Alpha Futures vs Lucid Trading – Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading are both CME futures specialists that have built a following among traders looking outside the crowded forex space, and on paper they line up closely: each funds accounts from $25K to $150K, each pays a 90% profit split, and neither imposes a hard time limit. The differences show up in scale, payout speed and how each structures its evaluations. Lucid Trading is the larger operation, with more than 50,000 funded traders, over $60M paid out, and what it documents as the fastest average payout in the industry at around 15 minutes, supported by Plaid, ADP and cryptocurrency withdrawals. It runs two plans, LucidFlex and LucidPro, on an unusually broad lineup of 10+ platforms including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, CQG, Rithmic, Sierra Chart and TradingView. Alpha Futures offers platforms including AlphaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower and DeepChart, with three account types, Standard, Zero and Advanced, and a single-step evaluation. Its standout is the Zero account, which swaps the usual end-of-day trailing drawdown for a single static maximum loss, a structure that suits swing and volatile strategies, and it carries no activation fee. Both firms apply consistency rules: Alpha caps any single day at 50% of the profit target, while Lucid uses a 50% consistency rule on LucidFlex and a 40% payout requirement on LucidPro. A trader who prioritises payout speed, platform choice and proven scale will lean toward Lucid Trading; one who wants a static-drawdown option and a tightly focused CQG setup will appreciate Alpha Futures.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Alpha Futures | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2024 (UK company 15655643; Trustpilot profile claimed July 2024) | Not available |
| Profit Split | 90% on most account types; 80% on Generic Live and 60% plus a salary on Alpha Prime | 90 |
| Maximum Account Size | 150000 per account | $150,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1, or none on Direct Qualified | 1 for Pro/Flex/Daily; none for Direct |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| Expert Grade | 8.5 | 8.4 |
Program Types
| Program | Alpha Futures | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Zero 25K at $89 per month | Yes |
| Advanced Program | Advanced 150K, or Direct Qualified 150K | Yes |
| Scaling Options | No scaling plan on Direct. Alpha Prime invite at $40,000 payable balance or 5 payout cycles. | Yes |
| Demo Account | Not available | Not available |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Alpha Futures | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Rules at a glance - Zero: 6% Rules at a glance - Standard: 6% Rules at a glance - Advanced: 8% Rules at a glance - Direct: Withdrawal target | 25k: $1250; 50k: $3000; 100k: $6000; 150k: $9000 |
| Maximum Drawdown | Rules at a glance - Zero: 3% to 4% Rules at a glance - Standard: 3% to 4% Rules at a glance - Advanced: 3.5% Rules at a glance - Direct: 3% to 4%, end of day | Pro/Flex EOD trailing: $1,000/$2,000/$3,000/$4,500 by 25K/50K/100K/150K; locks at start + $100. Breaches can occur intraday. Daily funded uses intraday trailing. |
| Minimum Trading Days | Rules at a glance - Zero: 1 Rules at a glance - Standard: 2 Rules at a glance - Advanced: 3 Rules at a glance - Direct: None | Pro evaluation: 1-day pass; Flex/Daily evaluation: 2-day pass path with 50% consistency; Flex funded payouts require 5 qualifying profitable days |
| News Trading | No news restriction on evaluations or Advanced Qualified, subject to prohibited practices. Zero, Standard and Direct Qualified: no order execution within 2 minutes before/after relevant high-impact events; holding allowed. | Plan-specific: Daily funded must be flat 1 minute before through 1 minute after high-impact USD red-folder events; violation is a hard breach. |
| Daily Loss Limit | Rules at a glance - Zero: Daily Loss Guard Rules at a glance - Standard: None Rules at a glance - Advanced: None Rules at a glance - Direct: Daily Loss Guard | Not available |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Alpha Futures | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $25K Account | Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / USD 89 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 1 minimum trading day, no consistency rule, Daily Loss Guard rather than a hard daily limit. Zero Qualified accounts block entries within 2 minutes of high-impact news. Resets $79 (25K), $119 (50K), $249 (100K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 349 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Pro Eval / USD 135 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $50K Account | Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / USD 139 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 1 minimum trading day, no consistency rule, Daily Loss Guard rather than a hard daily limit. Zero Qualified accounts block entries within 2 minutes of high-impact news. Resets $79 (25K), $119 (50K), $249 (100K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Standard Evaluation / USD 129 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 2 minimum trading days, 50% consistency rule, no Daily Loss Guard. Resets $109 (50K), $199 (100K), $289 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Advanced Evaluation / USD 209 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 8% profit target, 3 minimum trading days, 40% consistency rule, 3.5% maximum drawdown. No news restriction on the Qualified account. Resets $189 (50K), $319 (100K), $449 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 519 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Pro Eval / USD 185 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $100K Account | Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / USD 279 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 1 minimum trading day, no consistency rule, Daily Loss Guard rather than a hard daily limit. Zero Qualified accounts block entries within 2 minutes of high-impact news. Resets $79 (25K), $119 (50K), $249 (100K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Standard Evaluation / USD 239 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 2 minimum trading days, 50% consistency rule, no Daily Loss Guard. Resets $109 (50K), $199 (100K), $289 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Advanced Evaluation / USD 349 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 8% profit target, 3 minimum trading days, 40% consistency rule, 3.5% maximum drawdown. No news restriction on the Qualified account. Resets $189 (50K), $319 (100K), $449 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 689 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Pro Eval / USD 285 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $150K Account | Alpha Futures Standard Evaluation / USD 349 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 2 minimum trading days, 50% consistency rule, no Daily Loss Guard. Resets $109 (50K), $199 (100K), $289 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Advanced Evaluation / USD 489 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 8% profit target, 3 minimum trading days, 40% consistency rule, 3.5% maximum drawdown. No news restriction on the Qualified account. Resets $189 (50K), $319 (100K), $449 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 859 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Pro Eval / USD 370 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Refund Policy | No activation fee on Zero, Standard or Advanced. Resets priced separately per plan. A published return policy applies. | Not available |
