Aquafunded Review
AquaFunded is a prop firm offering one-step, two-step and instant funding routes, with a profit split reaching 100% and scaling from $5,000 to $4 million. Drawdown limits and consistency requirements differ by route, so the rules should be checked against the specific plan before buying.
100% Profit Split
$5K - $4M Capital
4 Challenge Models
Multi-Asset
AquaFunded at a Glance — Brand Profile & Stats
Who is AquaFunded?
AquaFunded LTD
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia (Reg. 2004-00597), Rodney Bay
AquaFunded offers simulated trading challenges across Forex, Crypto, and Futures with a stated 100% profit split and on-demand payouts. As of May 2026, the brand reports 225,000+ traders, $6.7M+ rewards paid, $119,175 highest paid, and an average reward of $2,450 (verified on aquafunded.com homepage).
Why it matters: Includes a charity element — AquaFunded contributes to ocean cleanup and drinking water programs as part of every challenge fee.
What Trustpilot Says (Honest Disclosure)
⚠ Trustpilot Warning (as recorded May 2026)Trustpilot has placed AquaFunded under a public "Breach of guidelines" warning. The company's star rating has been removed and is unavailable because, per Trustpilot: "We've removed a number of fake reviews for this company." 1,408 reviews remain visible.
Recent visible review titles (a mix of positive and very negative): "Very smooth experience so far", "It was amazing experience", but also "This firm is a scam and the issue is...", "There are hidden rules there", "Writing this so people won't experience the horrible treatment...".
Brand claim: AquaFunded's own homepage shows "Rated 9.4/10 from 5k+ verified reviews" — but this rating is from internal/affiliate sources, not Trustpilot. Verify carefully before purchasing.
Challenge Plans & Pricing
Discounts: AquaFunded runs promotional discount codes from time to time, and the codes and discount levels change. Check aquafunded.com for the offer current when you buy — the plan prices quoted on this page were the discounted prices observed in May 2026.
Challenge models available: 1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step, and Instant Funding (skip the challenge entirely).
| Market | Models | Top Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | 1/2/3-Step + Instant | 100% |
| Crypto | Challenge | 100% |
| Futures (AquaFutures) | Challenge | 90-100% |
Platform Stack
AquaFunded supports four trading platforms across its product lines:
MatchTrade
Modern UI, low latency
TradeLocker
Web-first, mobile-friendly
MetaTrader 5
EA-friendly, FX + indices
cTrader
Level-II depth, algo tools
Spreads: "Spreads starting from 0.0" — true ECN-style raw pricing claimed on aquafunded.com.
Markets & Scaling Plan
Asset coverage: Forex, Indices, Metals (via Forex challenge), Crypto pairs (separate Crypto challenge), and Futures (AquaFutures product line).
Scaling path: Make 12% profit within a 3-month period and AquaFunded increases your account by 25% of starting balance. Scales up to $4,000,000.
Combined with Aqua Elite tiers (Bronze → Silver → Gold), career benefits stack alongside capital scaling.
News trading allowed: Quoted on aquafunded.com homepage — useful for FX traders running NFP / CPI strategies.
The 3 Rules That Fail Traders
The three rules that fail the most AquaFunded traders:
- Daily Drawdown (4%) — Set at 4% of previous day's highest balance or equity (whichever is higher). Recalculated at 00:00 UTC each day. Many traders miss the equity vs balance distinction.
- Maximum Drawdown (8%) — Fixed at 8% of initial balance. Includes both closed AND open floating trades. Equity dropping to 92% of starting balance = account breach.
- Hidden Rules Complaints — Multiple Trustpilot reviews specifically reference "hidden rules" used to deny payouts. Read all terms carefully before scaling.
What kills accounts: Floating-loss positions overnight that drop equity below the 92% max-DD threshold even though closed P/L looks fine.
Top AquaFunded Alternatives
FTMO
Industry-standard CFDs prop firm. 90% split, clean Trustpilot record (4.8/5 · 25K+), strict but transparent rules.
Best if: you want zero ambiguity on rules and disputes.
FundedNext
15% Challenge Phase reward, up to 95% profit split, 463K+ funded accounts, 4.5 Trustpilot rating with 68K+ reviews.
Best if: you want a large established firm with a clean Trustpilot profile.
The5%ers
Instant funding from $6K, scaling to $4M, profit splits up to 100% — very similar value prop to AquaFunded but with cleaner reputation.
Best if: you want instant funding + scaling without Trustpilot warnings.
Funded Trading Plus
UK-based, 95% split, $400K max accounts, news trading allowed, MT4/MT5 supported.
Best if: you want UK regulatory footing + similar feature set.
Other instant-funding prop firms we have reviewed include Sure Leverage Funding, Finotive Funding and iFunds.
What are AquaFunded's position limits and drawdown rules?
1-Step Challenge
Phases1
Profit Target10%
Daily Drawdown4%
Max Drawdown8%
Profit Split100%
PayoutOn demand
Fast path but 10% target with 8% max DD is tight.
