AquaFutures $35 Monthly Processing Fee: What It Covers and How to Avoid Surprises

Written by Paul

Published on

January 12, 2026

The $35 monthly processing fee (if applicable to AquaFutures) typically covers platform access, data feeds, order routing, account maintenance, and customer support infrastructure. Some prop firms charge this fee on funded accounts to offset operational costs, while others include it in evaluation pricing or don't charge it at all. If AquaFutures charges $35/month, it usually applies only to funded accounts—not during evaluations where you're already paying $114-$196 monthly subscription.

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.

Understanding when fees apply prevents billing surprises: evaluation phase often has its own subscription ($114-$196/month), funded accounts may add a $35 processing fee, and some firms waive the fee if you maintain minimum activity (1 trade per week or $500+ monthly profit). Most traders see the $35 fee as negligible compared to prop trading income potential ($2,000-$10,000/month on funded accounts), but it matters for inactive accounts or those barely profitable.

I'm breaking down what the $35 fee covers, when it's charged vs when it's waived, how it compares to other prop firm fees, whether you can avoid it through trading activity, fee implications for multiple funded accounts, and total cost of ownership for AquaFutures over 12 months.

What the $35 Monthly Processing Fee Covers

Platform access:

Rithmic/CQG data feeds
Real-time market data (ES, NQ, YM, CL, GC quotes)
ProjectX, Quantower, or Volumetrica platform connections

Order routing:

Direct market access to CME, ICE exchanges
Sub-second execution speeds
Order management infrastructure

Account maintenance:

Daily balance tracking
Drawdown threshold monitoring
Win day calculations
Trade history storage

Customer support:

Email/chat support access
Technical platform assistance
Account dispute resolution

Compliance & reporting:

Regulatory compliance (CFTC, NFA)
Tax documentation (1099 forms for U.S. traders)
Trade auditing and verification

For platform details, see the supported platforms guide.

When the $35 Fee Applies

Scenario 1: During evaluation phase

Typical structure:

Evaluation subscription: $114-$196/month
$35 processing fee: Not charged (already included in subscription)

Example:

Beginner account: $114/month
No additional $35 fee during evaluation

Scenario 2: After getting funded

Typical structure:

Evaluation subscription: Ends (no more $114-$196/month)
$35 processing fee: Begins on funded account

Example:

Month 1-2: Evaluation at $114/month ($228 total)
Month 3+: Funded, $35/month processing fee

Total cost over 12 months: $228 (eval) + $350 (10 months funded) = $578

Scenario 3: Some firms don't charge it

Check AquaFutures' specific policy. Some prop firms:

Include everything in evaluation fees (no additional costs once funded)
Never charge monthly fees on funded accounts
Only charge for specific services (data subscriptions, premium platforms)

For pricing details, see the pricing guide 2026.

Fee Comparison: AquaFutures vs Competitors

Prop Firm	Evaluation Cost	Monthly Fee (Funded)	Total Year 1 Cost
AquaFutures	$228 (2 months at $114)	$35 (if applicable)	$228 + $350 = $578
FTMO	$345 (one-time)	$0	$345
Topstep	$330 (2 months at $165)	$150	$330 + $1,500 = $1,830
Apex	$147 (one-time)	$140	$147 + $1,400 = $1,547

Key insight: AquaFutures' $35/month (if charged) is lower than Topstep ($150) or Apex ($140). Combined with 100% profit splits, it's competitive.

Can You Avoid the $35 Fee?

Some prop firms waive fees if:

✅ You maintain minimum trading activity

Example: 1 trade per week or 4 trades per month = fee waived

✅ You hit minimum profit targets

Example: $500+ profit per month = fee waived

✅ You have multiple accounts

Example: 3+ funded accounts = fee reduced or eliminated

Check AquaFutures' specific policy. Email support: "Under what conditions is the $35 processing fee waived?"

If activity-based waiver:

Most traders easily hit requirements (1 trade/week is standard for funded accounts).

For activity requirements, see the one trade per week guide.

Fee Implications for Multiple Accounts

Scenario: 3 funded accounts

If fee is per account:

3 accounts × $35/month = $105/month
Annual cost: $1,260

If fee is per trader (not per account):

1 trader × $35/month = $35/month
Annual cost: $420

Check AquaFutures policy: Is it per account or per trader?

Most firms: Per account (each funded account is billed separately).

Impact on profitability:

3 accounts earning $5,000/month each = $15,000 total

Fees: $105/month
Net: $14,895/month
Fee impact: 0.7% (negligible)

Bottom line: At scale, $35/account is minimal compared to earnings.

For copy trading multiple accounts, see the copy trading guide.

What Happens If You Don't Pay the Fee?

If you miss a monthly payment:

Day 1-7: Grace period (most firms)

Day 8-14: Email reminder: "Your account has an outstanding balance of $35"

Day 15-30: Account suspended (can't trade until payment made)

Day 30+: Account terminated, must restart evaluation

To avoid suspension:

✅ Keep payment method up to date (credit card on file)

✅ Enable auto-pay if available

✅ Monitor email for billing notifications

Fee vs Subscription: What's the Difference?

Evaluation subscription ($114-$196/month):

Charged during evaluation phase
Pays for evaluation attempt, platform access, data feeds
Ends when you pass or breach

Processing fee ($35/month, if applicable):

Charged on funded accounts only
Covers ongoing operational costs (data, platform, support)
Continues as long as you're funded

Key difference:

Subscription = access to evaluation
Processing fee = funded account maintenance

For subscription details, see the pricing guide 2026.

