AquaFutures Beginner Account: Complete 2026 Guide to Rules, Costs, and Requirements

If you're looking at AquaFutures to get funded, you're probably trying to figure out which account type fits your trading style. The Beginner account is their entry-level evaluation path—6% profit target, 2.5% daily loss limit, and a monthly subscription model that keeps your costs predictable.

I've dug into the specifics of this account type so you can decide if it's the right starting point for you. This isn't about hype—it's about understanding exactly what you're signing up for, what the rules really mean in practice, and whether this account aligns with how you actually trade.

Let's break down everything you need to know about the AquaFutures Beginner account.

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.

What Is the AquaFutures Beginner Account?

The Beginner account is AquaFutures' evaluation-based funding path designed for traders who want a lower profit target and tighter risk parameters. You're trading a simulated futures account during evaluation, and once you hit the 6% profit target while staying within all the rules, you get access to funded capital.

This isn't instant funding—you need to prove you can trade consistently first. But compared to other evaluation models, AquaFutures keeps it straightforward: one evaluation phase, clear rules, and if you pass, you're funded.

The Beginner account uses EOD (End-of-Day) trailing drawdown, which means your drawdown only updates at market close—not tick-by-tick. This gives you more breathing room during volatile intraday moves, which is critical if you're trading something like ES or NQ during news events.

AquaFutures Beginner Account Specifications

Here's the breakdown of what you get with the Beginner account across all available account sizes:

Notice that all account sizes share the same monthly fee—$114. Whether you're trading a $25K or $150K account, you're paying the same subscription cost. This is different from many firms that scale pricing with account size.

Breaking Down the Key Rules

The 6% Profit Target

You need to hit 6% profit to pass the evaluation. On a $50K account, that's $3,000. This is one of the lower profit targets in the prop firm space—some firms require 8-10%.

The lower target matters because it means fewer trading days, less market exposure, and less chance of hitting a drawdown violation before you reach the goal. If you're a conservative trader who averages 1-2% per week, you're looking at roughly 3-4 weeks to pass, assuming steady performance.

There's no minimum trading days requirement at AquaFutures, so you could theoretically hit 6% in a single day if you caught a strong move. But that brings us to the consistency rule.

The 40% Consistency Rule

This is where AquaFutures enforces trading discipline. No single trading day can account for more than 40% of your total profit. If you make $3,000 to hit your target, no single day can contribute more than $1,200.

Why does this matter? It prevents traders from taking one massive over-leveraged bet, getting lucky, and passing the evaluation. The consistency rule is AquaFutures' way of ensuring you can actually trade—not just gamble and win once.

In practice, this means you need at least 3 solid winning days to pass. If you hit the target in 3 days, each day can contribute roughly 33% max. More realistically, you'll spread profits over 5-10 trading days to stay well under the 40% threshold.

The 2.5% Daily Loss Limit

Here's the tightest rule on the Beginner account: you can't lose more than 2.5% of your starting balance in a single trading day. On a $50K account, that's $1,250.

This daily loss limit resets at 5pm EST when the futures market session ends. It's calculated from your starting balance—not your current balance. So if you're up $2,000 for the evaluation, you still can't lose more than $1,250 in a single day.

The daily loss limit is the most common way traders breach Beginner accounts. If you're trading ES with 3-4 contracts and catch a bad move, you can hit -$1,250 faster than you'd expect. This rule demands tight risk management and realistic position sizing.

If your trading style involves holding through drawdowns or averaging into losing positions, the 2.5% daily limit will be a problem. You need clean entries, tight stops, and the discipline to walk away if a session isn't working.

The 5% EOD Trailing Drawdown

Your maximum drawdown is 5% of your starting balance, but it's calculated at the end of each trading day—not in real-time. This is EOD (End-of-Day) trailing, which is more forgiving than intraday drawdown tracking.

Here's how it works: Let's say you start with a $50K account. Your max drawdown is $2,500. As you make profits, your drawdown threshold "trails" upward at the end of each day.

• Day 1: You make $1,000. Your new threshold is $51K - $2,500 = $48,500.
• Day 2: You give back $800 intraday and end at $50,200. Your drawdown updates EOD to $50,200 - $2,500 = $47,700.

