Lucid Trading vs Topstep
Rule-by-rule comparison from each firm's own website, last verified . The marked figure is the stronger one on that line.
Quick take
- Cheaper entry: Topstep ($49 vs $65).
- Faster payout cycle: Lucid Trading (Daily / on demand).
- Higher Trustpilot rating: Lucid Trading (4.5).
- Overall PA Score: Lucid Trading 7.5 vs Topstep 6.4.
Lucid Trading stronger on 2Topstep stronger on 3of 9 lines where both publish a comparable figure
| Lucid Trading7.5 PA Score | Topstep6.4 PA Score | |
|---|---|---|
| PA Score | 7.5 (stronger figure) | 6.4 |
| Trustpilot | 4.58,440 (stronger figure) | 3.714,989 |
| Founded | 2024 | 2012 (stronger figure) |
| HQ | Dover, DE, United States | Chicago, IL |
| Markets | Futures | Futures |
| Challenge types | 1-step, instant | 1-step |
| Entry fee from | $65 | $49 (stronger figure) |
| Cost per $1K allocation | $1.91 | $0.98 (stronger figure) |
| Largest account | $150K | $150K |
| Profit target | 5-6% ($1,250/$3,000/$6,000/$9,000) | 6% |
| Daily loss limit | optional (customizable soft-breach DLL) | optional (automatic in Live Funded) |
| Max drawdown | $1,000-$4,500 | $2,000-$4,500 |
| Drawdown type | EOD trailing | EOD trailing (locks at starting balance) |
| Profit split | 90% | 90% |
| Leverage | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic, Quantower, Tradesea, MotiveWave, Sierra Chart, Jigsaw, Bookmap, ATAS, R|Trader Pro, MultiCharts | TopstepX |
| Payout frequency | LucidPro: on-demand after min profit goal + 40% consistency + buffer (3 days to payout); LucidFlex: every cycle of 5 profitable days, no consistency/buffer; LucidDaily: daily payout requests; LucidDirect: after profit goal + 20% consistency (min 5 days) | after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path) |
| First payout (days) | 3 | 3 |
| Min trading days | Not published | 2 |
| Consistency rule | Eval: Flex 40% (50% add-on), Daily 50%, Pro none; Funded: Pro 40% best-day rule for payouts, Direct 20%, Flex/Daily none | 55% best-day rule in Combine; 40% on XFA Consistency path |
| News trading | Allowed | Not published |
| Weekend holding | Restricted | Not published |
| Discount code | About 30% off plan prices (e.g. Pro 25K $108 -> $75.60) | Not published |
| Visit site (opens Lucid Trading in a new tab) | Visit site (opens Topstep in a new tab) |
Not published means we could not find the figure on the firm's own site. Sources are listed on each firm page.
Which should you choose?
Lucid Trading scores 7.5/10 and Topstep 6.4/10, a wide gap. Both are futures prop firms, so the rule differences below are like for like. Which one is better depends on how you trade, so here is who each firm suits, based only on what they publish.
Pick Lucid Trading if
- you want a faster payout cycle (daily / on demand)
- you trade high-impact news
- you need Tradovate, NinjaTrader and TradingView
Pick Topstep if
- you want the cheaper way in ($49 vs $65 for the smallest account)
- you care about cost per $1K of account ($0.98 vs $1.91)
- you want the longer track record (operating since 2012)
- you weigh firm-reported payouts ($1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders)
Price at each account size
Cheapest program each firm sells at the sizes both offer.
| Account | Lucid Trading | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $115 | $49 |
| $100K | $200 | $99 |
| $150K | $286 | $199 |
Payouts
Lucid Trading: LucidPro: on-demand after min profit goal + 40% consistency + buffer (3 days to payout); LucidFlex: every cycle of 5 profitable days, no consistency/buffer; LucidDaily: daily payout requests; LucidDirect: after profit goal + 20% consistency (min 5 days). First payout after 3 days. Methods: Plaid (US instant bank), WorkMarket by ADP (bank transfer or PayPal, US + international), Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, USDC - international). The firm reports "$700M+ earned by traders" (homepage, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path). First payout after 3 days. Methods: Prop-to-brokerage (US), Aeropay (US), Wise (China, Canada, UK), ACH (US, $30 fee), Wire/SWIFT ($30 fee). The firm reports "$1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders" (homepage, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Firm-reported payout totals are the firms' own figures. We have not audited them.
Rule changes
No rule changes logged for either firm since tracking began. Any change will show here and on the rule-change log.
Legit check
Track record, review volume, payout terms and restrictions for each firm, on one page each: Is Lucid Trading legit? · Is Topstep legit?
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Lucid Trading or Topstep?
Smallest published entry fee: Lucid Trading $65, Topstep $49. Cheapest per $1K of account: Lucid Trading $1.91, Topstep $0.98.
Which pays out faster, Lucid Trading or Topstep?
Lucid Trading: LucidPro: on-demand after min profit goal + 40% consistency + buffer (3 days to payout); LucidFlex: every cycle of 5 profitable days, no consistency/buffer; LucidDaily: daily payout requests; LucidDirect: after profit goal + 20% consistency (min 5 days). Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path).
Which has the higher profit split?
Lucid Trading: 90%; Topstep: 90%. Headline splits often need scaling or an add-on.
Which is better for beginners, Lucid Trading or Topstep?
On our six-point beginner checklist Lucid Trading meets 3 and Topstep meets 1. The checklist is explained on the best prop firms for beginners page.
Are Lucid Trading and Topstep legit?
Both publish their rules and are listed with sources. See the evidence pages: propanalyse.com/firms/lucid-trading/legit/ and propanalyse.com/firms/topstep/legit/.