AquaFutures Beginner vs Standard Account: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between the Beginner and Standard account at AquaFutures comes down to one question: do you need the extra contract limits and flexibility, or do you want the easier profit target and more forgiving risk structure?

The Beginner account costs less ($114/month vs $196), has a lower profit target (6% vs 8%), and uses EOD drawdown tracking with a daily loss limit. The Standard account is more expensive, requires 33% more profit to pass, and uses real-time intraday drawdown tracking—but it gives you 15 contracts instead of 6-9 and removes the daily loss limit.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Aquafutures and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Aquafutures´s website or their faq page.

Neither account is "better"—they're built for different trading styles. I'm breaking down the key differences, when each makes sense, and which is actually easier to pass.

Quick Overview: Beginner vs Standard

The Beginner account is easier and cheaper. The Standard account gives you more flexibility but requires tighter execution.

The Profit Target Difference: 6% vs 8%

The Beginner account requires 6% profit to pass. On a $50K account, that's $3,000.

The Standard account requires 8% profit to pass. On a $50K account, that's $4,000.

That extra $1,000 doesn't sound like much, but it's 33% more profit required. If you're averaging $500/week in profits, the Beginner account takes 6 weeks to pass. The Standard account takes 8 weeks.

Those extra 2 weeks mean:

• 2 more months of $196 subscription fees = $392 in extra costs
• 2 more weeks of market exposure and drawdown risk
• 33% more time before you can start withdrawing profits

The 8% target is manageable if you're consistently hitting 2-3% per week. But if your average is closer to 1%, the Standard account will take twice as long to pass—and the costs will pile up.

Here's the math on a $50K account:

The Standard account costs $164 more if you pass in the same timeframe—and that's only if you pass in 2 months. If it takes 4 months, you're at $784 vs $456.

Unless you need the Standard account's features (15 contracts, no daily limit), you're paying extra for nothing.

Daily Loss Limit: 2.5% vs None

The Beginner account has a 2.5% daily loss limit that's enforced intraday in real-time. On a $50K account, that's $1,250 max loss per session. If you hit -$1,250 at any point during the day, your account breaches immediately—even if you would have recovered by close.

The Standard account has no daily loss limit. You could lose 4% in a single session and still be fine—as long as you stay within your 5% max drawdown.

For most traders, the daily loss limit is a safety feature, not a restriction. It prevents you from blowing your entire account in one bad session. If you lose $1,250 on Monday, you still have $1,250 left before hitting your max drawdown. The daily limit stops you before you breach entirely.

But the daily limit can hurt if:

• You trade through high-volatility news and hit -2.5% intraday but recover
• You take multiple trades in one session and the cumulative loss hits the limit
• You're holding positions that swing -3% intraday before recovering by close

Without a daily limit on the Standard account, you have more room to recover from bad sessions. But you also have more rope to hang yourself—one catastrophic day can end your evaluation.

For a detailed comparison of how daily loss limits work, see the maximum drawdown rules guide.

Drawdown Tracking: EOD vs Intraday

This is the biggest operational difference between the two accounts.

Beginner Account: Uses EOD (end-of-day) trailing drawdown, which updates once per day at 4:00 PM ET. Intraday swings don't count against you—only your closing balance matters.

Standard Account: Uses intraday trailing drawdown, which updates in real-time, tick-by-tick. Every intraday low counts against your threshold. If you drop below your threshold mid-session, you breach immediately—no chance to recover.

Example: You start Monday at $50,000 (threshold: $47,500). You're down $2,800 intraday (equity: $47,200). You recover to -$400 by close (equity: $49,600).

With EOD tracking (Beginner): You're fine. Only the $49,600 closing balance counts. The $2,800 intraday drawdown never registered. ✅

With intraday tracking (Standard): You breached at $47,200—$300 below your threshold. Account terminated. ❌

The EOD structure on the Beginner account is objectively easier to manage. You can hold through volatile sessions and recover. The intraday structure on the Standard account requires tight stops and fast risk management—one bad swing can end your evaluation.

If you trade NQ or ES through major news events (NFP, FOMC, CPI), the EOD structure is critical. You'll hit -$2,000+ intraday swings regularly, and intraday tracking will breach you before you get a chance to recover.