| Coupons / Discount | Alpha Futures discount | Lucid Trading discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Alpha Futures | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | AlphaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower, DeepChart | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, MotiveWave, Quantower, Tradesea, and 6 more |
| Forex | Currency futures only, no spot FX | Yes |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Yes, equity and index futures | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes, including metals futures | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes, crypto futures | No |
| Bonds | Not listed | No |
| EA/Algo Trading | Not published on the pricing pages | Not available |
Payout
| Feature | Alpha Futures | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Zero/Standard/Advanced: 5 winning days of $200+, up to 4 monthly requests, up to 50% of profit. Qualified Zero/Standard require 40% consistency; Advanced none. Caps: Zero $1,000-$2,500; Standard $3,000-$5,000; Advanced $15,000. Direct: fresh-profit target each cycle, 20% consistency, no winning-day requirement, caps $1,000-$3,000. Trader receives 90% of request. | Plan-specific eligibility. Advertised average is not guaranteed delivery. Pro disburses within 2 business days after approval. Plaid: US; WorkMarket/ADP: US and international, bank or PayPal; crypto: international. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Alpha Futures | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Withdrawals do not automatically reset the MLL floor; remaining loss cushion still falls, Advanced Qualified payout cap up to $15,000 per request, Payouts processed within 48 business hours, UK company registered at Companies House rather than an offshore shell, Commission-free execution on the in-house AlphaTrader platform apart from regulatory fees, No news trading restrictions on any evaluation account or on Advanced Qualified, No activation fee and reset prices published next to each plan, Zero evaluation has no consistency rule and a one-day minimum | Multiple plan configurations, Pro/Flex DLL on/off options, 10+ supported platforms, regional payout options, no funded consistency on Flex/Daily |
| Weaknesses | The website advertises 4.9 on Trustpilot from 17,000+ reviews while its own profile shows 4.4 from 5,961, Sister brand Alpha Capital Group has its Trustpilot rating unavailable on the Trustpilot official website, Three of four account types bill monthly for as long as you hold the evaluation, Standard evaluation requires 50% consistency; Qualified Standard/Zero require 40%, Direct 20%, The 90% split drops to 80% or 60% once you qualify for Alpha Prime, Futures only, with no forex, stocks or CFDs, Direct has no scaling plan and a lower payout cap | Simulated funded accounts; plan-specific payout caps and buffers; Daily funded intraday drawdown and high-impact USD news restriction; live transition discretionary |
| Best For | Futures traders who value EOD trailing drawdown and regular withdrawals, with plan-specific payout conditions | Futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Alpha Futures if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 89 and coverage of cryptocurrencies that the other does not offer. Choose Lucid Trading if you are futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures. Neither firm is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on your strategy, your budget and the instruments you trade, so read both full reviews before you commit. Verify current rules and pricing on each firm’s own site before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I know about Alpha Futures’s programs?
Alpha Futures distinguishes Standard, Advanced, Zero and Direct qualified accounts. Direct skips the evaluation but has separate withdrawal targets. Alpha Futures official rules.
What should I know about Lucid Trading’s programs?
Lucid Trading has different account products. LucidDirect is an instant-funded arrangement with its own payout objectives. Lucid Trading official rules.
How do payouts differ between Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading?
The policy lists a 90% trader share. Evaluation-to-qualified plans require five winning days of at least $200 between requests and allow up to 50% of account profit, subject to plan caps. Alpha Futures official rules.
LucidDirect lists a 90% trader share and a $500 minimum request. Requests can be made any day after the profit goal and other conditions are satisfied, subject to account-size and payout-cycle caps. Lucid Trading official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading?
Standard and Zero apply a 40% payout consistency rule; Advanced does not. Direct instead has a 20% consistency rule and account-size profit targets, without the same winning-day requirement. Alpha Futures official rules.
LucidDirect requires the largest winning day to be no more than 20% of the cycle’s profit. The consistency and profit-goal requirements reset after each approved payout. Lucid Trading official rules.
Is Alpha Futures or Lucid Trading automatically the better choice?
No. The two firms lead on different things: Alpha Futures has the cheaper entry at USD 89 and market access the other lacks, namely cryptocurrencies, while Lucid Trading is built for futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures. Which of those matters more depends on how you actually trade, so compare how each firm measures drawdown, the total fee once add-ons and resets are included and platform availability, rather than the headline numbers. If you fail an evaluation, do not assume either firm offers a fixed reset discount: check the reset terms for the specific account you bought.
How We Compared Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading
Both firms carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10, scored on the same nine weighted factors, led by payout reliability at 20%, then fee structure, drawdown rules and profit split at 15% each. The scores come from our own firm reviews, built from each firm’s current terms rather than its marketing pages and re-checked at least every 90 days. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold. The tables above are the evidence behind those scores. Read our full ranking methodology.
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