AquaFutures Commission Fees: Trading Costs Per Contract Explained

AquaFutures includes trading commissions in your monthly subscription or one-time payment—there are no additional per-trade fees during evaluations or on funded accounts. You're not charged $2-$5 per contract like you would with a retail broker. The monthly fee ($114-$196) or Instant payment ($291) covers unlimited trading with zero commission charges.

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.

This all-inclusive pricing means you can trade 10 times a day or 100 times a day without worrying about commission costs eating into your profits. But there are indirect costs: platform fees (included), data fees (included), and the opportunity cost of monthly subscription payments.

I'm breaking down AquaFutures' commission structure, how it compares to retail brokers, whether "commission-free" prop trading is actually cheaper, and hidden costs to watch for.

AquaFutures Commission Structure: All-Inclusive Pricing

Evaluation accounts:

• Beginner: $114/month = unlimited trades, zero per-contract fees
• Standard: $196/month = unlimited trades, zero per-contract fees

Instant funded accounts:

• Instant: $291 one-time = unlimited trades forever, zero per-contract fees
• Instant Pro: $239 one-time = unlimited trades forever, zero per-contract fees

Funded accounts (post-evaluation):

• No monthly fees after passing evaluation
• Zero per-contract commissions on funded accounts
• Platform access included
• Data fees included

You pay the monthly subscription (evaluations) or one-time fee (Instant), and trading is unlimited at no additional cost.

For full pricing details, see the pricing guide.

How Much Do Retail Brokers Charge in Commissions?

To understand AquaFutures' value, compare to retail futures broker commissions:

Note: RT = Round Trip (entry + exit = 1 complete trade)

If you're an active trader doing 100+ round trips per month, AquaFutures' $114 flat fee is significantly cheaper than retail broker commissions ($100-$1,000/month depending on broker).

Commission Cost Examples: AquaFutures vs Retail

Example 1: Light Trader (30 round trips/month)

Retail broker at $2/RT: 30 × $2 = $60/month in commissions

AquaFutures Beginner: $114/month flat fee

Winner: Retail broker (cheaper for light volume)

Example 2: Active Trader (150 round trips/month)

Retail broker at $2/RT: 150 × $2 = $300/month in commissions

AquaFutures Beginner: $114/month flat fee

Winner: AquaFutures (saves $186/month)

Example 3: High-Volume Trader (500 round trips/month)

Retail broker at $2/RT: 500 × $2 = $1,000/month in commissions

AquaFutures Beginner: $114/month flat fee

Winner: AquaFutures (saves $886/month)

Breakeven point: If retail commissions are $2/round trip, you break even at 57 round trips/month. Above that, AquaFutures is cheaper.

Hidden Costs: What's Actually Included vs What's Not

✅ Included in AquaFutures pricing:

• Trading platform access (Rithmic or equivalent)
• Real-time market data feeds
• Unlimited trade executions (no per-contract fees)
• Account management and support
• Evaluation review and funding processing

❌ Not included (but not charged separately):

• Exchange fees - AquaFutures absorbs these costs
• Regulatory fees (NFA, CME) - Covered by AquaFutures
• Platform license fees - Included in subscription
• Data subscription costs - Included

The only costs you pay:

• Monthly subscription ($114-$196) for evaluations
• One-time payment ($291) for Instant accounts
• Optional: Your own internet, hardware, charting software (if you use separate tools)

There are no surprise fees. What you see is what you pay.

Are There Commissions on Funded Accounts?

No. Once you pass your evaluation and transition to a funded account, you trade commission-free forever—with no monthly subscription.

Funded account costs:

• Monthly fee: $0
• Per-trade commissions: $0
• Platform access: Included
• Data feeds: Included

The only "cost" is the profit split structure (you keep 90-100% depending on profit level), but that's not a commission—it's a revenue share with AquaFutures for providing the capital.

For payout structure details, see the payout process guide.

Do Platform Fees Eat Into Your Profits?

No. Platform fees are included in your subscription or Instant payment.

With retail brokers, you might pay:

• $50-$100/month for platform software (NinjaTrader, TradingView Pro)
• $50-$150/month for data feeds (CME, ICE, real-time quotes)
• $100-$200+/month total before trading a single contract

AquaFutures bundles everything into one price: platform + data + unlimited trading for $114-$291.

Commission-Free Trading: Is It Actually Cheaper?

If you're a high-volume trader: Yes. AquaFutures' flat fee beats retail commission costs above ~60 round trips/month.

