Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | AquaFutures | Elites Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 100% (first $15K) → 90% | 80% (up to 90%) |
| First Payout | — | 10 |
| Payout Frequency | On-demand (24h guarantee) | Daily (after 10 trading days funded) |
| Max Account Size | $450,000 | $200,000 |
Winner: Elites Funding
In this independent head-to-head comparison of AquaFutures vs Elites 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.
AquaFutures: Futures-Only. 24-Hour Payout Guarantee. $450K Max.
Elites Funding: Gibraltar, Est. 2023. Fee Refunded on Passing. 24h Payout Guarantee. Daily Payouts.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, Elites Funding scores 8.2/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: AquaFutures scores 7.6/10 vs Elites Funding at 8.2/10.
Minimum Fee: AquaFutures starts from $50; Elites Funding starts from $95. AquaFutures is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: AquaFutures offers 100% (first $15K) → 90%; Elites Funding offers 80% (up to 90%). AquaFutures has the higher split.
Platforms: AquaFutures supports Tradovate, Quantower, Volumetrica; Elites Funding is on MT5, TradeLocker.
Tradeable Markets: AquaFutures covers Futures (CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT); Elites Funding offers Forex, Crypto (BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP), Indices, Commodities, Gold.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how AquaFutures and Elites Funding compare on pricing.
AquaFutures challenge fees start from $50. They have funded over 118,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $6,700,000+.
Elites Funding challenge fees start from $95. The firm has operated since 2023. They have funded over 40,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $12,000,000+.
On entry-level pricing, AquaFutures offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
AquaFutures profit split: 100% (first $15K) → 90%. Elites Funding profit split: 80% (up to 90%). AquaFutures delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: AquaFutures pays On-demand (24h guarantee); Elites Funding pays Daily (after 10 trading days funded). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of AquaFutures:
AquaFutures (operated by Aqua Funds Consulting FZCO) is a Dubai-based prop firm focused exclusively on futures trading. CEO Jason Blax has built a platform with a distinctive identity — the ‘Aqua’ branding ties into the firm’s ocean cleanup and water charity initiatives — and genuinely interesting structural features: a 24-hour payout guarantee (with a $500 bonus if they miss it), an instant funding path that skips evaluation entirely, and a maximum account size of $450,000 which is among the highest in the futures-specific space.
Over 118,000 traders have registered on the platform. Payout methods are crypto and Rise (formerly Bitwage). Supported platforms are Tradovate, Quantower, and Volumetrica/DeepCharts — note that ProjectX was removed from the platform in February 2026, so traders who relied on it will need to migrate.
AquaFutures is strictly for futures traders. If you trade forex, crypto, stocks, or commodities CFDs, this is not the right platform — all accounts trade futures instruments through CME, COMEX, NYMEX, and CBOT exchanges only.
For futures specialists, the instant funding option is the headline feature: skip the evaluation, receive funded capital immediately, and start collecting payouts. The no-profit-target Standard and Pro models are also attractive for traders who want drawdown-managed risk without a fixed earnings milestone.
AquaFutures offers three main program types:
Profit split structure: 100% on the first $15,000 earned, then 90% split thereafter.
Contract limits: 1–10 contracts depending on account size. Scaling available as equity grows.
Three supported platforms: Tradovate, Quantower, and Volumetrica (DeepCharts). ProjectX support was discontinued in February 2026 — if you were using ProjectX you will need to migrate your setup before joining.
Instruments: futures only — CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT exchanges. No forex, no crypto CFDs, no equity CFDs.
Consistency rule applies to most program types: your single most profitable trading day cannot exceed 40% of total accumulated profits. This prevents accounts funded primarily by one lucky day from qualifying for payouts.
AquaFutures displays a 9.4/10 rating from 5,000+ reviews on their own platform. However, their independent Trustpilot score sits at 3.1/5 — considerably lower. Common themes in Trustpilot feedback include slower support response times and issues following the February 2026 platform migration away from ProjectX. The gap between internal and external ratings is worth noting before committing to a challenge purchase.
