Day one
The first interaction with these firms centers on the cost of entry and the technical environment provided to execute your strategy.
- Entry Pricing: For a $100,000 account, AquaFunded offers a more aggressive entry point with its 1-Step Pro model at $459. Hola Prime’s equivalent 1-Step Prime Challenge starts at $579. If you prefer two steps, AquaFunded’s 2-Step Pro is $429, while Hola Prime’s 2-Step Prime is $569.
- Platforms: Both firms provide an identical suite of platforms, offering MetaTrader 5, cTrader, MatchTrader, and TradeLocker. This ensures that regardless of your choice, you won't have to change your technical setup.
- Leverage: AquaFunded generally offers 50:1 on most Forex accounts (up to 100:1 on 1-Step Flex during evaluation). Hola Prime offers up to 100:1 on Pro accounts and 50:1 on Prime accounts.
- Initial Restrictions: On day one, you must be aware of the "Wave Stop" at AquaFunded, which automatically closes trades if they reach a 2% loss. At Hola Prime, you must ensure every trade has a Stop Loss on funded accounts from the start, as trading without one is considered unlimited risk.
The first months
Once you pass the evaluation, the focus shifts to sustaining the account and receiving the first payouts. This is where the cost of trading and risk rules become critical.
- Trading Commissions: Hola Prime is more competitive for high-volume traders, charging $3 per lot on Forex. AquaFunded charges $5 per lot. Over hundreds of trades, this difference significantly impacts your net profit.
- Risk Management: AquaFunded applies a "Wave Stop" rule even on funded accounts. A first breach reduces your profit split to 50%; a second breach closes the account. Hola Prime introduces a "Maximum Risk Limit" of 2% per "idea" (not per ticket) on funded accounts.
- Payout Frequency: AquaFunded pays 14 days after the first trade. Hola Prime offers biweekly (80% split) or monthly (95% split) cycles selected at purchase.
- Consistency Rules: AquaFunded enforces specific daily profit caps (e.g., 25% for 1-Step Pro) to prevent "lucky" payouts. Hola Prime has a 40% consistency rule for On-demand accounts and 20% for Direct accounts.
The first year
For the trader who survives the first quarter, the focus turns to the professional ecosystem and capital growth.
- Aqua Elite Program: AquaFunded offers a structured tier system. To reach "Silver," you need 3 profitable months and $20,000 in total withdrawals. This rewards you with a $1,000 monthly salary and a 50% account balance increase.
- Hola Prime Scaling: Hola Prime uses 4-month cycles. You must achieve a 10% net profit and at least two payouts within that period. The first increase is 25% of the original balance, the second is 40%, and subsequent increases are 50%.
- Account Merging: AquaFunded allows merging most accounts (except Instant models). Hola Prime only allows merging same-model Pro or Prime funded accounts, provided there are no open trades or active cycles.
- Profit Split Improvement: AquaFunded allows a 100% profit split via a +15% fee add-on at checkout. Hola Prime offers up to 95% on a monthly cycle but requires a 20% surcharge at the time of purchase.
The ceiling
Both firms have set a high bar for maximum capital allocation, but the path to reaching it differs in speed and cost.
- Maximum Allocation: Both firms allow a maximum of $4,000,000 through scaling.
- Initial Limits: AquaFunded has a base max allocation of $400,000. Hola Prime also sets a $400,000 limit per trader across sim-funded and Direct accounts.
- Scaling Speed: AquaFunded’s Elite program is performance-based over 3 to 9 months. Hola Prime’s scaling is strictly tied to 4-month cycles, meaning reaching the $4M ceiling is a multi-year project requiring consistent 10% returns every trimester.
Room to grow
AquaFunded is built for the "career trader" who values fixed rewards like salaries and VIP support through their Elite program. Their initial costs are lower, but their trading commissions are higher.
Hola Prime caters to the "high-performance trader" who wants lower commissions ($3 vs $5) and a very high profit split (up to 95%). However, their risk rules regarding "risk per idea" and mandatory Stop Losses require a more disciplined approach to trade management.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $100k account, AquaFunded or Hola Prime?
AquaFunded is significantly cheaper for a $100k evaluation. Its 1-Step Pro account costs $459, whereas Hola Prime’s 1-Step Prime Challenge costs $579. Even in the 2-step category, AquaFunded’s Pro model is $429 compared to Hola Prime’s $569, making AquaFunded the more accessible choice for traders starting with less capital.
Does AquaFunded or Hola Prime offer better trading commissions?
Hola Prime offers better trading conditions regarding commissions. They charge $3 per lot on Forex, while AquaFunded charges $5 per lot. For a trader reaching the scaling phases or trading high volumes, Hola Prime’s $2 per lot saving represents a significant increase in retained net profit over the long term.
Which firm has stricter payout rules, AquaFunded or Hola Prime?
Both have specific hurdles, but Hola Prime is stricter regarding trade execution. AquaFunded uses a consistency rule (e.g., no single day can exceed 25% of total profits for 1-Step Pro) and a "Wave Stop" at 2% loss. Hola Prime, however, mandates Stop Losses on all funded trades and limits risk to 2% per "idea," meaning overlapping positions are counted together, which can lead to account closure if not managed precisely.
How does the scaling program compare between AquaFunded and Hola Prime?
AquaFunded offers a "career" path called Aqua Elite that includes a monthly salary of up to $3,000 (Gold tier) and account increases of 25% to 75%. Hola Prime follows a 4-month cycle where you must gain 10% net profit to receive balance increases of 25%, 40%, or 50%. While both cap at $4 million, AquaFunded provides more immediate financial stability through the fixed salary component.
