not stated on pages reviewedverify before launch
- Entry price
- Not shown on the pages reviewed (varies by program/size)verify before launch
- Current promo
- Discount page referenced; no specific active code confirmedverify before launch
- Payout minimum & methods
- On-demand needs 2% gross profit; exact methods/currencies not confirmedverify before launch
FTMO
What actually binds you
Key trading rules compared
Alpha Capital Group
| Phase / model | Rule | Published value |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Pro (P1) | Profit target | 6% / 8% / 10% (by chosen drawdown tier) |
| Alpha One | Daily loss limit | 4% |
| Alpha Pro | Daily loss limit | 3% / 4% / 5% (by tier) |
| Alpha Swing | Daily loss limit | 5% |
| Alpha One | Max overall loss | 6% trailing |
| Alpha Pro | Max overall loss | 6% / 8% / 10% static |
| Alpha Swing | Max overall loss | 10% static |
| Alpha One | Minimum trading days | 1 day |
| Pro / Swing / Three | Minimum trading days | 3 days per phase |
| Funded | Consistency | 40% best-day rule on on-demand withdrawals |
| Funded | Weekend holds | Allowed in evaluation; not allowed on the funded account |
FTMO
| Phase / model | Rule | Published value |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Step | Profit target | 10% |
| 2-Step | Profit target | 10% (phase 1) + 5% (phase 2) |
| 1-Step | Daily loss limit | 3% |
| 2-Step | Daily loss limit | 5% |
| All | Max loss | 10% (1-Step uses end-of-day trailing) |
| 2-Step | Minimum trading days | 4 days |
Rules vary by product. For a plan-by-plan comparison, use the account comparison tool.
Balanced view
Pros & cons
Alpha Capital Group
Strengths
- Wide range of evaluation models (1-, 2-, and 3-step) with selectable drawdown tiers.
- Both on-demand and scheduled bi-weekly payout options.
- Swing-friendly model (Alpha Swing) accommodates longer holding periods.
- Maximum allocation of $400,000 across simulated accounts gives room to scale.
Cons & open risks
- Founding year and exact registered HQ address were not confirmable from the pages reviewed.
- Entry pricing and the full instrument list were not shown on the pages reviewed.
- The 40% best-day rule on on-demand withdrawals can delay or reduce payouts.
- Alpha One's 6% trailing drawdown is tighter than static-drawdown models.
- Weekend holds are disallowed on the funded account — a constraint for swing strategies.
FTMO
Strengths
- Long operating history and one of the most widely reviewed prop firms.
- Clear, published trading objectives and a documented scaling plan.
- 2-Step fee is refunded with the first reward.
- Both 1-Step (90% split) and 2-Step models available.
Cons & open risks
- Account sizes top out at $200K per account (scaling needed beyond that).
- 1-Step fee is not refunded after passing.
- Live checkout pricing and promos were not exposed without the purchase flow.
- As with all prop challenges, most buyers do not reach a payout.
Our take
Which should you choose?
FTMO rates marginally higher on our scorecard, but "better" depends on what you trade and the rules you can live within. Read each verdict, then verify the figures for your exact product before buying.
Alpha Capital Group offers a flexible menu of evaluation models with clearly published drawdown and target figures, which helps match rules to a trading style. Some corporate and pricing details were not confirmable from the pages reviewed, and the 40% best-day rule plus the funded-account weekend-hold restriction are real constraints. The Prop Examiner has no affiliate relationship with Alpha Capital Group at this time.
Visit Alpha Capital Group's official siteDirect link to the firm’s official siteDirect link to Alpha Capital Group's official site. We earn no commission and are not affiliated with Alpha Capital Group.
FTMO is the established benchmark in this space: a long track record, transparent objectives, and a documented scaling plan. The main limitations are a $200K per-account ceiling before scaling and a 1-Step fee that is not refunded. We could not confirm live pricing without entering checkout, so price-shop on the day you buy.
Visit FTMOWe may earn a commission. Any current discount is applied at checkout; confirm the total before paying.
Affiliate disclosure: The Prop Examiner is an independent project and may earn a commission if you sign up through some of our links. We are not affiliated with any firm reviewed. Trading challenges are simulated/educational products; no profits or payouts are guaranteed.
Common questions
Alpha Capital Group vs FTMO FAQ
- Is Alpha Capital Group or FTMO better?
- Our independent ratings: Alpha Capital Group 3.9/5, FTMO 4.4/5. FTMO edges it on our scorecard, but the right pick depends on your market, budget and the rules you can trade within.
- Which is cheaper to start, Alpha Capital Group or FTMO?
- Lowest advertised entry price: Alpha Capital Group from $697, FTMO from $155. FTMO has the lower starting price, but compare like-for-like account sizes — cheapest is not always best value.
- Which has the higher profit split, Alpha Capital Group or FTMO?
- Headline ("up to") maximums: Alpha Capital Group 80%, FTMO 90%. FTMO advertises the higher ceiling — but top splits are usually gated behind tiers or scaling, not what every trader gets.
- Does Alpha Capital Group or FTMO pay out faster?
- Alpha Capital Group: Bi-weekly or on-demand (on-demand requires 2% minimum gross profit). FTMO: 2-Step rewards processed bi-weekly; ~8h avg processing stated. Payout speed and eligibility depend on the product and on meeting each firm's rules; no payout is guaranteed.
Cited & dated
Sources
Figures trace to each firm’s own pages, accessed on the dates shown. Re-verify before relying on any number — pricing and promos change.
- 1.Alpha Capital — homepage· accessed 2026-06-17
- 2.Alpha Capital — rules explained (2026)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 3.Alpha Capital — prop firm trading rules explained· accessed 2026-06-17
- 4.FTMO — how it works· accessed 2026-06-17
- 5.FTMO — trading objectives· accessed 2026-06-17
- 6.FTMO — reward, growth & scaling plan· accessed 2026-06-17
- 7.FTMO — why is there a fee (refund terms)· accessed 2026-06-17
More head-to-heads