At a glance

Category winners across the firms you picked

Cheapest to start

Alpha Futures

$65 true cost

Highest rated

Alpha Futures

4.4 / 5 trader rating

Tied — shown first

Best profit split

Alpha Futures

90% to the trader

Tied — shown first

Most funding

Alpha Futures

$750K max funding

Tied — shown first

Fastest payout

Lucid Trading

Daily

The bottom line

Alpha Futures is the cheaper way in at $65 true cost versus $69 for Lucid Trading.

Accounts compared here

True cost here means the initial account fee plus activation after the displayed promotion. It excludes renewals, resets, taxes and optional charges. Open each account for its billing terms, evaluation rules and funded payout requirements; a lower entry cost does not guarantee a payout.

37 of 61 metrics differ

Alpha Futures4.4Details

Lucid Trading4.4Details

Side-by-side comparison of Alpha Futures, Lucid Trading
	Alpha Futures$50K	Lucid Trading$50K
Account Pricing
Price	Best value: $65$12950% OFF	$69$13850% OFF
Activation Fee	None	None
True Cost	Best value: $65after discount + activation	$69after discount + activation
Reset Fee	$109	Best value: $105
Current Promotion	LUMI (50% off)	LUMI (50% off)
Evaluation Phase
Profit Target	$3,0006.0% of account	$3,0006.0% of account
Max Drawdown	$2,000	$2,000
Drawdown Type	End of Day	Intraday
Daily Loss Limit	None	None
Max Position Size	Best value: 5 contracts	4 contracts
Consistency Rule	50%	50%
Funded Phase
Max Drawdown	$2,000	$2,000
Drawdown Type	End of Day	Intraday
Daily Loss Limit	$1,000	Best value: None
Max Payout/Cycle	$3,000Min: $500	Best value: UncappedMin: $500
Consistency Rule	40%	No
Value MetricsDerived from price, discount, targets and payout caps — fewer breakeven cycles and higher first-cycle ROI mean the account pays for itself faster.
Breakeven Winning Cycles	1 cycle	1 cycle
Max First-Cycle ROI	4551%	—
Target : Drawdown	1.50lower = easier to pass	1.50lower = easier to pass
Company Info
Established	Not published	2025
CEO	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
Country	United Kingdom	Not published
Trader Rating	4.4	4.4
Features
Allows Scaling	Yes	Yes
Daily Payouts	No	Yes
1-Day Pass	Yes	Yes
KYC Required	Required	Required
Trading
Instruments	ES, MES, NKD, NQ, MNQ, RTY, M2K, YM +42 more	ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, RTY, M2K, NKD, YM +26 more
Evaluation Types	1-step, Instant funding	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	AlphaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts +5 more	NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView +11 more
Max Funding	$750,000	$750,000
Profit Split	90%	90%
Max Accounts	5 funded · Not published evaluation	5 funded · 10 evaluation
Trading Rules
Scalping	Allowed	Allowed
Payouts
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Daily
Min Payout	from $200	$500
Payout Methods	ACH (US bank accounts), Wire Transfer +4 more	Plaid instant bank transfer (U.S. traders), WorkMarket by ADP - bank transfer (U.S. and international) +6 more
Payout StructureHow money actually leaves the account: what you must do to qualify, how much each payout may be, and when the cap stops applying.
Payout cadence	Every 5 trading days	Daily
Eligibility	5 profitable days	profit above buffer
Payout cap	Up to 50% of profit, max $3,000 per payout	Uncapped
Payout limit	Not published	Not published
Safety-net buffer	None	Max loss + $100
Scaling	Profit-based · 3 tiers	None
Activation fee	None	None
Evaluation TermsThe shape of the challenge itself, including where the consistency rule applies — an evaluation-only rule and one that binds for the life of the account are very different obligations.
Evaluation type	1-step	1-step
Time limit	None	None
Min trading days	2	Not published
Fastest possible pass	2 days	2 days
Resets	Allowed	Allowed
Consistency rule	40%	50%
Consistency applies to	Every payout cycle	Evaluation only
What You May TradeEach firm's own position on the strategies traders get breached for, with its published qualification. A restriction is not the same as a ban.
News trading	! RestrictedFree on every Evaluation and on Advanced Qualified, fenced on the other Qualified plans: "There are no news trading"…	! RestrictedAllowed on LucidFlex, LucidPro and LucidDirect - traders may enter or exit around scheduled or unscheduled news events…
Weekend holding	✗ Not allowedNothing survives the daily close, so nothing survives the weekend: "all trades must be closed before 4:20PM EST every"…	✗ Not allowedNot addressed as its own rule; it follows from the daily flat rule.…
Overnight holding	✗ Not allowedSame rule as the weekend, on every simulated account: "You may begin trading at 6PM EST to start a new trading day, but"…	✗ Not allowedAll positions must be closed by 4:45 PM EST Monday through Friday and anything left open is auto-closed by Lucid at…
Bots & automation	✗ Not allowed"The use of AI, bots, and other automated trading mechanisms is strictly prohibited across all account types" and…	✓ AllowedAutomated trading systems are permitted provided they comply with all other Lucid rules, and the trader is fully…
High-frequency trading	! RestrictedExpressed as a trade-count threshold rather than a flat ban: "Alpha Futures restricts the use of automated systems"…	✗ Not allowedDefined as submitting and executing a high volume of trades within extremely short time frames, often seconds or…
Dollar-cost averaging	! RestrictedAllowed in moderation, with the line drawn at order stacking: "'Order Book Spamming' we have no rules against"…	✓ AllowedTraders are free to scale into positions or use dollar cost averaging and Lucid imposes no limits on entry methods.…
Hedging	✗ Not allowed"'Reverse Trading' or Hedging, meaning going short on one account, and long on the other is strictly prohibited at"…	✗ Not allowedAll forms are prohibited: across a trader's own accounts, between different users' accounts, and between Lucid and…
Copy trading	! RestrictedOwn-account copying only: "Copy trading in general is permitted as long as it is a single user executing the trades,"…	✓ AllowedTrade copiers are permitted alongside automated systems, subject to all other Lucid rules, and the trader carries…
Microscalping	✗ Not allowedListed under prohibited conduct as "'Tick or Micro Scalping' (trades less than 10 ticks AND less than 2 minutes)" -…	✗ Not allowedDefined as capturing very small moves with very large size in a few seconds to exploit how simulated fills work.…
VPN	✗ Not allowedVPS yes, VPN no: "The use of VPS is permitted in your trading, however the use of VPN attempting to hide or change you"…	? Not publishedLucid publishes no VPN or connection-location rule anywhere in its Rules and Guidelines articles; its…

