FTMO
FTMO Challenge: 1-Step
3%
10%
See programme rules
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Daily loss vs max loss
Daily loss vs max loss: which fails first?
Daily loss controls one trading day. Maximum loss controls the life of the account. Compare both in dollars, then check how equity, commissions, and the reset time affect each boundary.
What changes the result
Compare the calculation, not just the percentage.
Best for traders who fail challenges because of intraday drawdown, not because their strategy has no edge.
- Session pressureThis is the rule that catches oversized intraday losses and revenge trading.
- Account survivalThis decides whether the challenge has enough room for your normal losing streak.
- Percent + dollarsA 5% rule can feel different on a $10K account than on a $100K account with different lot sizing.
Program evidence
Open full evidence table
Compare both loss boundaries in the same row.
Start with the decisive rule behavior, then open the full evidence before choosing a program.
FundedNext
Stellar 1-Step
3%
6% static floor using balance or equity
Static floor using balance or equity
Topstep
$1.5K Challenge
No mapped daily limit
See programme rules
See programme rules
Full rule-by-rule evidence18 program rows
Rows are sorted by source coverage first, then TSB Fit Score. Always verify the official checkout before paying.
| Firm & program | Daily loss | Max loss / drawdown | Payout / split | Source status | What to verify | Decision links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMOFTMO Challenge: 1-Step · Multiple sizes | 3% | 10% / See programme rules | Up to 90% First request from day 14 |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: 3% daily loss, 10% maximum loss. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| FTMOFTMO Challenge: 2-Step · Multiple sizes | 5% | 10% / See programme rules | See payout rules First request from day 14 |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: 5% daily loss, 10% maximum loss. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| FundedNextStellar 1-Step · Multiple sizes | 3% | 6% static floor using balance or equity / Static floor using balance or equity | See payout rules Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: 3% daily loss, 6% maximum loss, static floor using balance or equity drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| FundedNextStellar 2-Step · Multiple sizes | 5% | 10% static floor using balance or equity / Static floor using balance or equity | Up to 80% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: 5% daily loss, 10% maximum loss, static floor using balance or equity drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| FundedNextStellar Instant · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | 6% intraday trailing then capped at starting balance / Intraday trailing then capped at starting balance | See payout rules Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: 6% maximum loss, intraday trailing then capped at starting balance drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| FundedNextStellar Lite · Multiple sizes | 4% | 8% static floor using balance or equity / Static floor using balance or equity | Up to 80% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: 4% daily loss, 8% maximum loss, static floor using balance or equity drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| Topstep$1.5K Challenge · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | Up to 100% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| Topstep$250K Freedom Funded Trading Combine · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | See payout rules Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| Topstep$25K Static Drawdown Trading Combine · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | See payout rules Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| Topstep$3K Challenge · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | Up to 100% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| TopstepTrading Combine · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | Up to 90% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| Apex Trader FundingEnd-of-Day Trailing Drawdown Evaluation · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / End of day trailing calculated at market close and enforced intraday next session | Up to 100% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: end of day trailing calculated at market close and enforced intraday next session drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| Apex Trader FundingIntraday Trailing Drawdown Evaluation · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / Real time intraday trailing | Up to 100% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: real time intraday trailing drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. | |
| Alpha FuturesAdvanced · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | Up to 90% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| Alpha FuturesDirect · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | Up to 90% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| Alpha FuturesStandard · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | Up to 90% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| Alpha FuturesZero · Multiple sizes | No mapped daily limit | See programme rules / See programme rules | Up to 90% Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout. | |
| City Traders ImperiumDirect Funding · $5K–$80K | No mapped daily limit | 6% / See programme rules | See payout rules Programme-specific |
Official/source page | Primary pressure: 6% maximum loss. Verify the exact configuration before checkout. |
How to read this rule
Daily loss and maximum loss are not interchangeable. Daily loss resets on the firm's schedule and can be breached even when the account is still above the overall max-loss line.
Maximum loss may be static, trailing, end-of-day, or balance-based. The name matters less than the calculation rule and whether commissions, swaps, spreads, or open equity count.
Before checkout, verify
- Does daily loss use balance, equity, or closed P/L?
- What timezone defines the trading day?
- Does maximum loss trail or stay fixed?
- Do commissions, swaps, or platform fees count toward either limit?
FAQ
Daily loss vs max loss questions
Which is more important: daily loss or max loss?
For day traders, daily loss often fails accounts first. For swing traders or scaling strategies, maximum loss and trailing drawdown usually matter more.
Can a firm have no daily loss but still be strict?
Yes. No daily loss removes one constraint, but trailing drawdown, consistency, payout buffers, or low max-loss room can still make the account difficult.