vs
Lucid Trading vs Topstep
A detailed breakdown of how these two firms compare across costs, drawdown rules, payout structure, and trading restrictions.
Plans compared: Lucid Trading LucidFlex $50K vs Topstep $50K
Lucid TradingPartialTopstepPartial
At a Glance
Lucid Trading
61/100Good- Starting Cost
- Unknown
- Min Days
- 2 days
- Max Drawdown
- 4%
- Best Split
- 90%
- Payout Freq
- On Demand
Topstep
68/100Good- Starting Cost
- $198
- Min Days
- 2 days
- Max Drawdown
- 4%
- Best Split
- —
- Payout Freq
- Daily
Public Economics
Current public evidence favors Topstep for the balanced model.
Lucid Trading
25K LucidFlex Evaluation -> 25K LucidFlex Funded
Score
73
Cost
—
First payout
12d
Topstep
50K Trading Combine
Score
89
Cost
$198
First payout
—
Why this comparison
PartialPartial
This public economics comparison uses ordinary public product/help/rule material and values derived from it. Some model inputs are visible in ordinary public material, but one or more public fields are missing or unavailable.
Lucid Trading
25K LucidFlex Evaluation -> 25K LucidFlex Funded
Partial public dataPartial
Side blockers
fee_monthly|fee_onetimefield_evidence_ledger
Topstep
50K Trading Combine
Partial public dataPartial
Side blockers
buffer_clearance_requiredmin_profitable_days_before_payoutmin_trading_dayspayout_processing_time
Comparison reasons
Topstep has the stronger Balanced unit in the current public evidence graph.
Tradeoffs
Topstep is labeled partial, so compare the blockers before treating it as final.Lucid Trading is labeled partial, which limits direct ranking confidence.
Blocking public fields
buffer_clearance_requiredfee_monthly|fee_onetimefield_evidence_ledgermin_profitable_days_before_payoutmin_trading_days
Why
Topstep has the stronger Balanced unit in the current public evidence graph.
Tradeoffs
Topstep is labeled partial, so compare the blockers before treating it as final.
Lucid Trading is labeled partial, which limits direct ranking confidence.
Blockers
buffer_clearance_required
fee_monthly|fee_onetime
field_evidence_ledger
Cost BreakdownNot ranked
Lucid Trading
- Eval Fee
- $140
- Activation
- Unknown
- Total
- Unknown
Topstep
- Eval Fee
- $49/mo
- Activation
- $149
- Total
- $198
Starting costs are not ranked because an activation fee is unknown. Lucid Trading charges $140 one-time. Topstep charges $49/mo (monthly subscription) plus a $149 activation fee.
Drawdown & RiskTie
Lucid Trading
- Type
- EOD Trailing
- Max Drawdown
- 4% ($2,000)
- Lock
- Locks at $50,100 after $2,100 profit
- Strictness
- Moderate
Topstep
- Type
- EOD Trailing
- Max Drawdown
- 4% ($2,000)
- Lock
- Locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit
- Strictness
- Moderate
Lucid Trading uses EOD Trailing drawdown at 4% ($2,000 buffer once locked at initial), while Topstep uses EOD Trailing drawdown at 4% ($2,000 buffer once locked at initial). Lock behavior differs: Lucid Trading — locks at $50,100 after $2,100 profit, while Topstep — locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit. Topstep's daily loss limit is a soft mechanism (pause until next day), while Lucid Trading's daily pause behavior is not stated.
Path to FundedTie
Lucid Trading
- Min Days
- 2
- Minimum days note
- 50% consistency → need 2+ profitable days
- To First Payout
- Needs model proof
- First payout timeline
- Missing public evidence: Fee Monthly|Fee Onetime, Field Evidence Ledger.
Topstep
- Min Days
- 2
- Minimum days note
- 50% consistency → need 2+ profitable days
- To First Payout
- Needs model proof
- First payout timeline
- Missing public evidence: Buffer Clearance Required, Min Profitable Days Before Payout, Min Trading Days, Payout Processing Time, PublicSourceUrls.
