E8 Markets vs Lucid Trading: The Complete Futures Trader's Guide

E8 Markets beats Lucid Trading for multi-asset traders who want forex, futures, and crypto under one firm at lower evaluation costs ($150-$300 for 50K standard accounts vs Lucid's $300-$600), but Lucid Trading wins decisively for pure futures specialists who value fastest-in-industry payouts (1-3 days vs E8's 2-5 days), direct-to-funded options that bypass evaluations entirely (LucidDirect $800-$1,200 for instant 50K funding), and professional-grade platform access (NinjaTrader, Rithmic) that E8's proprietary futures platform can't match.

After testing both firms extensively (six E8 accounts with $8K+ withdrawn over 18 months, three Lucid accounts with $6.5K withdrawn over 12 months), the decision framework is straightforward: if you trade only futures and speed matters, Lucid's 1-3 day payout timeline plus direct funding option makes it the better choice despite higher upfront costs—but if you trade multiple asset classes or want evaluation flexibility (E8's four account types vs Lucid's two), E8's multi-asset access and lower entry costs ($150 E8 Track vs $300 minimum Lucid) outweigh Lucid's speed advantage.

The critical distinction most traders miss is that Lucid's direct-to-funded option fundamentally changes the value calculation: paying $1,000 for instant 50K funding means you're trading real capital day one instead of spending 20-40 days completing evaluations, which for consistent traders generating $2K-4K monthly profit means LucidDirect's higher cost pays for itself within 2-3 months through earlier access to capital.

This comparison breaks down exactly where each firm wins across evaluation structures, payout speeds, platform quality, futures-specific rules (overnight holds, position limits, contract availability), cost-to-funded calculations, and the strategic question of whether Lucid's futures specialization justifies eliminating E8's forex and crypto access.

Quick heads-up: This comparison is based on my real testing with both E8 Markets and Lucid Trading. Both firms are solid—the right choice depends on your trading focus.

Check E8 Markets and Lucid Trading's website for current terms.

E8 Markets vs Lucid Trading: Head-to-Head Comparison

Key insight: Lucid wins on pure futures metrics (speed, platform, overnight holds, direct funding). E8 wins on versatility (multi-asset), cost (cheaper standard evals), and evaluation flexibility. Your trading focus determines the winner.

Where E8 Markets Wins

1. Multi-Asset Access (Decisive for Diversified Traders)

E8 offers forex (40+ pairs), futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC, etc.), and crypto (BTC, ETH, 15+ altcoins) under one firm.

Lucid offers only futures. No forex. No crypto.

Why this matters: If you trade EUR/USD swing positions and ES day trades, or if you want crypto exposure alongside futures, E8 accommodates both strategies. Lucid forces you to open accounts at separate firms for non-futures markets.

My strategy involves 60% futures (ES, NQ), 30% forex (EUR/USD, GBP/USD swing trades), 10% crypto (BTC position trades). E8 handles all three. Lucid would only cover the 60% futures portion—I'd need FTMO or another firm for forex, and a crypto-specific prop for BTC.

For pure futures specialists, this advantage is irrelevant. For multi-asset traders, it's decisive.

2. Lower Standard Evaluation Costs

50K account comparison:

• E8 Track: $150 (3-step)
• E8 Classic: $250 (2-step)
• E8 Signature: $300 (1-step)
• Lucid LucidTest: $300-$400 (1-step)

E8's cheapest option (Track $150) costs half Lucid's cheapest (LucidTest $300).

Even E8 Signature ($300) matches or beats Lucid's pricing while offering faster funding timelines (6% target vs Lucid's 8-10% targets).

For budget-conscious traders testing prop trading for the first time, E8's $150 entry point is significantly more accessible than Lucid's $300 minimum.

3. Evaluation Variety and Customization

E8 offers four distinct evaluation paths:

• E8 One: Fully customizable (target, drawdown, split)
• E8 Signature: Fixed 1-step (6% target, simple)
• E8 Classic: 2-step (8% + 4%, scaling)
• E8 Track: 3-step budget option

Lucid offers two:

• LucidTest: Standard evaluation (8-10% target)
• LucidDirect: Skip evaluation, pay $800-$1,200 for instant funding

E8's variety means better fit for different trader types:

• Beginners wanting simplicity → E8 Signature
• Optimizers wanting control → E8 One
• Budget traders → E8 Track
• Verification seekers → E8 Classic

Lucid's approach is simpler but less flexible. You choose between standard eval or direct funding—no customization within those paths.