If you're a low-volume trader: Maybe not. If you only trade 10-20 times per month, you'd pay $20-$40 in retail commissions vs $114 at AquaFutures.

But there's a bigger factor: You're not trading your own capital at AquaFutures. You're trading their capital.

Retail broker costs:

• $200/month in commissions
• $10,000+ of your own capital at risk
• You keep 100% of profits

AquaFutures costs:

• $114/month subscription
• $0 of your own capital at risk (after subscription)
• You keep 90-100% of profits after profit split

Even if AquaFutures' subscription is slightly more expensive than retail commissions, you're not risking $10,000-$50,000 of your own money. That's the real value proposition.

Commission Costs vs Subscription Costs: Total Trading Expense

Let's calculate total trading costs for 6 months:

Scenario 1: Retail Broker

• Commissions: $200/month × 6 = $1,200
• Platform fees: $75/month × 6 = $450
• Capital at risk: $15,000 (your money)
• Total out-of-pocket: $1,650 + $15,000 capital

Scenario 2: AquaFutures (Pass in Month 2)

• Subscriptions: $114/month × 2 = $228
• Funded account: $0/month × 4 = $0
• Capital at risk: $0 (AquaFutures' capital)
• Total out-of-pocket: $228 + $0 capital

Even if you include the subscription cost, you're risking zero capital and paying dramatically less in fees.

Do Commissions Apply to Instant Funded Accounts?

No. Instant funded accounts ($291 one-time) include unlimited commission-free trading forever.

You pay $291 once, trade as much as you want, and never pay another penny in fees—no monthly subscriptions, no per-trade commissions, no platform fees.

Instant cost breakdown:

• Upfront: $291
• Monthly: $0
• Per-trade: $0
• Total first year: $291

Compare to retail:

• Upfront: $0
• Monthly: $200 (commissions) + $75 (platform) = $275/month
• Per-trade: Already counted in monthly
• Total first year: $3,300

Instant funded accounts are dramatically cheaper than retail trading if you're active for a full year.

For Instant account details, see the Instant funded guide.

What About Slippage and Spread Costs?

Slippage and spread aren't commissions, but they're real trading costs.

Slippage: The difference between your intended execution price and actual fill. On fast-moving markets, you might intend to buy ES at 5200.00 but get filled at 5200.25 (0.25 points = $12.50 slippage per contract).

Spread: The difference between bid and ask. On ES during liquid hours, the spread is typically 1 tick (0.25 points = $12.50). On less liquid contracts or during off-hours, spreads widen.

These costs exist at both retail brokers and AquaFutures. You're trading the same markets through the same exchanges. Slippage and spread are market conditions—not AquaFutures-specific costs.

Ways to reduce slippage:

• Use limit orders instead of market orders
• Trade during liquid hours (9:30am-4:00pm ET)
• Avoid trading during major news events when spreads widen

How Do AquaFutures Commissions Compare to Other Prop Firms?

All major futures prop firms use commission-free trading. The difference is in upfront/monthly costs, not per-trade fees.

For firm comparisons, see AquaFutures vs Topstep and AquaFutures vs Apex.

Do You Pay Commissions When You Withdraw Profits?

No. Withdrawals are commission-free. When you request a payout, AquaFutures transfers the full amount (minus their profit split) to your bank account with no withdrawal fees.

Withdrawal costs:

• Wire transfer fee: $0 (AquaFutures covers this)
• Withdrawal processing fee: $0
• Currency conversion fee: May apply for non-USD withdrawals (check with AquaFutures)

The only "cost" is the profit split: AquaFutures keeps 0-10% depending on your total profit level. But that's not a commission—it's the business model.

Real Cost Example: 6-Month Trading Journey

Trader passes AquaFutures Beginner in Month 2, trades funded account for 4 months:

Month 1-2 (Evaluation):

• Cost: $114 × 2 = $228
• Commissions: $0
• Total: $228

Month 3-6 (Funded Trading):

• Monthly fees: $0
• Per-trade commissions: $0
• Platform fees: $0
• Total: $0

6-Month Total Cost: $228

Same trader at retail broker (200 round trips/month):

Month 1-6:

• Commissions: $400/month (200 RT × $2) × 6 = $2,400
• Platform fees: $75/month × 6 = $450
• Capital at risk: $15,000+
• Total: $2,850 + $15,000 capital

Even including the evaluation cost, AquaFutures is $2,622 cheaper—and you're not risking your own capital.

