At a glance

Category winners across the firms you picked

Cheapest to start

Apex Trader Funding

$64 true cost

Highest rated

Lucid Trading

4.4 / 5 trader rating

Best profit split

Apex Trader Funding

100% to the trader

Most funding

Apex Trader Funding

$3M max funding

Fastest payout

Lucid Trading

Daily

The bottom line

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.

44 of 61 metrics differ

Apex Trader Funding4.2Details

Lucid Trading4.4Details

Side-by-side comparison of Apex Trader Funding, Lucid Trading
	Apex Trader Funding$50K	Lucid Trading$50K
Account Pricing
Price	Best value: $64$79992% OFF	$69$13850% OFF
Activation Fee	None	None
True Cost	Best value: $64after discount + activation	$69after discount + activation
Reset Fee	Not available	$105
Current Promotion	LUMI (92% 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	Intraday	Intraday
Daily Loss Limit	None	None
Max Position Size	Best value: 6 contracts	4 contracts
Consistency Rule	No	50%
Funded Phase
Max Drawdown	$2,000	$2,000
Drawdown Type	Intraday	Intraday
Daily Loss Limit	$1,000	Best value: None
Max Payout/Cycle	$3,000Min: $500	Best value: UncappedMin: $500
Consistency Rule	50%	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	2247%	—
Target : Drawdown	1.50lower = easier to pass	1.50lower = easier to pass
Company Info
Established	2021	2025
CEO	Darrell Martin	Not disclosed
Country	United States	Not published
Trader Rating	4.2	Best value: 4.4
Features
Allows Scaling	Yes	Yes
Daily Payouts	No	Yes
1-Day Pass	Yes	Yes
KYC Required	Required	Required
Trading
Instruments	ES, NKD, NQ, YM, EMD, RTY, 6A, 6B +46 more	ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, RTY, M2K, NKD, YM +26 more
Evaluation Types	1-step	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower +11 more	NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView +11 more
Max Funding	Best value: $3M	$750,000
Profit Split	Best value: 100%	90%
Max Accounts	20 funded · Not published evaluation	5 funded · 10 evaluation
Trading Rules
Scalping	Allowed	Allowed
Payouts
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Daily
Min Payout	$500	$500
Payout Methods	ACH direct deposit to a US bank account (US-resident traders), Local bank transfer through the Plane payment platform (non-US traders)	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 trading days · 5 profitable days · profit above buffer	profit above buffer
Payout cap	$1,500 (#1) → $2,000 (#2) → … → $3,000 (#5-#6)	Uncapped
Payout limit	6 payouts	Not published
Safety-net buffer	Max loss + $100	Max loss + $100
Scaling	Tiered by balance · 4 tiers	None
Activation fee	One-time	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	30 days	None
Min trading days	None	Not published
Fastest possible pass	1 day	2 days
Resets	Not available	Allowed
Consistency rule	50%	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	! RestrictedTrading through a news release with a normal day-to-day strategy is allowed, but strategies built around the release…	! RestrictedAllowed on LucidFlex, LucidPro and LucidDirect - traders may enter or exit around scheduled or unscheduled news events…
Weekend holding	? Not publishedNo weekend-specific rule is published, but every position must be closed before the daily 4:59 PM ET close, which…	✗ Not allowedNot addressed as its own rule; it follows from the daily flat rule.…
Overnight holding	✗ Not allowedAll positions must be closed before the 4:59 PM ET close; “Traders engaging in these prohibited activities will forfeit”…	✗ 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“No Automation or Algorithm Usage allowed: Rewards are intended to recognize human traders actively participating in”…	✓ AllowedAutomated trading systems are permitted provided they comply with all other Lucid rules, and the trader is fully…
High-frequency trading	✗ Not allowedListed under manipulation of the simulated environment: “including High Frequency Trading (HFT) or any other”…	✗ Not allowedDefined as submitting and executing a high volume of trades within extremely short time frames, often seconds or…
Dollar-cost averaging	? Not publishedThe only published DCA rule sits in the Legacy PA compliance and consistency articles: “DCA is allowed under this”…	✓ AllowedTraders are free to scale into positions or use dollar cost averaging and Lucid imposes no limits on entry methods.…
Hedging	✗ Not allowed“No Hedging of Any Kind – Directional Trading only.”…	✗ Not allowedAll forms are prohibited: across a trader's own accounts, between different users' accounts, and between Lucid and…
Copy trading	! RestrictedCopying between the trader's own accounts is permitted — “Copy trading across PA accounts under your personal name and”…	✓ AllowedTrade copiers are permitted alongside automated systems, subject to all other Lucid rules, and the trader carries…
Microscalping	✓ AllowedNo minimum hold time or entry/exit spacing is imposed, and the firm markets the absence of one (…	✗ Not allowedDefined as capturing very small moves with very large size in a few seconds to exploit how simulated fills work.…
VPN	! RestrictedNot banned outright — banned for concealment: “You may not use VPNs, proxy servers, cloud servers, anonymizing tools,”…	? Not publishedLucid publishes no VPN or connection-location rule anywhere in its Rules and Guidelines articles; its…

