Apex vs Lucid Trading: the rules compared
Apex and Lucid Trading differ most in drawdown type, daily loss limit and evaluation fee. Apex offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns, while Lucid Trading uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000), while Lucid Trading sets a daily loss limit on every evaluation ($600 to $2,700).
The verdicts at 50K
Cheaper to start
Lucid Trading$90.20 against $123.90 to reach a funded account, and nothing more if it takes longer than a month.
Runs your bot
Lucid TradingApex does not allow automated trading.
Each firm’s 50K plan whose rules treat a trader with no edge best, or its least expensive when none is simulated.
12 rules differ
- Price$24.90 once$90.20 once
- Activation$99$0
- ResetNo reset sold$90
- Maximum loss$2,000, intraday$2,000, end of day
- Time limit30 calendar daysNo time limit
- Daily loss limitNo daily loss limit$1,200
- Best day, evaluationNo consistency rule50%
- Contracts6 contracts4 contracts
- First payout5 winning days of $200 or more5 trading days and 5 winning days of $150 or more
- Largest payout$1,500 (first payout)$2,000
- Profit split100%90%
- Automated tradingBannedAllowed with conditions
Plans on record
Apex sells 22 plans from 25K to 300K, while Lucid Trading sells 16 plans from 25K to 150K.
Evaluation fee
Apex charges $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once, while Lucid Trading charges $50.30 to $585.20 once.
Billing
Apex sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Lucid Trading charges its evaluations once.
Activation fee
Apex charges a $0 to $199 activation fee, while Lucid Trading charges no activation fee.
Drawdown type
Apex offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns, while Lucid Trading uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan.
Daily loss limit
Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000), while Lucid Trading sets a daily loss limit on every evaluation ($600 to $2,700).
Consistency
Apex has no consistency rule in its evaluations, while Lucid Trading caps the evaluation's best day at 50% of the profit on 8 of 12 plans.
Minimum trading days
Apex asks for at least 0 to 7 trading days, while Lucid Trading has no minimum number of trading days.
First payout
Apex pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size, while Lucid Trading pays a first payout after 0 to 5 trading days, depending on the size.
Profit split
Apex pays a 100% profit split, while Lucid Trading pays a 90% profit split.
Funded accounts at once
Apex allows up to 20 funded accounts at once, while Lucid Trading allows up to 5 funded accounts at once.
Automated trading
Apex bans automated trading, while Lucid Trading allows automated trading with conditions.
Apex: Banned
Apex bans automated and algorithmic trading. Automation and algorithms are banned; rewards are meant for human traders, not preprogrammed systems. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand.
Checked 16 Oct 2026 · Source: apextraderfunding.com
Lucid Trading: Allowed with conditions
Lucid Trading allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and trade copiers are permitted on evaluation and funded accounts if they follow every Lucid rule; high frequency trading and microscalping are banned and the trader bears every software error.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: support.lucidtrading.com
Apex and Lucid Trading, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | Apex | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 22 plans, 25K to 300K | 16 plans, 25K to 150K |
| Evaluation fee | $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once | $50.30 to $585.20 once |
| Billing | Monthly and one-time plans | Paid once |
| Activation fee | $0 to $199 | None |
| Drawdown type | End of day and intraday | End of day on every plan |
| Daily loss limit | $500 to $2,000 on 8 of 18 evaluations | $600 to $2,700 on every evaluation |
| Consistency | None in the evaluation | Best day at most 50% (4 with none) |
| Minimum trading days | 0 to 7 trading days | No minimum |
| First payout | After 5 trading days, depending on the size | After 0 to 5 trading days, depending on the size |
| Profit split | 100% | 90% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 20 | Up to 5 |
| Automated trading | Banned | Allowed with conditions |
25K
- Apex EOD 25K$49 once, $1,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 25K$16.70 once, $1,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 25K$109 once, $1,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 25KNot stated by the firm, $1,000
- Apex Legacy 25K$17.70 a month, $1,500, intraday
- Lucid Trading LucidPro 25K$70.60 once, $1,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidFlex 25K$50.30 once, $1,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDaily 25K$65.10 once, $1,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDirect 25K$230.30 once, $1,000, end of day
50K
