FTMO vs FundedNext vs Blueberry Funded: The Complete 2026 Comparison

You've decided to pursue funded trading, and now you're facing the decision that makes or breaks your journey: which prop firm should you trust with your evaluation fee?

The prop trading industry has fractured into dozens of options, but three firms consistently dominate the conversation in 2026: FTMO, FundedNext, and Blueberry Funded. Each has carved out a position by excelling in different areas. FTMO is the established giant with regulatory credibility. FundedNext is the aggressive price-slasher taking market share. Blueberry Funded targets the alternative trading crowd.

But "best" is meaningless without context. Your trading style, risk tolerance, and goals determine which firm is actually best for you. This deep comparison cuts through the hype and shows you exactly what you're getting with each.

Head-to-Head: The Fundamentals

FTMO: Regulatory Trust and Scale

FTMO is the 800-pound gorilla of prop trading. They process millions in trading volume monthly and have funding offices across Europe. When you search "best prop firm," FTMO ranks at the top for good reason.

Account sizes: €10,000 to €100,000 (roughly $11,000-$110,000 USD)

Profit split: 80% to trader after first withdrawal; 90% on subsequent withdrawals

Evaluation structure: Two-phase challenge - Phase 1: Hit profit target (usually 10% of account) - Phase 2: Hit another 5% profit target with daily loss limit - Then you're funded

Daily/monthly loss limits: 5% daily, 10% monthly on evaluation accounts

Payout speed: Generally 5-7 business days after request; some delays during high-volume periods

Scaling: Yes, available after first payout. Your account can grow to €100K+ if you hit targets.

Trading rules: - No news trading during major releases (EU and US) - Must close all positions before monthly close - No hedging - Scalping allowed with restrictions (must hold minimum 1 minute typically)

Evaluation fee: €155-€490 depending on account size and leverage

Key advantage: Regulatory oversight coming; transparent company; largest trader community

Key disadvantage: Higher baseline fees; stricter rules; reputation sometimes attracts overconfident traders

FundedNext: Speed and Affordability

FundedNext emerged in 2023 and has aggressively claimed market share through aggressive pricing and fast evaluation timelines. They've become the choice for traders who want to start trading quickly without massive upfront costs.

Account sizes: $5,000 to $100,000

Profit split: 80% to trader on most accounts; some premium accounts offer 85%

Evaluation structure: Single-phase or two-phase (trader chooses) - Single-phase: One profit target and you're funded - Two-phase: Traditional phase progression

Daily/monthly loss limits: 5% daily, 10% monthly (matches FTMO)

Payout speed: 24-48 hours for crypto accounts; 3-5 business days for forex/stocks

Scaling: Yes, available quickly. Accounts can scale to $100K+ relatively fast.

Trading rules: - News trading allowed (distinct advantage) - Hedging allowed on some accounts - Scalping allowed without minimum hold time - More flexibility overall

Evaluation fee: $49-$199 depending on promotion and account size

Key advantage: Aggressive promotions; fastest evaluation and payout times; most flexible trading rules

Key disadvantage: Newer firm (less track record); higher fraud risk from less qualified traders; customer support can lag during volume spikes

Blueberry Funded: The Crypto-First Alternative

Blueberry Funded positions itself as the "trader's prop firm for the modern market." They focus on crypto, indices, and alternative assets rather than pure forex. They've built a community around newer market instruments.

Account sizes: $5,000 to $50,000

Profit split: 80% to trader; some accounts 85%

Evaluation structure: Two-phase challenge - Phase 1: Hit 10% profit target - Phase 2: Hit 5% profit target with daily/monthly limits

Daily/monthly loss limits: 5% daily, 10% monthly

Payout speed: 24-72 hours (among the fastest)

Scaling: Yes, but more conservative than competitors. You can grow, but there's a longer period before scaling is available.

Trading rules: - Crypto trading allowed and encouraged - Stocks and indices allowed - Forex allowed but not the primary focus - Scalping allowed - More permissive on tight stop-losses

Evaluation fee: $50-$150 depending on account and crypto focus

Key advantage: Crypto-forward; fastest payouts; lowest entry cost; modern platform

Key disadvantage: Smaller firm (less regulatory clarity); scaling is slower; smaller trader community

Which Firm Fits Which Trader Type?

This is where the rubber meets the road. Here's the honest assessment:

Choose FTMO If:

• You want maximum regulatory credibility
• You're planning to trade seriously for years and want a firm that'll be around
• You trade forex primarily
• You want the largest community and most content/mentorship available
• You're willing to pay more for stability and established track record
• You want the best-defined scaling path with maximum account growth potential

The FTMO trader: Usually experienced, cautious, planning long-term. They'll spend $300-500 on evaluation knowing they're getting the safest, most professional environment.

Choose FundedNext If:

• You want the absolute lowest entry cost
• You're confident you can pass quickly and want fast payouts
• You trade news events (stocks especially) or need hedging flexibility
• You want the shortest evaluation timeline
• You're budget-conscious but still want a solid firm
• You prefer rapid scaling to maximum account safety

The FundedNext trader: Often newer to prop trading, eager to get funded quickly, drawn to competitive pricing. They'll pay $50-100 for evaluation and expect results fast.

Choose Blueberry Funded If:

• You specialize in crypto or digital assets
• You want to avoid traditional forex boring trades
• You like an emerging platform with strong community feel
• You want the fastest payouts
• You prefer the cost structure that prioritizes crypto traders
• You're comfortable with a smaller, younger firm

The Blueberry Funded trader: Crypto-native, forward-thinking, prefers modern markets over traditional forex. They want a prop firm that speaks their language.

The Profit Split Showdown

One key metric traders often obsess over: how much of your profit do you actually keep?

