What you are signing up for
A prop firm evaluation is a test on a simulated account where you must reach a profit target—a specific amount of gain required to pass—without hitting a loss limit. If you succeed, the firm gives you access to a funded account to trade their capital and keep a share of the profits.
- AquaFunded Futures offers accounts from $25,000 to $150,000. Prices are one-time payments, and they do not charge an activation fee (a setup cost after passing) for most plans.
- Elite Trader Funding (ETF) has a wider range, from $10,000 to $150,000. Many of their evaluations are subscriptions that renew every 30 days until you pass, and they require an activation fee ($87/month or up to $307 one-time) once you succeed.
How hard each one is
The difficulty is defined by the drawdown, which is the maximum amount your account is allowed to lose before you are disqualified.
- AquaFunded Futures uses an "End-of-Day" (EOD) drawdown. This means your loss limit is only recalculated at the end of the trading day based on your closed balance. This is beginner-friendly because it doesn't penalize you if a trade goes into profit and then comes back down during the session.
- Elite Trader Funding uses different rules depending on the plan. Their "1 Step" accounts use an "Intraday Trailing" drawdown. This is much harder because the loss limit follows your profit in real-time; if you are up $500 and the trade reverses, your "floor" has already moved up, leaving you less room to breathe. However, they offer "Static" accounts where the loss limit never moves, which is the safest option for a novice.
How long it takes
In this industry, firms often require minimum trading days to ensure your success wasn't just a lucky one-day gamble.
- At AquaFunded Futures, the "One Step Standard" plan has no minimum trading days. You can pass the evaluation in a single day if you hit the profit target.
- At Elite Trader Funding, standard evaluations require at least 5 trading days. They offer an "add-on" (an extra paid feature) called "One Day to Pass" if you want to skip this requirement.
Where beginners fail
Most beginners fail because of the consistency rule, which prevents you from reaching your entire profit target with just one or two lucky trades.
- AquaFunded requires that no single day accounts for more than 40% to 50% of your total profit, depending on the plan. If you have one huge win, you must keep trading until that win fits within the allowed percentage.
- ETF uses "Active Trading Days" (ATDs). For many plans, you must have several days where you earn a minimum amount (e.g., $250) and your best day cannot be more than a certain percentage of your total gain.
What happens if you make it
Once you are funded, you want to know how and when you get paid.
- AquaFunded Futures pays via "Rise" or Crypto. They have a 24-hour payout guarantee: if they don't process your approved withdrawal within 24 business hours, they pay you an extra $500. They charge a $35 fee on your first withdrawal of the month.
- Elite Trader Funding uses a cycle system. You have to meet a certain number of trading days for each withdrawal "cycle," and there are maximum caps on how much you can take out during the first few months. They also offer a "Live Elite" transition where you eventually move to a real brokerage account.
If it is your first time
For a total beginner, AquaFunded Futures is the better choice.
The main reason is the End-of-Day drawdown and the absence of activation fees. As a beginner, you will make mistakes, and an EOD drawdown is much more forgiving than the trailing drawdown found in ETF’s popular plans. Additionally, the pricing at AquaFunded is more transparent for a first attempt, as you won't be surprised by an activation bill of $200 or more just after you thought you had finished paying.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $50,000 account, AquaFunded Futures or Elite Trader Funding?
AquaFunded Futures is generally cheaper for a beginner because their $50,000 "One Step Standard" costs $160 as a one-time fee with a $0 activation fee. While Elite Trader Funding offers a "1 Step" 50k account for $207, you must also consider their activation fee of at least $177 or a monthly $87, making the total cost to get funded significantly higher than AquaFunded.
Does AquaFunded Futures or Elite Trader Funding have a more beginner-friendly drawdown?
AquaFunded Futures is more beginner-friendly because it uses an End-of-Day drawdown for its evaluations, meaning your loss limit only moves at the end of the day. In contrast, Elite Trader Funding’s standard "1 Step" plans use an Intraday Trailing drawdown, which moves up in real-time as your profit grows, making it much easier to accidentally fail the account during a volatile trade.
Which firm allows you to get funded faster, AquaFunded Futures or Elite Trader Funding?
AquaFunded Futures is faster because its "One Step Standard" account has zero minimum trading days, allowing you to pass in 24 hours. Elite Trader Funding requires a minimum of 5 trading days for standard evaluations, and although you can buy an "add-on" to reduce this to 1 day, it requires an extra payment that AquaFunded does not demand.
Who has better payout rules, AquaFunded Futures or Elite Trader Funding?
AquaFunded Futures has more aggressive payout terms, offering a guarantee to process withdrawals within 24 business hours or pay the trader an extra $500. Elite Trader Funding uses a more restrictive cycle-based system where you must complete a specific number of active trading days before each withdrawal, and they apply strict maximum payout caps during the first four cycles.