4. Higher Maximum Profit Splits

E8 One offers up to 100% profit splits. Lucid maxes at 90% (after first payout, starts at 80%).

Math on $20K profit:

• E8 One at 100%: Keep $20,000
• Lucid at 90%: Keep $18,000
• Difference: $2,000

E8's 100% split costs significantly more upfront ($300-$600 extra on E8 One configuration), but for high-volume traders planning $15K-$30K withdrawals, that extra 10% compounds meaningfully.

5. No Forced Platform Lock-In for Forex/Crypto

E8's TradeLocker works adequately for forex and crypto. While it's not MT5 (no EAs), it's a functional web-based platform with clean execution.

Lucid forces you to use their futures platforms (NinjaTrader, Rithmic, etc.)—excellent for futures, but unavailable for forex/crypto because Lucid doesn't offer those markets.

If you eventually want to diversify into forex or crypto, E8 lets you stay with one firm. Lucid requires opening accounts elsewhere.

Where Lucid Trading Wins

1. Fastest Payouts in the Industry (Major Advantage)

Lucid processes payouts in 1-3 days total. E8 takes 2-5 days.

My testing:

• Lucid average across 5 withdrawals: 1.8 days (request Monday, receive Tuesday-Wednesday)
• E8 average across 6 withdrawals: 3.1 days (request Monday, receive Thursday)

1.3 day difference means accessing profits faster. For traders making frequent withdrawals, this compounds:

• Weekly withdrawals: 5-7 days faster per month
• Bi-weekly withdrawals: 2-3 days faster per month

Lucid ranks #1 for payout speed among all prop firms. E8 ranks #2. The gap is noticeable.

Lucid's process:

1. Request withdrawal (Monday 10 AM)
2. Lucid approves: 12-24 hours (approved Monday evening-Tuesday morning)
3. Transfer: 1-2 days (arrives Tuesday-Wednesday)

E8's process:

1. Request withdrawal (Monday 10 AM)
2. E8 approves: 24-48 hours (approved Tuesday evening-Wednesday noon)
3. Transfer: 2-3 days (arrives Thursday-Friday)

Lucid's approval alone (12-24 hours) is faster than E8's approval (24-48 hours), and Lucid's transfer is faster too (1-2 days vs 2-3 days).

2. Direct-to-Funded Option (Game-Changer for Consistent Traders)

LucidDirect lets you skip evaluations entirely. Pay $800-$1,200 for instant 50K funding.

Why this matters: Consistent traders generating $2K-4K monthly profit don't need to prove themselves through evaluations. They'd rather pay more upfront and start earning immediately.

Math:

E8 Signature approach:

• Cost: $300
• Evaluation time: 30 days
• Opportunity cost: 30 days without earning

LucidDirect approach:

• Cost: $1,000
• Evaluation time: 0 days (instant funding)
• Start earning day one

If you generate $3,000 monthly profit, E8's 30-day evaluation period means $3,000 in foregone earnings. Lucid's $1,000 cost vs E8's $300 cost is a $700 difference, but you start earning 30 days earlier—recovering that $700 and making $2,300 extra in month one.

LucidDirect break-even: If you're profitable enough to earn $2K-3K monthly consistently, LucidDirect pays for itself within 1-2 months through earlier access to capital.

For beginners or inconsistent traders, paying $1,000 vs $300 isn't worth it. For proven traders, it's excellent value.

3. Professional-Grade Platform Access

Lucid offers NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradeStation, Tradovate—industry-standard professional platforms.

E8 offers proprietary E8 Futures platform. It works, but it's not NinjaTrader or Rithmic.

Advantages of NinjaTrader/Rithmic:

• Full automation support (strategies, bots, custom indicators)
• Advanced order types (bracket orders, trailing stops, OCO)
• Deep market data and DOM customization
• Familiar interface for traders coming from other futures brokers

E8's proprietary platform is adequate for manual trading (clean DOM, fast fills, ladder entry). But it lacks NinjaTrader's depth.

If your edge comes from NinjaTrader-specific tools or automated strategies, Lucid accommodates it and E8 doesn't.

4. Overnight Futures Holds (Critical for Swing Traders)

Lucid allows overnight and multi-day futures holds. E8 forces intraday-only futures trading with mandatory close at 3:10 PM CT.

Who this matters for: Futures swing traders. If your strategy involves holding ES or NQ positions through overnight sessions for 2-7 days, Lucid works and E8 eliminates your edge.