2-Step Challenge
Phases2
Profit Target8% / 5%
Daily Drawdown4%
Max Drawdown8%
Profit Split100%
PayoutBi-weekly
Most popular model — easier targets split across 2 phases.
3-Step Challenge
Phases3
Profit Targetvaries
Daily Drawdownvaries
Max Drawdownvaries
Profit Split100%
PayoutBi-weekly
Slower entry with smaller profit targets per phase — confirm exact figures at checkout.
Instant Funded
PhasesNone
Profit TargetN/A
Daily DrawdownDoes not apply
Max Drawdown8% (trailing)
Profit Split100%
PayoutOn demand
Skip the challenge. Higher upfront fee but immediate access to funded account.
How does the AquaFunded consistency rule work?
Drawdown Mechanics
Daily DD: 4% of previous day's highest balance OR equity. Recalculated at 00:00 UTC each day.
Max DD: 8% of initial account balance. Account breaches at 92% equity, including floating P/L.
Max DD: 8% of initial account balance. Account breaches at 92% equity, including floating P/L.
Note: "Daily Drawdown does not apply to Instant Standard accounts" — quoted from aquafunded.com/forex-rules.
News Trading
AquaFunded explicitly allows news trading across all challenge phases and funded accounts.
Useful for FX traders running NFP / CPI / FOMC strategies. Most prop firms restrict this.
Payout Schedule
Bi-weekly rewards on most plans, or on-demand after reward guarantee milestones.
100% profit split on all phases of funded accounts.
100% profit split on all phases of funded accounts.
Caveat: Some Trustpilot reviewers dispute the "on demand" claim — verify the exact request-to-paid timing before scaling deposits.
Scaling Plan
Account scaling: 12% profit in 3 months → +25% account size.
Career scaling: Aqua Elite tiers (Bronze → Silver → Gold) unlock as you progress.
Max scale: $4,000,000 (uncommon ceiling for the space).
Career scaling: Aqua Elite tiers (Bronze → Silver → Gold) unlock as you progress.
Max scale: $4,000,000 (uncommon ceiling for the space).
Two parallel scaling systems is a USP — career benefits compound with capital growth.
How much does it cost to trade with AquaFunded?
Challenge Cost
One-time challenge fee per account model. Exact pricing varies by account size and model selected.
Discounts: promotional codes are offered periodically and the discount levels change — check aquafunded.com for the offer current when you buy.
Refund mechanic: a 150% refund offer, when one is running, means if you pay $X, you can earn back up to 1.5×X through your first payout cycles.
Spreads & Slippage
AquaFunded advertises raw ECN-style spreads from 0.0 pips on major FX pairs. No publicly listed commission per lot on the homepage — confirm in dashboard.
Reality check: Simulated execution means slippage is broker-defined, not market-defined. Some Trustpilot users report unexpected slippage in fast markets.
Cost vs Competitors
Quick comparison for a $100K 2-Step Challenge (May 2026 pricing):
| Firm | ~$100K Cost |
|---|---|
| AquaFunded (promo price) | ~$269 |
| FundedNext 2-Step | ~$549 |
| FTMO $100K | ~€540 |
Edge: Lowest headline cost with 100% split — but factor in payout reliability concerns from Trustpilot.
Which countries cannot use AquaFunded?
Restricted Jurisdictions
AquaFunded does not publish a comprehensive list of restricted countries on its public homepage or rules page. The brand operates from Saint Lucia (AquaFunded LTD, Reg. 2004-00597) and typically restricts traders from jurisdictions covered by OFAC sanctions and other internationally sanctioned countries.
Industry-standard restricted list (based on competitor disclosures) typically includes: North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, and select OFAC sanctioned regions.
🇰🇵 North Korea🇮🇷 Iran🇨🇺 Cuba🇸🇾 Syria🇷🇺 Russia🇧🇾 Belarus🇲🇲 Myanmar
Verify before purchase: Contact support@aquafunded.com to confirm your jurisdiction is accepted before paying — refund policy may not cover jurisdiction-based denials.
Video Guides & Reviews
Watch: 4 AquaFunded Reviews
Four community video reviews of AquaFunded — including critical takes that examine the 100% split claim and rule clarity.
AquaFunded Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- 100% profit split — highest in the industry
- $6.7M+ paid out to date, $119,175 highest single payout
- Capital scaling to $4M + Aqua Elite career tiers
- News trading explicitly allowed across all phases
- Multi-market: Forex, Crypto, Futures (AquaFutures)
- Instant Funding option available — skip the challenge entirely
- Charity component — ocean cleanup + drinking water
⚠️ Cons
- Trustpilot warning recorded May 2026 — rating removed for fake reviews
- Multiple visible Trustpilot reviews allege "hidden rules" and payout denials
- Tight 4% daily / 8% max drawdown on smaller accounts
- Saint Lucia jurisdiction (light regulatory oversight)
- "Simulated trading" — no live brokerage relationship disclosed
- Self-reported 9.4/10 rating contradicts independent Trustpilot signal
- No published restricted-countries list
How much does an AquaFunded challenge cost?
