Head to head
Lucid Trading vs Topstep
Two Futures prop firms compared on price, rules and payouts. Every figure comes from the PropFirmTrading database, with verified discount codes applied.
Data checked by Oliver · Updated 20 October 2026
★ 4.4 · 1 yrs · 🇺🇸
- From
- $70
- Max funding
- $150K
- Deal
- −50%
- Code
- PROPFT
The short version
- Cheapest at 100K
- Topstep $99 (Lucid Trading $157.50)
- First challenge
- Topstep
- Scaling up
- Neither clearly
- Swing trader
- Neither clearly
The rulebook that matches the trader’s style should decide.
Side by side at 100K
The cheapest program each firm sells at 100K, the size both firms offer that is closest to $100K.
Rule friction is the PropFirmTrading reading of how many rules can end an account by accident. Low means fewer.
Where Lucid Trading and Topstep differ
Price at 100K
Topstep $99
Lucid Trading $157.50
$59 between cheapest and dearest, per attempt
Maximum loss
Lucid Trading 3%, EOD
Topstep 3%, Trailing
Wider buffer, more room for a losing run; static beats trailing
Drawdown per 1 of target
Lucid Trading 0.50
Topstep 0.50
Higher means the target is small next to the room to fail
Total profit target
Lucid Trading 6% in 1 phase
Topstep 6% in 1 phase
Lower total, shorter evaluation
Trustpilot
Lucid Trading 4.4
Topstep 3.6
The review pages explain what sits behind each score
Where Lucid Trading and Topstep differ (full text)
Price is the clearest difference at the 100K size. Topstep Trading Combine (Standard) costs $99 with the code applied, and Lucid Trading LucidFlex costs $157.50. The gap is $59 per attempt, so a trader who needs three attempts pays about $176 more at Lucid Trading.
Both programs allow a maximum loss of 3% ($3,000), but the drawdown is EOD at Lucid Trading and Trailing (MLL / One Rule) at Topstep.
Lucid Trading applies a 50% consistency rule and Topstep applies a 50% (Combine) consistency rule. A consistency rule caps how much of the profit may come from one day, which slows down traders with occasional large wins.
The cheapest way to test either firm is Lucid Trading LucidFlex 25K at $70 or Topstep Trading Combine (Standard) 50K at $49. Small accounts share the rulebook of the larger ones, so they show how a firm behaves at low cost.
On Trustpilot, Lucid Trading holds 4.4 from 5,873 reviews and Topstep holds 3.6 from 14,750 reviews. The review pages linked below explain what sits behind each score.
Lucid Trading programs
One row per program, at the size closest to $100K.
Topstep programs
One row per program, at the size closest to $100K.
Rules side by side
Firm-wide rules as each firm publishes them. Some rules vary by program, and the firm profiles carry the full text.
Which firm fits which trader
A reading of the data for three common situations. The rulebook that fits the trader's style matters more than any single figure.
A first challenge on a small budget
New to prop firms and paying to learn a rulebook at the lowest cost.
The data favours
Topstep
- The entry ticket is $49 at Topstep against $70 at Lucid Trading.
A consistent trader scaling up
Has passed evaluations before and cares about the share of profit kept and the ceiling on funding.
The data favours
Neither firm clearly
The two firms are close on the figures that matter for this profile, so the rules table above should decide.
A swing trader holding for days
Uses wider stops and needs room for positions to move against the entry before they work.
The data favours
Neither firm clearly
The two firms are close on the figures that matter for this profile, so the rules table above should decide.
Questions traders ask about Lucid Trading and Topstep
What does a 100K challenge cost at Lucid Trading and Topstep?
Lucid Trading LucidFlex 100K costs $157.50 with code PROPFT (list price $225). Topstep Trading Combine (Standard) 100K costs $99. Prices are checked daily and may change.
Which firm allows more drawdown at 100K?
Lucid Trading allows 3% ($3,000), EOD and Topstep allows 3% ($3,000), Trailing (MLL / One Rule). The daily loss limit is not listed at Lucid Trading and not listed at Topstep.
Do Lucid Trading and Topstep allow news trading?
Lucid Trading: All evaluations & funded: allowed LucidDaily: red-folder news is a hard breach | flat from 1 min before to 1 min after | no holding or opening through the… Topstep: Restricted around Tier 1 news (CPI, FOMC rate decision, FOMC press conference, NFP) in Trading Combines and Express Funded accounts: no new mini positions in…
How often do Lucid Trading and Topstep pay out?
Lucid Trading: LucidDirect: every 5 days | 20% consistency LucidPro: every 3 days | 40% consistency LucidFlex: every 5 days | needs 5 profitable days of $100-$250 by size |… Topstep: Express Funded Standard: after 5 winning days of $150+ | request 50% of balance up to $5,000 Express Funded Consistency: 3 days with 40% target | request 50%…
Which firm suits a first prop firm challenge, Lucid Trading or Topstep?
On price and drawdown room the data favours Topstep. The entry ticket is $49 at Topstep against $70 at Lucid Trading. Both firms are viable, and the rulebook that fits the trader's style matters more than the cheaper ticket.
Related comparisons
Read more on each firm
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