Select 2 or more firms to compare evaluation costs, drawdown rules, profit splits, payout structures, and trading restrictions across the CME futures prop firms we track.
Specific tiers and funded paths from the selected firms, ranked with public-rule fit and blockers visible.
| Category | Apex Trader Funding· Intraday Trail Checked Jul 10, 2026 · apextraderfunding.com(76%)· 77 changes pending review since Sep 30, 2026May be out of date | Lucid Trading· LucidFlex Checked Aug 3, 2026 · lucidtrading.com· 335 changes pending review since Apr 11, 2026May be out of date |
|---|---|---|
| Account Size | $25K | $25K |
| Overall Score | ||
| Trader Friendliness | 72/100Good | 61/100Good |
| Cost Summary | ||
| Eval Cost | $20(Regular price $199; current public one-time price $19.9.)UnknownNot independently verified | $100UnknownNot independently verified |
| Total to Start | $89(eval + activation) | Incomplete: activation fee unknown |
| Monthly Cost (Funded) | — | — |
| Activation Fee | $69 | — |
| Reset Fee | — | $60 |
| Evaluation Rules | ||
| Profit Target | $1,500 (6%)UnknownNot independently verified | $1,250 (5%)UnknownNot independently verified |
| Min Trading Days | 1 day | 2 days |
| Min Days to Funded | 1 day | 2 days |
| Pass Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Drawdown Rules | ||
| Type | Intraday Trailing | EOD Trailing |
| Max Drawdown | $1,000(4%)UnknownNot independently verified | $1,000(4%)UnknownNot independently verified |
| Daily Loss Limit | None | None |
| Daily Loss Limit Breach | Soft | N/A |
| Lock Behavior | Trails indefinitely | Locks at $25,100 after $1,100 profit |
| Strictness | Strict | Moderate |
| Trading Restrictions | ||
| News Trading | News trading is allowed for your normal trading strategy. Using news trading strategies that chase the market or place orders on both sides to gamble the outcome of news is not allowed. Non-directional bracket trading (orders left open on both sides) to catch windfall moves is also prohibited. | |
| Automation | Banned | Bots Allowed |
| Hedging | Banned | Allowed |
| Overnight Holds | ||
| Must Be Flat By | 4:59 PM ET | 4:45 PM EST |
| Inactivity Limit | — | 30 days |
| Weekend Holding | Must Flat | Unknown |
| Account Rolling | Stockpiling evaluation accounts prohibited. Purchasing multiple discounted evaluations to cycle through and intentionally blow up accounts in pursuit of windfall profits is not permitted. | No Restriction |
| Min Payout | $500 | $500 |
| Funded Account | ||
| Payout Accessibility | 59/100 | 81/100 |
| Consistency Rule | 50% max/dayFavorable | None |
| Funded Rules | ||
| Funded Consistency | 50% max/day | None |
| Funded Daily Loss Limit | $1,250(soft) | None |
| Buffer Requirement | $1,100 | $1,000 |
| Activation Fee | $69 | Unknown |
| Min Profitable Days | 5 days | 5 days |
| Profit Split | 100% UnknownNot independently verified | 90% UnknownNot independently verified |
| Payout Frequency | Weekly | On Demand |
| Max Payout | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Winning Days | 5 days($100+) | 5 days |
| Days Between Payouts | 5 trading days | — |
| Qualifying Day Min | $100/day | $100/day |
| Max Payout % | — | 50% of profit |
| Min Balance for Payout | $26,600 | — |
| Min Balance After Payout | $26,100 | — |
| Max Payouts | 6 total | 5 total |
| Account Closure | total_payouts: 6 (closes) | — |
| Min Payout | $500 | $500 |
| Withdrawal Fee | — | — |
| Processing Time | 5-11 business days | within 2 business days |
| Payout Methods | ACH direct deposit (US), Plane (international) | Bank Transfer (WorkMarket), PayPal, Plaid ACH |
| Max Contracts | 4 full / 40 micro | 2 full / 20 micro |
| Max Accounts | 20 accounts | 5 accounts |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Rithmic, MotiveWave, Quantower, Sierra Chart |
| Buffer Amount | $1,100 | $1,000 |
| Min Payout | $500 | $500 |
| Max Per Request | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Funded Fee | $0/mo | — |
| Payout Caps | $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Account Lifecycle | ||
| Max Funded Accounts | 20 | 5 |
| Inactivity Limit | — | 30 days |
| Quick Math | ||
| Eval + Activation | $89 $20 eval + $69 activation | — $100 eval + activation fee unknown |
| Daily Profit Target | $1,500/day over 1 day | $625/day over 2 days |
| First Payout Timeline | Needs model proof Missing public evidence: Selected Economic Product. | Needs model proof Missing public evidence: Selected Economic Product. |
| Best Profit Split | 100% | 90% |
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