Where you trade
The platform choice defines the trader's technical workflow. Both firms offer a robust multi-platform environment, moving away from a single-provider dependency.
- AquaFunded provides access to Metatrader 5, MatchTrader, cTrader, and TradeLocker. This lineup is particularly strong for traders who prioritize mobile-friendly interfaces or modern charting tools like TradeLocker.
- Funded Trading Plus offers Metatrader 5, MatchTrader, cTrader, and DXTrade. The inclusion of DXTrade is a strategic choice for those who prefer an institutional-grade web interface without the overhead of traditional desktop software.
Who executes your orders
Execution quality is determined by the technology provider.
- AquaFunded manages its own execution environment across several platforms. While they do not specify a single external broker name, they focus on providing a "raw spread" experience for their users.
- Funded Trading Plus utilizes Gooey Trade as their technology provider. This setup is designed to ensure stability and professional execution standards across their simulated live accounts, aiming for consistency between the evaluation and funded phases.
Leverage and margin
Risk management is technically enforced through leverage and hard-stop rules.
- AquaFunded offers 30:1 leverage on Instant Standard accounts and 50:1 on most evaluation models (Pro, Flex, 2 Step). A technical highlight is the Wave Stop rule: if open trades reach a 2% loss of the balance, the system automatically closes all positions. This acts as a forced margin call to protect the account before a total breach.
- Funded Trading Plus provides 1:30 leverage for 1-Step Express, Instant, and Activation accounts, while the 2-Step Classic goes up to 1:50. Their drawdown models vary: the 1-Step Express uses a 6% relative trailing drawdown that locks at the starting balance, while the 2-Step Classic offers an 8% static drawdown, which is technically more lenient for swing traders.
Markets available
The range of instruments dictates the strategies you can deploy.
- AquaFunded focuses on the core trio: Forex, Indices, and Commodities. It is a setup optimized for the high-liquidity sessions of the major global markets.
- Funded Trading Plus offers a broader technical scope by including Crypto alongside Forex, Indices, and Commodities. This makes it a superior choice for traders who need 24/7 market access or specific exposure to digital assets.
What the setup lets you do
Strategy freedom depends on the internal rules of each firm.
- AquaFunded allows EAs, hedging, and scalping. However, they implement a Consistency Rule on most funded accounts (ranging from 15% to 50%), meaning no single trading day can represent too much of your total profit. News trading is allowed but capped at 0.5% profit per event for newer accounts.
- Funded Trading Plus is more permissive with trading styles. They allow EAs and News Trading without the specific profit caps found in Aqua. While they have consistency checks for Activation Accounts (25%) and the 2-Step Classic (50%), their 1-Step Express and Instant programs have no consistency rules, offering more freedom for "lumpy" profit distributions.
What the setup costs
The total cost includes the entry fee and the execution drag (commissions).
- AquaFunded charges a $5 commission per lot on Forex, Metals, and Energies, while Indices are commission-free. Their 100K 1-Step Flex challenge costs $749. Payouts are every 14 days, backed by a 24-hour payout guarantee or they pay you an extra $1,000.
- Funded Trading Plus has a higher commission of $7 per lot on Forex, Metals, and Energies, with $0 on Indices and Crypto. However, their entry prices are significantly lower: a 100K 1-Step Express costs $549. They also offer Activation Accounts where you pay only $4 to start the challenge and pay the activation fee ($489 for 100K) only after passing. Payouts can be requested from Day 1 on Express and Instant accounts.
Better setup for
- AquaFunded is the better setup for disciplined intraday traders who want lower execution commissions and the security of a guaranteed payout timeline, provided they can work within consistency limits.
- Funded Trading Plus is the better setup for news traders and EA users who prefer lower upfront costs, faster access to their first payout, and the ability to trade cryptocurrencies.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $100,000 1-step evaluation, AquaFunded or Funded Trading Plus?
Funded Trading Plus is significantly cheaper for this specific size. Their 1-Step Express for $100,000 costs $549, whereas the AquaFunded 1-Step Flex for the same balance is priced at $749. Additionally, Funded Trading Plus offers an Activation Account for that size with an initial cost of only $4, though it requires a larger activation fee after passing the evaluation.
Does AquaFunded or Funded Trading Plus offer faster access to profits?
Funded Trading Plus provides much faster access to withdrawals. On their 1-Step Express and Instant accounts, traders can request their first payout from Day 1. In contrast, AquaFunded typically requires 14 days after the first trade for the first payout, unless an add-on is purchased to reduce that time to 7 days.
Which firm has lower trading commissions per lot, AquaFunded or Funded Trading Plus?
AquaFunded offers a more competitive execution cost with a commission of $5 per lot on Forex, Metals, and Energies. Funded Trading Plus charges a higher rate of $7 per lot for the same asset classes. Both firms offer commission-free trading on Indices, and Funded Trading Plus also provides commission-free trading for Crypto.
Between AquaFunded and Funded Trading Plus, which one has more flexible news trading rules?
Funded Trading Plus is more flexible as it allows news trading without specific profit caps on its main programs. AquaFunded allows news trading but imposes a technical cap: profits generated within a 10-minute window around high-impact news are limited to 0.5% of the starting balance per payout cycle. Any profit exceeding this cap is removed by AquaFunded.


















