Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Top One Futures | AquaFunded |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 90% | 100% |
| First Payout | 5 | — |
| Payout Frequency | On-demand / Daily (Elite Daily) | Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant) |
| Max Account Size | $150,000 | $400,000 |
Winner: Top One Futures
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Top One Futures 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.
Top One Futures: $26M Paid Out. 4.8 Trustpilot. TradingView + NinjaTrader.
AquaFunded: 100% Profit Split. Refundable Fees. On-Demand Instant Funding.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, Top One Futures scores 9.0/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: Top One Futures scores 9/10 vs AquaFunded at 7.8/10.
Minimum Fee: Top One Futures starts from $39; AquaFunded starts from Refundable.
Profit Split: Top One Futures offers 90%; AquaFunded offers 100%. AquaFunded has the higher split.
Platforms: Top One Futures supports Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8, TradingView; AquaFunded is on MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader.
Tradeable Markets: Top One Futures covers Futures (CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT); AquaFunded offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how Top One Futures and AquaFunded compare on pricing.
Top One Futures challenge fees start from $39. The firm has operated since 2023. They have funded over 21,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $26,000,000+.
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+.
Top One Futures profit split: 90%. AquaFunded profit split: 100%. AquaFunded delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Top One Futures pays On-demand / Daily (Elite Daily); AquaFunded pays Bi-weekly (challenge) / On-demand (instant). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of Top One Futures:
Top One Futures was founded in 2023 by CEO Matt Morris and is headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA. Despite being a relatively new firm, the numbers it has built are impressive: $26M+ in verified payouts, 184,000+ active accounts, and a Trustpilot score of 4.8/5 from 3,300+ reviews — one of the highest review counts of any futures-focused prop firm.
The platform is futures-only, operating across CME, COMEX, NYMEX, and CBOT instruments, with support for three leading futures platforms: Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8, and TradingView. A complimentary NinjaTrader license is often bundled with subscriptions, which meaningfully reduces the effective cost of trading.
Top One Futures serves futures traders across the experience spectrum. Six distinct program types cover everything from subscription-based challenge accounts (Elite Challenge, Elite Daily) to one-time-fee instant funding (IGNITE, Instant Sim Funded). Micro contracts are available, making the platform accessible to traders who are scaling up and want to manage position sizing carefully.
The payout structure — 6% profit required for the first withdrawal, 5% for the second, 4% for all subsequent — is a step-down model that rewards consistency and sustained trading over time rather than a single large win.
Three supported platforms: Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8 (often included free with subscription), and TradingView. Instruments: CME futures including ES, NQ, CL, GC, and 6E — full Level 2/DOM data available. Micro contracts supported. News trading is permitted (slippage risk acknowledged during high-volatility events).
Payout thresholds: 6% profit → first payout | 5% profit → second payout | 4% profit → all subsequent payouts. Processing time: under 12 hours on average, commonly under 4 hours.
Top One Futures earns an 8.1 BestProp score. A 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating backed by 3,300+ reviews and $26M+ in verified payouts puts it in the top tier of futures-focused prop firms. Six program types give traders genuine flexibility, TradingView and NinjaTrader platform support is best-in-class for futures, and the step-down payout threshold model rewards sustained performance. The free NinjaTrader license bundled with subscriptions is a concrete cost saving.
The subscription model on Elite Challenge and Elite Daily means ongoing monthly costs — traders who take time to find consistent setups need to factor this in. Consistency rules (15–40% depending on program) also apply on funded accounts, which can restrict certain high-variance strategies. Overall, for futures traders specifically, Top One Futures is one of the most credible and well-reviewed options available in 2026.
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 Top One Futures 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, Top One Futures scores higher overall (9/10). 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. Top One Futures: 90%. AquaFunded: 100%.
EA policies: Top One Futures — check the review. AquaFunded — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Top One Futures — check the review. AquaFunded — check the review.
Read the full Top One Futures review → · Read the full AquaFunded review →
Based on our scoring methodology, Top One Futures 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.
Top One Futures offers 90% profit split, while AquaFunded offers 100% profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Yes! Top One Futures: 50% off — code BESTPROP. See the offer button above for full terms.
Top One Futures processes first payouts in 5 day(s), while AquaFunded takes approximately a variable timeframe. Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither Top One Futures 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.
