AquaFunded vs ATFunded: Which Prop Firm Should You Choose in 2026?

AquaFunded vs ATFunded: Which Prop Firm Should You Choose in 2026?

Two firms. Two completely different bets on what a modern prop firm should look like.

AquaFunded is the speed-first Dubai-based operator — modern infrastructure, fast payouts, a deep menu of challenge types, and a 100% challenge fee refund baked into the product. ATFunded is the broker-backed newcomer, born out of the regulated ATFX brokerage in January 2025, built on institutional foundations and run with the conservatism you'd expect from a firm with a real broker parent.

Different propositions. Different traders. So which one's right for you?

Here's the honest comparison — rules, pricing, splits, payouts, and the things you actually need to know before clicking buy.

TL;DR – AquaFunded vs ATFunded at a Glance

• Choose AquaFunded if you want a deep product menu (1/2/3-step, Instant Standard, Instant Pro), industry-leading 90% standard profit split, fast bi-weekly payouts, no time limits, and a 100% challenge fee refund on your first payout.
• Choose ATFunded if you value the trust signal of a regulated broker parent (ATFX), want straightforward rules without tier complexity, prefer the simplicity of a fixed account cap, and like the option of routing payouts directly into a regulated brokerage account.
• Many traders run both — AquaFunded for aggressive scaling and high splits, ATFunded for broker-backed peace of mind. Diversifying across firms remains the smart play in 2026.

Company Overview

AquaFunded is a Dubai-based prop firm that has positioned itself around speed, transparency, and a structured payout cadence. The firm offers up to $400,000 in direct funding, scalable to $2 million through their growth program. AquaFunded's pitch is straightforward: shorter time-to-first-withdrawal, a fixed bi-weekly payout rhythm, and an explicit processing guarantee. Profit splits run 90% across all models as standard, with a 100% split available via add-on.

ATFunded is a different proposition. Launched in January 2025 under AT Global Markets LLC (registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, registration number LLC 2020 333), it operates as the proprietary trading arm of ATFX, a long-established regulated retail broker. The CEO is known as CJ. ATFunded offers funded accounts from $5,000 to $200,000, two distinct challenge types (Pro Program and 2-Phase Challenge), and a profit split of up to 80% from the third payout onwards.

Two firms, two distinct philosophies. One built native as a modern speed-focused prop firm. The other built as an extension of a regulated brokerage business.

💡 Why this matters: When firms collapse — and they do — it's almost always either regulatory issues or the operator running out of cash. Broker-backed prop firms have structural advantages on both fronts. AquaFunded's answer is operational transparency and a fast-payout track record. ATFunded's answer is institutional ownership through ATFX. Both are legitimate trust signals against the kind of collapses we've covered in posts like the MyForexFunds rewards situation.

Challenge Programs Compared

The two firms approach challenge structure very differently.

AquaFunded runs a wide menu of challenge formats:

• One-Phase Challenge — fastest path to funded
• Two-Phase Standard — classic structure, balanced rules
• Two-Phase Pro — Phase 1 requires 10% profit, Phase 2 requires 5%, with a tighter rule structure
• Three-Phase Challenge — graduated progression for traders who want a longer runway
• Instant Funding Standard — immediate funded access, around 3% trailing max drawdown, 20% consistency rule
• Instant Funding Pro — instant access with stricter structure, 15% consistency rule, defined drawdown components

ATFunded keeps it focused with two challenge programs:

• Pro Program — single-phase evaluation, faster path to funding, starting from $25
• 2-Phase Challenge — classic two-phase format, starting from $35

ATFunded's approach is deliberately leaner. Rather than offering a challenge for every trader profile, the firm focuses on doing two things well. AquaFunded covers the broader spectrum — a product for almost every type of trader, from the cautious three-phase progresser to the experienced trader who wants instant access.

If you want choice, AquaFunded wins on breadth. If you want simplicity, ATFunded's two-product menu is genuinely easier to navigate.

Evaluation Rules Compared

This is where the structural differences really show up.

Profit Targets and Drawdown

AquaFunded's Two-Phase Standard runs a 10% Phase 1 target and 5% Phase 2 target, with no time limit on evaluation. The drawdown structures vary by program — the Instant Funding Standard uses around 3% trailing max drawdown, while the standard evaluation accounts use more permissive limits. The Two-Phase Pro program tightens that structure: 10% Phase 1, 5% Phase 2, with looser distribution constraints on Standard versus a stricter structure on Pro.

