Lucid Trading vs Apex Trader Funding – Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
Lucid Trading and Apex Trader are both CME futures specialists with loyal followings, and choosing between them often comes down to payout speed versus account size. Lucid Trading has built one of the largest communities in the space, with more than 50,000 funded traders and over $60M paid out, and it markets the fastest average payout in the industry at around 15 minutes, with Plaid, ADP and cryptocurrency withdrawals. Apex Trader, founded in Austin in 2021, is the larger and longer-established operation by raw volume, with more than 19,000 Trustpilot reviews and over $378M paid out, and it funds accounts up to $300K against Lucid’s $150K ceiling. Their evaluations take different shapes. Apex runs a single one-step challenge with a 6% target, a 7-day minimum and a trailing drawdown that locks at your starting balance. Lucid splits into two plans: LucidFlex, which needs five qualifying days and applies a 50% consistency rule, and LucidPro, which can be passed in a single trading day with no minimum. On profit split, Apex’s headline is higher, paying up to 100% (100% of the first $25,000, then 90/10), while Lucid pays a flat 90%, with early LucidPro accounts keeping 100% of the first $10,000. Lucid also wins on platform choice, supporting 10+ platforms including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, CQG, Rithmic and Sierra Chart, while Apex runs Tradovate, Rithmic, NinjaTrader and WealthCharts. A trader who prioritises payout speed and platform breadth will lean toward Lucid Trading; one who wants the largest accounts and the deepest track record will prefer Apex Trader.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | — | 2021 |
| Profit Split | 90 | 100% first $25,000, then 90/10 |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $300,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 2 | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8 | 4.4 |
| Expert Grade | 8.4 | 8.8 |
Program Types
| Program | Lucid Trading | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | Yes | Yes |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Yes |
| Demo Account | — | — |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Lucid Trading | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 25k: $1250; 50k: $3000; 100k: $6000; 150k: $9000 | 5-6% |
| Maximum Drawdown | Flex 25k: $1000; 50k: $2000; 100k: $3000; 150k: $4500 | Trailing drawdown (locks at starting balance) |
| Minimum Trading Days | Flex: 5; Pro: 1 | — |
| News Trading | — | Yes |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Lucid Trading | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| $25K Account | USD 135 / Pro Eval / One-time | USD 167 / Intraday Trail / One-time |
| $50K Account | USD 185 / Pro Eval / One-time | USD 249 / Intraday Trail / One-time |
| $100K Account | USD 285 / Pro Eval / One-time | USD 399 / Intraday Trail / One-time |
| $150K Account | USD 370 / Pro Eval / One-time | USD 599 / Intraday Trail / One-time |
| Coupons / Discount | Lucid Trading discount | Apex Trader Funding discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Sierra Chart, ATAS, Bookmap, Quantower, Jigsaw, MotiveWave, R|Trader Pro, MultiCharts | Tradovate, Rithmic, WealthCharts |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | — |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | — | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | 15-minute average via Plaid, ADP, or crypto | Bi-weekly (min 8 trading days between requests, 5 days with $50+ profit) |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Lucid Trading | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | 15-minute average payout speed, Dual plans for different experience levels, 10+ professional platforms, Crypto payout options, Large active community | $378M+ payouts verified, 17,800+ Trustpilot reviews, 20 simultaneous accounts, No daily loss limit, 100% profit on first $25K per account |
| Weaknesses | Max account size $150,000 smaller than competitors, LucidFlex payout caps on initial withdrawals, Futures-only, Daily loss limits on larger LucidPro accounts | 4:59 PM ET close requirement, 5:1 max risk-to-reward ratio, 30% consistency rule at payout, Learning curve for beginners |
| Best For | Futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures | Serious futures day traders seeking scalability and capital protection |
Key Differences Between Lucid Trading and Apex Trader
- Payout speed: Lucid documents ~15-minute payouts with Plaid, ADP and crypto; Apex pays bi-weekly within 24 hours.
- Track record: Apex has 19,000+ reviews and $378M+ paid since 2021; Lucid has 50,000+ traders and $60M+ paid, at 4.7/5 from 3,298 reviews.
- Account sizes: Apex funds up to $300K; Lucid tops out at $150K.
- Profit split: Apex pays up to 100% (100% of first $25K, then 90/10); Lucid pays 90%, with 100% on the first $10K for early LucidPro.
- Evaluation: Apex is a single one-step with a 7-day minimum; Lucid’s LucidPro passes in a single day while LucidFlex needs five qualifying days.
- Platforms: Lucid supports 10+ platforms; Apex runs Tradovate, Rithmic, NinjaTrader and WealthCharts.
- Drawdown: Apex uses a trailing drawdown locking at the starting balance; Lucid uses static max-loss limits.
- Consistency rules: Lucid applies 50% (LucidFlex) and 40% on payouts (LucidPro); Apex has no fixed consistency percentage.
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Lucid Trading if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 135. Choose Apex Trader Funding if a larger funded ceiling at $300K, a shorter evaluation at 1 phase and coverage of stocks and bonds that the other does not offer matter more to you. 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 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.
What should I know about Apex Trader’s programs?
Apex separates EOD Performance Accounts from other and legacy account types. Its current EOD payout policy should not be applied indiscriminately to older accounts. Apex Trader official rules.
How do payouts differ between Lucid Trading and Apex Trader?
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.
Current EOD approved requests have a 100% split and a $500 minimum. Eligibility requires five qualifying profitable days, account-size balance thresholds and the consistency condition. Apex Trader official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Lucid Trading and Apex Trader?
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.
No single winning day may represent 50% or more of cycle profit. Only profit above the safety net can be requested, per-request caps apply, and the Performance Account closes after six payouts. Apex Trader official rules.
Is Lucid Trading or Apex Trader automatically the better choice?
No. The two firms lead on different things: Lucid Trading has the cheaper entry at USD 135, while Apex Trader Funding has the larger funded ceiling at $300K and the shorter evaluation at 1 phase. 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 the evaluation objectives for the exact program you buy, 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 Lucid Trading and Apex Trader
Both firms on this page carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10. We produce that rating with the same 9-factor methodology we apply to every firm we review: payout reliability (20%), fee structure (15%), drawdown rules (15%), profit split (15%), evaluation terms (10%), trading rules (10%), support access and responsiveness (5%), scaling plan (5%), and track record and transparency (5%).
The inputs come from our firm reviews, not from this page. For each firm we work from the current terms and conditions rather than marketing pages, track rule and pricing changes over time, and read payout and support reports across Trustpilot, Reddit and Discord, looking for recurring patterns rather than isolated complaints. Every firm is re-checked at least every 90 days, or sooner after a material change. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold.
The tables above show the evidence behind those factors. A few rows, including trading platforms, available instruments, maximum account size and demo availability, are there to help you judge fit and do not affect either rating.
Read our full ranking methodology
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