Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | AquaFunded | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 100% | 90% (100% on first $10K per account) |
| First Payout | — | - |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant) | Bi-weekly / On-demand |
| Max Account Size | $400,000 | $250,000 |
Winner: FuturesElite
In this independent head-to-head comparison of AquaFunded vs FuturesElite, 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.
FuturesElite: EOD Drawdown. 8 Platforms. First $10K at 100%. Up to 20 Accounts.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, FuturesElite scores 8.2/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: AquaFunded scores 7.8/10 vs FuturesElite at 8.2/10.
Minimum Fee: AquaFunded starts from Refundable; FuturesElite starts from $125/mo.
Profit Split: AquaFunded offers 100%; FuturesElite offers 90% (100% on first $10K per account). FuturesElite has the higher split.
Platforms: AquaFunded supports MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader; FuturesElite is on NinjaTrader 8, Tradovate, ProjectX, Quantower, ATAS, Volumetrica, DeepDom, DeepCharts.
Tradeable Markets: AquaFunded covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities; FuturesElite offers Futures: ES, NQ, CL, GC, Bonds (CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX).
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how AquaFunded and FuturesElite 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+.
FuturesElite challenge fees start from $125/mo. The firm has operated since 2023. Total payouts to date: $3,000,000+.
AquaFunded profit split: 100%. FuturesElite profit split: 90% (100% on first $10K per account). FuturesElite delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: AquaFunded pays Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant); FuturesElite pays Bi-weekly / On-demand. 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 FuturesElite:
FuturesElite is operated by Quantum SRL (registration number 03095010595), headquartered in Latina, Italy. CEO Christian Habibi founded the firm in 2023 with a focus exclusively on futures trading across CME, CBOT, COMEX, and NYMEX markets. With a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating and $3M+ in total payouts, the firm is establishing a track record in the futures prop space, though it remains younger and smaller than the longest-standing futures prop firms.
FuturesElite differentiates itself through an unusually wide platform selection – six trading platforms plus two order-routing back-ends – and the ability to run up to 20 simultaneous funded accounts. All accounts are simulated trading environments.
FuturesElite offers four account types: Evaluation, Elite (funded), Prime, and Instant. The primary path is a 1-Step Evaluation leading to Elite funded status.
1-Step Evaluation (monthly subscription): A single evaluation phase with a dollar-based profit target and End-of-Day (EOD) drawdown calculation. Fees are monthly – the evaluation runs until the target is hit, with no time limit. Specific per-size pricing:
Elite Funded Account: After passing the evaluation, traders are upgraded within seconds (Instant Upgrades). No daily loss limit once funded. 30% consistency rule applies to payouts. First $10,000 in profits per account is paid at 100% split; thereafter 90%. Payout cap of $2,000 per cycle on $50K accounts.
Instant Account: Skip the evaluation, trade funded immediately. Zero activation fee. Terms align with Elite funded account rules.
Prime Account: Higher-capital option available via bundles (e.g., 10 x $150K accounts = $1.5M total capital; 10th account provided free). Contact support for individual Prime account terms.
FuturesElite calculates drawdown at end-of-day (market close) rather than in real time. This means intraday wicks, volatility spikes, and brief unrealized drawdowns during open positions do not trigger account breaches. Only the closing balance is evaluated against the drawdown threshold. This is a meaningful advantage for futures traders who hold through volatile intraday moves – instruments like NQ and CL regularly see $1,000+ point intraday swings that would close accounts under real-time drawdown rules.
FuturesElite supports one of the widest platform selections in the futures prop space:
Instruments: ES (S&P 500 futures), NQ (Nasdaq-100), CL (Crude Oil), GC (Gold), Treasury Bonds, and other listed CME/CBOT/COMEX/NYMEX products.
Up to 20 simultaneous accounts permitted, with trade copier support between them. Bundle pricing is available: 5 x $50K Elite accounts for $250K total capital, and 10 x $150K Prime accounts for $1.5M total capital (10th account free). This allows serious futures traders to scale capital significantly beyond the per-account maximum.
FuturesElite earns a 7.0 BestProp score. The EOD drawdown calculation is a genuine edge for futures traders, the platform selection (NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower, ATAS, ProjectX and more) is the broadest in the prop space, the first $10K at 100% split is a real bonus, and 20 simultaneous accounts with copier support enables meaningful capital scaling. The 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating is strong for a 2023 firm.
The main constraints: $3M+ total payouts is modest relative to older firms, the monthly subscription model means ongoing costs if the evaluation takes time, the $2,000 payout cap per cycle on $50K accounts is restrictive for consistent traders, and the 30% consistency rule adds a behavioral filter on withdrawals. FuturesElite is best suited to experienced futures traders who want platform flexibility and the EOD drawdown protection, and who plan to scale via multiple accounts.
Overall, our independent scoring gives FuturesElite 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, FuturesElite scores higher overall (8.2/10). 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.
FuturesElite offers the higher profit split. AquaFunded: 100%. FuturesElite: 90% (100% on first $10K per account).
EA policies: AquaFunded — check the review. FuturesElite — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: AquaFunded — check the review. FuturesElite — check the review.
Read the full AquaFunded review → · Read the full FuturesElite review →
Based on our scoring methodology, FuturesElite 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 FuturesElite offers 90% (100% on first $10K per account) 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 FuturesElite takes approximately - day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither AquaFunded nor FuturesElite 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.