ATFunded's 2-Phase Challenge follows the industry-standard format with similar profit targets and a defined drawdown structure. The Pro Program (single phase) is more aggressive — one phase, hit the target, get funded.

For a deeper look at how drawdown rules affect prop firm outcomes, see our piece on trailing drawdown in prop firms — drawdown structure is one of the most commonly misunderstood mechanics in this industry.

Consistency Rules

This is where AquaFunded's Instant Funding tier gets specific. Standard Instant Funding applies a 20% consistency rule. Instant Pro tightens that to 15%. Standard evaluation challenges have their own consistency frameworks, all explicitly defined on the AquaFunded site.

ATFunded's consistency requirements are less aggressively front-loaded — the firm tends to keep rules straightforward rather than tiered. Read the specific terms for each program before purchasing.

No Time Limit

Both firms operate without a time limit on evaluation challenges, which has become the industry default in 2026 but is still worth flagging because some competitors still impose 30-day caps.

Profit Splits — Where the Two Firms Really Diverge

This is the single biggest structural difference between AquaFunded and ATFunded.

AquaFunded runs a 90% profit split as standard across all challenge programs. That's already one of the higher base splits in the industry. With the optional 100% split add-on at purchase, you can go to a 100% profit retention model — keeping every dollar you generate on the funded account.

ATFunded runs an 80% split as standard, from the third payout onwards. The first two payouts have a 50% withdrawal cap (the remaining 50% sits as buffer in the account). After that, the split applies cleanly.

The 90% vs 80% gap is meaningful. On a $5,000 monthly profit, AquaFunded's standard split delivers $4,500 net; ATFunded delivers $4,000. Across a year of trading, that's $6,000 difference per $5K monthly profit. The 100% add-on on AquaFunded pushes this further.

The trade-off ATFunded offers in return is the broker-backed trust signal and the ability to route payouts directly to a regulated ATFX brokerage account. For traders who value institutional plumbing over headline percentage points, that's a real consideration.

Scaling Plans and Account Sizes

AquaFunded offers direct funding up to $400,000, scaling through the firm's growth program to a maximum allocation of $2 million. The scaling is tied to consistent performance against milestones — pass payout cycles, maintain consistency, stay within drawdown limits, and your account grows.

ATFunded takes a different approach. Funded accounts range from $5,000 to $200,000 depending on the program purchased. The 2-Phase Challenge caps at $200K; the Pro Program caps at $150K. ATFunded does not currently operate a traditional scaling program — instead, traders receive fixed maximum allocations based on the challenge they purchased.

This is a notable difference in philosophy. AquaFunded is built for the trader who wants to start small and scale aggressively over months and years. ATFunded is built for the trader who wants clear, capped funding limits without the variable scaling math.

Neither approach is objectively better. They suit different career arcs.

Pricing and Account Sizes

AquaFunded pricing reflects its premium positioning and broad product menu. Smaller accounts start in the low-hundreds, scaling up to several hundred dollars for the $400K direct funding tier. Pricing varies significantly by challenge type (1-step vs 2-step vs 3-step vs Instant) and by add-ons (100% split upgrade, 7-day first payout, on-demand payouts).

ATFunded pricing is notably aggressive at the entry level. The Pro Program starts at $25, and the 2-Phase Challenge starts at $35 — both among the cheapest entry-level prop firm fees in 2026. Larger account sizes scale up accordingly, but the entry-tier pricing makes ATFunded one of the most accessible firms in the industry.

If you're testing a strategy and want to fail cheap, ATFunded's $25 entry tier is genuinely hard to beat. If you're committing to a serious challenge with a longer-term scaling plan in mind, AquaFunded's pricing reflects the deeper feature set you're buying into.

For the latest verified discount codes across both firms and others, see our full prop firm discount codes page.

Platforms

AquaFunded supports modern trading platforms including cTrader and DXTrade, designed for traders who want clean, modern interfaces with strong execution.

ATFunded runs on Platform 5 — functionally identical to MT5, branded as the firm's own platform. ATFX has access to deeper liquidity through its broker network, which translates into the platform experience on the funded side.

If you're MT5-native and want familiarity, ATFunded works. If you prefer cTrader's order book or want DXTrade's modern web interface, AquaFunded gives you more flexibility.

