Where you trade
The choice of terminal is where the trader's journey begins, and here the approaches diverge. AquaFunded provides one of the most diverse setups in the industry, offering Metatrader 5, MatchTrader, TradeLocker, and cTrader. This variety allows for everything from advanced algo-trading on cTrader to a more modern, web-centric experience on MatchTrader.
Funded Elite focuses on a more streamlined offering, providing Metatrader 5 and TradeLocker. While it lacks the platform depth of its competitor, it covers the industry standard for both traditional technical analysis and mobile-friendly trading.
Who executes your orders
Execution quality depends on the underlying infrastructure. Funded Elite operates using its own internal brokerage environment, Funded Elite, which centralizes the execution of orders within their ecosystem. AquaFunded manages its execution through various technology providers across its four platforms, though it does not specify a single external broker in its primary documentation, suggesting a heavily integrated or proprietary execution model to maintain the 24-hour payout guarantee.
Leverage and margin
Risk management is defined by how much breathing room the margin and drawdown rules provide:
- AquaFunded: Offers leverage up to 100:1 on its 1 Step Flex (during evaluation), though most plans settle at 50:1 for Forex. A critical technical rule is the Wave Stop: if open trades reach a 2% loss of the balance, all positions are automatically closed. Most accounts use a Trailing Drawdown based on the higher of equity or balance, making it tighter as the account grows.
- Funded Elite: Standard Forex leverage is 30:1, but it can be boosted to 50:1 or 100:1 via checkout add-ons. Their drawdown structures are more varied: Static for 1 and 2 Step challenges, but Trailing for Instant and Catalyst accounts. The Catalyst account specifically uses a Trailing Equity drawdown of 5% or 6%, which follows the peak profit in real-time.
Markets available
The range of instruments dictates the strategies you can deploy:
- AquaFunded: Focuses on the core trio of Forex, Indices, and Commodities.
- Funded Elite: Offers a broader spectrum by including Stocks and Crypto (with 2:1 leverage) alongside the standard Forex, Indices, and Commodities. This makes it a more suitable environment for swing traders looking for equity exposure.
What the setup lets you do
The software and rules define the "legal" trading styles:
- AquaFunded: This is a permissive environment for automation. It allows EAs, Hedging, Scalping, and Copy Trading. News trading is allowed but comes with a technical cap: profits generated within 5 minutes of high-impact news are limited to 0.5% of the starting balance per cycle.
- Funded Elite: This is strictly a manual trading environment; EAs and automated tools are prohibited. Scalping is allowed but regulated by time: trades must last over 3 minutes unless a specific "Scalping add-on" is purchased to reduce that limit to 30 seconds. Hedging is prohibited.
What the setup costs
Execution costs and entrance fees determine the net profitability:
- AquaFunded: Charges a $5 commission per lot on Forex, Metals, and Energies. A $100,000 1 Step Flex account costs $749. Payouts are every 14 days, with a 90% profit split.
- Funded Elite: Offers lower execution costs with a $3 commission per lot on Forex and Energies. A $100,000 1 Step account is significantly cheaper at $569. Profit splits are more flexible, ranging from 60% to 95% depending on the add-ons selected at checkout.
Better setup for
- AquaFunded is the superior team for algorithmic traders and scalpers who need platform variety (cTrader/MatchTrader) and the freedom to use EAs with a high profit split.
- Funded Elite is the better team for manual retail traders seeking lower entry prices, lower commissions per lot, and access to a wider variety of assets like Stocks and Crypto.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm offers cheaper entry for a $100,000 challenge, AquaFunded or Funded Elite?
Funded Elite is the more affordable option for this account size. Its standard $100,000 1 Step challenge costs $569, whereas AquaFunded charges $749 for its 1 Step Flex model and $527 for its 1 Step Standard, though the Flex offers much higher drawdown limits.
Can I use Expert Advisors (EAs) on both AquaFunded and Funded Elite?
No, there is a major difference in policy. AquaFunded allows the use of EAs and automated trading tools across its platforms. Conversely, Funded Elite strictly prohibits automated trading, allowing only manual trading tools.
Which firm has lower commissions per lot, AquaFunded or Funded Elite?
Funded Elite provides a more cost-effective execution environment with a commission of $3 per lot on Forex and Energies. AquaFunded charges a higher rate of $5 per lot for the same asset classes, which can significantly impact high-frequency traders.
How do the payout frequencies compare between AquaFunded and Funded Elite?
AquaFunded has a standard payout frequency of every 14 days, with the possibility of reducing it to 7 days via an add-on. Funded Elite offers more customization at the point of purchase, allowing traders to choose between 3, 7, 14, or 21 days for their payout cycles.