Contract Limits: 6-9 vs 15

The Beginner account gives you 6-9 contracts depending on account size:

• $25K: 6 contracts
• $50K: 6 contracts
• $100K: 9 contracts
• $150K: 9 contracts

The Standard account gives you 15 contracts across all account sizes.

On ES, 6 contracts is $300 per point. A 10-point move is $3,000—more than enough to hit the Beginner account's $3,000 profit target in one trade.

On ES, 15 contracts is $750 per point. A 10-point move is $7,500. A 5-point move against you is $3,750—enough to breach a $50K account in one trade.

Most traders don't need 15 contracts. If you're trading 6 contracts or less, the Standard account's higher limit is wasted. You're paying $82/month extra for firepower you're not using.

The 15-contract limit makes sense if:

• You scale into positions (3 contracts, then 6, then 9)
• You trade multiple markets simultaneously (3 ES, 3 NQ, 3 YM)
• You regularly max out the 6-contract limit and feel constrained

If you're trading 3-4 contracts per trade, stick with the Beginner account.

For a detailed breakdown of how contract limits work across all AquaFutures accounts, see the contract limits guide.

Monthly Cost: $114 vs $196

The Beginner account costs $114/month. The Standard account costs $196/month—$82 more.

That $82 difference compounds over time:

• 2 months: $164 extra
• 3 months: $246 extra
• 6 months: $492 extra

If you pass in 3 months, you've spent $588 on the Standard account vs $342 on the Beginner account. That's $246 wasted unless you actually needed the Standard features.

The only reason to pay the extra $82/month is if you're using what you're paying for: 15 contracts, no daily loss limit, and the flexibility to trade more aggressively.

If you're not maxing out the 6-contract limit and you're not regularly bumping into the 2.5% daily loss limit, the Standard account is a waste of money.

For a full cost comparison across all AquaFutures account types, check out the pricing breakdown.

Which Account Is Easier to Pass?

The Beginner account is objectively easier:

• Lower profit target: 6% vs 8% = 33% less profit required
• EOD drawdown: More forgiving than intraday tracking
• Daily loss limit: Prevents catastrophic single-session losses
• Lower cost: $114/month = less financial pressure

The Standard account is harder:

• Higher profit target: 8% = more time in the market, more risk exposure
• Intraday drawdown: Less room for error, tighter execution required
• No daily limit: One bad day can blow your entire account
• Higher cost: $196/month = more pressure to pass quickly

If your goal is to get funded as quickly and cheaply as possible, the Beginner account is the path.

The Standard account is only "easier" if you're already consistently profitable, you trade with tight stops, and you need the higher contract limits. For everyone else, it's objectively harder.

When to Choose the Beginner Account

Choose the Beginner account if:

You're building consistency. If you're still figuring out your edge or you're not consistently hitting 2%+ per week, the lower 6% target is more realistic. The 8% target will take longer and cost more.

You hold through volatility. If you trade through news or you hold positions for hours, the EOD drawdown tracking is critical. The Standard account's intraday tracking will breach you mid-session.

You trade 6 contracts or less. If you're not maxing out the 6-contract limit, you don't need 15 contracts. You're paying $82/month extra for nothing.

You want the daily loss limit. The 2.5% daily limit is a safety feature, not a restriction. It prevents you from blowing your account in one bad session.

You want to minimize costs. $114/month is $82 cheaper than the Standard account. If you pass in 3 months, that's $246 saved.

For a complete walkthrough of the Beginner account, including rules and strategies to pass, see the Beginner account guide.

When to Choose the Standard Account

Choose the Standard account if:

You regularly trade 10+ contracts. If you're maxing out the 6-contract limit and feeling constrained, the 15-contract limit gives you room to scale into positions.

You're a tight-stop scalper. If you trade with 5-10 tick stops and you're in and out within minutes, intraday drawdown tracking won't hurt you. You're not holding through large swings anyway.

You hit the daily loss limit often. If you're regularly breaching the 2.5% daily limit on simulated accounts, the Standard account removes that constraint. But be careful—no daily limit means no safety net.