Alpha Futures vs Lucid Trading: Full Comparison

Alpha Futures, based in GB, and Lucid Trading, founded in 2025, are both popular choices among futures prop traders. Alpha Futures offers up to $750,000 in funding across 5 accounts, while Lucid Trading provides up to $750,000 across 5 accounts. Both firms support TradingView, Quantower.

The verdict

Alpha Futures is the cheaper way in at $65 true cost versus $69 for Lucid Trading. True cost compares Alpha Futures's $50,000 Standard account with Lucid Trading's $50,000 LucidDaily Intraday account, after current discounts and activation fees.

Key statistics for Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading
Feature	Alpha Futures	Lucid Trading
Profit Split	90%	90%
Trader rating	4.4/5	4.4/5
Max Funding	$750,000	$750,000
Entry cost (cheapest account)	$53	$45
True Cost (selected account)	$65 · $50,000	$69 · $50,000
Max Drawdown (selected account)	$2,000	$2,000
Daily Loss Limit (selected account)	$1,000	None
Largest Account	$150,000	$150,000
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Daily
Trading days per payout cycle (selected account)	Not published	No fixed trading-day minimum
Evaluation Type	1-step, Instant funding	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	8	14
Discount	up to 50% off	up to 50% off

Where Lucid Trading Wins

+Lower entry cost on its cheapest account, a $25,000 ($45 vs $53 for a $25,000)
+Offers daily payouts
+More platform options (14 vs 8)

Read the full Lucid Trading review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading?

Alpha Futures offers a 90% profit split with 1-step/Instant funding evaluation, while Lucid Trading offers a 90% profit split with 1-step/Instant funding evaluation. Alpha Futures supports 8 trading platforms and Lucid Trading supports 14. Alpha Futures has a trader rating of 4.4/5 compared to Lucid Trading's 4.4/5.

Which is cheaper, Alpha Futures or Lucid Trading?

Alpha Futures is cheaper to enter: $65 all-in for a $50,000 account, against $69 for Lucid Trading's $50,000 account. Both figures are after the current discount and include the activation fee. Both firms offer discounts — Alpha Futures at up to 50% off and Lucid Trading at up to 50% off.

Which has better payout terms, Alpha Futures or Lucid Trading?

Alpha Futures pays out every 5 trading days with a minimum of $500, while Lucid Trading pays out daily with a minimum of $500. The trading-day requirement for Alpha Futures's selected payout cycle is not published, and Lucid Trading's selected account has no fixed trading-day minimum for a payout cycle. Qualifying-day profit thresholds, buffers, consistency rules and approval requirements still apply. A trading-day minimum is not a payment-delivery estimate.

Can I use trading bots with Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading?

Alpha Futures does not allow trading bots, while Lucid Trading allows trading bots globally. On VPNs, Alpha Futures restricts VPN use and Lucid Trading does not publish a VPN policy.

Alpha Futures vs Lucid Trading — quick answer

Alpha Futures vs Lucid Trading for 2026: compare evaluation types (1-step, Instant funding vs 1-step, Instant funding), payout cadence for the selected accounts (Every 5 trading days vs Daily), platforms, and true challenge cost. Both pay the same profit split on the accounts compared here. Use the tables below for drawdown, minimum days, and current promotion status before you buy.

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