What you are signing up for
A prop firm evaluation is a test where you trade with simulated money to prove you are a disciplined trader. If you reach the profit target—a specific amount of money you must earn without breaking rules—the firm lets you manage their capital and keep a share of the profits.
- AquaFunded Futures offers a one-time fee for its evaluations. For example, a $50,000 "One Step Standard" account costs $160.
- FTMO Futures uses a monthly subscription model. Their $50,000 "Growth" account costs $119 per month. You keep paying until you pass or cancel.
Neither firm offers a completely free trial, but FTMO allows you to "reset" an account if you fail for a lower price than a new one.
How hard each one is
The most important rule is the drawdown, which is the maximum amount you are allowed to lose before your account is closed.
- AquaFunded Futures uses an "End-of-Day" (EOD) drawdown. This means your loss limit only updates at the end of the trading day based on your closing balance. It is easier because it ignores profits you made and then lost during the day.
- FTMO Futures uses a "Trailing End-of-Day" drawdown. This limit follows your highest closing balance. If your account grows, the floor of what you can lose moves up with it. Once it reaches your starting balance, it stays there.
AquaFunded is generally more forgiving for a beginner because their risk rules are simpler to track.
How long it takes
In this industry, firms often require "minimum trading days" to ensure your success wasn't just a lucky one-day trade.
- AquaFunded is very fast. In their One Step Standard plan, there are no minimum days. You can pass in a single day if you hit the target.
- FTMO has no fixed minimum number of days, but they have a consistency rule that effectively forces you to trade over several days. You cannot earn all your profit in just one or two sessions.
Where beginners fail
Most beginners fail because of the consistency rule. This rule states that no single trading day can account for more than a certain percentage of your total profit. It prevents "gambling" on a single news event.
- AquaFunded has a 40% consistency rule on most accounts. If your target is $3,000, no single day can contribute more than $1,200 to that goal.
- FTMO also uses a 40% rule for its Growth accounts and 50% for Pro accounts.
Another trap is "Price Limit Trading." Both firms forbid trading when a contract is within 2% of the CME price limit (a rule to stop trading during extreme volatility). Beginners often forget to check this and lose their accounts instantly.
What happens if you make it
Once you pass, you move to the funded phase.
- AquaFunded charges a $35 fee for your first withdrawal of the month. They guarantee payment within 24 hours; if they are late, they pay you an extra $500. The minimum you can withdraw is $500.
- FTMO has no activation fees. They are very beginner-friendly here because their minimum withdrawal is only $20. This allows you to see your first profits much sooner.
Regarding platforms, both allow Tradovate and TradingView, which are the most intuitive for those starting out.
If it is your first time
If you want the lowest entry cost and the ability to withdraw even small amounts of profit, FTMO Futures is the better choice. Their $119 starting price and $20 minimum withdrawal make the financial barrier very low.
However, if you want a simpler risk rule, AquaFunded Futures is superior. Their standard End-of-Day drawdown is much easier to manage than FTMO's trailing version, and not having a monthly subscription removes the time pressure to pass quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start an evaluation, AquaFunded or FTMO?
FTMO Futures is cheaper for the initial purchase. A $50,000 Growth account at FTMO costs $119, while the equivalent One Step Standard at AquaFunded costs $160. However, remember that FTMO is a monthly subscription, so it becomes more expensive if you take more than one month to pass.
Does AquaFunded or FTMO have a easier drawdown rule for a beginner?
AquaFunded is easier because it uses a standard End-of-Day drawdown. This only looks at your balance when the markets close. FTMO uses a Trailing End-of-Day drawdown, which moves the loss limit upward as you make profit, making it more restrictive as your account grows.
Who allows you to withdraw profit sooner, AquaFunded or FTMO?
FTMO allows you to see your money much faster. Their minimum withdrawal is only $20, whereas AquaFunded requires you to have at least $500 in profit before you can request a payout. Additionally, AquaFunded charges a $35 processing fee on the first withdrawal of the month, while FTMO has no activation or hidden withdrawal fees.
Which firm has stricter consistency rules, AquaFunded or FTMO?
They are very similar. Both AquaFunded and FTMO typically apply a 40% consistency rule, meaning you cannot earn more than 40% of your profit target in a single day. However, AquaFunded’s rule applies during both evaluation and funded stages for some accounts, while FTMO’s rule is primarily focused on the evaluation phase.
