FTC vs FRC: Which Program Is Right for You?
Same FIRST ecosystem, different scale. FTC teams are smaller and build a kit robot through a season that opens each September, so every member touches design, code and build; FRC teams are larger and build an industrial-sized robot after a January kickoff. Choose FTC for per-student ownership, FRC for scale and a deep mentor bench.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition. A blank row is a fact we do not hold — not a zero, and not a no.
| FTC | FRC | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Varies — see Cost and funding | Not listed |
| Application deadline | Rolling applications | November 17, 2026 |
| Grade eligibility | Grades 7–12 | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | Hybrid | In person |
| Location | United States | United States |
| Program dates | Not listed | Not listed |
| Application destination | firstinspires.org | my.firstinspires.org |
| Organizer | FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) | FIRST |
FTC vs FRC: the short answer
You do not apply to either one: you join a team, or you start one with two adult coaches, and every price FIRST publishes is the team's, not yours. The difference is scale. FTC is grades 7-12, teams are often 8-12 students, the game is released every September, and FIRST says a team can start for around $1,800 — a $350 season registration plus a robot kit it estimates at $1,500; local events are extra. FRC is grades 9-12, teams are often 10-20 students building industrial-sized robots, the game is released in January — BIOCORE, on January 9, 2027 — and season registration is $6,500, which includes the Kit of Parts and one Regional or two District events; tools, parts and travel are on top. If your school has an FRC team, the question is whether you want a role on a big build; if it has neither, FTC is the one a small group can realistically start this fall.
Program details
These are the current details stored for each program. A blank cell means the catalog does not hold that detail.
| FTC | FRC | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Students ages 12-18, grades 7-12. | Students ages 14-18, grades 9-12. |
| Team size | No ideal number, but many teams have 8-12 students, plus two required adult lead coaches. | No ideal number, but many teams have 10-20 students, plus two required adult lead coaches. |
| Cost to attend | Per team, not per student: $350 a season. It does not include event entry, the robot kit or control hardware. | Per team, not per student: $6,500 a season, including the Kit of Parts and one Regional or two District events. |
| On top of registration | The robot: FIRST estimates the kit of parts at $1,500. | Extra tools, machine parts and travel to and from competitions. |
| Starting a new team | Around $1,800, including the yearly registration fee and the first robot kit; local events are not included. | New teams receive a Kit of Parts with a Drive Base. |
| The 2026-2027 game | BIOBUZZ, part of the FIRST CANOPY season. | BIOCORE, released January 9, 2027. |
| Prior experience | Not needed: anyone can join regardless of previous technical experience. | Not needed: anyone can join regardless of previous technical experience. |
| How big it is | 109000 students in 81 countries in the 2024-2025 season. | 93000 students in 35 countries in the 2024-2025 season. |
Inside FTC
A small team — often 8-12 students with two adult coaches — building one robot from a kit through a season that starts with the September game release and runs across the school year. The robot is compact enough that every member tends to touch design, code and build, and much of the kit carries over between seasons. Competitions are run by FIRST's local partners, and entering them costs extra.
Inside FRC
A bigger team — often 10-20 students with two adult coaches and usually more mentors — building an industrial-sized robot from the Kit of Parts after the January kickoff, and playing on a themed field in three-team alliances. The team also raises its own funds and builds an identity in its community. Registration includes one Regional or two District events, and teams qualify onward from there.
Choose FTC if…
- You are in 7th or 8th grade, or your school has no team. FTC starts at grade 7, and FIRST says a new team can start for around $1,800 — realistic for a small group to found.
- You want to touch every part of the robot. Teams are often 8-12 students, so each person covers more of the design, code and build.
Choose FRC if…
- Your school or town already has an FRC team. Joining is the whole cost question for you: the team carries the $6,500 registration and raises its own funds.
- You want a big build with a large crew. FRC robots are industrial-sized and teams are often 10-20 students, with mentors in technical and non-technical roles.
Applying next cycle: what to do now
| FTC | FRC | |
|---|---|---|
| Next program dates | Year-long: FIRST describes FTC as a year-long program. | Teams choose a kickoff event between September 24 and November 17, 2026. |
Applying to FTC
- Teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico register and pay through the FIRST Dashboard.
- Every team needs a robot kit, and many parts can be reused the next season.
Applying to FRC
- All teams register through the FIRST Dashboard.
- Plan for costs beyond registration: extra events, parts and tools, and team travel.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- Every figure here is a team cost for the 2026-2027 season; what a student pays depends on how their team is funded, which FIRST does not publish.
- FIRST lists team sizes as what it often sees, not a rule.
- Event fees are set locally by FIRST's partners and are not on these pages.
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
Students work with their mentors to design and build robots for a game released every September.
FIRST Robotics Competition
Teams of high school students start from a Kit of Parts to design, program and build industrial-sized robots for a game released in January.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, FTC or FRC?
FTC: Varies — see Cost and funding. Confirm each figure on the program's official page before budgeting.
Can I apply to both FTC and FRC?
The application destinations are evaluated independently. FTC: firstinspires.org. FRC: my.firstinspires.org. Review each provider's current instructions before assuming either application is open or compatible with the other.
Which is better for college applications, FTC or FRC?
We do not rank enrichment programs by admissions value. Use the comparison to assess whether each program's documented constraints fit your situation, and check the details that decide it for you on each program's official page.
What grades can apply to FTC and FRC?
FTC: Grades 7–12. FRC: Grades 9–12. Eligibility can change between cycles, so confirm it on each program's official page before applying.
Related comparisons
FTC appears in 1 of 56 comparison pages. FRC appears in 2 of 56 comparison pages.
How we count
Our comparison list has 56 pairs covering 91 catalog programs. Those numbers count this list only. They are not a ranking or the size of the full catalog.
We don't rank programs or name one of them the best.
When we don't list a cost, it is unknown, not free. Check the official page.
Catalog-wide numbers, and what each was counted out of, are on Statistics.