This is crucial because small percentage differences compound over time. If you're consistently profitable, that difference between 80% and 90% split hits hard.

FTMO: 80% initially; 90% after first withdrawal - Advantage: They give you back more after you prove yourself - Disadvantage: Your first withdrawal is at 80%, so initial earnings are smaller

FundedNext: 80% most accounts; 85% on premium - Advantage: Consistency; you know exactly what you're getting - Disadvantage: Never gets better than 85%; doesn't reward loyalty the way FTMO does

Blueberry Funded: 80% standard; 85% on certain accounts - Advantage: Competitive; fast payouts mean you see those profits quickly - Disadvantage: Lower ceiling than FTMO's eventual 90%

For a trader making $10,000 monthly profit:

Over a year, FundedNext and Blueberry traders keep $96,000 while FTMO traders earn $105,000 (after the improvement kicks in). FTMO rewards sticking around.

Evaluation Difficulty: Which Challenge Is Hardest?

All three firms use similar structures (profit targets + loss limits), but the feel differs based on rules and trader behavior.

FTMO challenges: Slightly harder due to stricter rules and news restrictions. You must trade around these limitations. Fewer traders pass on first attempt, but those who do are highly filtered.

FundedNext challenges: Easier due to flexibility (news trading allowed, hedging available). More traders pass, which means more competition once you're funded. But evaluation is faster overall.

Blueberry challenges: Medium difficulty. The crypto focus actually makes them easier if you specialize in crypto; harder if you only trade forex. The rule set is permissive.

Honest assessment: Most traders pass FundedNext first, then FTMO on a later attempt. Blueberry depends entirely on your asset familiarity.

Payout Speed: Getting Your Money

No one opens a prop account to see money sit in limbo.

Fastest: Blueberry Funded (24-72 hours, especially for crypto)

Fast: FundedNext (24-48 hours for crypto; 3-5 for traditional)

Solid: FTMO (5-7 business days, reliable)

Why the difference? Blueberry and FundedNext are crypto-forward, so their liquidity moves faster. FTMO's larger fund means more manual processing but more security.

If you're trading small amounts ($5-10K account), the 3-day difference between firms is minor. If you're scaling to $100K+, that 5-7 day FTMO timeline feels longer.

Real Costs: Fee + Evaluation Time

Smart traders calculate total cost to funding, not just entry fee.

If you pay $49 for FundedNext but fail after 30 days and need another $49 attempt versus FTMO's $170 upfront where you pass in 20 days—which is cheaper?

Scenario: Single successful evaluation - FundedNext: $49 fee + 7 days average evaluation = 8-day cost - FTMO: $170 fee + 14 days average evaluation = 15-day cost - Blueberry: $75 fee + 10 days average evaluation = 11-day cost

Scenario: Two failed attempts then success - FundedNext: $49 × 2 failed + $49 successful = $147 total - FTMO: $170 total (you only paid once, passed once) - Blueberry: $75 × 2 + $75 = $225 total

Point: If you're confident you'll pass first try, FundedNext is cheapest. If you expect a retry or two, FTMO's higher single fee makes it competitive.

Using PropFirmDealFinder to Compare in Real-Time

Here's where the PropFirmDealFinder app shines: instead of reading blog posts like this one, you can open the app and see:

• Current active discount codes for all three firms
• Side-by-side comparison tables with exact numbers
• Trader reviews from real users of each platform
• Payout timelines with current data (not outdated blog posts)
• Rule summaries for each firm's current terms

The app aggregates discount codes, so you can immediately see: "FTMO is 20% off this week vs FundedNext's 30% off promo." That instantly changes your cost calculation.

Download the PropFirmDealFinder app and navigate to the comparison section. You'll see real-time data that updates as firms change their promotions. No more guessing based on outdated information.

The Scaling Question: Long-Term Growth

If you pass your evaluation, the real game is scaling: growing your trading account and your profit allocation.

FTMO scaling: Fastest to $50K from initial $10-25K; then growth continues but slots can fill. You can eventually reach $100K. The path is clear but takes 3-6 months for serious traders.

FundedNext scaling: Generous scaling available quickly. You can go from $10K to $50K+ within 60-90 days if you hit targets. Less clear path beyond that, but they're expanding fast.

Blueberry scaling: Conservative. They want to see longevity before aggressively scaling. You might hit $25K after 3 months but hitting $50K+ takes longer. The tradeoff: if you do scale with Blueberry, they're very stable about increasing your allocation.

For a trader planning to grow to $100K+ account: - Timeline: FTMO (6-12 months) vs FundedNext (4-8 months) vs Blueberry (8-15 months) - Final size: All can reach $100K, but FundedNext gets there fastest

The Verdict: They're All Good (For Different People)

Here's the unsatisfying but honest truth: there's no objectively "best" prop firm among these three. It's like asking whether a Toyota, Honda, or Mazda is best—they're all reliable vehicles that excel in different ways.

FTMO is best if you value longevity, regulatory confidence, and maximum long-term profit splits. You're paying for stability.

FundedNext is best if you want the fastest path to funding with minimal upfront cost and maximum trading flexibility. You're paying for speed and affordability.

Blueberry Funded is best if you trade crypto or alternative assets and want a platform that matches your modern trading style. You're paying for specialization.

The smart move: Choose based on your trading style and goals, not on hype.

Use the PropFirmDealFinder app to see current promotions for all three firms side-by-side, compare the exact costs with active discounts applied, and read real trader reviews for each. The app makes the decision data-driven instead of emotional.

Download PropFirmDealFinder from the App Store today. It's free, and you'll have everything you need to make the right choice for your funded trading journey. Use affiliate code PFDF when you're ready to start your evaluation with whichever firm you choose.