News trading is one of the most contentious topics in prop firm rules. High-impact events like NFP, CPI, FOMC, and central bank decisions generate the kind of volatility that many EAs are specifically designed to exploit. Yet most major prop firms restrict trading in a window around these events, typically 2 minutes before and after.
If your EA trades news, that restriction is not a minor inconvenience. It is a fundamental incompatibility. This guide covers which MT5 prop firms have no news restrictions in 2026, which have partial restrictions depending on account type, and which to avoid entirely if news trading is core to your strategy.
Why News Restrictions Matter for EAs
A 2-minute restriction sounds narrow on paper. In practice, it removes the entire tradeable window around most high-impact events. NFP, for example, triggers its biggest move in the first 30 to 90 seconds. By the time a 2-minute restriction lifts, the move is often done. For an EA that specifically enters on the initial impulse, the restriction effectively bans the entire strategy.
There is also an enforcement risk. Prop firms review funded accounts for rule violations. If your EA enters a trade one minute before a scheduled news event, even accidentally due to a missing news filter, that can trigger a rule breach and account closure. The financial cost is not just the trade; it is the entire funded account and any future scaling.
The safest approach for news-sensitive EAs is to find a firm with no restriction, or to build a news filter into your EA before running it at any firm that applies one. Our guide on passing a prop firm challenge with an EA covers how to configure a news filter correctly.
Quick Comparison: All Firms
| Firm | MT5 | News Trading | Restriction Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funded Trading Plus | Yes | Allowed | None |
| FundedNext | Yes | Partial | None on Express / Standard; restricted on Stellar |
| Instant Funding | Yes | Partial | None on some plans; 5 min on Two-Phase |
| Lark Funding | Unconfirmed | Allowed | None |
| FTMO | Yes | Restricted | 2 min |
| Blueberry Funded | Yes | Restricted | 2 min |
| Bright Funded | Yes | Restricted | 2 min |
| E8 Markets | Yes | Restricted | 2 min |
| Blue Guardian | Yes | Restricted | 2 min |
| Audacity Capital | Yes | Restricted | 3 min (incl. speeches) |
| ATFunded | Yes | Restricted | Banned on Pro / no new trades on Legacy |
| The5ers | Yes | Partial | Varies by plan; strict on Hyper |
1. Funded Trading Plus: Best Overall for News EAs
Funded Trading Plus
Funded Trading Plus is the strongest MT5 option for news-trading EAs. News trading is explicitly allowed with no restriction window, and MT5 is fully supported. The firm bans grid trading but places no restrictions on when during the trading day your EA can open positions, including around scheduled economic events.
Best for: News-event EAs, breakout strategies, and high-frequency entries around economic releases.
Watch out for: Grid trading is banned. If your EA uses any grid or martingale structure, it is not compatible regardless of the news policy.
Full Funded Trading Plus Review →2. FundedNext: News Allowed on Express and Standard
FundedNext
FundedNext allows news trading on their Express and Standard account models. The Stellar model, which uses trailing drawdown and offers the highest profit split, restricts holding trades through news spikes. If you want to trade news at FundedNext, choose Express or Standard and avoid the Stellar model entirely.
Best for: News EAs that can operate within the Express or Standard model's static drawdown structure.
Watch out for: Account type selection is critical. The Stellar model's news restriction is not obvious from the homepage. Read the specific account terms before purchasing.
Get FundedNext Challenge →3. Instant Funding: No Restriction on Selected Plans
Instant Funding
Instant Funding offers a no-challenge path to a funded account, which makes it attractive for traders who want to skip the evaluation phase. News trading rules vary by plan: some plans have no restrictions, while the Two-Phase plan applies a 5-minute window, which is wider than the standard 2-minute restriction at most firms.
Best for: News-sensitive EAs that can take advantage of the no-evaluation instant funding model.
Watch out for: Confirm the news trading rules for your specific plan before starting. The Two-Phase plan's 5-minute window is more restrictive than most competitors.
Full Instant Funding Review →4. Lark Funding: No Restrictions, but Verify MT5
Lark Funding
Lark Funding advertises no news restrictions, which puts them in a short list of firms that allow news trading without a time window. However, MT5 availability is not confirmed. Verify platform support directly with the firm before purchasing. The unique monthly base reward model also needs clarification on how it interacts with EA-generated profits.
Best for: Traders whose EA requires full news freedom and are willing to verify MT5 availability before committing.
Watch out for: Confirm MT5 availability and payout methods directly with support before purchasing.
Full Lark Funding Review →Firms with News Restrictions: What to Know
The majority of MT5 prop firms apply a 2-minute restriction window. This includes FTMO, Blueberry Funded, Bright Funded, E8 Markets, and Blue Guardian. If your EA does not specifically trade around news events, this restriction is manageable. Add a news filter that pauses the EA for 2 minutes before and after any high-impact event on the economic calendar.
Two firms stand out for having stricter-than-average rules. Audacity Capital applies a 3-minute window covering central bank speeches, not just scheduled data releases. ATFunded bans news trading entirely on the Pro plan; on the Legacy plan, you can hold existing trades through news but cannot open new positions. Neither is suitable for news-dependent strategies.
For EAs that do not trade news, the restriction is essentially irrelevant. In that case, factors like drawdown type, profit split, and payout reliability should drive the decision, covered in our guide to the best prop firms for EA trading.
Verdict
If news trading is core to your EA strategy and you need MT5, Funded Trading Plus is the clearest choice. No news restrictions, MT5 supported, and a straightforward EA policy. The only firm restriction to watch is the grid trading ban, which will not affect most news-event strategies.
If you want a higher profit split alongside news freedom, FundedNext Express or Standard works well. Just stay away from the Stellar model. For traders who want to skip the evaluation phase, Instant Funding offers news-free plans but requires careful account type selection.
Whatever firm you choose, run your EA through a full backtest that includes major news events: NFP months, FOMC meetings, and CPI releases. Confirm the drawdown never approaches your firm's limit. The MT5 EA backtesting guide covers exactly how to stress-test for these scenarios.
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