You can hit 8% consistently. If you're averaging 2-3% per week, the 8% target is realistic. You'll pass in 4-6 weeks, and the higher cost is justified.

You want the challenge. Some traders prefer the tighter risk management required by intraday tracking. It forces discipline and rewards precision.

For a complete walkthrough of the Standard account, including cost analysis and risk management strategies, see the Standard account guide.

Can You Switch From Beginner to Standard Mid-Evaluation?

No. Once you start an evaluation, you're locked into that account type for the duration. You can't switch from Beginner to Standard (or vice versa) mid-eval.

If you breach a Beginner account and want to try Standard next time, you can choose Standard when you restart. But you'll pay the full $196/month fee for a new account.

Most traders who fail a Beginner account and switch to Standard regret it. The Standard account is harder, not easier—and if you couldn't pass Beginner, you probably won't pass Standard.

Beginner vs Standard: Side-by-Side Cost Analysis

Here's what it costs to pass each account at different timeframes:

The longer it takes to pass, the more you waste on the Standard account if you're not using its features.

Should You Start With Beginner and Upgrade Later?

Yes. If you're debating between the two, start with Beginner.

Pass the Beginner eval, get funded, and see how it goes. If you find yourself maxing out the 6-contract limit or hitting the daily loss limit regularly on your funded account, you can always add a Standard evaluation later.

But most traders never need to upgrade. The 6-contract limit is enough for 90% of trading strategies, and the EOD drawdown tracking is easier to manage long-term.

Starting with Standard "because it sounds more advanced" is a mistake. It's not more advanced—it's just harder and more expensive.

Final Thoughts: Start With Beginner Unless You Have a Specific Reason Not To

For most traders, the Beginner account is the better choice. It's cheaper, easier to pass, and uses a more forgiving risk structure. The 6% profit target is realistic, the EOD drawdown tracking allows for real trading strategies, and the daily loss limit prevents catastrophic sessions.

The Standard account makes sense only if you have a specific need: you regularly trade 10+ contracts, you're a tight-stop scalper who doesn't hold through volatility, or you consistently hit the 2.5% daily loss limit. If none of those apply, you're paying $82/month extra for features you don't need.

And if you're still building consistency or you're not sure which account fits your style, default to Beginner. It's the safer bet, the cheaper option, and the easier path to getting funded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have both a Beginner and Standard account at the same time?

Yes, but it's expensive and unnecessary. You'd be paying $310/month ($114 + $196) for two separate evaluations. Most traders focus on passing one account at a time before adding more.

If I pass a Beginner evaluation, does my funded account have the same rules?

Yes. If you pass a Beginner eval with EOD drawdown and a daily loss limit, your funded account continues with those same rules. The structure doesn't change when you transition to funded.

Is the Standard account worth it if I want to pass faster?

No. The 8% profit target means you need more time to pass, not less. The only reason Standard might be "faster" is if you're regularly maxing out the 6-contract limit—but most traders aren't.

Do both accounts have the same consistency rule?

Yes. Both Beginner and Standard use the 40% consistency rule—no single day can contribute more than 40% of your total profit. For the full breakdown, see the consistency rule guide.

Can I downgrade from Standard to Beginner if I'm struggling?

No. You can't switch mid-evaluation. If you breach a Standard account, you can start a new Beginner account when you restart—but you'll pay the $114 fee for a fresh evaluation.

Does the Standard account have better payout terms?

No. Both accounts offer the same profit split (100% on first $15K, then 90%) and the same payout processing times. The only difference is the evaluation rules, not the funded account terms.

Which account do most AquaFutures traders choose?

The Beginner account is more popular because it's cheaper and easier to pass. Standard accounts are less common—they're typically chosen by experienced traders who specifically need the higher contract limits.

If I'm an experienced trader, should I start with Standard?

Not necessarily. "Experienced" doesn't mean you need 15 contracts or intraday drawdown tracking. Start with Beginner and see if the 6-contract limit constrains you. Most experienced traders pass Beginner faster and cheaper than they would have passed Standard.

Your Next Steps

‍👉 Start Trading at Aquafutures Today

‍👉 Read My Full Aquafutures Review

‍👉 Check out Aquafutures´s Payout Rules

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