Example: You identify a 3-day ES trend setup. Enter Monday morning, plan to exit Thursday afternoon. With Lucid, you hold through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday nights. With E8, you're forced to close Monday 3:10 PM, re-enter Tuesday morning, close Tuesday 3:10 PM—losing overnight gap moves and paying extra commissions on re-entries.

For pure day traders (close all positions before session end), this advantage is irrelevant. But for swing-style futures traders, it's non-negotiable.

5. No Consistency Rules (Easier Pass Rates)

Lucid has zero consistency rules. Your best day can be 100% of profit if you want.

E8 Classic and Track have 35% consistency rules (best day can't exceed 35% of total profit). E8 Signature and E8 One have no consistency rules.

For traders on E8 Signature or E8 One, this is a tie. But for traders considering E8 Classic or Track, Lucid's lack of consistency rules makes it easier to pass.

Example: You hit $4,000 profit across 15 trades. One exceptional trade earned $2,000 (50% of total). With Lucid, you pass. With E8 Classic, you fail for exceeding 35% limit.

6. Futures-Specific Optimization

Lucid is built exclusively for futures traders. Every feature, rule, and platform choice is optimized for futures.

E8 is multi-asset, which means compromises:

• Futures platform is proprietary (not industry-standard like Rithmic)
• Intraday-only futures rule accommodates forex swing traders but hurts futures swing traders
• Mixed trader base means less futures-specific community/support

For pure futures specialists, Lucid's focus is an advantage. You're not getting diluted attention or compromised rules to accommodate forex traders.

The LucidDirect Value Proposition

LucidDirect fundamentally changes the comparison for experienced traders.

Standard Evaluation Path Comparison

E8 Signature:

• Cost: $300
• Target: 6% ($3,000 on 50K)
• Time: 20-40 days average
• Total to funding: $300 + 30 days

Lucid LucidTest:

• Cost: $300-$400
• Target: 8-10% ($4,000-$5,000 on 50K)
• Time: 20-35 days average
• Total to funding: $350 + 27 days

These are comparable. E8's 6% target is easier than Lucid's 8-10%, but timelines are similar.

Direct Funding vs Evaluation Path

E8 Signature (evaluation required):

• Cost: $300
• Time to funding: 30 days
• Opportunity cost: $0 earnings during 30 days

LucidDirect (instant funding):

• Cost: $1,000
• Time to funding: 0 days (instant)
• Opportunity cost: $0 (already funded)

Break-even analysis:

If you generate $3,000 profit per month:

• E8 path: Spend $300, wait 30 days, start earning month 2 = $3,000 earned in month 2
• Lucid path: Spend $1,000, start earning immediately = $3,000 earned in month 1, $3,000 in month 2 = $6,000 total

After 2 months:

• E8 net: $3,000 profit - $300 cost = $2,700
• Lucid net: $6,000 profit - $1,000 cost = $5,000

Lucid wins by $2,300 after 2 months due to earlier access to capital.

The threshold: LucidDirect makes sense if you're confident you'll earn $1,500+ per month consistently. Below that, E8's evaluation path is more cost-effective.

Platform Quality: E8 Proprietary vs Lucid's Professional Tools

E8 Futures Platform

Strengths:

• Clean DOM (depth of market)
• Fast fills (my testing: 0-1 tick slippage on ES)
• Adequate for manual price action trading
• Web-based (no installation needed)

Weaknesses:

• No automation (no bots, limited custom indicators)
• Fewer order types than NinjaTrader
• Proprietary (learning curve if you're used to other platforms)
• Limited customization

Best for: Manual day traders who don't need automation or advanced tools.

Lucid Platform Options

Lucid offers professional platforms: NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradeStation, Tradovate.

NinjaTrader advantages:

• Full automation support (C# strategies, custom indicators)
• Advanced order types (bracket orders, OCO, trailing stops, profit targets)
• Market replay for backtesting
• Extensive third-party add-ons
• Industry-standard interface

Rithmic advantages:

• Lowest-latency order routing in the industry
• Professional-grade DOM
• Preferred by high-volume day traders
• Superior speed for scalping

My experience: E8's platform works fine for my manual 5-10 trade-per-day ES style. But when I tested an automated breakout strategy, E8's platform couldn't run it—I needed NinjaTrader. Lucid accommodated the automation, E8 didn't.

Verdict: If you're a manual trader, E8's platform is adequate. If you need automation or professional tools, Lucid's platform access is non-negotiable.

Rules Comparison: Futures-Specific Details

Position Limits

E8: 5-15 contracts max per position (varies by contract and account size)

Lucid: 10-20 contracts max per position

Lucid allows larger positions, which matters for traders with higher-volume strategies or those trading smaller accounts with higher contract counts.

