AquaFunded vs Trade The Pool (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare AquaFunded and Trade The Pool — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Quick Verdict
Higher Rated
Trade The Pool (4.0)
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.
Trade The Pool
A stock-focused prop firm offering funded accounts for U.S. equities and ETFs, with a single-phase evaluation and up to $450K in buying power.
Our Analysis
AquaFunded and Trade The Pool target fundamentally different trader profiles. AquaFunded operates as a multi-asset platform with four challenge types (1-step, 2-step, 3-step, instant) spanning forex, indices, commodities, and crypto at $19/month. Trade The Pool is exclusively stocks and ETFs with a single-phase evaluation at $47/month but offers up to $450K in buying power. AquaFunded's 3.6/5 rating trails Trade The Pool's 4.0/5, though both feature identical core tools: AI analysis, backtesting, paper trading, alerts, and mobile access.
The critical differentiator lies in specialization versus flexibility. AquaFunded offers up to 100% profit splits (as add-ons) and no evaluation time limits—ideal for traders exploring multiple asset classes. Trade The Pool eliminates locate and hard-to-borrow fees for short sellers and caps profit splits at 70%, but its regulatory standing is stronger; AquaFunded's Trustpilot profile was flagged for guideline breaches. Trade The Pool's single-phase evaluation also reduces friction.
AquaFunded suits traders wanting maximum asset diversity and challenge flexibility on a budget. Trade The Pool is the clear choice for U.S. equity traders prioritizing simplicity, fee transparency, and lower compliance risk.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AquaFunded | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.6 | ★ 4.0 |
| Starting Price | $19/mo | $47/mo |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Markets | forex, indices, commodities, crypto | stocks, etfs |
| 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
Trade The Pool: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + One of the very few prop firms exclusively focused on U.S. stocks and ETFs
- + No locate or hard-to-borrow fees — firm covers short selling costs
- + Single-phase evaluation is simpler than multi-step competitors
- + Pre-market and after-hours trading supported
- + One-time evaluation fee with no ongoing monthly charges
Cons
- - Limited to U.S. stocks and ETFs — no options, futures, forex, or crypto
- - Profit split capped at 70%, lower than some competitors offering 80-90%
- - No public API or external integration support
- - Platform locked to Trader Evolution — no choice of trading software