Lucid Trading vs Topstep: rules and payouts side by side
Which costs less to reach a funded account?
$85
Topstep's cheapest funded $50K route; Lucid Trading states no price we can compare.
Read 19 Oct 2026 and 11 Nov 2026 · topstep.com · Link to this fact
Lucid Trading not stated · Topstep $85 · price plus activation fee, first-time pass judged
By Alexander Burnett (editor) Last updated Data read by our script
How we got this
How: Every value comes from the US Futures Prop Access Ledger: Lucid Trading's and Topstep's own pages, read by our script from a US network address on 19 October 2026 and 11 November 2026, with the firm's quote and the page address. How we checkHow we make moneyCorrections
Term by term from each firm's own pages, read 19 October 2026 and 11 November 2026. Facts in each firm's words: we don't rate firms or pick a winner.
Side by side: Lucid Trading and Topstep
Both state a 90% split; only Topstep publishes a payout rate
6 measures · read 19 Oct 2026 and 11 Nov 2026
Each measure has its own scale from zero. A flat plate means the firm states no figure.
Static viewthe figures are written out beside this chart
| Measure | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest $50K route judgedprice plus activation fee, first-time pass (judged) | not stated | $85 |
| Profit splitthe trader’s share, in the firm’s own words | 90% | 90% |
| Payout minimumthe smallest payout you can ask for | not stated | $125 |
| Payout rateeach firm’s own figure; periods differ, so not ranked | not stated | 33.3% |
| Pass rateeach firm’s own figure; periods differ, so not ranked | not stated | 16.8% |
| Terms stated our arithmeticof the 16 key terms we compare | 13 | 16 |
Where both sit on price
Topstep costs less than the median; Lucid Trading states no $100K price
25 futures firms · read 11 Nov 2026
Lucid Trading not stated · Topstep $129 · median of 25 firms $248 (our arithmetic)
Futures, 25 firms: cheapest TradeDay $108, median $248 (our arithmetic), dearest Phidias $900.
Where they differ
The terms traders compare first. only where both firms state one plain figure; tap Source for the firm's own words.
- Cheapest $50K route to funded judged Price plus activation fee, first-time pass; no resets or data fees Only Topstep prices oneLucid Trading:Topstep: $85$85 a month + $0 activation
In fulltopstep.com
Trading Combine 50K (No Activation Fee path, RTA on): $85 (monthly) + $0 activation
- Profit split Same splitLucid Trading: 90% Same90/10 (LucidFlex)
Sourcesupport.lucidtrading.com
All LucidFlex funded account payouts are split 90% to the trader and 10% to Lucid Trading.
support.lucidtrading.comTopstep: 90% Same90/10 (trader 90%)Sourcehelp.topstep.com
90/10 profit split — you keep 90%
help.topstep.com - Payout schedule and minimumLucid Trading: LucidFlex: any day after 5 profitable days…; …Minimum: $500 (LucidFlex)
In fullsupport.lucidtrading.com
LucidFlex: any day after 5 profitable days (min $100-$250/day by size) and positive net profit; max 50% of profit up to $1,000-$3,000; up to 5 payouts then moved live; paid within 2 business days
Traders must earn at least the minimum required profit on 5 separate days during the payout cycle.
support.lucidtrading.comTopstep: XFA Standard: after 5 winning days of $150+…; …Minimum $125In fullhelp.topstep.com
XFA Standard: after 5 winning days of $150+, up to 50% of balance per request, capped at $2,000 (50K), $3,000 (100K) or $5,000 (150K); XFA Consistency caps $3,000/$4,000/$6,000; Live: daily after 30 winning days
5 winning days of $150+ Net P&L. Days don't need to be consecutive.
help.topstep.com - Consistency ruleLucid Trading: LucidFlex evaluation: largest day 40% or less of profit…; no consistency rule once Live
In fullsupport.lucidtrading.com
LucidFlex evaluation: largest day 40% or less of profit (50% with add-on); no consistency rule once Live
In LucidFlex evaluation accounts your Consistency Percentage must be 40% or less to be eligible to upgrade to a LucidFlex funded account. If you added the 50% consistency add-on at checkout, it must be 50% or less.
support.lucidtrading.comTopstep: Trading Combine: 55% consistency target; …In fulltopstep.com
Trading Combine: 55% consistency target; XFA Consistency path: best day max 40% of net profit
Consistency Target: 55%
topstep.com - Drawdown Both: end-of-dayLucid Trading: End-of-dayend-of-day trailing (LucidFlex)…
In fullsupport.lucidtrading.com
end-of-day trailing (LucidFlex), locks at start balance + $100
LucidFlex evaluation and funded accounts use an End-of-Day Drawdown (EOD Drawdown) system
support.lucidtrading.comTopstep: End-of-dayend-of-day trailing: Max Loss Limit trails the highest…; …In fulltopstep.com
end-of-day trailing: Max Loss Limit trails the highest end-of-day balance (set at the end of each day); Express Funded locks at $0, its starting balance
This limit is based on your highest end-of-day balance and does not go down if you lose money the next day.
