Entry price
The upfront cost varies significantly depending on the "speed" of the evaluation you choose. For a $100,000 account, the price points are:
- AquaFunded: The 2 Step Pro costs $429, the 1 Step Standard is $527, and the 1 Step Flex (with higher drawdown) jumps to $749.
- Top One Trader: The 2-Step PRO v2 is $531 and the 1-Step FLASH is $575. However, they offer the 1-Step NOVA for a symbolic $7 entry fee, though you must pay a $550 activation fee only after passing the evaluation.
AquaFunded includes a full refund of the entry fee after your 4th payout. Top One Trader only offers refunds on its 2-Step PRO v2 model, also at the 4th payout, meaning if you choose their 1-step or instant models, the entry fee is a sunk cost you never recover.
What you pay while trading
Trading isn't free, and execution costs act as a silent tax on your balance.
- Commissions: AquaFunded charges a flat $5 per lot on Forex, Metals, and Energies, with $0 on Indices. Top One Trader is more variable: $4 per lot if you use cTrader or MatchTrader, but $5 per lot on MetaTrader 5 or TradeLocker. For a high-frequency trader, that $1 difference per lot can represent hundreds of dollars in lost equity over a month.
- Add-ons: Both firms sell "upgrades." AquaFunded charges +15% for a 100% profit split and another +15% for 7-day payouts. Top One Trader has a more aggressive menu: removing the mandatory Stop Loss costs +10% to +15%, and holding over the weekend on instant accounts costs +15%.
- Swap fees: AquaFunded offers swap-free accounts natively, saving you the cost of overnight interest. Top One Trader does not highlight a swap-free option, meaning swing traders will pay a daily fee to keep positions open.
What mistakes cost you
In prop trading, a mistake usually costs you the entire price of the challenge.
- Drawdown types: AquaFunded uses trailing drawdown for most accounts (Standard and Pro), which is "more expensive" for the trader because it follows your peak equity, making it harder to keep the account. However, their 3 Step and Elite models use static drawdown. Top One Trader uses trailing drawdown for almost everything except the 2-Step PRO v2 (9% static), but their trailing drawdown "locks" at the starting balance after you reach a certain profit or get paid, which protects you better than a traditional trailing rule.
- The price of a "Soft Breach": Top One Trader is more forgiving. If you forget a Stop Loss or exceed a lot limit, they close the trade (Soft Breach) but keep the account alive. AquaFunded has a "Wave Stop" that closes trades at a 2% loss; the first time it happens, your profit split is slashed to 50%, and the second time, the account is gone.
What it costs to get paid
The "payout fee" is where the most significant price difference lies.
- Withdrawal Fees: AquaFunded charges a flat $35 fee via Rise for payouts over $1,000. Top One Trader charges a 2% fee on all payouts. If you earn $10,000 in profit, AquaFunded takes $35, while Top One Trader takes $200.
- Profit Split: Both default to high splits (90% for AquaFunded, 80-90% for Top One Trader), but Top One Trader’s Instant Funding starts at only 60%, meaning you leave 40% of your work on the table initially.
Where each one hides its cost
- AquaFunded: Their cost is hidden in the consistency rule. In most funded accounts, a single day cannot exceed 20% to 50% of your total profit. If you have one "too good" day, your payout is blocked until you trade more days to dilute that profit, essentially forcing you to risk your capital for longer.
- Top One Trader: Their cost is in the restrictions. There is a mandatory 5-minute minimum hold time for profitable trades. If you scalp a quick move and close in 4 minutes, that profit is voided. They also mandate a Stop Loss on every trade; if you don't want to use one, you must pay the 10-15% price increase at checkout.
Cheapest for whom
AquaFunded is the cheapest option for swing traders and large earners who want to avoid percentage-based withdrawal fees and benefit from swap-free environments.
Top One Trader is the cheapest for beginners with low capital who want to use the $7 NOVA entry path and for cTrader users who can take advantage of the lower $4 commission per lot.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a 100K evaluation, AquaFunded or Top One Trader?
AquaFunded is generally cheaper upfront for a standard 2-step evaluation at $429, compared to $531 at Top One Trader. However, Top One Trader offers a unique NOVA account that only costs $7 to start, though you must pay a $550 activation fee after passing, making the total cost higher than AquaFunded's standard options.
Between AquaFunded and Top One Trader, which one has higher commissions?
AquaFunded has a fixed commission of $5 per lot across most assets. Top One Trader can be cheaper if you use cTrader or MatchTrader, where they charge $4 per lot, but matches AquaFunded's $5 per lot if you trade on MetaTrader 5 or TradeLocker.
Which firm costs more when it comes to withdrawing profits, AquaFunded or Top One Trader?
Top One Trader is significantly more expensive for large withdrawals because it charges a 2% fee on every payout. In contrast, AquaFunded charges a flat fee of $35 for withdrawals over $1,000 via Rise. For a $5,000 profit, you would pay $100 at Top One Trader versus only $35 at AquaFunded.
Do AquaFunded or Top One Trader charge extra for news trading or weekend holding?
AquaFunded allows these styles for free on most accounts, though they cap news profits at 0.5% of the balance. Top One Trader often treats these as paid add-ons; for example, weekend holding on their Instant accounts requires a 15% price increase, and news trading on the Instant Prime model requires a 20% "bundle" add-on.
