Lucid Trading vs Elite Trader Funding – Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
Lucid Trading and Elite Trader Funding are both futures prop firms built around CME Group markets, which makes them direct competitors for traders who want funded access to contracts like ES, NQ, CL and GC. Lucid Trading funds $25K to $150K accounts on CME futures, keeps 90% (100% on first $10K, early LucidPro), and runs 1-Step (LucidFlex, LucidPro), with 15-minute average (fastest documented), Plaid, ADP, crypto. Elite Trader Funding, founded 2022 (United States) funds Multiple sizes (six evaluation pathways) accounts on CME futures, keeps up to 100%, and runs six pathways incl. Direct to Funded (instant), with standard processing. Lucid Trading is best for traders who prioritise payout speed, platform choice and proven scale, while Elite Trader Funding suits futures traders who want flexible evaluation pathways and the option to hold over weekends.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | — | 2022-02 |
| Profit Split | 90 | Up to 100% SIM (round/lifetime caps); 80% LIVE ELITE |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $250,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 for Pro/Flex/Daily; none for Direct | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8 | 3.8 |
| Expert Grade | 8.4 | 7.9 |
Program Types
| Program | Lucid Trading | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | 1-Step |
| Advanced Program | Yes | Diamond Hands |
| Scaling Options | Yes | No |
| Demo Account | — | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Lucid Trading | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 25k: $1250; 50k: $3000; 100k: $6000; 150k: $9000 | 6 |
| 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. | Plan-dependent: static, intraday or EOD trail; fixed breach floor remains after safety net |
| 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 | The Product Line — 1 Step Live Trailing: 5 The Product Line — Static: 5 The Product Line — End of Day: 5 The Product Line — Diamond Hands: 5 The Product Line — Fast Track: 3 The Product Line — Direct to Funded: None |
| 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 | — | The Product Line — 1 Step Live Trailing: None The Product Line — Static: None The Product Line — End of Day: Yes, from the prior day close The Product Line — Diamond Hands: Yes, from the prior day close The Product Line — Fast Track: None The Product Line — Direct to Funded: None |
| Drawdown Type | — | The Product Line — 1 Step Live Trailing: Intraday trailing, follows highest unrealised profit The Product Line — Static: Static, never trails The Product Line — End of Day: End-of-day trailing on the highest closing balance The Product Line — Diamond Hands: End-of-day trailing The Product Line — Fast Track: EOD trailing or static by variant, $500 floor The Product Line — Direct to Funded: EOD trailing on 10K, 25K and 50K, static on 100K |
| Time Limit | — | The Product Line — 1 Step Live Trailing: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line — Static: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line — End of Day: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line — Diamond Hands: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line — Fast Track: 10 calendar days The Product Line — Direct to Funded: None, one-time fee |
| Maximum Contracts | — | The Product Line — 1 Step Live Trailing: 8 (50K) / 14 (100K) / 24 (250K) minis; no limit published for 150K The Product Line — Static: 1 / 2 / 4 minis The Product Line — End of Day: 8 / 14 / 18 minis The Product Line — Diamond Hands: 2 minis The Product Line — Fast Track: 1 mini The Product Line — Direct to Funded: 2 (10K) / check dashboard (25K) / 5 (50K) / 3 (100K) minis |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Lucid Trading | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $10K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Static Drawdown / USD 147 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Fast Track EOD / USD 57 / One-time Official list price; no monthly renewal; funded activation is initially included, then USD 87 monthly. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Fast Track Static / USD 77 / One-time Official list price; no monthly renewal; funded activation is initially included, then USD 87 monthly. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Direct To Funded / USD 357 / One-time Official one-time list price; no monthly evaluation subscription. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $25K Account | Pro Eval / USD 135 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Static Drawdown / USD 277 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $50K Account | Pro Eval / USD 185 / One-time Official Lucid Trading Pro Eval list price before checkout coupon. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | 1 Step / USD 207 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Static Drawdown / USD 497 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 End of Day / USD 347 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Direct To Funded / USD 747 / One-time Official one-time list price; no monthly evaluation subscription. 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 | 1 Step / USD 257 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 End of Day / USD 487 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Diamond Hands / USD 397 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Direct To Funded / USD 997 / One-time Official one-time list price; no monthly evaluation subscription. 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 | 1 Step / USD 347 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Refund Policy | — | All sales final, no refunds. Narrow 100% satisfaction guarantee on first purchase only |
