🌍 Prop Firm Guide
forex + futures + indices
Updated 2026-04-30
FTMO Trading Journal
The largest international prop firm. Two-phase evaluation with strict daily loss and max drawdown rules.
Why FTMO is harder than it looks
FTMO's 5% daily loss rule resets at midnight CE time (Prague), not your local time. Most traders miscalculate when their 'day' starts and trip the rule.
Most traders approach a FTMO challenge thinking skill is the constraint. It isn't. Rule-awareness under pressure is what decides whether you get funded. A single miscount on your trailing drawdown or a single moment of inattention on the daily loss limit ends the whole attempt — and the fee that came with it.
Rules · Account Mechanics
What you actually need to track
- Drawdown typeFixed max drawdown at 10% of starting balance (static, not trailing)
- Daily loss limit5% of starting balance — resets at midnight Prague time
- Profit targetPhase 1: 10% · Phase 2 (verification): 5%
- Consistency ruleNo — FTMO is more lenient here than US futures firms
- Minimum trading days4 per phase (used to be 10, reduced in 2023)
- Time limitUnlimited — you can take as long as you want to pass
Promo tip: FTMO rarely discounts. The 'scaling plan' bonus (up to $2M in funded capital) is the real prize — build consistency for the long term.
The 3 mistakes that end most FTMO challenges
- Trading across the midnight Prague reset. A loss at 11:59 PM Prague + another at 12:01 AM can count as 2 separate daily losses — or both count against you.
- Forgetting the fixed drawdown. Unlike Apex, FTMO's drawdown doesn't trail — you can breathe easier on good days but blow out faster on bad ones.
- Overtrading to hit the profit target quickly. FTMO has no time pressure; traders who take 30+ days typically pass more often than traders who try to pass in a week.
"Prop firms aren't selling you capital — they're selling you a test of your discipline. The traders who pass FTMO aren't the best strategists. They're the ones who never forget where their drawdown is."
How Journali's Prop Firm Mode solves this
Built for FTMO specifically
Journali lets you customize your 'daily reset time' to Prague (or any other timezone) so your FTMO daily loss math is accurate. We also track your fixed drawdown buffer separately from daily loss so you see both at once.
Plus everything else you'd expect from a professional trading journal: unlimited trade logging, full analytics, equity curve, setup breakdown, emotion tracking, and optional AI coaching on Premier.
How to set up a FTMO account in Journali
- Sign up free — takes 30 seconds, no credit card required.
- Go to Settings → Prop Firm Mode — toggle on and select FTMO as your firm.
- Enter your account size and starting balance — Journali auto-fills the rule set for FTMO.
- Link SnapTrade (optional) — auto-syncs every trade from your broker so you never manually log again.
- Start trading — your daily loss buffer, trailing drawdown, and consistency ratio are now live on every trade.
Frequently asked questions
Does Journali's prop firm mode work with FTMO?
Yes. Journali's Prop Firm Mode supports FTMO's rule set including fixed max drawdown at 10% of starting balance (static, not trailing). You set it up once, and the dashboard tracks your buffer live on every trade.
Is there a free trial I can use while running a FTMO challenge?
Journali's free plan includes 6 trades. If you're burning through a FTMO evaluation, upgrade to Pro ($20/mo) for unlimited trades and Prop Firm Mode. Cancel anytime — no contract.
What's the #1 reason traders blow their FTMO challenge?
Trading across the midnight Prague reset. A loss at 11:59 PM Prague + another at 12:01 AM can count as 2 separate daily losses — or both count against you.
Can I track multiple FTMO accounts in Journali?
Yes. Each account gets its own drawdown, daily loss, and consistency tracking. Perfect if you're stacking FTMO accounts during a promo.
Also see
Start your FTMO challenge with confidence
Join traders who use Journali to track every rule, every drawdown, and every consistency constraint — so they never blow an account because of a math mistake at the wrong moment.
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Rules shown are current as of 2026-04-30 and may change. Always verify rules on FTMO's official site before trading.