Lucid Trading Review: Top-Tier Direct-to-Funded Futures Firm

Quick Overview — What is Lucid Trading?

I’ve traded multiple Lucid accounts across different models, including their newly launched LucidFlex plan (released in late 2026). The firm has evolved fast: what used to be a two-track setup (Lucid Test + Lucid Direct) is now a three-path funding ecosystem built around trader flexibility, clean execution, and fast payouts.

The short version?  
Lucid Trading is **legit**, easy to set up, offers **fast upgrades**, and continues to push toward a trader-first experience in a prop landscape that's often full of gimmicks.

**Major Update (January 2026):**  
Lucid just launched **[LucidBlack](https://www.proptradingvibes.com/blog/lucid-trading-lucidblack)** as their premium tier and **discontinued LucidPro**. This changes the funding landscape significantly.

Lucid now runs **four account types** (with Pro being phased out):

LucidBlack — New premium tier with highest live caps, Day 1 deposits, escrow + bonus earnings (replaces Pro as top-tier offering)
LucidFlex — No DLL, no funded consistency, no payout buffer, EOD drawdown, one-time-fee evaluation  
Lucid Test — Traditional one-phase evaluation with clear targets and trailing drawdown  
Lucid Direct — Skip the evaluation, start funded on day one  
LucidPro — **DISCONTINUED** (no new purchases; existing accounts grandfathered until phased out)

Platform access is still excellent: Rithmic, Quantower, Tradovate, and Project X — with the note that LucidFlex is not available on Project X. Execution has been smooth across everything I tested.

Payouts remain one of Lucid’s strongest features. Once you hit LucidLive (the firm's live-tier environment), you can request daily withdrawals, something more firms claim to offer than actually deliver.

Lucid’s brand has always been low-drama and low-friction: no overhyped marketing, no vague “soon™” features — just clear rules, real payouts, and tools that don’t get in your way.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Lucid Trading and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Lucid Trading´s website or their help center.

What Makes Lucid Trading Different

Lucid hasn’t tried to reinvent the prop firm model; they’ve simply focused on the parts traders consistently ask for — and removed the parts that don’t serve anyone.

What stands out most now:

1. Four Funding Paths (Now Including Premium Black Tier)

Most futures props force you into:

• A long evaluation
• Or a direct funding model with hostile rules

Lucid instead offers:

• LucidBlack (NEW, January 2026) — Premium plan with highest live caps, Day 1 deposits, both Escrow AND Bonus earnings
• LucidFlex — A frictionless, trader-driven structure
• Lucid Test — Standard one-step evaluation
• Lucid Direct — Skip straight to funded

LucidPro has been discontinued (existing accounts continue unchanged as phased out).

You choose the risk model that fits your style and budget.

2. LucidFlex: A Direct Response to Trader Requests

LucidFlex addresses the most common pain points in futures prop trading:

• No Daily Loss Limit (DLL)
• No funded consistency requirement
• No payout buffer
• End-of-Day (EOD) drawdown, not intraday
• Real-time upgrade to funded in minutes
• 90% flat payout split from day one

In a market where most firms add rules, Lucid removed them.

3. Fast Payout Options Across All Paths

Once funded, you can request payouts:

• On LucidFlex → any day (after meeting 5 profitable days + net positive)
• On LucidLive → daily
• On Direct/Test funded accounts → according to their normal cadence

My experience: payouts hit fast and without unnecessary “compliance reviews.”

4. Consistent, High-Quality Execution

Lucid leverages established tech:

• Rithmic backend for low-latency CME execution
• Quantower for advanced charting
• Tradovate for simplicity
• Project X for clean order flow tools

Execution during fast NQ sessions felt solid, especially on Project X and Rithmic.

Important:
LucidFlex is available only on Tradovate and Rithmic (not Project X).

Lucid Trading Funding Models

Lucid now operates three funding paths.
Each appeals to a different type of trader.

LucidFlex — Maximum Flexibility (New, Late 2025)

LucidFlex is the new flagship account type and instantly stands apart from traditional evaluations.

What LucidFlex Offers

• One-time fee
• No Daily Loss Limit
• No funded consistency rule
• No payout buffer
• EOD drawdown
• 90% profit split
• 6 payouts → LucidLive
• Available on Rithmic + Tradovate

Who It's For

• Traders who hate DLL
• Traders with stable strategies who don’t want rule friction
• Intraday discretionary traders
• Anyone who prefers EOD over intraday drawdown

Flex is the most trader-friendly model Lucid offers — and arguably one of the cleanest in the industry right now.

LucidBlack — Premium Tier (Launched January 2026)

LucidBlack is Lucid's answer to traders who want the absolute best live funding structure available. Positioned as their "Amex Black" tier, it combines the best elements of all other plans.

