Lucid Trading vs Topstep – Prop Firm Comparison
Published: · Last updated:
By JoinProp
Introduction
Lucid Trading and Topstep are both CME futures firms, but they appeal to opposite instincts: Lucid sells speed and scale, while Topstep sells heritage and education. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, invented the Trading Combine evaluation that the industry later copied and has grown a community of 150,000+ traders with a deep educational ecosystem. Lucid Trading is the newer high-volume challenger, with 50,000+ funded traders, $60M+ paid out and the fastest average payout in the space at around 15 minutes, including cryptocurrency withdrawals. Both fund CME index, energy and metals contracts and both pay up to a 90% profit split, but the structures differ. Topstep runs its Trading Combine on $50K to $150K accounts with a trailing drawdown and an emphasis on consistency and coaching. Lucid funds $25K to $150K accounts through two plans, LucidFlex, which needs five qualifying days, and LucidPro, which can be passed in a single day, both using static max-loss limits. Platform choice is broader at Lucid, which supports 10+ platforms including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, CQG and Rithmic, while Topstep centres on its own TopstepX, with Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts. On payouts, Lucid’s 15-minute model and crypto options outpace Topstep’s standard schedule. A trader who values the most established Combine model, structured education and a proven brand will choose Topstep; one who wants the fastest payouts, a lower entry point and the widest platform choice will prefer Lucid Trading.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | Not available | 2012 |
| Profit Split | 90 | 90% trader share; first-$10,000 lifetime-profit exception for traders who joined the new dashboard before Jan 12, 2026 |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 for Pro/Flex/Daily; none for Direct | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8 | 3.4 |
| Expert Grade | 8.4 | 9 |
Program Types
| Program | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | Yes | Not available |
| Scaling Options | Yes | No |
| Demo Account | Not available | No |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 25k: $1250; 50k: $3000; 100k: $6000; 150k: $9000 | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: 3,000 Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: 6,000 Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: 9,000 |
| Maximum Drawdown | 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. | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 |
| Minimum Trading Days | Pro evaluation: 1-day pass; Flex/Daily evaluation: 2-day pass path with 50% consistency; Flex funded payouts require 5 qualifying profitable days | Trading Combine can pass in as few as 2 days, subject to 55% consistency; funded payout paths have separate day requirements |
| News Trading | 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. | Yes |
| Daily Loss Limit | Not available | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: Optional (1,000) Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: Optional (2,000) Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: Optional (3,000) |
| Maximum Contracts | Not available | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: 5 (50 micros) Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: 10 (100 micros) Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: 15 (150 micros) |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $25K Account | Pro Eval / USD 135 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $50K Account | Pro Eval / USD 185 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Trading Combine / USD 49 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $100K Account | Pro Eval / USD 285 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Trading Combine / USD 99 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price; tier was marked temporarily on hold when verified. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $150K Account | Pro Eval / USD 370 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Trading Combine / USD 199 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-09-27 |
| Refund Policy | Not available | Not available |
| Coupons / Discount | Lucid Trading discount | Topstep discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, MotiveWave, Quantower, Tradesea, and 6 more | TopstepX; Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts |
| Forex | Yes | Currency futures, not spot Forex |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Not available | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | 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. | $125 minimum; eligibility by funded-account path, not a bi-weekly schedule. XFA Standard: 5 winning days of $150+; XFA Consistency: 3 trading days and 40% consistency. Balance limits, account caps and method availability apply. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Multiple plan configurations, Pro/Flex DLL on/off options, 10+ supported platforms, regional payout options, no funded consistency on Flex/Daily | Trading Combine has no maximum completion deadline while the subscription remains active; automated strategies permitted subject to rules; 90% current trader share; Standard or Consistency Express payout paths. Daily-loss-limit arrangements vary. |
| Weaknesses | Simulated funded accounts; plan-specific payout caps and buffers; Daily funded intraday drawdown and high-impact USD news restriction; live transition discretionary | Recurring Combine subscription; $149 XFA activation on Standard pricing path; futures-only; end-of-day trailing MLL can be breached intraday on unrealised losses |
| Best For | Futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Lucid Trading if you are futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures. Choose Topstep if a shorter evaluation at 1 phase, a cheaper entry, from USD 49 and coverage of 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 Topstep’s programs?
Topstep distinguishes Express Funded Account Standard and Consistency paths, followed by a separate Live Funded Account stage. Topstep official rules.
How do payouts differ between Lucid Trading and Topstep?
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.
The current payout policy lists a 90/10 split and a $125 minimum. Standard requires five winning days of $150 or more; Consistency requires three days and a 40% consistency target. Requests are subject to account-size caps. Topstep official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Lucid Trading and Topstep?
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.
Express payouts are generally limited to 50% of account balance up to the applicable cap. Legacy eligibility and optional daily-loss-limit arrangements can change the caps or split treatment. Topstep official rules.
Is Lucid Trading or Topstep automatically the better choice?
No, neither is the default pick. Lucid Trading is built for futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures, and Topstep has the shorter evaluation at 1 phase and the cheaper entry at USD 49. 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 Topstep
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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