Apex Trader Funding vs Lucid Trading: Full Comparison

Apex Trader Funding, founded in 2021, based in US, and Lucid Trading, founded in 2025, are both popular choices among futures prop traders. Apex Trader Funding offers up to $3,000,000 in funding across 20 accounts, while Lucid Trading provides up to $750,000 across 5 accounts. Both firms support NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower and 7 more platforms.

The verdict

Apex Trader Funding is the cheaper way in at $64 true cost versus $69 for Lucid Trading. Apex Trader Funding returns more to the trader with a 100% profit split. Lucid Trading has the stronger reputation with a 4.4/5 trader rating. Apex Trader Funding scales the furthest with up to $3M in funding. True cost compares Apex Trader Funding's $50,000 Intraday Trail No Activation Fee account with Lucid Trading's $50,000 LucidDaily Intraday account, after current discounts and activation fees.

Key statistics for Apex Trader Funding and Lucid Trading
Feature	Apex Trader Funding	Lucid Trading
Profit Split	100%	90%
Trader rating	4.2/5	4.4/5
Max Funding	$3,000,000	$750,000
Entry cost (cheapest account)	$55	$45
True Cost (selected account)	$64 · $50,000	$69 · $50,000
Max Drawdown (selected account)	$2,000	$2,000
Daily Loss Limit (selected account)	$1,000	None
Largest Account	$300,000	$150,000
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Daily
Trading days per payout cycle (selected account)	5 trading days	No fixed trading-day minimum
Evaluation Type	1-step	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	14	14
Discount	up to 92% off	up to 50% off

Where Apex Trader Funding Wins

+Higher profit split (100% vs 90%)
+Higher max funding ($3,000,000 vs $750,000)
+More allowed accounts (20 vs 5)
+Bigger current discount (up to 92% vs up to 50%)
+Longer track record (since 2021)

Read the full Apex Trader Funding review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Where Lucid Trading Wins

+Higher trader rating (4.4 vs 4.2)
+Lower entry cost on its cheapest account, a $25,000 ($45 vs $55 for a $25,000)
+Offers daily payouts

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Apex Trader Funding and Lucid Trading?

Apex Trader Funding offers a 100% profit split with 1-step evaluation, while Lucid Trading offers a 90% profit split with 1-step/Instant funding evaluation. Apex Trader Funding supports 14 trading platforms and Lucid Trading supports 14. Apex Trader Funding has a trader rating of 4.2/5 compared to Lucid Trading's 4.4/5.

Which is cheaper, Apex Trader Funding or Lucid Trading?

Apex Trader Funding is cheaper to enter: $64 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 — Apex Trader Funding at up to 92% off and Lucid Trading at up to 50% off.

Which has better payout terms, Apex Trader Funding or Lucid Trading?

Apex Trader Funding pays out every 5 trading days with a minimum of $500, while Lucid Trading pays out daily with a minimum of $500. Apex Trader Funding's selected account requires at least 5 trading days per payout cycle, 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 Apex Trader Funding and Lucid Trading?

Apex Trader Funding does not allow trading bots, while Lucid Trading allows trading bots globally. On VPNs, Apex Trader Funding permits VPN use under published conditions and Lucid Trading does not publish a VPN policy.

Apex Trader Funding vs Lucid Trading — quick answer

Apex Trader Funding vs Lucid Trading for 2026: compare evaluation types (1-step vs 1-step, Instant funding), payout cadence for the selected accounts (Every 5 trading days vs Daily), platforms, and true challenge cost. Apex Trader Funding offers a higher profit split (100% vs 90%). Use the tables below for drawdown, minimum days, and current promotion status before you buy.

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