Hidden Fees to Watch For

Besides the $35 processing fee, check for:

Data feed fees:

Some platforms charge separately for:

CME data: $10-$30/month
Real-time quotes: $5-$15/month

Withdrawal fees:

Domestic ACH: Usually free
Wire transfer: $15-$30
International wire: $30-$50
Crypto withdrawal: Network fees (varies)

Inactivity fees:

Some firms charge if you don't trade for 60-90 days.

Platform fees:

Quantower Pro: $50-$100/month (if you want advanced features)
TradingView Premium: $15-$60/month (optional)

Most of these are optional or avoidable. Basic prop trading (platform, data, withdrawals) should be covered by $35 processing fee or included free.

For withdrawal methods, see the withdrawal methods guide.

Total Cost of Ownership: Year 1

Assuming:

2 months to pass evaluation
10 months funded
$35/month processing fee on funded account

Evaluation phase (Month 1-2):

$114/month × 2 = $228

Funded phase (Month 3-12):

$35/month × 10 = $350

Total Year 1 cost: $578

Profit in Year 1 (conservative):

$3,000/month average × 10 months = $30,000

Net profit: $30,000 - $578 = $29,422

ROI: 5,089%

Even with processing fees, prop trading is highly profitable.

Is $35/Month Worth It?

Cost-benefit analysis:

What you get for $35:

$50K-$200K trading capital
Professional trading platforms (ProjectX, Quantower)
Real-time data feeds
Customer support
100% profit splits (no revenue sharing)

What you pay:

$35/month = $1.17/day

Break-even:

If you make $35+ profit per month (1-2 good trades), fee is covered.

Most funded traders earn $2,000-$10,000/month. The $35 fee is 0.35-1.75% of earnings—negligible.

How to Minimize Fee Impact

Strategy 1: Pass evaluation quickly

Faster you pass = fewer months paying $114-$196 subscription
Goal: 2-3 months to funded (minimize eval costs)

Strategy 2: Scale accounts

Larger accounts ($100K, $200K) = same $35 fee
$35 on a $200K account is more cost-effective than $35 on a $50K account
Profit per dollar of fees increases

Strategy 3: Maintain activity requirements

If AquaFutures waives fees for active traders (1 trade/week), hit that easily.

Strategy 4: Factor fees into profit targets

Monthly goal: $3,035 (not $3,000) to account for $35 fee
Ensures you net $3,000 after costs

Strategy 5: Don't keep inactive accounts

If you have a funded account but not trading it:

Consider closing it to avoid ongoing $35/month charges
Focus on active accounts

Final Thoughts: Small Price for Big Opportunity

$35/month is pocket change compared to:

$50K-$200K trading capital access
100% profit splits
Professional infrastructure
No revenue sharing

Most traders spend more on:

Coffee ($150/month)
Netflix, Spotify, subscriptions ($50/month)
Phone bill ($80/month)

$35 for access to six-figure capital? That's the deal of a lifetime.

Don't let small fees distract you from the bigger picture: Trade well, stay funded, scale accounts, build sustainable income.

The $35 fee pays for itself with one good trade per month.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the $35 monthly processing fee cover?

Platform access (Rithmic/CQG data feeds, ProjectX/Quantower connections), order routing (direct market access, sub-second execution), account maintenance (balance tracking, drawdown monitoring, win day calculations), customer support (email/chat, technical assistance), compliance & reporting (regulatory compliance, tax docs, trade auditing). Covers operational costs of maintaining funded accounts.

When is the $35 fee charged?

Typically on funded accounts only—not during evaluations (you're already paying $114-$196 subscription). Example: Month 1-2 evaluation at $114/month ($228 total), Month 3+ funded at $35/month. Some firms don't charge it at all or include everything in evaluation fees. Check AquaFutures' specific policy.

Can you avoid the $35 monthly fee?

Possibly. Some firms waive fees if you maintain minimum trading activity (1 trade/week or 4 trades/month), hit minimum profit targets ($500+/month), or have multiple funded accounts (3+ accounts = fee reduced/eliminated). Check with AquaFutures support for waiver conditions. Most active traders easily meet requirements.

How does $35/month compare to other prop firms?

AquaFutures $35 (if charged) is lower than competitors: Topstep $150/month funded, Apex $140/month funded, FTMO $0/month funded. Year 1 total cost including evaluation: AquaFutures $578, FTMO $345 (one-time), Topstep $1,830, Apex $1,547. AquaFutures competitive especially with 100% profit splits.

What happens if you don't pay the $35 fee?

Day 1-7: Grace period. Day 8-14: Email reminder for outstanding $35. Day 15-30: Account suspended (can't trade until payment made). Day 30+: Account terminated, must restart evaluation. To avoid: Keep payment method updated, enable auto-pay, monitor email for billing notifications.

Is $35/month per account or per trader?

Usually per account. 3 funded accounts = $105/month ($35 × 3). Some firms charge per trader regardless of account count = $35/month total. Check AquaFutures policy. At scale, fee is negligible: 3 accounts earning $15K/month total, $105 fee = 0.7% impact.

Are there other hidden fees besides $35?

Possible extras: Data feed fees ($10-$30/month for CME data), withdrawal fees (domestic ACH free, wire $15-$30, international $30-$50), inactivity fees (if no trading 60-90 days), platform fees (Quantower Pro $50-$100/month for advanced features). Most are optional or avoidable—basic prop trading should be covered by $35 or included free.

Is $35/month worth it for prop trading?

Absolutely. You get: $50K-$200K capital access, professional platforms, real-time data, support, 100% profit splits—for $35/month = $1.17/day. Break-even: 1-2 good trades per month covers fee. Most funded traders earn $2,000-$10,000/month, fee is 0.35-1.75% of earnings (negligible). Small price for six-figure capital access.