No timing winner is declared until both selected paths have formula-ready public evidence. Lucid Trading: Missing public evidence: Fee Monthly|Fee Onetime, Field Evidence Ledger. Topstep: Missing public evidence: Buffer Clearance Required, Min Profitable Days Before Payout, Min Trading Days, Payout Processing Time, PublicSourceUrls.
Payout & Profit SplitNot ranked
Lucid Trading
- Best Split
- 90%
- Frequency
- On Demand
- Min Payout
- $500
Topstep
- Best Split
- —
- Frequency
- Daily
- Min Payout
- $125
Payout details vary by tier. Check individual firm pages for full breakdown.
When comparing withdrawal frequency, the gap between payouts matters. Lucid Trading requires 5 profitable trading days between each withdrawal, while Topstep requires 5 profitable trading days. At 20 trading days per month, that means Lucid Trading can request roughly 4 payouts per month versus Topstep's 4.
Topstep requires 5 trading days between payout requests. Lucid Trading's minimum trading day gap between payouts is not stated.
To count as a qualifying day toward payouts, Lucid Trading requires at least $150 in daily profit, while Topstep requires $150.
Lucid Trading limits each payout to 50% of accumulated profit, while Topstep limits to 50%. This means some profit stays in the account as a safety buffer.
Lucid Trading caps funded accounts at 5 payouts before requiring a transition to a live account. Topstep's maximum payout count is not stated.
Lucid Trading requires a $2,000 safety net buffer before your first payout — you must earn above starting balance plus this amount. Topstep's safety net requirement is not stated.
Maximum per withdrawal request: Lucid Trading caps at $2,000, while Topstep caps at $2,000.
Trading RulesTie
Lucid Trading
- News Trading
- Allowed
- Overnight
- Restricted
- Automation
- Allowed
- Copy Trading
- Allowed
- Flat By
- 4:45 PM EST
- Overall
- Moderate
Topstep
- News Trading
- Allowed
- Overnight
- Restricted
- Automation
- Allowed
- Copy Trading
- Allowed
- Flat By
- 3:10 PM CT
- Overall
- Moderate
Both firms have similar trading restrictions. Both require flat-by deadlines: Lucid Trading at 4:45 PM EST, Topstep at 3:10 PM CT.
Best For
Lucid Trading
☀️Day Trader
News trading allowed · Only 2 min trading days
⚡Scalper
News trading OK · No consistency rule
💰Budget Trader
Starting at $100 · One-time fee (no subscription)
Topstep
☀️Day Trader
News trading allowed · Only 2 min trading days
⚡Scalper
News trading OK · No consistency rule
💰Budget Trader
Starting at $49 · No activation fee
Both firms work well for day traders and scalpers and budget traders. Explore all trading styles to see which firms match your approach.
Funded Account LifecycleTie
Based on $500/day profit, 20 trading days/month, 55% win rate
Lucid Trading
- Total Cost
- Incomplete: activation fee unknown
- Break-Even
- Incomplete: activation fee unknown
- Monthly Earnings
- $7,488
- First Payout
- Day 23 ($2,000)
- Live Transition
- Month 2
- Pass Rate
- 87%
Topstep
- Total Cost
- $198
- Break-Even
- Day 12
- Monthly Earnings
- $5,000
- First Payout
- Day 18 ($2,000)
- Live Transition
- None
- Pass Rate
- 87%
Lucid Trading: activation fee unknown (unknown_activation_fee): the cost total is incomplete until the fee is known. Lucid Trading projects $2,488/mo more in funded earnings.
The Verdict
Overall, Topstep scores higher (68 vs 61) on our trader-friendliness index. Key advantages: no inactivity limit. See the full glossary to understand any unfamiliar terms, or explore trading styles to find the best firm for your approach.
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