The key advantage: if you're down $2,000 intraday but recover to breakeven by close, your drawdown never registers that $2,000 swing. You only "lock in" losses at session end.

For comparison, the Standard account has no daily loss limit but uses intraday trailing drawdown. The Beginner account's EOD structure is more beginner-friendly because it gives you more room to trade through volatility during the session.

Contract Limits and Position Sizing

The Beginner account allows 6 contracts on the $25K and $50K sizes, and 9 contracts on the $100K and $150K sizes. These limits apply to your maximum open position at any given time.

If you're trading ES, 6 contracts is $300 per point. On a typical 10-point move, that's $3,000—enough to hit your profit target on the $50K account in one trade. But it's also enough to wipe you out if you're on the wrong side.

Position sizing is where most traders screw this up. If you're trading with 6 contracts and you get stopped out for 5 points, that's -$1,500—already past the daily loss limit. You'd breach the account in one bad trade.

Smart position sizing on the Beginner account means scaling down. Trade 2-3 contracts max until you're consistently profitable. Then scale up as you build profits. The contract limits are there to protect you from yourself.

Costs and Pricing Structure

The Beginner account costs $114 per month. This is a subscription model—you pay monthly until you pass the evaluation and get funded.

If you pass in your first month, you're only out $114. If it takes you 3 months, you're at $342 total. Compare this to firms that charge $150-300 upfront for a one-time evaluation—you're risking less initially, but the clock is ticking each month.

Once you're funded, the monthly fee drops off. You're no longer paying for the evaluation; you're trading funded capital. AquaFutures charges a $35 monthly processing fee on funded accounts, but this is deducted from your profits—not paid upfront.

For a detailed breakdown of all costs across account types, check out the full AquaFutures pricing guide.

Funded Account Rules: What Changes After You Pass

Once you hit the 6% profit target and pass your evaluation, you transition to a funded account. A few rules change:

Profit Split: You keep 100% of your first $15,000 in lifetime profits, then 90% after that. This is one of the better splits in the industry—most firms start at 80-90% from day one.

Win Days: You need 5 profitable trading days before you can request your first payout. This prevents someone from getting lucky on day one and immediately withdrawing.

Minimum Payout: $250 minimum withdrawal on Beginner funded accounts.

Weekly Payouts: Once you hit the win day requirement, you can request payouts weekly. AquaFutures processes them via crypto (USDC), which means faster transfers than traditional bank wires.

The funded account rules are covered in detail in the AquaFutures payout process guide.

Who Should Choose the Beginner Account?

The Beginner account is built for traders who:

• Want a lower profit target. 6% is achievable in 3-5 weeks for most consistent traders. If you're averaging 1-2% weekly returns, this account fits your pace.
• Trade with tighter risk management. The 2.5% daily loss limit and 5% max drawdown require disciplined position sizing and stop losses. If you're comfortable trading smaller, this account rewards that approach.
• Prefer EOD drawdown tracking. The EOD trailing drawdown gives you breathing room during volatile sessions. If you trade through news or hold intraday swings, this structure protects you better than intraday tracking.
• Want predictable monthly costs. $114/month is easier to budget than a $300 one-time fee if you're not sure how long the evaluation will take.

This account is NOT ideal if:

• You regularly hold through -2% intraday drawdowns before recovering. The 2.5% daily limit will stop you out too often.
• You're an aggressive trader who swings for home runs. The 40% consistency rule will block you from passing with one massive winning day.
• You want to trade with full size immediately. 6-9 contracts is enough for most traders, but if you need 15+ contracts from day one, look at the Standard account instead.

For a direct comparison between these two evaluation paths, read AquaFutures Beginner vs Standard account.

Prohibited Strategies and Compliance

AquaFutures has a strict no-BS policy on prohibited strategies. Here's what will get your account flagged or terminated:

• Microscalping: Trades held for less than 30 seconds are flagged. Regular scalping (1-5 min holds) is fine, but HFT-style tick trading is banned.
• Coordinated trading: You can't sync trades across multiple accounts or trade in partnership with someone else. Each account must be independently managed.
• Automation: Full bots and EAs are not allowed. Semi-automated tools (like auto stop-loss or bracket orders) are fine, but you can't set-and-forget automated systems.
• Copy trading during evaluations: Copy trading between your own accounts is banned during the evaluation phase. Once funded, you can copy trades across your funded accounts.