| Coupons / Discount | Lucid Trading discount | Elite Trader Funding discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, MotiveWave, Quantower, Tradesea, and 6 more | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic, R | Trader, ATAS, and 8 more |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | — | No |
Payout
| Feature | Lucid Trading | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | SIM Mon/Wed batches after plan-specific ATDs and safety net; minimum $100-$1,000 by plan/date. $25K per SIM round, $150K lifetime across approved re-entries. LIVE ELITE daily business-day processing, $250 minimum; Rise |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Lucid Trading | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Multiple plan configurations, Pro/Flex DLL on/off options, 10+ supported platforms, regional payout options, no funded consistency on Flex/Daily | Six distinct evaluation pathways, Diamond Hands overnight/weekend holding, Direct to Funded bypass, up to 100% profit split, $13M+ distributed |
| Weaknesses | Simulated funded accounts; plan-specific payout caps and buffers; Daily funded intraday drawdown and high-impact USD news restriction; live transition discretionary | 3.8/5 Trustpilot, futures-only, high ongoing costs, limited platform options |
| Best For | Futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures | Futures traders seeking multi-day holding flexibility and program variety |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Lucid Trading if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 135 and coverage of forex that the other does not offer. Choose Elite Trader Funding if a higher profit split, up to 100%, a larger funded ceiling at $250K and a shorter evaluation at 1 phase 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 Elite Trader Funding’s programs?
Elite Trader Funding distinguishes evaluation, Elite Sim-Funded and LIVE ELITE stages. Its revamped EOD plan requires at least five evaluation trading days. Elite Trader Funding official rules.
How do payouts differ between Lucid Trading and Elite Trader Funding?
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 revamped EOD guide describes Elite Sim payouts processed on Mondays and Wednesdays and Live Elite payouts on business days. Sim payout eligibility requires the safety net, active trading days, an active subscription and compliance review. Elite Trader Funding official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Lucid Trading and Elite Trader Funding?
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.
EOD drawdown trails the highest end-of-day balance, but open-position losses still count against intraday loss limits. Legacy accounts can have different payout and transition rules. Elite Trader Funding official rules.
Is Lucid Trading or Elite Trader Funding automatically the better choice?
No, neither firm is the automatic pick, and the honest answer depends on how you actually trade.
Lucid Trading Strengths: 15-minute average payout speed and Dual plans for different experience levels. Watch-outs: Max account size $150 and 000 smaller than competitors. Best suited to: Futures traders seeking rapid payouts and flexible challenge structures.
Elite Trader Funding Strengths: Six distinct evaluation pathways and Diamond Hands overnight/weekend holding. Watch-outs: 3.8/5 Trustpilot and futures-only. Best suited to: Futures traders seeking multi-day holding flexibility and program variety.
Which one wins for you depends on how each firm measures drawdown, what the account actually costs once resets and add-ons are included, and the evaluation objectives on the exact size you buy, rather than on the headline numbers. Check both sets of current terms before you fund an account.
Are Lucid Trading and Elite Trader Funding both futures-only?
Yes. Both fund traders on CME Group futures – index, energy, metals and currency contracts. Neither offers forex or CFD funded accounts, so the choice comes down to rules, platforms and payouts rather than markets.
Which firm pays out faster?
Lucid Trading offers 15-minute average (fastest documented), Plaid, ADP, crypto, while Elite Trader Funding offers standard processing. Match the payout cadence to how often you plan to withdraw.
Which firm has the better profit split?
Lucid Trading keeps 90% (100% on first $10K, early LucidPro), and Elite Trader Funding keeps up to 100%. The better deal depends on the account tier and how far you scale.
Does either firm offer instant funding?
Lucid Trading offers a skip-evaluation route (lucidPro can pass in a single trading day), while Elite Trader Funding offers one (direct to Funded – skip evaluation, sim-funded).
Which firm gives more platform choice?
Lucid Trading supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView via CQG, plus Sierra Chart, Quantower and other applications via Rithmic, while Elite Trader Funding supports NinjaTrader with Rithmic data feed.
How We Compared Lucid Trading and Elite Trader Funding
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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