The real cost of trying without practicing
A failed attempt doesn't just cost you time. It also costs you the challenge fee. Here are the rules of two of the best-known programs, verified on October 3, 2026:
| Rule | FTMO | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Phases | 2 phases (10% + 5%); there's also a 1-phase version | 1 phase (6% of the account) |
| Daily drawdown | 5% | None |
| Total drawdown | 10%, fixed | Trailing, from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on account size |
| Minimum days | 4 | None |
Data verified on October 3, 2026: FTMO, on its official website (2-step challenge); Apex, per version 4.0 of its evaluation rules. Both firms update them often, so confirm the current figures on their websites before paying. Trade & Repeat is not affiliated with FTMO or Apex Trader Funding; we mention them only so you can compare their rules with what this simulator lets you set up.
Every failed challenge attempt costs you the fee. Practicing under the same rules first won't burn an attempt.
See plansWhat about FTMO's free trial?
FTMO offers its own Free Trial: a 14-day, real-time demo account on its own platform. It's a good way to get familiar with its setup. This simulator solves a different problem: instead of waiting for the market to move, you replay real historical data, pick the exact period you want to practice (an NFP week, when the monthly US jobs report comes out, or a high-volatility month) and move candle by candle at your own pace. And since you set the rules, it works for any prop firm.
How it works
- Pick the instrument and a real historical range — forex or CFDs, with real market data, not simulated prices.
- Set up your prop firm's rules — profit target, daily and total drawdown (fixed or trailing), minimum trading days and consistency. Turn on "2-phase challenge" if your challenge has two phases.
- Replay candle by candle and trade it like the real challenge — mark your entries and exits with the same tools you'd use in any backtesting session.
- Watch in real time whether you'd pass — before you spend a cent on the real attempt.
Does your challenge use trailing drawdown? That works too
Firms like Apex Trader Funding use a trailing drawdown instead of a fixed one: the loss limit moves up as your account grows. You can practice it by turning on "Trailing drawdown" when you create your challenge, and combine it with the "Consistency rule (%)" field if you also want to practice the rule many firms apply before each payout.
P&L for each instrument uses its real point value, not a generic pip value.
See plansWhich rules you can set up
We'll be as upfront about this as we'd expect any good backtest to be:
- You can set: profit target, total and daily drawdown in %, minimum trading days, consistency rule, 1- or 2-phase challenge and trailing drawdown: the loss limit rises with your equity as you make a profit and locks once it reaches your starting balance.
- Good to know: each firm has its own fine print, and it changes over time (exactly when the trailing drawdown locks, whether it's measured at the daily close or in real time, what counts as a trading day). The simulator gives you the standard rules to adjust yourself, so always check your firm's current rulebook.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an FTMO or Apex Trader Funding challenge cost?
- It depends on the account size and whatever promotion is running, and firms change their prices and discounts often, so we don't quote them here. Always check the current price on each firm's website before you pay.
- Doesn't FTMO already have a free trial?
- Yes. FTMO offers its own Free Trial: a 14-day, real-time demo account on its own platform. This simulator is different: you replay real historical data, pick the exact period you want to practice (an NFP week, when the monthly US jobs report comes out, or a high-volatility month) and move candle by candle at your own pace, without waiting for the market to move. It also works for any prop firm, because you set the rules.
- How many days do I have to complete the FTMO challenge?
- According to its official website as of October 3, 2026, FTMO's 2-step challenge has no time limit, but it requires at least 4 trading days. In the simulator, that's the "Minimum trading days" field.
- Can I practice the consistency rule?
- Yes, with the "Consistency rule (%)" field: no single day can account for more than that percentage of your total profit. You can enter any value, since each firm applies it differently. Apex Trader Funding, for example, no longer requires it during the evaluation, but it does apply a 50% rule before each payout from the funded account.
- Do I need an FTMO or Apex account to practice here?
- No. Trade & Repeat is an independent tool with no connection to FTMO or Apex Trader Funding: you practice the rules you set on historical data, without going through their checkout or their platform.