Head-to-Head Comparison

Aqua Funded vs Darwinex Zero (2026): Which Prop Firm Is Better?

We compare Aqua Funded against Darwinex Zero across challenge fees, profit splits, platforms, rules, and payout speed. Read our data-driven breakdown to find out which funded account provider suits your trading style in 2026.

Aqua Funded

7.9/10

90% standard, 100% with the paid checkout add-on split·Up to $400,000 (Instant; One Step and Two Step cap at $200,000)

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Darwinex Zero

8.1/10

15% performance fees on allocated capital (Darwinex collects 20% performance and 1.2% management fees; the trader receives 15%). Not comparable to a funded-account profit split. split·Up to No single cap. Boosters at EUR 25K/50K/100K/200K stack to EUR 500K concurrently; Permanent Allocations at EUR 25K/50K/100K; at GOLD the DARWIN opens to uncapped third-party investor capital

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Our Verdict

Both Aqua Funded and Darwinex Zero are strong prop trading firms with distinct strengths. Aqua Funded is best for forex traders, while Darwinex Zero excels for forex traders. Your choice should depend on whether you prioritize now included as a full live review page in the prop-firm catalog or now included as a full live review page in the prop-firm catalog.

Which is better, Aqua Funded or Darwinex Zero?

Quick Comparison

Metric	Aqua Funded	Darwinex Zero	Winner
Founded	2024	2020	Draw
Overall Rating	7.9/10	8.1/10	Darwinex Zero
Profit Split	90% standard, 100% with the paid checkout add-on	15% performance fees on allocated capital (Darwinex collects 20% performance and 1.2% management fees; the trader receives 15%). Not comparable to a funded-account profit split.	Aqua Funded
Max Account Size	$400,000 (Instant; One Step and Two Step cap at $200,000)	No single cap. Boosters at EUR 25K/50K/100K/200K stack to EUR 500K concurrently; Permanent Allocations at EUR 25K/50K/100K; at GOLD the DARWIN opens to uncapped third-party investor capital	Aqua Funded
Lowest Challenge Fee	$36	$50	Aqua Funded
Payout Frequency	Bi-weekly, first reward after 7 days (on-demand available as an add-on)	On demand, paid within one business day (DarwinIA allocations are awarded monthly, which is a separate cycle)	Draw
Minimum Payout	$100	EUR 100	Draw
Platforms	MT5, Match-Trader	MT5, MT4, TradingView	Darwinex Zero
Instruments	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, ETFs, Futures	Darwinex Zero
Challenge Types	4	1	Aqua Funded
Headquarters	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	London, United Kingdom	Draw

Aqua Funded vs Darwinex Zero: Challenge Fees Compared

Aqua Funded offers 6 account tiers with fees starting from $36. Darwinex Zero counters with 6 options starting from $50. Aqua Funded is the more affordable entry point. Remember to also factor in profit split, drawdown rules, and payout speed when evaluating total value.

Aqua Funded Fees

$5,000$36

$10,000$89

$25,000$139

$50,000$299

$100,000$469

$200,000$947

Darwinex Zero Fees

Monthly — Forex & CFDs / Stocks & ETFs / Crypto$50/month

Yearly — Forex & CFDs / Stocks & ETFs / Crypto$480/year ($40/month)

3 years — Forex & CFDs / Stocks & ETFs / Crypto$1,260 ($35/month)

Monthly — Futures (includes $6/mo data feed)$56/month

Yearly — Futures$552/year

3 years — Futures$1,476

Trading Rules: Aqua Funded vs Darwinex Zero

Understanding the rules is critical before purchasing any challenge. Aqua Funded enforces a max drawdown of 8% and daily drawdown of 5%, with a profit target of 8% / 5%. Darwinex Zero sets a max drawdown at Not applicable and daily drawdown at Not applicable, requiring traders to hit Not applicable. Stricter drawdown limits typically indicate a more conservative risk approach.

Rule	Aqua Funded	Darwinex Zero
Max Drawdown	8%	Not applicable
Daily Drawdown	5%	Not applicable
Profit Target	8% / 5%	Not applicable
Profit Split	90% standard, 100% with the paid checkout add-on	15% performance fees on allocated capital (Darwinex collects 20% performance and 1.2% management fees; the trader receives 15%). Not comparable to a funded-account profit split.

Platform & Tools Comparison

Aqua Funded supports MT5, Match-Trader. Darwinex Zero provides access to MT5, MT4, TradingView. Darwinex Zero offers more platform variety.

