The split
Both firms offer very aggressive profit-sharing models, but they distribute them differently across their programs:
- AquaFunded: Offers a 90% profit split as standard across all accounts. This can be increased to 100% by purchasing a specific add-on (+15% to the initial fee).
- Finotive: The split depends entirely on the chosen plan. Standard Challenges offer 80% (scalable to 95%), Instant accounts range between 70% and 75%, and the Pro Challenge offers a full 100% split from the start.
How often you can withdraw
Speed is a priority for both, although the conditions to trigger the first payment vary:
- AquaFunded: The first payout is available 14 days after the first trade. Subsequent payouts follow every 14 days. If you buy the add-on, you can reduce the first payout wait to 7 days.
- Finotive: Offers the first payout on demand for most accounts. After that, the frequency is every 7 days (for Standard, Pro, and Instant Standard) or every 14 days (Instant Lite). Solo FX payouts are weekly.
Minimums and methods
Finotive is the clear winner for traders who want to withdraw small amounts frequently, while AquaFunded uses more traditional industry thresholds.
- AquaFunded: The minimum withdrawal is $100. They process payments via Rise, Crypto, and Bank Transfer. Payouts over $1,000 via Rise carry a $35 fee.
- Finotive: Has one of the lowest minimums in the market at only $4. They support Bank Transfer, Crypto, and Revolut.
What delays a payout
Reaching the profit target is not enough; you must comply with rules that can block or reduce your withdrawal:
- Consistency Rules: AquaFunded applies a consistency rule where a single day cannot exceed a percentage of total profits (e.g., 20% in Instant Standard or 25% in 1 Step Pro). If exceeded, the payout is blocked until the ratio normalizes. Finotive requires Pro traders to stay within ±25% of their historical volume and requires Instant traders to ensure no single trade accounts for more than 60% of total profit.
- Risk and News: AquaFunded caps profits generated during high-impact news at 0.5% of the balance. They also use "Wave Stop," which closes trades if they hit a 2% loss and can reduce your profit split to 50% or 25% upon breaches. Finotive uses a "Strikes" system; soft breaches (like violating news rules or volume limits) reduce the reward for that cycle to 10%.
- Minimum Trading Days: AquaFunded generally requires between 3 and 5 profitable days (at least 0.5% profit each). Finotive requires "Minimum Profitable Days" (0.5% profit) ranging from 2 to 5 days depending on the phase.
What it takes to get there
To start this journey, you must choose a path and pay an entry fee:
- Evaluation Paths: AquaFunded offers 1, 2, and 3-step evaluations, plus Instant Funding. Finotive offers 1 and 2-step evaluations (Standard and Pro), Instant Funding, and the Solo FX challenge.
- Price Example: For a $100,000 1-step account, AquaFunded (Flex) costs $749, while Finotive (Standard) costs $650.
- Platforms and Style: AquaFunded offers the most variety with MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader, TradeLocker, and cTrader. Finotive is limited to MetaTrader 5. Both allow EAs (with restrictions on mass-market "plug-and-play" bots at Finotive) and hedging.
Which pays out more comfortably
Finotive pays out more comfortably for the active trader who wants immediate access to their money, regardless of the amount, thanks to its $4 minimum and "on-demand" first payout. It is also the best choice for those seeking a 100% profit split without paying for add-ons.
AquaFunded is more comfortable for traders who value platform choice and payment security, as they offer a 24-hour payment guarantee (or they pay you an extra $1,000) and provide access to modern platforms like cTrader and TradeLocker, which are often more stable during regulatory changes.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $100,000 evaluation, AquaFunded or Finotive?
For a 1-step challenge of $100,000, Finotive is cheaper at $650 for its Standard Challenge, compared to $749 for the AquaFunded 1 Step Flex. In 2-step evaluations, Finotive also maintains a more competitive price point for its standard models.
Which firm allows you to withdraw smaller amounts of profit, AquaFunded or Finotive?
Finotive is significantly more flexible, allowing withdrawals from as little as $4. AquaFunded requires a minimum of $100 to process any payout request, making it harder for traders with small accounts or modest gains to cash out.
Does AquaFunded or Finotive offer a better profit split for professional traders?
Finotive offers a better maximum split through its "Pro Challenge," which gives the trader 100% of the profits from the start. AquaFunded offers a base split of 90%, and while it can reach 100%, it requires paying an additional 15% surcharge on the initial account fee.
Which firm provides more trading platforms, AquaFunded or Finotive?
AquaFunded offers much more variety, allowing traders to choose between MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader, TradeLocker, and cTrader. Finotive is currently more restricted, offering only MetaTrader 5 through its own broker, Finotive Markets.