- Apex EOD 50K$59 once, $2,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 50K$24.90 once, $2,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 50K$119 once, $2,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 50KNot stated by the firm, $2,000
- Apex Legacy 50K$19.70 a month, $2,500, intraday
- Lucid Trading LucidPro 50K$115.40 once, $2,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidFlex 50K$90.20 once, $2,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDaily 50K$95.20 once, $2,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDirect 50K$360.50 once, $2,000, end of day
100K
- Apex EOD 100K$119 once, $3,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 100K$79 once, $3,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 100K$159 once, $3,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 100KNot stated by the firm, $3,000
- Apex Legacy 100K$39.70 a month, $3,000, intraday
- Lucid Trading LucidPro 100K$180.40 once, $3,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidFlex 100K$170.60 once, $3,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDaily 100K$155.40 once, $3,000, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDirect 100K$490 once, $3,500, end of day
150K
- Apex EOD 150K$219 once, $4,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 150K$119 once, $4,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 150K$249 once, $4,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 150KNot stated by the firm, $4,000
- Apex Legacy 150K$59.70 a month, $5,000, intraday
- Lucid Trading LucidPro 150K$245.50 once, $4,500, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidFlex 150K$250.40 once, $4,500, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDaily 150K$220.50 once, $4,500, end of day
- Lucid Trading LucidDirect 150K$585.20 once, $5,000, end of day
Only Apex sells 250K, 300K.
Apex or Lucid Trading?
At 50K, the Apex No Activation Fee 50K costs $119 to fund on a first attempt and the Lucid Trading LucidFlex 50K $90.20.
Apex offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns, while Lucid Trading uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000), while Lucid Trading sets a daily loss limit on every evaluation ($600 to $2,700). Apex charges $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once, while Lucid Trading charges $50.30 to $585.20 once. Apex sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Lucid Trading charges its evaluations once. Apex has no consistency rule in its evaluations, while Lucid Trading caps the evaluation's best day at 50% of the profit on 8 of 12 plans. Apex pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size, while Lucid Trading pays a first payout after 0 to 5 trading days, depending on the size. Apex pays a 100% profit split, while Lucid Trading pays a 90% profit split. Apex charges a $0 to $199 activation fee, while Lucid Trading charges no activation fee. Apex asks for at least 0 to 7 trading days, while Lucid Trading has no minimum number of trading days. Apex bans automated trading, while Lucid Trading allows automated trading with conditions. Apex allows up to 20 funded accounts at once, while Lucid Trading allows up to 5 funded accounts at once.
On a first attempt with no reset, the Lucid Trading LucidFlex 50K costs $90.20 ($90.20 evaluation) against $119 for the Apex No Activation Fee 50K ($119 evaluation). Resets and extra months can change the order.
Apex bans automated and algorithmic trading. Automation and algorithms are banned; rewards are meant for human traders, not preprogrammed systems. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand. Lucid Trading allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and trade copiers are permitted on evaluation and funded accounts if they follow every Lucid rule; high frequency trading and microscalping are banned and the trader bears every software error.
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Replay of trade 1210 from an AlgoLift engine backtest of a research strategy on NQ, 13 February 2025: real bars, the trade still open.
Simulated results. They have inherent limitations. Read the full statementHide the statement
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
Test yours
Run your strategy through both rulebooks at once.
One backtest, both accounts, every rule, before you pay either fee.
- 1Describe it to Algo, or build it yourself
- 2Backtest it on years of real futures data
- 3Replay every trade under your firm's rules
Rules checked against the firms’ own pages, most recently on 21 October 2026. This is a summary of each firm’s published rules, not financial advice and not a recommendation of any firm. Firms change their rules and prices; read the firm’s own page before you buy. Facts are paraphrased and linked to their source. Firm names are used only to say which firm a rule belongs to; they belong to their owners, and AlgoLift is not affiliated with or endorsed by any firm.