What LucidBlack Offers

• Highest move-to-live caps across all Lucid products
• Highest Day 1 deposits when moving live
• Both Escrow AND Bonus earnings (only plan with both)
• Premium pricing reflecting premium features
• Available on Rithmic, Tradovate, Quantower, Project X

Live Program Advantages

Unlike Flex (Escrow only) or other plans, Black traders can:

• Earn escrow through consistent live trading benchmarks
• Earn bonus for hitting specific performance targets
• Receive larger Day 1 deposits when moving to live
• Access higher total move-to-live caps

Full details: LucidBlack Deep Dive

Who It's For

• Traders who want maximum live earning potential
• Those willing to pay premium for best structure
• Traders planning long-term funded careers
• Anyone who values both consistency rewards (escrow) and performance bonuses

LucidBlack is objectively the most trader-favorable structure Lucid offers — if you're willing to pay for it.

Lucid Test — The One-Step Evaluation

LucidTest is unchanged in its core identity: a straightforward one-phase futures evaluation.

Why It Works

• Clear profit targets
• Fair trailing drawdown
• Same platform options as Direct (including Project X)
• Daily payouts once you go LucidLive
• Lower barrier than Direct
• More structured and rule-based than Flex

If you want a traditional evaluation without multi-stage bureaucracy, this is the lane.

Note: LucidTest replaced LucidPro as the standard evaluation path after Pro was discontinued in January 2026.

Lucid Direct — Skip the Evaluation

Lucid Direct lets experienced traders bypass the eval entirely.

Key Points

• Start funded immediately
• Pay higher upfront cost
• Lower time-to-payout
• Best for traders with proven ROI or running multiple prop accounts

If you already trade multiple props and want another capital source fast, Lucid Direct gets you funded on day one.

Update: With LucidPro discontinued, Direct now sits as the mid-tier option between Test (standard) and Black (premium).

Comparison Table — LucidFlex vs LucidBlack vs Lucid Test vs Lucid Direct‍

Platforms & Execution — What Can You Trade?

Your original review's platform section remains largely valid — with one important update.

Supported Platforms Across Lucid

• Rithmic → Best latency for active futures traders
• Quantower → Advanced charting & DOM
• Project X → Clean, efficient order flow interface
• Tradovate → Browser-based, light, reliable

Important Update

LucidFlex is not available on Project X.

Other models (Test + Direct) continue to support all platforms.

Tradable Assets

All account types offer:

• ES, NQ, YM, RTY
• CL, NG
• GC, SI
• ZB, ZN, 6E futures
• Micros across all CME markets

Lucid remains strictly futures-only, which means no distractions and better backend reliability.

Pricing Updates (January 2026)

LucidFlex 150k Price Increase

Due to higher move-to-live caps, the 150k Flex account received a price adjustment:

Other Flex sizes unchanged.

LucidBlack Pricing

Premium pricing reflects premium features. Check current LucidBlack pricing for exact costs.

LucidPro Discontinued

• No new purchases as of January 18, 2026
• Resets available until January 25, 2026 at 5 PM EST
• Existing Pro accounts continue with current structure as phased out

Rules — Drawdown, Targets & What to Watch

Rules often determine whether a prop account feels usable or like a trap waiting to spring. One thing that hasn’t changed is that Lucid keeps their rules clear. What has changed is that LucidFlex introduces a new, more forgiving risk structure — one designed specifically to remove the most complained-about restrictions.

Here’s how the rule systems now break down across LucidFlex, Lucid Test, and Lucid Direct.

LucidFlex Rules — No DLL, EOD Drawdown, and Fewer Restrictions

LucidFlex is built around trader freedom rather than trader policing.
Three things immediately stand out:

• No Daily Loss Limit (DLL)
• No funded consistency rule
• No payout buffer

This alone puts LucidFlex in a different category from nearly every other futures prop firm.

Drawdown (EOD Only)

LucidFlex uses End-of-Day Drawdown (EOD), meaning:

• The Max Loss Limit only moves at the end of each session
• Intraday swings don’t trail or tighten your room
• Once you pass the trail balance, the drawdown locks

Traders used to Apex, TopStep, or tight intraday DD structures will notice the difference instantly — EOD feels more realistic and less punishing for normal intraday variance.

Consistency (Evaluation Only)

LucidFlex requires:

• 50% consistency to pass
• A built-in cushion so even 2-day passes are possible

Once you’re funded, consistency disappears entirely.

Trading Restrictions

Flex still guards against exploitation:

• No HFT (100+ trades/day)
• No attempt to bypass scaling limits
• No ultra-short micro scalping (<2 min / <10 ticks)

Otherwise, you can trade more freely than on most prop accounts.

Lucid Test Rules — The Straightforward One-Phase Evaluation

Lucid Test remains the most traditional path.
This model still uses:

• A fixed profit target
• Trailing drawdown (switches to static once funded)
• A reasonable DLL
• Traditional consistency expectations

Why It Still Works

It’s predictable, structured, and transparent — ideal for traders who want a classic evaluation experience without multi-stage headaches.