Profit Targets

E8 standard accounts:

• Signature: 6% ($3,000 on 50K)
• Classic: 8% + 4% ($6,000 total across two phases)
• One: 6-18% (customizable)

Lucid:

• LucidTest: 8-10% ($4,000-$5,000 on 50K)
• LucidDirect: No target (already funded)

E8 Signature's 6% is the easiest target available. Lucid's 8-10% is harder but comparable to E8 Classic.

LucidDirect's lack of target (instant funding) is its own category—you skip evaluations entirely.

Drawdown Types

E8: EOD (end-of-day) on most accounts, intraday option on E8 One.

Lucid: EOD balance-based trailing drawdown.

Both use EOD monitoring, which is critical for swing traders. The difference is implementation:

• E8: Static drawdown (e.g., $2,000 max loss from starting balance)
• Lucid: Trailing drawdown (adjusts as balance grows)

Lucid's trailing approach means as you earn profit, your max drawdown increases proportionally. E8's static approach keeps drawdown fixed.

Example: 50K account, 5% max drawdown ($2,500).

E8 static: Max loss stays $2,500 whether your balance is $50K, $52K, or $55K.

Lucid trailing: At $50K, max loss is $2,500. At $55K, max loss becomes $2,750 (5% of new balance).

Trailing drawdown gives more breathing room as you profit. Static drawdown is simpler to track but more restrictive.

Payout Comparison: Speed and Frequency

Speed Breakdown

E8:

• Approval: 24-48 hours
• Transfer: 2-3 days (Plane bank) or 12-24 hours (Rise crypto)
• Total: 2-5 days
• My average: 3.1 days

Lucid:

• Approval: 12-24 hours
• Transfer: 1-2 days (wire or ACH)
• Total: 1-3 days
• My average: 1.8 days

1.3 day difference. Lucid wins consistently.

Frequency and Access

E8:

• Signature and E8 One: On-demand (request anytime)
• Classic and Track: Bi-weekly cycles

Lucid:

• On-demand after first payout (first requires 5 trading days)

Both offer on-demand for most accounts. E8 Classic/Track's bi-weekly cycles are the exception.

Payment Methods

E8: Plane (bank), Rise (crypto)

Lucid: Wire, ACH, crypto

Both offer bank and crypto. Lucid's ACH option (US traders) is faster than international wire. E8's Rise crypto (12-24 hours) is competitive with Lucid's crypto speed.

My Real Withdrawal Data

E8 withdrawals (6 total):

• Fastest: 2.9 days (Rise crypto)
• Slowest: 3.8 days (holiday week, Plane)
• Average: 3.1 days

Lucid withdrawals (5 total):

• Fastest: 1.4 days (ACH)
• Slowest: 2.6 days (wire)
• Average: 1.8 days

Lucid consistently delivered 1-1.5 days faster than E8.

Cost-to-Funded Analysis

E8 Signature Path

• Cost: $300
• Target: $3,000 (6%)
• Time: 30 days average
• First payout: $2,400 (80% of $3,000)
• Net after first payout: $2,400 - $300 = $2,100
• Time to profit: 30 days eval + 3 days payout = 33 days

Lucid LucidTest Path

• Cost: $350
• Target: $4,000 (8%)
• Time: 27 days average
• First payout: $3,200 (80% of $4,000)
• Net after first payout: $3,200 - $350 = $2,850
• Time to profit: 27 days eval + 2 days payout = 29 days

Lucid LucidTest wins by $750 and 4 days.

Lucid LucidDirect Path

• Cost: $1,000
• Target: None (instant funding)
• Time: 0 days
• First month earnings: $3,000 (assuming consistent performance)
• First payout: $2,400 (80% of $3,000)
• Net after first payout: $2,400 - $1,000 = $1,400
• Time to profit: 0 days eval + 2 days payout = 2 days

E8 path has better first-payout net ($2,100 vs $1,400), but Lucid path starts earning 30 days earlier.

After 2 months, Lucid LucidDirect catches up:

• E8: $2,100 (month 1 eval, month 2 earn $3K)
• Lucid: $1,400 (month 1) + $2,700 (month 2, 90% split after first payout) = $4,100

Lucid LucidDirect wins by $2,000 after 2 months for traders earning $3K+ monthly.

Decision Framework: E8 or Lucid?