AquaFutures earns a 6.3 BestProp score. The 24-hour payout guarantee is a standout commitment, the $450K maximum is class-leading for futures, and the instant funding path and no-target Pro model are genuinely trader-friendly structures. The charity mission adds a point of differentiation that many traders appreciate.
The Trustpilot score of 3.1 pulls the rating down significantly — it suggests a meaningful gap between marketing claims and real-world trader experience, particularly around support and platform stability. Futures-focused traders who have already confirmed the platform works for their setup may find the fee structure competitive; those evaluating for the first time should factor the external review data into their decision.
Here is our full independent review of Elites Funding:
Elites Funding was founded in 2023 and is operated by MASTERLABS LIMITED (Registration #123237), headquartered in Gibraltar. The firm has paid out $12M+ to 40,000+ traders across 140+ countries, and holds a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating from 240+ reviews. Maximum initial account size is $200,000, scaling to $300,000 with performance milestones. All accounts operate on MetaTrader 5 or TradeLocker. Challenge fees are fully refunded upon successful challenge completion.
A standout operational feature: Elites Funding offers a 24-hour payout guarantee — if processing exceeds 24 hours, the firm pays an extra $1,000. Payouts are available daily after 10 trading days on funded accounts.
Standard 2-Phase ($95-$949 for $10K-$200K): Phase 1: 9% profit target. Phase 2: 5% profit target. Daily loss: 5%. Max drawdown: 10% static. No consistency rule. News trading permitted. Fee refunded on passing. Up to 90% split. Best for traders who prefer two-phase evaluation with wider drawdown buffers and a lower Phase 1 target than single-phase programs.
Express 1-Phase ($105-$1,090 for $10K-$200K): Single phase, 10% profit target. Daily loss: 3%. Max drawdown: 6% static. No consistency rule. News trading permitted. Fee refunded on passing. Up to 90% split. Tighter drawdown parameters than Standard, but single-phase completion and a slightly higher entry fee premium.
Instant Funding ($157-$525 for $10K-$50K): No evaluation required. No profit target. Daily loss: 3%. Max drawdown: 5% trailing (not static — the drawdown ceiling moves with equity peaks). On-demand funded access. Up to 90% split. The trailing drawdown means traders must be careful not to give back profits — the ceiling locks at the highest equity reached.
Platforms: MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker. Instruments: Forex, Crypto futures (BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP), Indices (NAS100, SPX500, JPN225), Commodities (USOIL, Gold, Silver, Copper). Both MT5 and TradeLocker are accessible at no extra cost within the same program.
Elites Funding earns a 7.0 BestProp score. Founded in 2023 by Gibraltar-registered MASTERLABS LIMITED, the firm has built a credible early track record: 4.6/5 Trustpilot, $12M+ paid, 40,000+ traders. The 24-hour payout guarantee with $1,000 penalty is a meaningful accountability commitment. Fee refund on successful challenge completion removes downside risk. No consistency rule and news trading permitted on all programs add flexibility. Daily payouts after 10 days is fast for the industry.
Key limitations: EAs are completely prohibited — making Elites Funding unsuitable for any algo or semi-automated trader. Payouts are issued exclusively in USDT ERC20 — traders who prefer bank wire or other crypto must convert after withdrawal. The 240+ Trustpilot review count, while positive, is modest for a firm claiming 40,000+ traders. The $200K account ceiling (before scaling) and Gibraltar registration place this in the mid-tier. A solid choice specifically for manual traders who prioritise daily payouts and guaranteed processing speed.
Overall, our independent scoring gives Elites Funding the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If AquaFutures 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, Elites Funding scores higher overall (8.2/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
AquaFutures offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
AquaFutures offers the higher profit split. AquaFutures: 100% (first $15K) → 90%. Elites Funding: 80% (up to 90%).
EA policies: AquaFutures — check the review. Elites Funding — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: AquaFutures — check the review. Elites Funding — check the review.
Read the full AquaFutures review → · Read the full Elites Funding review →
Based on our scoring methodology, Elites 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.
AquaFutures offers 100% (first $15K) → 90% profit split, while Elites Funding offers 80% (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.
AquaFutures processes first payouts in a variable timeframe, while Elites Funding takes approximately 10 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither AquaFutures nor Elites 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.