If you’ve passed any other futures challenge before, this will feel familiar, just less bloated.

Lucid Direct Rules — Skip the Evaluation Entirely

Lucid Direct rules are straightforward:

• You start funded immediately
• You trade inside a trailing drawdown
• Follow risk rules → earn payouts
• Upgrade to LucidLive once consistent

It’s the fastest way into daily payout territory, but requires discipline because the room for error is smaller than in an evaluation.

Live Program Updates (January 2026)

Lucid overhauled their live funding structure to discourage "cash out and return to sim" behavior while rewarding traders who genuinely want to trade live.

New Live Structure Across All Plans

Key Changes:

• Portion of move-to-live cap deposited on Day 1 (available for immediate payout)
• Remaining funds held in Escrow (earned through live trading benchmarks)
• LucidBlack ONLY: Can earn both Escrow AND Bonus
• LucidFlex: Higher total caps for 50k/100k/150k; slight reduction for 25k

Rollout Timeline

Goal: Incentivize live trading participation while discouraging traders from repeatedly cashing out and returning to sim indefinitely.

Full details by plan:

• LucidBlack Live Structure
• LucidFlex Live Structure
• LucidDirect Live Structure

LucidPro: No changes (grandfathered accounts retain current structure)

Payouts

Payouts have been one of Lucid’s strengths from the beginning.
Nothing changes that — but LucidFlex adds a second payout system that’s even simpler.

Let’s break both down.

LucidFlex Payouts — Built Around Realistic Trader Flow

LucidFlex uses a clean system:

Requirements

• 5 profitable days per payout cycle (minimum daily amount varies by account size)
• At least $1 net profit in the cycle
• Minimum $500 withdrawal
• Maximum = 50% of account balance (capped per account size)

What Makes Flex Payouts Unique

• No payout buffer
• No consistency rule for payouts
• No payout windows (request anytime)
• 90% profit split from day one
• No MLL reduction when withdrawing

Payouts process within 2 business days, and in my experience with non-Flex accounts, Lucid delivers on this.

After six payouts, the account transitions into LucidLive with up to $5,000 of your Flex profits transferring as live balance.

LucidLive Payouts — Daily Withdrawals

This was the standout feature in the original review, and it's still a major advantage.

Once you reach LucidLive (from any path):

• You can withdraw profits daily
• There is no waiting period
• Withdrawals are smooth and fast
• No unnecessary “manual review” friction

I tested it personally: the transfer hit quickly, no drama, no hoops.

If you care about cash flow, LucidLive is built for you.

Platforms & Assets

Everything here from your original review remains relevant, with one important update:

LucidFlex Is NOT Available on Project X

Still available on:

• Tradovate
• Rithmic

Lucid Test and Lucid Direct continue to support:

• Rithmic
• Quantower
• Tradovate
• Project X

Otherwise, platform quality and execution remain exactly as you described — fast, stable, and without surprise fill behavior.

My Results

Your original experience still holds:

• execution smooth
• order flow stable on Project X
• payouts hit quickly
• no hidden “gotcha” rules

But now you can add:

LucidFlex Experience (My Notes)

I found Flex to be noticeably less stressful to trade:

• No DLL removes the “one bad candle nukes the account” anxiety
• EOD drawdown gives more breathing room
• Immediate upgrade after hitting target is seamless
• Scaling feels logical, not punitive
• Not having to maintain funded consistency is a real psychological edge

If you’re running multiple prop accounts or you’ve been burned by intraday DD elsewhere, Flex is the easiest Lucid model to operate under.

Final Verdict

Lucid Trading was already strong before January 2026, but the launch of LucidBlack and the updated live program genuinely elevate the firm's position in the futures prop landscape.

Lucid now offers four clear lanes (with Pro being phased out):

• LucidBlack → premium plan with highest live caps, Day 1 deposits, and both Escrow + Bonus earnings
• LucidFlex → the most trader-friendly plan (no DLL, no consistency, EOD drawdown, fast payouts)
• Lucid Test → the clean one-step evaluation for structured traders
• Lucid Direct → skip-straight-to-funded for traders with confidence and proven setups

Payouts are fast, execution is clean, platform choice is wide, and the entire ecosystem feels built for traders who actually trade — not just those trying to game a challenge.

The new live program changes demonstrate Lucid's commitment to rewarding genuine traders while discouraging "payout farming" behavior that doesn't contribute to live trading.

If you're a futures trader who values flexibility, fast payouts, solid tech, and rules that don't feel like hidden traps, Lucid deserves a place in your active rotation. LucidBlack, especially, is now the gold standard for premium prop funding if you're serious about maximizing live earning potential.

Note: LucidPro is discontinued (no new purchases, existing accounts grandfathered). Flex 150k pricing increased January 2026.

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