topstep.com - US traders What the firms say, not a view on legality. SameLucid Trading: Says it serves US traders
In fullsupport.lucidtrading.com
yes (stated: payout method for 'U.S.-based traders'; US not on restricted list)
Plaid Instant bank transfers for U.S.-based traders
support.lucidtrading.comTopstep: Says it serves US tradersIn fullhelp.topstep.com
yes (stated: US-only payout methods for 'U.S. domestic Traders'; US not on ineligible list)
Aeropay is a Pay by Bank service for U.S. domestic Traders
help.topstep.com - Platforms None in commonLucid Trading:
NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView (CQG); Quantower, R|Trader Pro and others (Rithmic); …In fullsupport.lucidtrading.com
NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView (CQG); Quantower, R|Trader Pro and others (Rithmic); Tradesea, Sierra Chart
Lucid Trading platforms include NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate, Tradesea, Sierra Chart, and more.
support.lucidtrading.comTopstep:
TopstepX (own platform, built by ProjectX Trading LLC)Sourcetopstep.com
Trade on TopstepX™ with trader-built performance and risk management tools.
topstep.com
Lucid Trading states 13 and Topstep 16 of the 16 terms we compare on their own pages, read 19 October 2026 and 11 November 2026, according to TradingLookup's US Futures Prop Access Ledger (November 2026).
Every term side by side
| Term | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Cheapest 50K route to funded judged | Not stated on the pages we read | $85 $85 (monthly) + $0 activationIn fulltopstep.comTrading Combine 50K (No Activation Fee path, RTA on): $85 (monthly) + $0 activation |
| Plans priced | Not stated on the pages we read | 3 plans, from $85 In fulltopstep.comTrading Combine 100K (No Activation Fee path, RTA on): $129 (monthly); Trading Combine 150K (No Activation Fee path, RTA on): $199 (monthly); Trading Combine 50K (No Activation Fee path, RTA on): $85 (monthly)
|
| Activation fee | none (LucidPro evaluation to funded) Sourcesupport.lucidtrading.com
| Standard path: $149 one-time per XFA In fullhelp.topstep.comStandard path: $149 one-time per XFA; No Activation Fee path: none
|
| Reset fee | paid reset available from dashboard In fullsupport.lucidtrading.compaid reset available from dashboard; amount not stated on page read
| equal to the monthly price on the plan card (e.g. $85 for 50K) In fullhelp.topstep.comequal to the monthly price on the plan card (e.g. $85 for 50K); 1 reset credit per monthly rebill
|
| Rules | ||
| Drawdown | end-of-day trailing (LucidFlex), locks at start balance + $100 Sourcesupport.lucidtrading.com
| end-of-day trailing: Max Loss Limit trails the highest end-of-day… In fulltopstep.comend-of-day trailing: Max Loss Limit trails the highest end-of-day balance (set at the end of each day); Express Funded locks at $0, its starting balance
|
| Consistency rule | LucidFlex evaluation: largest day 40% or less of profit (50% with… In fullsupport.lucidtrading.comLucidFlex evaluation: largest day 40% or less of profit (50% with add-on); no consistency rule once Live
| Trading Combine: 55% consistency target In fulltopstep.comTrading Combine: 55% consistency target; XFA Consistency path: best day max 40% of net profit
|
| Payouts | ||
| Profit split | 90/10 (LucidFlex) Same Sourcesupport.lucidtrading.com
| 90/10 (trader 90%) Same Sourcehelp.topstep.com
|
| Payout schedule | LucidFlex: any day after 5 profitable days (min $100-$250/day by size)… In fullsupport.lucidtrading.comLucidFlex: any day after 5 profitable days (min $100-$250/day by size) and positive net profit; max 50% of profit up to $1,000-$3,000; up to 5 payouts then moved live; paid within 2 business days
| XFA Standard: after 5 winning days of $150+, up to 50% of balance per… In fullhelp.topstep.comXFA Standard: after 5 winning days of $150+, up to 50% of balance per request, capped at $2,000 (50K), $3,000 (100K) or $5,000 (150K); XFA Consistency caps $3,000/$4,000/$6,000; Live: daily after 30 winning days
|
| Payout minimum | $500 (LucidFlex) Sourcesupport.lucidtrading.com
| $125 Sourcehelp.topstep.com
|
| Payout method | Plaid instant bank transfer (US), WorkMarket by ADP (bank or PayPal In fullsupport.lucidtrading.comPlaid instant bank transfer (US), WorkMarket by ADP (bank or PayPal; US and international), crypto BTC/ETH/LTC/USDT/USDC (international)