Payouts and Withdrawals

AquaFunded's payout structure is one of the firm's main selling points. First withdrawal is eligible 14 days after your first trade on the funded account, or 7 days if you purchase the 7-day first payout add-on. After the first withdrawal, payouts operate on a fixed bi-weekly cadence (every 14 days). The firm has an explicit processing guarantee built into the product — a meaningful trust signal for traders who've been burned by payout delays elsewhere.

ATFunded's payout structure is slightly more conservative. Minimum profit of $100 is required to withdraw. The first two payouts cap at 50% of profit — the remainder stays as buffer in the account. From the third payout onwards, the 80% split applies cleanly. Processing happens within 1-5 business days via bank wire, cryptocurrency, or — uniquely — direct transfer to an ATFX brokerage account.

The ATFX brokerage transfer option is genuinely unusual in the prop firm space. If you're already an ATFX trader or want to keep your prop funds within a regulated broker ecosystem, this is a feature no other major firm offers.

Challenge Fee Refund

AquaFunded refunds 100% of your challenge fee on your first successful profit split. This effectively makes successful evaluations free — you pay the fee, pass, take your first payout, and the fee comes back. That's a strong feature that materially changes the cost-benefit math for confident traders.

ATFunded does not currently advertise a comparable challenge fee refund. The buffer-based first-two-payouts structure means your fee is effectively recovered through trading profits, but it's not a direct refund mechanism in the same way.

For the confident trader who plans to pass, AquaFunded's refund policy is a meaningful structural advantage.

Trading Instruments and Conditions

Both firms cover the standard CFD asset menu:

AquaFunded: Forex, indices, commodities (gold, oil), cryptocurrencies, and energy markets. ECN-style spreads from 0.0 to 0.5 pips on major pairs during active sessions. Commissions roughly $3-$7 per round-turn lot.

ATFunded: Forex and CFDs, with the underlying broker (ATFX) providing access to major instruments. The exact instrument coverage depends on the program purchased.

If your strategy depends on a specific exotic pair or unusual instrument, verify availability with each firm before purchasing.

Trust and Track Record

Worth being honest about this part.

AquaFunded's trust case is built on its operational transparency, the explicit payout guarantee, and the structured payout cadence. The firm is newer than some legacy operators but has built a reputation for delivering what it advertises. Trader feedback on payout reliability is generally positive, and the firm has a clear processing commitment built into the product itself.

ATFunded's trust case is structurally different. The firm itself is newer (founded January 2025), but the parent group — ATFX via AT Global Markets — has been operating as a regulated broker for years. ATFX holds regulatory licences across multiple jurisdictions, and the broker-backed structure means ATFunded inherits a level of institutional infrastructure that pure-play prop firms can't replicate.

The choice between them on trust signals is mostly about what you value: a younger but transparent and fast-paying prop-native firm, or a newer prop firm sitting inside a longer-established regulated broker group.

Pros & Cons

AquaFunded — Pros

• 90% standard profit split (industry-leading), with 100% available via add-on
• 100% challenge fee refund on first payout
• Wide product menu (1/2/3-step, Instant Standard, Instant Pro)
• Modern platforms (cTrader, DXTrade)
• Scaling up to $2M via the growth program
• Explicit payout processing guarantee baked into the product
• No time limit on evaluations

AquaFunded — Cons

• More complex product menu can confuse first-time buyers
• Add-on pricing for 100% split, 7-day payout, on-demand payouts can stack up
• Newer firm — shorter operational track record than legacy giants
• Strict consistency rules on Instant Funding tiers (15-20%)

ATFunded — Pros

• Backed by ATFX, a regulated broker with multi-jurisdictional licences
• Cheapest entry-level pricing in the market (Pro from $25, 2-Phase from $35)
• Simple two-product menu — easy to navigate
• Direct transfer to ATFX brokerage account option for payouts
• Functionally identical to MT5 via Platform 5
• Fixed funding allocations — clear, predictable funding ceilings

ATFunded — Cons

• 80% profit split is the industry baseline, not best-in-class
• First two payouts capped at 50% — slower path to full withdrawal
• No traditional scaling program — fixed account caps only
• Limited platform choice — Platform 5 (MT5) only
• Very new firm (January 2025 launch) with limited public review base

Who Each Firm Suits Best

AquaFunded is the better choice if you...

