Short answer: this page compares Alpha Capital, the UK-based firm known for a flat 90% profit split and broad platform choice; FTMO, the nine-year industry benchmark with the deepest track record and largest review base; and WICK Funded, a newer, explicitly simulated firm built around an in-house terminal and a native AI-agent connection. Here's where each one actually pulls ahead.
What Alpha Capital, FTMO and WICK Funded actually are
All three run the standard prop-firm evaluation model: pay a one-time fee, hit a profit target inside the risk rules, get a funded account and keep a profit split. FTMO has operated since 2015, funding 200,000+ traders with a 4.8/5 Trustpilot score across 20,800+ reviews — the name most people check first. Alpha Capital is smaller but well-established, with 20,000+ reviews at 4.7/5 and a reputation built on simple, predictable terms. WICK Funded launched in 2026 as an explicitly simulated firm, stated plainly rather than implied, running on its own in-house terminal instead of MetaTrader or cTrader.
Alpha Capital vs FTMO vs WICK Funded: the comparison table
| Alpha Capital | FTMO | WICK Funded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | — | 2015 | 2026 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7/5 (20,000+) | 4.8/5 (20,800+) | Building |
| Cheapest entry | ~$50 | ~€155 ($10K) | $49 (10K 2-Step) |
| Evaluation model | 1/2/3-Step, Swing, Instant | 2-Step (+ Swing add-on) | 1-Step, 2-Step, Instant Funded |
| Profit split | 90% flat | 80% → 90% | 80% → 95% |
| Platform | MT5 / cTrader / DXtrade / TradeLocker | MT4 / MT5 / cTrader / DXtrade | In-house web + mobile terminal |
| News trading | Restricted (±2 min) | Varies by account | Allowed (±2 min restriction) |
| AI agent connection | No | No | Yes — public API + one-click MCP |
Last checked: October 2026 — confirm on each firm's site.
Where the three firms actually differ
Split structure. Alpha Capital's flat 90% is simple: every account gets the same number from day one. FTMO's 80-90% ladder means you start lower and work up to roughly the same ceiling. WICK's ladder goes a step further, reaching 95% — the highest of the three — though it also starts at 80% and requires consistent profitable cycles to climb.
Evaluation choice. Alpha Capital offers the most evaluation paths — 1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step, Swing and Instant. FTMO's core offering is its 2-Step model with a Swing add-on. WICK offers three tracks (1-Step, 2-Step, Instant Funded), fewer than Alpha Capital but more than FTMO's single core model.
Track record. FTMO's nine years and 200,000+ funded traders is a different order of scale and longevity than either Alpha Capital's or WICK's history. WICK is the newest of the three by far, launched in 2026 with a Trustpilot profile still building.
Platform breadth. FTMO and Alpha Capital both offer wide third-party platform choice (MT4/MT5/cTrader/DXtrade, plus TradeLocker for Alpha). WICK runs its own in-house web and mobile terminal with real-time P&L, drag-to-modify SL/TP and a built-in AI coach — a different trading experience entirely, which means leaving behind any tools built for MetaTrader or cTrader.
News trading. Alpha Capital and FTMO both restrict trading around major news events by roughly a similar window; FTMO's rule varies by account. WICK explicitly allows news trading with the same ±2-minute restriction, which is worth checking closely against the other two since enforcement detail can differ even when headline windows look similar.
AI and automation. Neither Alpha Capital nor FTMO offers a first-party account API or native AI-agent connection — both run on established retail platforms where EA/cBot automation is possible but requires a bridge. WICK publishes a documented REST API and a one-click MCP connection for Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Alpha Capital if you want a simple, predictable split and the widest choice of evaluation speed and platform without needing to research a laddering structure. Pick FTMO if you want the most-tested, most-discussed process in the industry, backed by nine years of trader experience. Pick WICK Funded if you want the highest split ceiling of the three, a modern in-house terminal with a built-in AI coach, and native AI-agent support — and you're comfortable with a brand-new firm that hasn't built either competitor's years of reviews yet.
Ready to see the rules for yourself? Start the 2-Step Challenge.
FAQ
Which has the highest profit split? WICK's ladder reaches 95%, the highest of the three. Alpha Capital's flat 90% starts higher day one than FTMO's starting 80%, but FTMO's ladder also reaches 90% at the top.
Which is cheapest to start? WICK at $49 and Alpha Capital at roughly $50 are close; FTMO's $10K entry runs around €155.
Which offers the most evaluation paths? Alpha Capital, with 1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step, Swing and Instant options. WICK offers three tracks; FTMO's core model is 2-Step with a Swing add-on.
Which has the longest track record? FTMO, operating since 2015 with 200,000+ funded traders — a larger scale than Alpha Capital's history and far longer than WICK's 2026 launch.
Can I automate trading with an AI agent on any of these firms? Only WICK Funded offers a native one-click MCP connection. Alpha Capital and FTMO both run on established retail platforms (MT4/MT5/cTrader/DXtrade), so EA/cBot automation is possible, but neither offers a first-party API for AI agents.
Simulated trading evaluation — no real funds are traded. Not financial advice.