Know the rules.
Know the cost.
A headline account size is only part of the story. The permitted strategy, loss limits, fees and payout conditions determine what an evaluation really asks of you.
What published firm rules actually say.
FTMO: algorithmic trading does not remove strategy restrictions
FTMO’s published guidance permits algorithmic trading and EAs within its trading rules. It also highlights the risk that multiple users of a third-party EA could breach aggregate capital-allocation rules.
Read FTMO’s strategy rules ↗The5ers: review EA and copying restrictions together
The5ers permits EAs subject to restrictions, including prohibited copying of other people’s signals and certain trading practices. It also requires visible stop losses and ownership of the EA source code.
Read The5ers’ EA guidance ↗Source review: 14 September 2026. Rules vary by programme and can change. Neither firm is presented as a partner or as having approved Liquidity Labs.
The evaluation business model deserves scrutiny.
Challenge fees, subscriptions and resets can turn repeated attempts into a significant cost. A trader who keeps buying another attempt can spend far more than the initial advertised fee. Evaluate the economics of the offer, including who receives fees and when a refund or reward is actually due.
That is a reason to read the contract and set a budget, not evidence that every firm is designed to make traders fail. Compare the full cost, allowed behaviour, loss calculations and payout conditions. A simulated account’s headline balance is not cash that belongs to you.
Before paying for an evaluation
- Set a total attempt budget including resets, platform or data fees and service subscriptions.
- Confirm whether trading is simulated, live, or can move between the two.
- Read loss calculations, reset timezone, open-P&L treatment and trailing limits.
- Check consistency, news, holding, copying and capital-allocation rules.
- Understand reward splits, withdrawal conditions and reasons payment could be denied.
- Keep the terms and written permission for your exact setup.
A funded opportunity is not a wealth plan.
Any rewards depend on performance and contract terms. Separate evaluation spending from savings and essential expenses. Assess net receipts after costs, and seek appropriate advice about taxes and longer-term investing rather than treating an account label as dependable income.