AquaFunded vs FTMO (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare AquaFunded and FTMO — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Quick Verdict
Higher Rated
FTMO (4.5)
More Affordable
AquaFunded ($19/mo)
AquaFunded
AquaFunded is a Dubai-based prop firm offering 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, and instant funding challenges across forex, indices, commodities, and crypto with up to 100% profit splits.
FTMO
The most established proprietary trading firm offering funded accounts up to $200K after a two-phase evaluation, with 90% profit splits.
Our Analysis
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AquaFunded and FTMO target different trader profiles despite both offering prop trading challenges. AquaFunded ($19/month) emphasizes flexibility with 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, and instant funding options across forex, indices, commodities, and crypto. FTMO ($155/month) focuses on proven consistency with a singular two-phase evaluation designed to filter for sustainable traders. AquaFunded's lower barrier attracts experimentation; FTMO's established reputation and higher cost signal serious capital deployment. Feature parity is near-identical (backtesting, paper trading, alerts, mobile apps), but pricing and evaluation philosophy diverge significantly.
FTMO's 90% profit split dominates AquaFunded's 100% on-add-on model when transaction costs are factored. FTMO refunds the challenge fee upon first payout, reducing true cost-of-entry; AquaFunded offers no fee recovery. FTMO's Trustpilot 4.5/5 rating contrasts sharply with AquaFunded's 3.6/5 and recent guideline-breach flag. FTMO's free trial eliminates financial risk before commitment, while AquaFunded requires payment upfront to test.
AquaFunded suits traders wanting budget-friendly challenge experimentation across multiple asset classes with minimal time pressure—the flexible step structure appeals to part-timers testing prop trading viability. FTMO wins for traders ready to commit serious capital: its rigorous two-phase process filters for consistent profitability, the refundable challenge fee justifies the $155 entry cost, and the 90% split meaningfully outpaces competitors when annualized. Reputation and measurable edge make FTMO the safer institutional choice; AquaFunded is the experimental entry point.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AquaFunded | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.6 | ★ 4.5 |
| Starting Price | $19/mo | $155/mo |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Markets | forex, indices, commodities, crypto | forex, stocks, crypto, futures |
| AI Analysis | ✗ | ✗ |
| Backtesting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Paper Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price Alerts | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✗ |
| Social Features | ✗ | ✓ |
| Broker Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Indicators | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automated Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Performance Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Risk Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| News Feed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Education Content | ✗ | ✓ |
AquaFunded: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Multiple challenge types: 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, and instant funding
- + Up to 100% profit split available as add-on
- + No time limits on evaluation phases
- + Fast 24-hour payout processing after 14-day holding period
- + Scaling pathway to $2 million funded account
Cons
- - Mixed user reviews — 3.2/5 on Trustpilot with profile flagged for guideline breaches
- - No stocks trading; futures only via separate AquaFutures product
- - Relatively new firm (2023) with limited long-term track record
- - Challenge fees forfeited on hard breach before the 4th payout
FTMO: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Industry-leading 90% profit split with no hidden conditions
- + Free Trial with unlimited retakes lets you test before spending money
- + Challenge fee fully refunded on your first successful payout
- + Supports 4 platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade
- + Built-in performance analytics and journaling tools rival standalone apps
- + Decade of operations and $500M+ in verified payouts — real credibility
Cons
- - 85-95% estimated failure rate means most traders lose their challenge fees
- - Non-refundable fees add up fast — 3 failed $50K attempts costs over $1,000
- - Strict 5% daily drawdown can end your challenge on one bad day
- - Simulated trading only — your trades never reach real markets
- - Customer complaints about harsh rule enforcement on edge cases