AquaFutures monitors for these violations using trade pattern analysis. If you're flagged, they'll review manually. Most violations result in account termination without refund.

For the full list of what's banned, see the prohibited trading strategies guide.

Getting Started with the AquaFutures Beginner Account

If you've decided the Beginner account fits your style, here's the process:

1. Sign up on AquaFutures. Choose your account size ($25K, $50K, $100K, or $150K). All sizes cost $114/month.
2. Set up your trading platform. AquaFutures supports ProjectX, Quantower, and Volumetrica. No NinjaTrader or TradingView integration yet.
3. Start trading the evaluation. You can start immediately after payment clears. No waiting period.
4. Track your progress. Use the AquaFutures dashboard to monitor your profit, drawdown, daily loss, and consistency stats in real-time.
5. Pass the evaluation. Hit 6% profit without breaching any rules. Once you pass, you'll be contacted to set up your funded account.
6. Get funded and start withdrawing. After 5 win days on the funded account, you can request your first payout. Weekly payouts after that.

For a complete overview of what to expect as a trader at AquaFutures, including platform setup and payout timelines, check out the full AquaFutures review.

Final Thoughts: Is the Beginner Account Worth It?

The AquaFutures Beginner account is a solid entry point if you're looking for a lower profit target and you trade with tight risk management. The 6% target is realistic, the EOD trailing drawdown gives you breathing room, and the $114/month cost is predictable.

The daily loss limit is the main challenge. If you're used to holding through larger intraday swings, this account will feel restrictive. But if you're disciplined with stops and position sizing, the rules are fair.

What makes AquaFutures worth considering is the 100% profit split on your first $15K in payouts and weekly withdrawals once you're funded. Most firms take 10-20% from day one. AquaFutures lets you keep everything until you've pulled out $15K—that's rare in this industry.

If you're debating between the Beginner and Standard accounts, or wondering if instant funding makes more sense for your situation, spend some time comparing the account structures. The Beginner account is a good fit for most retail traders who want to prove they can trade consistently without taking massive risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to pass the AquaFutures Beginner evaluation?

There's no time limit. Most traders pass within 3-5 weeks if they're consistently profitable. If you're averaging 1-2% per week, expect 4-6 weeks. If you hit a hot streak, you could pass in under 2 weeks. The consistency rule prevents one-day passes.

Can I reset my Beginner account if I breach it?

Yes, you can reset a breached account. You'll need to pay the monthly subscription again and restart the evaluation from zero. Your previous progress doesn't carry over. If you breach multiple accounts quickly, it's a sign your position sizing or risk management needs work.

What happens if I hit the daily loss limit?

Your account is immediately breached and the evaluation ends. You can't trade your way out of a daily loss limit violation—it's a hard stop. This is why position sizing is critical on the Beginner account.

Can I trade news events on the AquaFutures Beginner account?

Yes, there are no news trading restrictions during the evaluation phase. Once you're funded, there's a 2-minute buffer around Tier-1 news events. You can hold positions through news, but you can't open new trades 2 minutes before or after major announcements like NFP or FOMC.

Is the 40% consistency rule hard to manage?

Not if you're trading normally. The rule is designed to stop gamblers, not traders. If you're spreading your profits over 5-10 trading days, you'll naturally stay under 40% per day. It only becomes an issue if you're trying to pass in 2-3 days with huge position sizes.

Can I have multiple Beginner accounts at the same time?

Yes, but you're limited to 3 funded accounts total across all account types. During evaluation, you can run as many accounts as you want. Once you pass, AquaFutures will put additional passing accounts "on hold" until a funded slot opens.

What platforms can I use with the Beginner account?

AquaFutures supports ProjectX, Quantower, and Volumetrica. NinjaTrader and TradingView are not supported. Most traders use ProjectX or Quantower depending on whether they prefer simplicity or advanced charting tools.

Do I need to trade every day to pass the evaluation?

No. There are no minimum trading days. You could trade 3 days per week or 5 days per week—it doesn't matter. The only activity requirement is on funded accounts: you need to take at least one trade per week to keep the account active.

Your Next Steps

‍👉 Start Trading at Aquafutures Today

‍👉 Read My Full Aquafutures Review

‍👉 Check out Aquafutures´s Payout Rules

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