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Home › Comparisons › AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade — Which is Better?
AquaFunded
7.8/10
★★★½☆
VS
Earn2Trade
8.8/10
★★★★☆

AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade — Which is Better? (2026)

Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.

Get Funded Now — AquaFunded View Firm — Earn2Trade

AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade — Side-by-Side

Feature AquaFunded Earn2Trade
Payout
Profit Split 100% 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500)
First Payout — 14
Payout Frequency Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant) Weekly
Max Account Size $400,000 $200,000
Our Verdict — AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade

Winner: Earn2Trade

AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade — Executive Summary (2026)

In this independent head-to-head comparison of AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade, 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.

AquaFunded: 100% Profit Split. Refundable Fees. On-Demand Instant Funding.

Earn2Trade: Futures prop trading with a subscription career path and one-time Gauntlet Mini evaluation.

Based on our independent scoring methodology, Earn2Trade scores 8.8/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.

Quick Stats: AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade

BestProp Score: AquaFunded scores 7.8/10 vs Earn2Trade at 8.8/10.

Minimum Fee: AquaFunded starts from Refundable; Earn2Trade starts from $68.

Profit Split: AquaFunded offers 100%; Earn2Trade offers 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500). Earn2Trade has the higher split.

Platforms: AquaFunded supports MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader; Earn2Trade is on Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, Finamark.

Tradeable Markets: AquaFunded covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities; Earn2Trade offers Futures (CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT).

Pricing Comparison: AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade

Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how AquaFunded and Earn2Trade compare on pricing.

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+.

Earn2Trade challenge fees start from $68. The firm has operated since 2016.

Challenge Rules: AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade

Drawdown Rules

Trading Conditions

Payout Comparison: AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade

AquaFunded profit split: 100%. Earn2Trade profit split: 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500). Earn2Trade delivers the higher cut to traders.

Payout frequency: AquaFunded pays Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant); Earn2Trade pays Weekly. Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.

AquaFunded — Full Review

Here is our full independent review of AquaFunded:

Introduction to 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.

Who Is AquaFunded For?

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.

Challenge Programs

  • One Step Challenge ($2.5K-$400K): Single-phase evaluation. Profit targets 6-9% depending on account size. Daily drawdown 3-5%. Max drawdown 6-8%. 100% profit split. Bi-weekly payouts. One-time fee, 100% refundable on first payout. Leverage up to 1:100.
  • Two Step Challenge ($2.5K-$400K): Phase 1 target 8-10%. Phase 2 target 5%. Daily drawdown 5%. Max drawdown 8-10%. 100% split. Fee refundable on first payout.
  • Three Step Challenge ($2.5K-$400K): Three phases, 6% target per phase. Daily drawdown 4%. Max drawdown 8%. 100% split. Lowest per-phase target of all programmes, suited to traders who prefer incremental milestones.
  • Aqua Trader – Instant Funding ($2.5K-$250K): No evaluation, no profit target. Daily drawdown: none to 3% depending on account size. Max drawdown: $2,000-$3,000 (dollar-based). 100% profit split. On-demand payouts. Leverage 1:50-1:100.
  • Whale Challenge ($100K): Limited availability. Specific terms apply – check the live site for current conditions.

Trading Rules and Platforms

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.

Payouts

  • Challenge accounts: Bi-weekly, fee 100% refundable on first payout
  • Aqua Trader instant: On-demand from day one
  • Split: 100% across all programmes
  • Methods: Crypto, Rise
  • Total paid: $7M+ | Average: $2,450 | Highest single payout: $119,175

Our Verdict

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.

Earn2Trade — Full Review

Here is our full independent review of Earn2Trade:

Overview

Earn2Trade was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA. It is a futures-only prop firm offering two distinct evaluation models: the Trader Career Path® (TCP), a monthly subscription program, and the Gauntlet Mini™, a one-time fee evaluation. Both programs provide access to real futures markets via established platforms including Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, and Finamark.

Trader Career Path® (TCP)

TCP is a subscription-based evaluation at $150/month for a $25,000 virtual account. After passing (hitting the $1,750 profit target while staying within drawdown limits), traders receive a funded LiveSim® account with no additional subscription fee. The funded account then scales through four capital tiers: $25K → $50K → $100K → $200K by repeatedly meeting profit targets at each stage. No monthly fee is charged at any funded tier — only the evaluation subscription applies.

Gauntlet Mini™

The Gauntlet Mini is a one-time fee evaluation program starting at $50,000 virtual accounts and available up to $200,000. Fees start from $68. Unlike TCP, passing the Gauntlet Mini grants a funded account matched to the evaluation size rather than a scaled entry point. Full fee details are available at earn2trade.com/the-gauntlet-mini.

Drawdown & Consistency Rules

TCP uses an end-of-day (EOD) drawdown calculation during evaluation — losses are measured at day close rather than intraday. Daily loss limits apply: $550/day on the $25K account, scaling proportionally through the tiers. A 30% consistency rule applies during evaluation only — at least 30% of trading days must be profitable. This requirement is dropped once funded.

Profit Split & Payouts

Payouts are made weekly. The profit split is 50% for withdrawals under $1,500 and 80% for withdrawals over $1,500 — an unusual tiered structure that rewards larger payouts. An activation fee is deducted from the first funded withdrawal (no upfront charge). News trading is unrestricted across all programs.

AquaFunded — Key Strengths

  • BestProp score: 7.8/10
  • Competitive 100% profit split
  • Challenge fees from Refundable
  • 240,000+ funded traders
  • $7,000,000+ total paid out
  • Available on MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader
  • Operating since 2023

Earn2Trade — Key Strengths

  • BestProp score: 8.8/10
  • Competitive 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500) profit split
  • Challenge fees from $68
  • Available on Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, Finamark
  • Operating since 2016

Final Verdict: AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade (2026)

Overall, our independent scoring gives Earn2Trade 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade

Which is better, AquaFunded or Earn2Trade?

Based on our independent scoring, Earn2Trade scores higher overall (8.8/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.

Is AquaFunded cheaper than Earn2Trade?

Both firms have similar entry-level pricing. Compare the full fee schedule for your target account size.

Which has a better profit split, AquaFunded or Earn2Trade?

Earn2Trade offers the higher profit split. AquaFunded: 100%. Earn2Trade: 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500).

Can I use an EA or trading bot?

EA policies: AquaFunded — check the review. Earn2Trade — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.

Which is better for news trading?

News trading: AquaFunded — check the review. Earn2Trade — check the review.

Read the full AquaFunded review →  ·  Read the full Earn2Trade review →

Who should choose AquaFunded?
  • Traders wanting 100% profit split
  • Users of MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader
  • Anyone looking for a solid funded challenge
Who should choose Earn2Trade?
  • Traders wanting 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500) profit split
  • Users of Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, Finamark
  • Anyone looking for a top-rated funded challenge

Frequently Asked Questions — AquaFunded vs Earn2Trade

Based on our scoring methodology, Earn2Trade 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.

AquaFunded offers 100% profit split, while Earn2Trade offers 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500) profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.

Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.

AquaFunded processes first payouts in a variable timeframe, while Earn2Trade takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.

Neither AquaFunded nor Earn2Trade 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.

AquaFunded
7.8/10
Read Review →
Earn2Trade
8.8/10
Read Review →