• Want a 90% (or 100% with add-on) profit split without hunting for tier conditions
• Value the 100% challenge fee refund on first payout
• Plan to scale aggressively to $2M over time
• Want wide challenge format choice (1/2/3-step, Instant Standard, Instant Pro)
• Prefer cTrader or DXTrade over MT5
• Want fast bi-weekly payouts with explicit processing guarantees
• Are willing to absorb add-on costs for premium features

ATFunded is the better choice if you...

• Value broker-backed trust signals from a regulated parent (ATFX)
• Want the cheapest possible entry point ($25 Pro Program)
• Prefer a simpler product menu with just two challenge formats
• Like the option to route payouts directly to a regulated brokerage account
• Are MT5-native and don't need cTrader or DXTrade
• Want fixed, predictable funding caps rather than variable scaling

Final Verdict – AquaFunded vs ATFunded

There's no objectively better firm here. They're built for different traders.

AquaFunded wins on: profit split (90% standard, 100% available), challenge fee refund, product breadth, scaling ceiling, and modern platform choice.

ATFunded wins on: broker-backed trust signal (ATFX parent), entry-level pricing ($25 Pro Program), simplicity, and the unique ATFX brokerage payout option.

If you're a confident trader looking to maximise your profit retention and scale aggressively, AquaFunded is hard to beat. The 90% standard split, the 100% challenge fee refund, and the path to $2M in scaled capital represent some of the better economics in the industry.

If you value the institutional trust signal of a regulated broker parent, want to test prop trading cheaply, or like the simplicity of a tighter product menu, ATFunded has a genuinely differentiated proposition. The ATFX backing isn't marketing fluff — it's a structural advantage worth real consideration.

And running both is a legitimate strategy. A lot of serious traders run experimental accounts at lower-cost firms like ATFunded alongside higher-economics accounts at firms like AquaFunded — different firms, different purposes, smarter risk distribution. That's the modern way to do this.

For broader context on running multi-firm portfolios, see our coverage of FundedNext vs The5ers and FundingPips vs Blueberry Funded.

Compare More Prop Firms

If you want to weigh either firm against the wider field, head over to Prop Firms Compared and filter by:

• Account size — from $5K, $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, up to $200K
• Number of evaluation steps — Instant, 1-step, 2-step, or 3-step
• Asset class — forex, futures, indices, crypto, or commodities

Or check the latest verified prop firm discount codes before buying a challenge.

FAQs – AquaFunded vs ATFunded

Is AquaFunded or ATFunded better for beginners?

ATFunded for absolute beginners on a tight budget — the $25 Pro Program is the cheapest serious entry point in this comparison. AquaFunded for beginners who want a higher profit split, a fee refund mechanism, and more product flexibility.

Which firm has a higher profit split?

AquaFunded — 90% standard versus ATFunded's 80% from the third payout. AquaFunded also offers a 100% split add-on, which ATFunded does not currently offer.

Which firm is backed by a regulated broker?

ATFunded — it's the proprietary trading arm of ATFX, a regulated retail broker. AquaFunded is a standalone prop firm without a regulated broker parent.

Which firm pays out faster?

Both firms operate on bi-weekly cycles after the first payout. AquaFunded has a 14-day first-payout window (or 7 days with the add-on), with an explicit processing guarantee. ATFunded processes within 1-5 business days via bank wire, crypto, or direct ATFX brokerage transfer.

Does AquaFunded refund challenge fees?

Yes — 100% of your challenge fee is refunded on your first successful profit split.

Does ATFunded have a scaling program?

No — ATFunded uses fixed maximum allocations ($200K for the 2-Phase Challenge, $150K for the Pro Program). AquaFunded does have a scaling program, reaching up to $2 million.

Can I trade futures with either firm?

Neither firm currently focuses on futures trading. Both are CFD-focused. For futures, look at FundedNext Futures, Apex, TopStep, or Halcyon instead.

Are both firms legit?

Yes — both are legitimate operations. AquaFunded has built a strong operational track record with transparent payout cadence. ATFunded benefits from the institutional backing of its ATFX broker parent. Both have public payout reports and reasonable trader feedback.

Last updated: 7 May 2026. Rules, pricing and challenge structures change frequently in the prop firm industry. Always verify current details on the official firm websites or via our live comparison tool before purchasing.

Risk disclaimer: Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.