Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | AquaFunded | Finotive Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 100% | 75% (up to 90%) |
| First Payout | — | 1 |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant) | Weekly (every Friday) |
| Max Account Size | $400,000 | $200,000 |
Winner: Finotive Funding
In this independent head-to-head comparison of AquaFunded vs Finotive Funding, 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.
Finotive Funding: Weekly Friday Payouts from Day 1. Pro Salary Model. Est. 2021.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, Finotive Funding scores 8.4/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: AquaFunded scores 7.8/10 vs Finotive Funding at 8.4/10.
Minimum Fee: AquaFunded starts from Refundable; Finotive Funding starts from -.
Profit Split: AquaFunded offers 100%; Finotive Funding offers 75% (up to 90%). Finotive Funding has the higher split.
Platforms: AquaFunded supports MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader; Finotive Funding is on Match Trader, MT5.
Tradeable Markets: AquaFunded covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities; Finotive Funding offers Forex, Metals, Energy, Indices, Crypto, Stocks.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how AquaFunded and Finotive Funding 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+.
Finotive Funding challenge fees start from –. The firm has operated since 2021. They have funded over 70,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $20,000,000+.
AquaFunded profit split: 100%. Finotive Funding profit split: 75% (up to 90%). Finotive Funding delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: AquaFunded pays Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant); Finotive Funding pays Weekly (every Friday). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
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.
Here is our full independent review of Finotive Funding:
Finotive Funding was founded in April 2021 and is operated by Finotive Funding Technologies Limited (company number 11088), headquartered at Innovation One Building, Level 2, DIFC, Dubai, UAE. CEO Oliver Newland leads the firm, which is backed by Finotive Markets, an FSC-regulated affiliate broker, and uses Finotive Pay (CY) Limited for payment processing. With $20M+ in total payouts, 70,000+ verified users, and a 4.5/5 Trustpilot score, the firm has a credible multi-year operating record.
Four programs are available: 2-Step Challenge, 1-Step Challenge, Instant Funding, and Finotive Pro (a salary-based model). Maximum combined allocation reaches $1,400,000.
2-Step Challenge ($10K-$200K): Phase 1 requires a 7.5% net profit target. Phase 2 requires 5%. Max drawdown: 8% static. Daily drawdown: 4% (resets at 17:00 New York time). No time limit. Profit split starts at 75%, scaling up to 90% with consistency. Payouts every Friday from day 1 of funding.
1-Step Challenge ($10K-$200K): Single phase requiring a 10% net profit target. Max drawdown: 7.5% static. Daily drawdown: 5%. Profit split: 75-90%. Same weekly Friday payout structure.
Instant Funding ($10K-$200K): No profit target, no evaluation required. Access to funded capital from day 1. Stricter drawdown rules apply. Profit split: 55-80% – notably lower than the challenge programs. Suitable for experienced traders who want immediate access but should factor in the reduced split.
Finotive Pro ($10K-$200K): A unique salary-based model. Traders receive a fixed 1% monthly salary on account balance, plus 100% profit split on gains above that. A 5% net profit quarterly target must be maintained. Designed for traders who want stable income rather than pure profit-share.
Failed Account Policy: If an account is breached and a new account is purchased, the profit split on the new account may be reduced until the previous losses are recovered by the firm. This is an unusual policy not common in the prop firm space – traders who breach accounts should clarify this with support before repurchasing.
Platforms: Match Trader, MetaTrader 5. Instruments span Forex, Metals, Energy, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, and Stocks – one of the broader instrument sets available, including individual equities.
Finotive issues official payout certificates, provides real-time risk calculators, breach alerts, and instant notifications. The Discord community is active, and educational webinars are available. Restricted countries include Iran and North Korea (additional regional restrictions may apply – check at checkout).
Finotive Funding earns a 7.3 BestProp score. Over three years of operation, $20M+ in verified payouts, and a 4.5/5 Trustpilot score confirm this is a genuine, functioning firm. The Finotive Pro salary model is a meaningful differentiator for consistent traders, weekly Friday payouts from day 1 are better than the industry average, and the instrument breadth (including stocks) adds flexibility.
Three rules deserve careful attention before purchasing. First, the starting profit split of 75% is below the 80-90% now standard at comparable firms. Second, the scalping penalty (reduced payout if 50%+ of trades close within 5 minutes) affects a significant portion of trader styles. Third, the failed-account split reduction policy is unusual industry-wide and creates additional downside after a breach. Instant Funding’s 55-80% split makes it less competitive than challenge-based accounts at the same firm. Traders who trade news, use EAs, or hold positions for longer periods will find the best fit here.
Overall, our independent scoring gives Finotive Funding 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, Finotive Funding scores higher overall (8.4/10). 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.
Finotive Funding offers the higher profit split. AquaFunded: 100%. Finotive Funding: 75% (up to 90%).
EA policies: AquaFunded — check the review. Finotive Funding — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: AquaFunded — check the review. Finotive Funding — check the review.
Read the full AquaFunded review → · Read the full Finotive Funding review →
Based on our scoring methodology, Finotive Funding 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 Finotive Funding offers 75% (up to 90%) 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 Finotive Funding takes approximately 1 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither AquaFunded nor Finotive Funding 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.