| ACH and Aeropay (US banks), Wire/SWIFT, Wise (China, Canada, UK only)… In fullhelp.topstep.comACH and Aeropay (US banks), Wire/SWIFT, Wise (China, Canada, UK only), transfer to Topstep Brokerage (US); $30 processing fee shown for ACH example
|
| Pass or payout rates it publishes | marketing headline only: '$700M+ earned by traders' (no pass or payout… In fulllucidtrading.commarketing headline only: '$700M+ earned by traders' (no pass or payout rates)
| 2025: 16.8% of Trading Combines passed In fulltopstep.com2025: 16.8% of Trading Combines passed; 33.3% of funded-level participants received a payout; 0.71% of XFA traders called up to Live
|
| Access | ||
 US traders | Says it serves US traders In fullsupport.lucidtrading.comyes (stated: payout method for 'U.S.-based traders'; US not on restricted list)
| Says it serves US traders In fullhelp.topstep.comyes (stated: US-only payout methods for 'U.S. domestic Traders'; US not on ineligible list)
|
| Platforms | ||
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView (CQG)In fullsupport.lucidtrading.comNinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView (CQG); Quantower, R|Trader Pro and others (Rithmic); Tradesea, Sierra Chart
| TopstepX (own platform, built by ProjectX Trading LLC)Sourcetopstep.com
|
| Company | ||
| Company | Lucid Trading (no legal form stated) Sourcelucidtrading.com
| TopstepTrader, LLC (Trading Combine and XFA) In fulltopstep.comTopstepTrader, LLC (Trading Combine and XFA); TopstepFunded LLC (Live); parent Topstep LLC
|
| Where it is registered | Address Dover, DE (state of formation and governing law not stated) Sourcelucidtrading.com
| Topstep LLC: Delaware LLC In fulltopstep.comTopstep LLC: Delaware LLC; TopstepFunded LLC: Illinois LLC; address Chicago, IL; terms governed by Delaware law
|
| Regulatory status it states | Not stated on the pages we read | Affiliate Topstep Brokerage LLC is stated to be a registered IB and NFA… In fulltopstep.comAffiliate Topstep Brokerage LLC is stated to be a registered IB and NFA member (NFA ID 0567079); the prop programme entity is not stated to be registered
|
Not stated means not on the pages we read; it does not mean "no". Where both firms state one plain figure, less marks the lower cost or payout minimum, or the higher profit split, and more the other side. Values are each firm's own words (measured) unless tagged judged.
More on each firm
Lucid Trading20 pages read · 13 of 16 terms stated
Other comparisons
Any two of the 50 futures prop firms in the ledger: the prop firm comparison. The pairs traders search for most each have a page:
| Comparison | Cheaper route to funded judged | Bigger profit split |
|---|---|---|
| Topstep vs Apex Trader Funding | Only Topstep prices one | Apex Trader Funding, 100% vs 90% |
| Take Profit Trader vs Topstep | Only Topstep prices one | Only Topstep states one figure |
| Tradeify vs Topstep | Only Topstep prices one | Same, 90% |
| Bulenox vs Apex Trader Funding | Only Bulenox prices one | Only Apex Trader Funding states one figure |
| Take Profit Trader vs Apex Trader Funding | Neither prices one | Only Apex Trader Funding states one figure |
| MyFundedFutures vs Topstep | Topstep, $68 less | Only Topstep states one figure |
| Tradeify vs Take Profit Trader | Neither prices one | Only Tradeify states one figure |
| Alpha Futures vs Topstep | Only Topstep prices one | Same, 90% |
| Apex Trader Funding vs MyFundedFutures | Only MyFundedFutures prices one | Only Apex Trader Funding states one figure |
| Apex Trader Funding vs Tradeify | Neither prices one | Apex Trader Funding, 100% vs 90% |
| Lucid Trading vs Tradeify | Neither prices one | Same, 90% |
| MyFundedFutures vs Take Profit Trader | Only MyFundedFutures prices one | No single figure at either |
| Lucid Trading vs Take Profit Trader | Neither prices one | Only Lucid Trading states one figure |
Where this comes from
- One source
- The US Futures Prop Access Ledger (provisional): 2387 of 2616 quotes matched the saved page text. CSV.
- US access
- Graded as on the ledger: says it serves US traders, US not on its restricted list, or not stated.
- The 50K route
- Price plus activation fee, first-time pass (judged). See cost per payout.
- How much each firm states
- Counted term by term on the Fine Print Index.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us, with evidence. Fixes are logged on the corrections page.