MT5

Aqua: ✓Darwinex: ✓

Match-Trader

Aqua: ✓Darwinex: ✗

MT4

Aqua: ✗Darwinex: ✓

TradingView

Aqua: ✗Darwinex: ✓

Pros & Cons

Aqua Funded

Now included as a full live review page in the prop-firm catalog

Official website and tracked outbound routing are in place

Structured review fields are available for side-by-side comparison

Useful shortlist option for traders comparing newer firms like Aqua Funded

Some pricing and rule fields still rely on standardized capture

Program details can change quickly and should be confirmed on the official site

Historical payout and support data is lighter than on older legacy firms

Feature depth varies more by program than on the most established firms

Darwinex Zero

Now included as a full live review page in the prop-firm catalog

Official website and tracked outbound routing are in place

Structured review fields are available for side-by-side comparison

Useful shortlist option for traders comparing newer firms like Darwinex Zero

Some pricing and rule fields still rely on standardized capture

Program details can change quickly and should be confirmed on the official site

Historical payout and support data is lighter than on older legacy firms

Feature depth varies more by program than on the most established firms

Expert Analysis

When placing Aqua Funded and Darwinex Zero side-by-side, two distinct funded-account philosophies emerge. Aqua Funded, operating since 2024 out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has built its model around One Step and Two Step evaluations with a 90% standard, 100% with the paid checkout add-on profit split and accounts up to $400,000 (Instant; One Step and Two Step cap at $200,000). Their platform offering (MT5, Match-Trader) covers Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto. Darwinex Zero, headquartered in London, United Kingdom since 2020, takes a different approach with Subscription track-record model (DarwinIA) models, offering 15% performance fees on allocated capital (Darwinex collects 20% performance and 1.2% management fees; the trader receives 15%). Not comparable to a funded-account profit split. profit sharing on accounts up to No single cap. Boosters at EUR 25K/50K/100K/200K stack to EUR 500K concurrently; Permanent Allocations at EUR 25K/50K/100K; at GOLD the DARWIN opens to uncapped third-party investor capital. They support MT5, MT4, TradingView across Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, ETFs, Futures. The Bottom Line: If you value now included as a full live review page in the prop-firm catalog, Aqua Funded is the logical choice. If you prefer now included as a full live review page in the prop-firm catalog and want access to MT5, Darwinex Zero earns our recommendation.

Last reviewed:September 2, 2026

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By:BrokerAnalysis Research Desk

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Fact-checked by:BrokerAnalysis Editorial Team

Written by BrokerAnalysis Research Desk. Fact-checked by BrokerAnalysis Editorial Team. Data reflects provider disclosures and payouts verified as of 2026-09-02.

Sources & References

Our methodology for ranking trading providers— BrokerAnalysis
Editorial policy and research standards— BrokerAnalysis
Data sources used across reviews and comparisons— BrokerAnalysis
Aqua Funded review and rules— BrokerAnalysis
Darwinex Zero review and rules— BrokerAnalysis
BrokerAnalysis ranking methodology— BrokerAnalysis

Category Winners

Lowest Entry Cost

Aqua Funded

Based on the cheapest available challenge fee.

Highest Profit Split

Aqua Funded

Based on the maximum profit-sharing percentage.

Platform Variety

Darwinex Zero

Assessed by total number of supported trading platforms.

Market Coverage

Darwinex Zero

Determined by the number of tradeable instrument categories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aqua Funded better than Darwinex Zero?

Which prop firm has a higher profit split: Aqua Funded or Darwinex Zero?

Aqua Funded offers a 90% standard, 100% with the paid checkout add-on profit split, while Darwinex Zero offers 15% performance fees on allocated capital (Darwinex collects 20% performance and 1.2% management fees; the trader receives 15%). Not comparable to a funded-account profit split.. Aqua Funded gives traders a larger share of profits.

Which prop firm is cheaper: Aqua Funded or Darwinex Zero?

Aqua Funded's lowest challenge fee is $36, while Darwinex Zero starts at $50. Aqua Funded is the more affordable option.

What platforms do Aqua Funded and Darwinex Zero support?

Aqua Funded supports MT5, Match-Trader. Darwinex Zero supports MT5, MT4, TradingView.

Are Aqua Funded and Darwinex Zero legitimate prop firms?

Yes, both are legitimate prop trading firms. Aqua Funded was founded in 2024 and is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Darwinex Zero was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Always verify the latest terms on each firm's official website before purchasing a challenge.