Topstep vs Lucid Trading: the rules compared
Topstep and Lucid Trading differ most in drawdown type, daily loss limit and evaluation fee. Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Lucid Trading uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), 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 $198 to reach a funded account, and nothing more if it takes longer than a month.
Runs your bot
Both allow automated trading, with conditions.
Each firm’s 50K plan whose rules treat a trader with no edge best, or its least expensive when none is simulated.
8 rules differ
- Price$49 a month$90.20 once
- Activation$149$0
- Reset$49$90
- Daily loss limitNo daily loss limit$1,200
- Best day, evaluation55%50%
- Minimum days2 trading daysNo minimum
- Contracts5 contracts4 contracts
- First payout5 winning days of $150 or more5 trading days and 5 winning days of $150 or more
Plans on record
Topstep sells 7 plans from 25K to 250K, while Lucid Trading sells 16 plans from 25K to 150K.
Evaluation fee
Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Lucid Trading charges $50.30 to $585.20 once.
Billing
Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Lucid Trading charges its evaluations once.
Activation fee
Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Lucid Trading charges no activation fee.
Drawdown type
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Lucid Trading uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan.
Daily loss limit
Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Lucid Trading sets a daily loss limit on every evaluation ($600 to $2,700).
Consistency
Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Lucid Trading caps the evaluation's best day at 50% of the profit on 8 of 12 plans.
Minimum trading days
Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Lucid Trading has no minimum number of trading days.
First payout
Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Lucid Trading pays a first payout after 0 to 5 trading days, depending on the size.
What they share
- Profit split: 90%
- Funded accounts at once: Up to 5
- Automated trading: Allowed with conditions
Topstep: Allowed with conditions
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: help.topstep.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
Topstep and Lucid Trading, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | Topstep | Lucid Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 7 plans, 25K to 250K | 16 plans, 25K to 150K |
| Evaluation fee | $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once | $50.30 to $585.20 once |
| Billing | Monthly and one-time plans | Paid once |
| Activation fee | $0 to $149 | None |
| Drawdown type | End of day and static | End of day on every plan |
| Daily loss limit | $500 to $5,000 on 3 of 7 evaluations | $600 to $2,700 on every evaluation |
| Consistency | Best day at most 55% (1 with none) | Best day at most 50% (4 with none) |
| Minimum trading days | 2 trading days | No minimum |
| First payout | After 5 winning days of $150 or more | After 0 to 5 trading days, depending on the size |
| Profit split | 90% | 90% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Automated trading | Allowed with conditions | Allowed with conditions |
25K
- Topstep Labs 25K Static$75 once, $1,000, static
- 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
- Topstep 50K Combine$49 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Topstep Labs 50K Static$149 once, $2,000, static
- 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
- Topstep 100K Combine$99 a month, $3,000, end of day
- 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
- Topstep 150K Combine$199 a month, $4,500, end of day
- 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 Topstep sells 250K.
Topstep or Lucid Trading?
At 50K, the Topstep Labs 50K Static costs $149 to fund on a first attempt and the Lucid Trading LucidFlex 50K $90.20.
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Lucid Trading uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Lucid Trading sets a daily loss limit on every evaluation ($600 to $2,700). Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Lucid Trading charges $50.30 to $585.20 once. Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Lucid Trading charges its evaluations once. Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Lucid Trading caps the evaluation's best day at 50% of the profit on 8 of 12 plans. Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Lucid Trading pays a first payout after 0 to 5 trading days, depending on the size. Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Lucid Trading charges no activation fee. Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Lucid Trading has no minimum number of trading days.
On a first attempt with no reset, the Lucid Trading LucidFlex 50K costs $90.20 ($90.20 evaluation) against $149 for the Topstep Labs 50K Static ($149 evaluation). Resets and extra months can change the order.
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts. 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.