AquaFunded vs Trade The Pool (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare AquaFunded and Trade The Pool — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Fees, feature availability, and plan details come from each provider's current documentation. If you're about to act on this, confirm the specific numbers on the vendor's site first. Methodology →
At-a-Glance
Higher Rated
Trade The Pool (4.0)
More Affordable
AquaFunded ($19/mo)
AquaFunded
AquaFunded is a Dubai-based prop firm offering 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, and instant funding challenges across forex, indices, commodities, and crypto with up to 100% profit splits.
Trade The Pool
A stock-focused prop firm offering funded accounts for U.S. equities and ETFs, with a single-phase evaluation and up to $450K in buying power.
Rules, Payout & Fee Breakdown
| Feature | AquaFunded | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.6 | ★ 4.0 |
| Starting Price | $19/mo | $47/mo |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Markets | forex, indices, commodities, crypto | stocks, etfs |
| AI Analysis | ✗ | ✗ |
| Backtesting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Paper Trading | ✓ | ✗ |
| Price Alerts | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✗ |
| Social Features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom Indicators | ✗ | ✗ |
| Automated Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Risk Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| News Feed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Education Content | ✗ | ✗ |
Prop-Firm Head-to-Head
AquaFunded and Trade The Pool target fundamentally different trader profiles. AquaFunded operates as a multi-asset platform with four challenge types (1-step, 2-step, 3-step, instant) spanning forex, indices, commodities, and crypto at $19/month. Trade The Pool is exclusively stocks and ETFs with a single-phase evaluation at $47/month but offers up to $450K in buying power. AquaFunded's 3.6/5 rating trails Trade The Pool's 4.0/5, though both feature identical core tools: AI analysis, backtesting, paper trading, alerts, and mobile access.
The critical differentiator lies in specialization versus flexibility. AquaFunded offers up to 100% profit splits (as add-ons) and no evaluation time limits—ideal for traders exploring multiple asset classes. Trade The Pool eliminates locate and hard-to-borrow fees for short sellers and caps profit splits at 70%, but its regulatory standing is stronger; AquaFunded's Trustpilot profile was flagged for guideline breaches. Trade The Pool's single-phase evaluation also reduces friction.
AquaFunded suits traders wanting maximum asset diversity and challenge flexibility on a budget. Trade The Pool is the clear choice for U.S. equity traders prioritizing simplicity, fee transparency, and lower compliance risk.
AquaFunded: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Multiple challenge types: 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, and instant funding
- + Up to 100% profit split available as add-on
- + No time limits on evaluation phases
- + Fast 24-hour payout processing after 14-day holding period
- + Scaling pathway to $2 million funded account
Cons
- - Mixed user reviews — 3.2/5 on Trustpilot with profile flagged for guideline breaches
- - No stocks trading; futures only via separate AquaFutures product
- - Relatively new firm (2023) with limited long-term track record
- - Challenge fees forfeited on hard breach before the 4th payout
Trade The Pool: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + One of the very few prop firms exclusively focused on U.S. stocks and ETFs
- + No locate or hard-to-borrow fees — firm covers short selling costs
- + Single-phase evaluation is simpler than multi-step competitors
- + Pre-market and after-hours trading supported
- + One-time evaluation fee with no ongoing monthly charges
Cons
- - Limited to U.S. stocks and ETFs — no options, futures, forex, or crypto
- - Profit split capped at 70%, lower than some competitors offering 80-90%
- - No public API or external integration support
- - Platform locked to Trader Evolution — no choice of trading software