Are There Any Situations Where Retail Commissions Are Cheaper?

Yes—if you're a very light trader (under 30 round trips/month) and you're trading with small capital ($2,000-$5,000).

Low-volume retail scenario:

• 20 round trips/month × $2 commission = $40/month
• Platform: Free tier (TradingView or broker-provided)
• Total: $40/month

AquaFutures Beginner:

• $114/month (regardless of volume)

If you're only trading 20 times per month, retail might be cheaper by $74/month.

But consider:

• You're risking your own capital ($2,000-$5,000)
• You can't scale beyond your account size
• One bad month wipes out your capital

AquaFutures lets you trade $50,000 while risking only $114. Even if it's slightly more expensive, the leverage and capital efficiency make it worthwhile.

Hidden Opportunity Cost: Subscription Fees While Evaluating

The real "cost" of AquaFutures isn't commissions—it's the monthly subscription while you're still evaluating.

If it takes you 6 months to pass your evaluation:

• Cost: $114 × 6 = $684
• You haven't made any money yet (evaluations don't pay)
• You've invested $684 for the opportunity to trade funded capital

Compare to retail: You could have used that $684 as trading capital and kept 100% of profits.

This is why passing quickly matters. The faster you pass (ideally 2-3 months), the less you pay in subscription fees before going profitable.

For strategies to pass faster, see the evaluation rules guide.

Final Thoughts: Commission-Free Trading Is Real, But There Are Still Costs

AquaFutures' commission-free trading is legitimate—you're not charged per contract, per trade, or per month once you're funded.

But "commission-free" doesn't mean "free":

• You pay $114-$291 upfront (subscription or Instant)
• You split profits 90/10 with AquaFutures (after first $15K at 100%)
• You invest time passing evaluations (which don't generate income)

If you're an active trader who can pass evaluations in 2-3 months, AquaFutures is dramatically cheaper than retail brokers ($228 one-time cost vs $2,000-$4,000/year in retail commissions and fees).

If you're a light trader (under 30 trades/month) or you can't pass evaluations quickly (6+ months), retail brokers might be more cost-effective.

The decision isn't just about commissions—it's about capital efficiency, risk management, and whether you can maintain the discipline to pass evaluations and stay funded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does AquaFutures charge commissions per trade?

No. AquaFutures includes unlimited commission-free trading in your monthly subscription ($114-$196) or one-time Instant payment ($291). You're not charged per contract or per trade—trading is unlimited at no additional cost.

Are there hidden fees at AquaFutures?

No. The monthly subscription or Instant payment covers everything: platform access, data feeds, unlimited trading, and evaluation processing. There are no exchange fees, regulatory fees, or platform license fees charged separately.

How much do retail futures brokers charge in commissions?

Discount brokers: $1-$2 per round trip (entry + exit). Mid-tier brokers: $3-$5 per round trip. Full-service brokers: $6-$10 per round trip. An active trader doing 100-200 round trips/month pays $200-$1,000/month in retail commissions.

Do I pay commissions on funded accounts?

No. Once you pass your evaluation and transition to funded, you trade commission-free forever with no monthly subscription. The only "cost" is the profit split (AquaFutures keeps 0-10% depending on profit level).

Are there fees when I withdraw profits?

No. Withdrawals are commission-free. AquaFutures transfers your payout to your bank account with no wire transfer fees or withdrawal processing fees. The only deduction is the profit split (already calculated before payout).

Is commission-free trading cheaper than retail brokers?

If you're an active trader (60+ round trips/month), yes. AquaFutures' $114 flat fee is cheaper than $120-$600/month in retail commissions. If you're a light trader (under 30 round trips/month), retail might be $40-$60 cheaper monthly—but you're risking your own capital.

Do platform fees or data fees eat into profits?

No. Platform access and real-time data feeds are included in your subscription or Instant payment. With retail brokers, you might pay $50-$150/month extra for these services. AquaFutures bundles everything into one price.

What's the total cost to get funded at AquaFutures?

If you pass in 2 months: $228 (Beginner) or $392 (Standard). If you pass in 4 months: $456 or $784. Most traders pass by Month 2-3 ($228-$456 total cost). After that, you trade funded with zero monthly fees or commissions.

Your Next Steps

‍👉 Start Trading at Aquafutures Today

‍👉 Read My Full Aquafutures Review

‍👉 Check out Aquafutures´s Payout Rules

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