Entry price
If we look strictly at the sticker price to start a $100,000 challenge, AquaFunded is the more aggressive competitor. Their 2 Step Pro account costs $429, significantly less than the $539 charged by FunderPro for its Classic (2-step) or One Phase accounts. However, the "cost of the fee" changes when we talk about getting it back:
- FunderPro refunds your fee with the 1st reward.
- AquaFunded makes you wait until the 4th payout for a full refund, effectively holding your capital for months.
- For high-capital traders, FunderPro offers a Pro challenge for $659 (for $100,000) that is not eligible for a refund, increasing the permanent entry cost.
- AquaFunded offers a "TryAqua" entry-level for as low as $15, while FunderPro's lowest entry is $69 for a $5,000 account.
What you pay while trading
Trading isn't free on either platform, but the billing methods differ. On AquaFunded, you pay a clear commission of $5 per lot on Forex, Metals, and Energies, while Indices are commission-free. This is a direct cost that eats into your daily equity. FunderPro applies commissions only on funded accounts, meaning your evaluation phase is "cheaper" in terms of spread/execution costs, but once funded, you must account for these fees.
Both firms provide Metatrader 5, cTrader, and TradeLocker, so the "tech cost" is balanced. However, AquaFunded offers a Swap-Free option for free, which is a massive saving for swing traders who would otherwise lose money to overnight interest. FunderPro requires a Swing Add-On for weekend holding on most accounts, which is an extra cost to consider at checkout.
What mistakes cost you
This is where the price of "risk" diverges. AquaFunded uses a Trailing Drawdown on most of its popular models (Standard, Pro, Aqua Man), based on the highest value between equity and balance. This is the most expensive type of drawdown for a trader because it "locks in" your peak profits as the new ceiling, making it easier to fail. Additionally, they have the Wave Stop rule: if you hit a 2% floating loss, they close your trades. A first breach drops your profit split to 50%, and a second one costs you the entire account.
FunderPro is "cheaper" in terms of risk for its challenges because it uses a Fixed Drawdown of 10% of the initial balance. It doesn't move, no matter how much profit you make. Only their Instant Account uses a trailing drawdown of 6%, which eventually becomes static. Failing a challenge at FunderPro costs you the fee, but they offer a Reset for a fee, whereas AquaFunded requires a full new purchase.
What it costs to get paid
Getting your money out has its own price list. AquaFunded offers a 90% profit split by default, which sounds better than FunderPro's 80%. However:
- AquaFunded charges a $35 flat fee for payouts via Rise if the amount is $1,000 or more.
- FunderPro allows you to reach 90% only if you pay for an Add-on at the start.
- Both firms have a $100 minimum withdrawal limit.
- AquaFunded limits the first two withdrawals to $10,000 each for accounts of $200,000 or larger. This is a "cost of delay" for successful traders who want to access their full profits immediately.
Where each one hides its cost
AquaFunded hides its cost in the Consistency Rule and News Trading. For many accounts, a single day cannot exceed 15% to 50% of your total profit. If it does, your payout is blocked until you trade more, costing you time. Also, they cap news profits at 0.5% of the balance, effectively "taxing" high-volatility strategies.
FunderPro hides its cost in the Add-ons. To get the "best" conditions (90% split, no minimum days, swing trading, news trading on Instant), you have to keep adding to the initial price. Without the Swing Add-On, you are forced to close all positions by Friday 16:30 EST, which might mean closing trades in a loss just to comply with the rules.
Cheapest for whom
- AquaFunded is the cheapest option for disciplined scalpers who want the lowest entry price and don't mind the $35 withdrawal fee or the trailing drawdown.
- FunderPro is the cheapest for swing traders and beginners because the static drawdown on challenges provides a much wider safety net, and the refund comes much faster (1st payout vs 4th).
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $100,000 challenge, AquaFunded or FunderPro?
AquaFunded is cheaper at the point of sale, with its 2 Step Pro priced at $429, compared to $539 for the FunderPro Classic. However, FunderPro is more economical in the long run for many because it uses a static drawdown of 10%, whereas AquaFunded uses a trailing drawdown that makes it easier to lose the account and forces a repurchase.
Who refunds the evaluation fee faster, AquaFunded or FunderPro?
FunderPro is significantly faster, as it credits the fee back after you pass the challenge and claim your 1st reward. AquaFunded has a much stricter policy, only providing a full refund after your 4th payout. This means AquaFunded keeps your initial investment for a longer period of time.
Which firm has more restrictive consistency rules, AquaFunded or FunderPro?
AquaFunded has much more complex consistency rules, where a single day's profit can be capped between 15% and 50% of the total payout depending on the account type. FunderPro is more lenient, only applying a 15% rule on Instant Accounts and 40-45% on One Phase/Pro challenges, with no consistency rule at all for their Funded Stage of the Classic challenge.
Does AquaFunded or FunderPro charge more for news trading?
AquaFunded allows news trading but "costs" you potential profit by capping gains made during high-impact events at 0.5% of the balance. FunderPro allows it freely during all challenge phases, but for Funded or Instant accounts, it requires you to buy a specific Swing or News Trading Add-on, making it a clear upfront cost rather than a profit cap.
