Two of the top forex prop firms compared side by side — rules, fees, profit splits, max funding, and which one is right for your level and strategy.
Choose FTMO if trust and track record are your priority — 10 years, 100K+ funded traders, and up to $400K in capital. Choose AquaFunded if you want an easier first evaluation — their 8% Phase 1 target is lower than FTMO's 10%, and exclusive discounts are available through MyBrokerVault.
| Category | FTMO | AquaFunded |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 (10+ years) | Newer |
| Max Funding | $400,000 | $200,000 |
| Profit Split | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Phase 1 Target | 10% (harder) | 8% (easier) |
| Phase 2 Target | 5% | 5% |
| Daily Loss Limit | 5% | 5% |
| Max Drawdown | 10% | 10% |
| Time Limit | None | None |
| Min Trading Days | 4 days | 5 days |
| Payout Speed | 1-3 days | 1-5 days |
| Fee Refund | First payout | First payout |
| Eval Steps | 2 phases | 1 or 2 phases |
| News Trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| EA Trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5 |
| Exclusive Discount | No | Yes — via MyBrokerVault |
FTMO has been paying out for 10 years. AquaFunded is newer. For most traders this is the decisive factor — when you're handing over $300-$500 in evaluation fees, the firm's history of actually paying matters enormously. FTMO wins here clearly.
AquaFunded's 8% Phase 1 target vs FTMO's 10% is a meaningful difference. For a $100K account, that's $8,000 vs $10,000 in profits needed. For traders who consistently earn 5-8% monthly, AquaFunded's target is achievable in a single month. FTMO's may require 6-8 weeks of patient trading.
If scaling is your goal, FTMO's $400K ceiling versus AquaFunded's $200K is a significant advantage. Traders who pass and perform well will eventually hit AquaFunded's ceiling — FTMO's scaling plan can double that.
AquaFunded offers exclusive discounts through our affiliate link — something FTMO doesn't do. If cost is a factor, that discount can meaningfully reduce your evaluation investment.
Up to $400K funding, 90% profit split, fee refunded on first payout. 10 years of paying out traders.
Start FTMO Challenge →