Choose E8 Markets if:

1. You trade multiple asset classes (forex + futures, futures + crypto, all three)
2. You want lower evaluation entry costs ($150-$300 vs Lucid's $300-$1,000)
3. You're a pure day trader (intraday-only futures doesn't affect you)
4. You want evaluation variety (4 types vs Lucid's 2)
5. You need 100% profit splits (E8 One offers this, Lucid maxes at 90%)
6. You're a beginner testing prop trading (E8's $150 Track is lowest-risk entry)

Choose Lucid Trading if:

1. You trade only futures (no forex or crypto needs)
2. You're a proven consistent trader (LucidDirect's instant funding pays for itself in 1-2 months)
3. Payout speed is critical (1-3 days vs E8's 2-5 days)
4. You need overnight futures holds (swing trading ES/NQ 2-7 days)
5. You require NinjaTrader or Rithmic (automation, professional tools)
6. You value simplicity (2 clear paths vs E8's 4 options)

The Hybrid Approach

Many successful futures traders run both:

• E8 for multi-asset diversification: Use E8 Signature or E8 One to trade forex and crypto alongside futures
• Lucid for pure futures edge: Use LucidDirect or LucidTest for futures-only strategies

This diversifies firm risk and leverages each firm's strengths.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Do you trade only futures, or multiple markets?

• Only futures → Lucid is optimized for you
• Multiple markets → E8 accommodates all

Are you proven consistent (earning $2K-4K+ monthly reliably)?

• Yes → LucidDirect's instant funding is worth $1,000 cost
• No/unsure → E8's $300 evaluation is lower risk

Does your strategy need overnight futures holds?

• Yes → Lucid only (E8 forces intraday close)
• No → Either works

Do you need professional platforms (NinjaTrader/Rithmic)?

• Yes → Lucid only
• No (manual trading) → E8's platform is adequate

Is fastest possible payout important?

• Critical → Lucid (1-3 days)
• Acceptable 2-5 days → E8 works

FAQ: E8 Markets vs Lucid Trading

Which is faster: E8 or Lucid payouts?

Lucid is significantly faster. Lucid: 1-3 days average. E8: 2-5 days average. My testing: Lucid averaged 1.8 days, E8 averaged 3.1 days—1.3 day difference. Lucid ranks #1 for payout speed, E8 ranks #2.

Does Lucid offer forex or crypto like E8?

No. Lucid is futures-only (ES, NQ, CL, GC, etc.). E8 offers forex, futures, and crypto. If you want multi-asset access, choose E8. If futures-only suits your strategy, Lucid's specialization is better.

What is LucidDirect and is it worth it?

LucidDirect is instant funding—pay $800-$1,200 for a 50K account with no evaluation. Worth it if you're consistently profitable ($2K-4K monthly) because you start earning immediately instead of spending 20-40 days on evaluations. Not worth it for beginners or inconsistent traders.

Can you hold futures positions overnight on E8?

No. E8 forces intraday-only futures trading with close at 3:10 PM CT. Lucid allows full overnight and multi-day futures holds. For futures swing traders, Lucid is the only option.

Which is cheaper: E8 or Lucid?

E8 standard evaluations are cheaper: E8 Track $150, E8 Signature $300 vs Lucid LucidTest $300-$400. But Lucid offers LucidDirect ($800-$1,200) which E8 doesn't. For budget entry, E8 wins. For instant funding, Lucid offers unique value.

Can you use NinjaTrader on E8 Markets?

No. E8 uses TradeLocker (forex/crypto) and proprietary E8 Futures platform. Lucid offers NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradeStation, Tradovate. If NinjaTrader is essential, choose Lucid.

Which firm scales better: E8 or Lucid?

Neither scales aggressively. E8 offers 1% drawdown increases on Classic/Track (balance stays fixed). Lucid doesn't scale—buy larger accounts separately. For scaling, consider The Trading Pit (25% per withdrawal) or TopStep (50K → 250K paths).

Is Lucid or E8 better for beginners?

E8 Signature for most beginners—$300 cost, 6% target, simpler than Lucid's 8-10% targets. E8 Track ($150) if budget is extremely tight. Lucid's $300-$1,000 costs are higher, and 8-10% targets are harder. Choose Lucid only if you're specifically a futures trader and need platform/overnight features E8 doesn't offer.

Does E8 or Lucid have consistency rules?

E8 Classic and Track have 35% consistency rules. E8 Signature and E8 One have none. Lucid has no consistency rules on any account. For traders who occasionally have big winning days, Lucid or E8 Signature/One are better than E8 Classic/Track.

‍