Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Funded Trader Markets | AquaFunded |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | Up to 90% | 100% |
| Payout Frequency | On-demand (avg <20 min) | Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant) |
| Max Account Size | $300,000 | $400,000 |
Winner: Funded Trader Markets
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Funded Trader Markets 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.
Funded Trader Markets: On-Chain Payout Proof. 20-Min Withdrawals. 24h or Double.
AquaFunded: 100% Profit Split. Refundable Fees. On-Demand Instant Funding.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, Funded Trader Markets scores 8.6/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: Funded Trader Markets scores 8.6/10 vs AquaFunded at 7.8/10.
Minimum Fee: Funded Trader Markets starts from $20; AquaFunded starts from Refundable.
Profit Split: Funded Trader Markets offers Up to 90%; AquaFunded offers 100%. AquaFunded has the higher split.
Platforms: Funded Trader Markets supports MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader; AquaFunded is on MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader.
Tradeable Markets: Funded Trader Markets covers Forex, Commodities, Crypto, Indices; AquaFunded offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how Funded Trader Markets and AquaFunded compare on pricing.
Funded Trader Markets challenge fees start from $20. Total payouts to date: $6,190,000+.
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+.
Funded Trader Markets profit split: Up to 90%. AquaFunded profit split: 100%. AquaFunded delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Funded Trader Markets pays On-demand (avg <20 min); AquaFunded pays Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of Funded Trader Markets:
Funded Trader Markets (FTM) is a prop firm registered in Cyprus (HE462185) with operational offices in Dubai Digital Park, UAE, and an additional entity in Saint Lucia. CEO Revin Zabala runs a platform that has paid out $6.19M+ to traders across 160+ countries.
The most distinctive feature on the platform is on-chain payout verification: every performance reward is settled via the Arbitrum network and publicly verifiable on Arbiscan. This means any prospective trader can independently audit that withdrawals were actually processed — not just claimed in a PDF screenshot. It is a level of financial transparency that remains rare in the prop firm space.
Payout speed backs this up in practice: most rewards complete in under 20 minutes. The guarantee is one of the strongest available — if any payout takes longer than 24 hours, the delayed amount is doubled.
FTM suits traders who prioritise platform flexibility, payout transparency, and permissive trading rules. Four platforms are supported — MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, and MatchTrader — giving traders genuine choice in their execution environment. All accounts are swap-free, news trading is permitted, and weekend holding is allowed. For traders who have been restricted on those activities at other firms, FTM’s ruleset is noticeably more permissive.
The 1-Step Nitro path with a 10% target suits confident traders who want a fast route to funding. The 2-Step path suits traders who want lower fees and more time to demonstrate consistency.
All programs are swap-free. News trading and overnight/weekend position holding are permitted across all program types.
Four supported platforms: MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader. Leverage up to 1:100. Instruments: forex pairs, commodities, indices, crypto. US residents are restricted from MT5 and cTrader services specifically (other platforms may be available subject to their jurisdiction — verify directly).
Restricted countries: Cuba, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, North Korea. Cyprus residents are also excluded from certain services.
Funded Trader Markets earns a 7.6 BestProp score. The on-chain payout verification is a genuine standout — transparent proof of payment that no PDF screenshot can match. The doubled-payout penalty for late settlements is the most aggressive guarantee we have reviewed. Four platform options, permissive trading rules (news, weekends, swap-free), and fees starting at $20 for the 1-Step make the entry barrier low.
The firm is newer and does not yet have a large Trustpilot footprint to assess independently. Max allocation of $300K is solid but trails the $450K–$600K ceiling offered by the largest firms. Overall a strong, transparent option — particularly for traders who want proof, not promises, that their payouts will arrive.
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 Funded Trader Markets 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, Funded Trader Markets scores higher overall (8.6/10). 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.
AquaFunded offers the higher profit split. Funded Trader Markets: Up to 90%. AquaFunded: 100%.
EA policies: Funded Trader Markets — check the review. AquaFunded — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Funded Trader Markets — check the review. AquaFunded — check the review.
Read the full Funded Trader Markets review → · Read the full AquaFunded review →
Based on our scoring methodology, Funded Trader Markets 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.
Funded Trader Markets offers Up to 90% 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.
Both firms aim for fast payouts. Check each firm's website for the current payout schedule, as processing times may vary.
Neither Funded Trader Markets 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.
