The short answer
Alpha Capital Group vs FTMO, side by side
| Feature |  Alpha Capital Group |  FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 — London-based, strong reputation | 2015 — the longest, most documented track record |
| Evaluation model | Alpha One (1-step), Alpha Pro (2-step), Swing | Two-step: FTMO Challenge then Verification |
| Profit split | 80% on funded accounts | Up to 90% on a funded FTMO Account |
| Refundable fee | Yes — typically refunded with your first withdrawal | Yes — one-time fee refunded on first payout |
| Drawdown choice | Alpha Pro lets you pick 6%, 8% or 10% tolerance | Static daily loss limit + overall max loss limit |
| Swing / weekend holds | Yes — dedicated Alpha Swing format | Supported within the standard rules |
| Platforms | MT5, cTrader, DXtrade, TradeLocker | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade |
| Reputation | ~4.7 Trustpilot across 20,000+ reviews | The benchmark name; longest documented payout history |
| US clients accepted | No — CFD products not available to US retail | No — FTMO does not accept US-based clients |
| Best for | Top reviews, refundable fee and flexible drawdown | The most proven all-rounder, a higher split and MT4 |
Evaluation, fees and drawdown
Both refund the evaluation fee on a first payout, so a passed account is good value either way. FTMO runs a single, consistent two-step path. Alpha Capital Group offers more shapes: Alpha One (1-step), Alpha Pro (2-step) and Alpha Swing, on accounts from $5K to $300K.
Alpha’s standout is drawdown choice — on Alpha Pro you select a 6%, 8% or 10% tolerance to match your style, where FTMO applies a fixed static daily plus overall max loss structure. Traders who want to tune their risk buffer will appreciate Alpha’s flexibility; those who prefer one well-understood rulebook may prefer FTMO.
Split, reputation and track record
On the split, FTMO leads with up to 90% versus Alpha’s flat 80% — a meaningful difference over time. On reputation, the two are both excellent, with Alpha slightly ahead on the score (~4.7 on 20,000+ reviews) and FTMO ahead on longevity (the longest documented payout history in the space, since 2015).
We have not tested either firm’s payouts ourselves and report reputation as the public record. If you weight the most proven track record and a higher split, FTMO wins; if you weight the highest review score and flexible rules, Alpha is right there with it.
Platforms, and who each suits
Platform choice marginally favours FTMO: MT4, MT5, cTrader and DXtrade versus Alpha’s MT5, cTrader, DXtrade and TradeLocker. If you need MetaTrader 4, FTMO is the one; both otherwise cover the forex/CFD mainstream.
Pick FTMO for the most proven all-rounder, a higher split and MT4. Pick Alpha Capital Group for the highest review score, a refundable fee and the ability to choose your drawdown or trade a dedicated swing format. Both restrict US retail on CFDs.