About these prices: the figures below were the discounted prices observed in May 2026 under a promotional code. AquaFunded's codes and discount levels change over time — check aquafunded.com for the offer current when you buy.
1-Step $5K
Forex · $5,000
from $49
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: 10%
Daily DD: 4%
Max DD: 8%
Reward: 100%
1-Step $25K
Forex · $25,000
from $149
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: 10%
Daily DD: 4%
Max DD: 8%
Reward: 100%
1-Step $100K
Forex · $100,000
from $499
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: 10%
Daily DD: 4%
Max DD: 8%
Reward: 100%
2-Step $25K
Forex · $25,000
from $129
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: 8%/5%
Daily DD: 4%
Max DD: 8%
Reward: 100%
2-Step $100K
Forex · $100,000
from $449
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: 8%/5%
Daily DD: 4%
Max DD: 8%
Reward: 100%
2-Step $200K
Forex · $200,000
from $899
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: 8%/5%
Daily DD: 4%
Max DD: 8%
Reward: 100%
3-Step $50K
Forex · $50,000
from $179
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: varies
Daily DD: varies
Max DD: varies
Reward: 100%
3-Step $100K
Forex · $100,000
from $349
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: varies
Daily DD: varies
Max DD: varies
Reward: 100%
Instant $25K
Forex · $25,000
from $399
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: N/A
Daily DD: N/A
Max DD: 8% trail
Reward: 100%
AquaFutures
Futures · varies
from $99
May 2026 promo price
Profit target: varies
Daily DD: varies
Max DD: varies
Reward: 100%
Indicative pricing — confirm exact post-discount total at checkout.aquafunded.com.
AquaFunded vs FTMO vs FundedNext
AquaFunded vs two cleaner-profile alternatives in the same value tier:
| Feature | AquaFunded | FTMO | FundedNext |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit Split | 100% | 90% | Up to 95% |
| Max Account | $4M | $400K | $300K |
| Daily DD | 4% | 5% | 3-5% |
| News Trading | Allowed | Restricted | Allowed |
| Jurisdiction | Saint Lucia | Czech Rep. | Comoros |
| Trustpilot | ⚠ Warning · 1,408 | 4.8 / 25K+ | 4.5 / 68K+ |
Verdict: AquaFunded wins on headline numbers (100% split, $4M scaling, news trading allowed). FTMO and FundedNext win decisively on reputation, regulatory footing, and Trustpilot transparency.
Why Choose AquaFunded? (Read the Caveats First)
100% split · 1-3 step + Instant
100% split · scale to $4M
AquaFunded
100% split · Scale to $4M · News allowed
$6.7M+ paid · 225K+ traders
⚠ Trustpilot warning (May 2026)
Check aquafunded.com for current offers
Try AquaFunded →Why traders consider AquaFunded: 100% profit split, scaling to $4M, news trading allowed, and aggressive headline pricing when a promotional code is running (codes and discount levels change — check the site for the current offer). The brand reports $6.7M+ rewards paid across 225K+ traders.
⚠ Read this before purchase:As recorded in May 2026, Trustpilot had issued a "Breach of guidelines" warning on AquaFunded — its rating has been hidden because fake reviews were detected. The visible 1,408 reviews include serious complaints about "hidden rules" and payout disputes. We recommend testing with the smallest account size first, withdrawing your first payout immediately, and reading all rule terms before scaling.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aquafunded firm provides funded trading accounts for beginners and experienced traders. Its programme is built around clearly stated trading rules, flexible leverage and a staged path to a funded account.
An Aquafunded MT4 account allows traders to access popular MetaTrader 4 features with real funding. Aquafunded reviews often highlight the smooth interface and reliable execution for all skill levels.
Aquafunded features include account scaling, risk management, and flexible leverage. The plans of Aquafunded are structured in stages, with defined profit targets and loss limits at each step.
Pricing of Aquafunded varies by account size and plan. Smaller accounts cost less to enter, while larger accounts carry higher fees and higher profit potential. Compare the fee against the account size and drawdown limit before choosing.
Pros and cons of Aquafunded include easy account access, clear plans, and leverage options. The cons involve strict rules and fewer choices than some Aquafunded alternatives, as highlighted in many Aquafunded firm reviews.
Aquafunded leverage allows traders to control larger positions with smaller capital. It also magnifies losses, so the drawdown limits attached to your plan matter more than the headline leverage figure.
Comparing Aquafunded vs Earn2Trade shows that Aquafunded offers more flexible trading rules, while Earn2Trade focuses on education. Compare the fees, drawdown rules and payout terms of each before choosing.
Top Aquafunded alternatives include FTMO, Earn2Trade, The5ers, and FundedNext. Aquafunded comparison guides help traders understand differences in plans of Aquafunded and these alternatives.
Yes, plans of Aquafunded vary by account size, leverage, and growth options. Select the plan whose account size, rules and fee match your trading goals and experience level.
Reading an Aquafunded firm review helps traders understand the platform, pricing of Aquafunded, and pros and cons of Aquafunded. It also helps compare Aquafunded features with other funding firms for informed decisions.