Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | BrightFunded | AquaFunded |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% → 100% | 100% |
| First Payout | 30 | — |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available) | Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant) |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $400,000 |
Winner: BrightFunded
In this independent head-to-head comparison of BrightFunded vs AquaFunded, we break down challenge rules, pricing, profit splits, and payout conditions to help you decide which prop firm is the better fit for your trading style.
BrightFunded: Static Rules. Fast Payouts. Zero Fees.
AquaFunded: 100% Profit Split. Refundable Fees. On-Demand Instant Funding.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, BrightFunded scores 8.9/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: BrightFunded scores 8.9/10 vs AquaFunded at 7.8/10.
Minimum Fee: BrightFunded starts from €55; AquaFunded starts from Refundable.
Profit Split: BrightFunded offers 80% → 100%; AquaFunded offers 100%. BrightFunded has the higher split.
Platforms: BrightFunded supports cTrader, MT5, DXtrade; AquaFunded is on MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader.
Tradeable Markets: BrightFunded covers Forex, Crypto, Indices, Commodities (150+ assets); AquaFunded offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how BrightFunded and AquaFunded compare on pricing.
BrightFunded challenge fees start from €55. The firm has operated since 2023. They have funded over 27,500+ traders. Total payouts to date: $7M+.
AquaFunded challenge fees start from Refundable. The firm has operated since 2023. They have funded over 240,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $7,000,000+.
BrightFunded profit split: 80% → 100%. AquaFunded profit split: 100%. BrightFunded delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: BrightFunded pays Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available); AquaFunded pays Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of BrightFunded:
BrightFunded launched in September 2023 with offices in Dubai, Amsterdam, and Warsaw, and has paid out $7M+ to 27,500+ active traders. The firm focuses on a single, well-built evaluation path — a two-phase challenge with static drawdown rules, no consistency requirements, and one of the faster payout processes in the industry (4–8 hours typical, 24-hour maximum guarantee).
Unlike firms that offer 1-step, instant funding, and multiple program types, BrightFunded deliberately keeps its structure simple: one evaluation model, six account sizes, and a clean set of rules. This makes it easy to understand what you’re buying and what’s expected.
BrightFunded suits forex, indices, and multi-asset traders who want predictable, static drawdown rules and no consistency requirements. The static 5%/10% drawdown — which never trails regardless of account growth — means you always know exactly where your limits are. The no-consistency-rule policy means you can make 80% of your profit target in a single trade if your strategy calls for it.
The 30-day wait for the first funded payout and bi-weekly default payout cycle make BrightFunded less suited to traders who need frequent cash flow. If you can absorb that waiting period, the 4–8 hour actual processing time and zero-fee withdrawals are genuinely strong.
BrightFunded offers one evaluation format in six account sizes:
Fees are charged in EUR and are refundable as an optional add-on at checkout (not automatic — you pay extra to guarantee fee refund on your first payout):
BrightFunded’s checkout includes optional upgrades that customise your challenge:
BrightFunded also runs a Trade2Earn loyalty program that awards token rewards for trading activity — an unusual feature in the prop firm space worth monitoring as it develops.
BrightFunded earns a 7.9 BestProp score. The static drawdown rules, zero-fee withdrawals, no-consistency-rule policy, and 4–8 hour payout processing are all genuinely strong features. The 100% profit split after the third scaling event is one of the more generous long-term rewards structures available.
The trade-offs are the 30-day first payout wait, fees charged in EUR (not USD), and the optional rather than automatic fee refund. For traders with a multi-month time horizon who want clean, predictable rules and fast payouts once they’re funded, BrightFunded delivers well above its price point.
Here is our full independent review of AquaFunded:
AquaFunded was founded in December 2023 and is headquartered in the UAE under CEO Jason Blax, who also runs AquaFutures, the futures-focused sibling brand. The two platforms share a brand identity but serve different markets: AquaFutures covers CME futures, while AquaFunded handles forex, metals, indices, crypto and commodities via CFD. With 240,000+ registered traders and $7M+ in distributed rewards, AquaFunded is the larger of the two brands by trader volume.
AquaFunded offers four programme types covering the full spectrum from beginner-accessible to instant-funded. The 100% profit split across all challenge accounts is a headline feature, as are the 100% refundable challenge fees. The Aqua Trader instant funding path skips evaluation entirely and provides on-demand payouts from day one, suited to experienced traders who want capital without a challenge phase.
The No Denials payout policy is stated as a core commitment. However, the external customer rating of 3.5/5 diverges significantly from the internal 9.4/10 rating, suggesting some traders have experienced friction. Weight independent ratings carefully when assessing payout reliability for this firm.
Four platforms: MatchTrader, TradeLocker, MetaTrader 5, cTrader. Instruments: forex, metals, indices, crypto, commodities. Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Bitcoin, Ethereum. Restricted countries, news trading policy, EA permissions and weekend holding rules were not published on the sources reviewed – verify on the live site before purchasing.
AquaFunded earns a 6.5 BestProp score. The 100% profit split, 100% refundable challenge fees, on-demand instant funding and four-programme variety are genuine positives. The sibling relationship with AquaFutures under CEO Jason Blax gives the brand an established operational structure from launch. The external customer rating of 3.5/5 is the second-lowest in our database – a meaningful gap from the internal platform score that traders should factor into their decision.
Overall, our independent scoring gives BrightFunded the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If AquaFunded better matches your specific trading style, instruments, or preferred platform, it may still be the right choice for you.
Use our comparison table above and review the challenge fees at both firms before making your final decision. Both offer risk-free evaluation programs — the challenge fee is the only money at risk.
Based on our independent scoring, BrightFunded scores higher overall (8.9/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
Both firms have similar entry-level pricing. Compare the full fee schedule for your target account size.
BrightFunded offers the higher profit split. BrightFunded: 80% → 100%. AquaFunded: 100%.
EA policies: BrightFunded — check the review. AquaFunded — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: BrightFunded — check the review. AquaFunded — check the review.
Read the full BrightFunded review → · Read the full AquaFunded review →
Based on our scoring methodology, BrightFunded edges ahead in this comparison. However, the best choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and account size. Read the full breakdown above for a detailed verdict.
BrightFunded offers 80% → 100% profit split, while AquaFunded offers 100% profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
BrightFunded processes first payouts in 30 day(s), while AquaFunded takes approximately a variable timeframe. Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither BrightFunded nor AquaFunded are regulated in the traditional financial sense — prop firms operate as private companies providing traders access to simulated or real capital. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before participating in any prop challenge.
