Start a ChallengeIndependent comparison
You've tried FTMO. Here's the honest comparison.
Africa
Czech Republic
Line by line: spreads, execution, payout speed, profit split, regulatory backing, fee refunds, support. Both firms. No spin. Then a free competition account so you can verify it yourself.
COO Walkthough
Watch Ed walk through the comparison line by line, including where FTMO wins.
The trust move is saying the quiet part clearly: FTMO's scaling ceiling is larger. VaultFunder is built for the next 12 months of a South African trader's career.
Skip the video and read the tableIndependent comparison
VaultFundervs FTMO — line by line
Updated 20 May 2026. Every number verified against each firm's public page. Sources at the bottom.
| Feature |  Preferred | Baseline |
|---|---|---|
| 01Setup | ||
| Founded | 2023 | 2015 |
| HQ | Cape Town, South Africa | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Founder on camera | Chris Dicks | FTMO limitationNot on LP |
| Cheapest entry | VaultFunder advantage$50 | FTMO limitationEUR89 (~$96 USD) |
| Max account scaling | $1M | $2M after scaling plan |
| 02Trading Rules | ||
| Profit split | 80% (scales to 90%) | 90% baseline |
| Consistency rule | VaultFunder advantageNone | FTMO limitation"Best day" rule (50% cap, 1-Step) |
| Spread markup | VaultFunder advantageNone - raw | FTMO limitationStandard markup |
| Dealer plugin | VaultFunder advantageNone | FTMO limitationStandard |
| Daily loss limit | 5% (2-step) / 3% (1-step) | 5% / 3% |
| Max overall loss | 10% | 10% |
| News trading | VaultFunder advantageAllowed | Allowed |
| Weekend holding | VaultFunder advantageAllowed | Allowed |
| Minimum trading days | 5 days | None (1-Step) / 4 per phase (2-Step) |
| EA / algo allowed | VaultFunder advantageAllowed | Allowed (no HFT) |
| Reset / retry policy | Free retry if compliant / paid reset | Free retry if compliant / paid reset |
| 03Payouts & Pricing | ||
| Phase transition speed | VaultFunder advantage~5 minutes | FTMO limitation24 hours |
| Avg payout processing | VaultFunder advantage<12 hours | FTMO limitation1-4 business days |
| First-payout fee refund | VaultFunder advantageYes | Yes |
| ZAR pricing displayed | VaultFunder advantageYes | FTMO limitationEUR / USD only |
| Local SA bank payout | VaultFunder advantageYes | FTMO limitationWire only |
| 04Trust & Support | ||
| Trading platforms | MT5 only | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Regulator | VaultFunder advantageFSCA-regulated FSP | FTMO limitationNone (declared demo) |
| Trustpilot | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Founder personal brand | VaultFunder advantageActive YouTube + IG | None |
| WhatsApp support | Available for South African traders | FTMO limitationNot listed on LP |
| Free competition account | VaultFunder advantageSame conditions | 14-day trial |
| Live webinar with founder | Monthly | None |
| Hellopeter (SA reviews) | VaultFunder advantageListed | FTMO limitationNot listed |
Every number verified live on 20 May 2026 against each firm's own page. Refresh monthly.
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VaultFunder vs FTMO
The honest prop firm comparison plus 12 questions to ask before you pay.
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