Alpha Futures vs Lucid Trading
Alpha Futures vs Lucid Trading: MLL After Performance Fees & One Rulebook (2026)
We publish one evaluation → Qualified Account path (Zero, Premium, Advanced) and state on plan pages that MLL does not slide to zero after a performance fee. The MLL floor stays where it was (e.g. if the MLL was $49,300 before the request, it remains $49,300 after), but your account balance drops by the withdrawn amount, so your remaining buffer above MLL narrows (Premium overview · Zero overview). Lucid Trading documents multiple plan paths (Flex, Direct, Pro, legacy Black, invite-only Maxx) with different withdrawal rules. LucidPro funded requires profit above a buffer balance (MLL + $100, e.g. $52,100 on 50K) plus 40% consistency and a minimum profit goal. Both firms use simulated environments on standard paths, performance fees are performance-based, and neither guarantees an outcome.
Last verified: June 2026. Confirm what is purchasable today.
General information only. Simulated trading. Performance fees are performance-based; outcomes not guaranteed.
Related: EOD trailing drawdown explained · Performance fee rules
The edge we are comparing (one rule only)
Both firms publish a 90% performance split to the trader on many paths. Traders ask us a narrower question:
After I request a performance fee, what happens to my drawdown buffer, and how many different rulebooks might I be on?
Our answer: One published MLL rule across active tiers. The MLL level stays in place after a performance fee instead of resetting to zero, but your balance drops when funds leave the account, so you have less room above the MLL until you build profit back. On Lucid’s side, Flex, Pro, and Direct each carry their own buffer, consistency, and trading-day rules, so the answer depends on which plan you bought.
Alpha Futures: one path, MLL after performance fees
Sources: MLL article · Performance fee policy
What we publish | All active tiers (Zero, Premium, Advanced) |
|---|---|
Entry | One-step evaluation → Qualified Account; no skip-eval product |
Drawdown | EOD trailing MLL; not intraday unrealised trailing |
After performance fee | Plan pages: MLL does not slide to zero / reset away on withdrawal |
What that means | MLL floor unchanged; balance drops by approved amount → less cushion above MLL until you rebuild |
Request mechanics | Up to 50% of profit per cycle; 90% of request paid; 5 × $200+ winning days between requests |
Max per request | Tiered: Advanced up to $15K; Premium up to $6K; Zero lower (max withdrawal) |
Eval fees | Monthly subscription (alpha-futures.com) |
What that means in practice
You choose Zero, Premium, or Advanced at checkout and follow that same tier from evaluation through the Qualified Account stage. After an approved performance fee, the MLL floor does not move, but your balance drops by the amount withdrawn, which leaves less dollar room above the MLL until you earn it back. Alpha Futures does not publish a buffer balance requirement. Under LucidPro, profit must exceed $52,100 before a withdrawal is available on a 50K account.
Trade-offs we publish: monthly eval billing (not Lucid’s one-time fee model where listed); no LucidDirect-style straight-to-funded skip.
Standard plan retired May 1, 2026. Use Premium/Advanced/Zero only.
Lucid: multiple paths, buffer varies
Plan | Status | Funded-stage gates (Lucid help centre) |
|---|---|---|
LucidFlex | Active | 5 trading days with profit at per-size daily minimums; no payout buffer; no fixed payout window (LucidFlex payouts) |
LucidPro | Active (confirm at checkout) | Buffer: profit > MLL + $100; 40% consistency; minimum profit goal per cycle (LucidPro payouts) |
LucidDirect | Active | Skip evaluation; 20% consistency + profit goals per cycle (LucidDirect objectives) |
LucidBlack | Legacy | Documented; may not be purchasable |
LucidMaxx | Invite-only | Live capital; different product (overview) |
LucidFlex day gate (50K example): 5 separate days each earning at least $150 profit in the payout cycle (LucidFlex payouts). Resets after each approved request.
LucidPro buffer + consistency (50K example): balance must exceed $52,100 (buffer = MLL + $100). Largest single day must stay ≤ 40% of cycle profit (e.g. $2,000 total profit → best day ≤ $800). Minimum $500 new profit in the cycle (LucidPro payouts).
LucidDirect consistency (50K example): largest day ≤ 20% of cycle profit (e.g. $2,000 total → best day ≤ $400). First payout profit goal $3,000 on 50K (LucidDirect objectives).
EOD drawdown (Lucid sim plans): 50K example: $2,000 MLL, trail locks $50,100 (LucidFlex drawdown).
LucidFlex vs LucidPro on 50K funded: Flex documents no buffer but LucidFlex funded: request up to 50% of account balance, capped at $2,000 on 50K (see size table on LucidFlex payout policy). Pro documents a $52,100 buffer floor before withdrawal plus 40% consistency (LucidFlex payouts · LucidPro payouts).
Fees: LucidFlex/Direct/Pro eval = one-time fee, no subscription (simulated account fees). Purchase prices are not featured on the help centre. Be sure to confirm prices at checkout. Reset fees on lucidtrading.com homepage table.
Side-by-side: post-fee buffer & plan count
Alpha Futures | Lucid (varies by plan) | |
|---|---|---|
Plan rulebooks at entry | One (pick Zero / Premium / Advanced) | Multiple (Flex, Direct, Pro, + legacy) |
Skip evaluation? | No | Yes (LucidDirect) |
MLL after performance fee | Floor does not slide to zero; balance drops, buffer narrows | Plan-specific buffers / caps / consistency |
Example funded gate (50K) | 5 × $200+ winning days; up to 50% of profit per cycle | Flex: 5 × $150+ days, no buffer · Pro: $52,100 buffer + 40% consistency · Direct: 20% consistency + profit goal |
Drawdown type | EOD trailing MLL | EOD trailing (sim paths) |
Eval fee model | Monthly subscription | One-time (where documented) |
When each fits
Alpha Futures fits traders who:
- Want one help-centre rulebook per tier, rather than navigating multiple plan rulebooks
- Care that MLL stays intact after performance fees requested on published plans
- Accept evaluation-first entry (no straight-to-funded)
LucidDirect fits traders who want immediate sim-funded access and accept S2F profit goals + 20% consistency. We have no published equivalent.
LucidPro fits traders who are comfortable with a buffer balance + 40% consistency + minimum profit goal stack before each request.
Lucid one-time fees may suit traders who hate subscriptions. That is a billing preference, not a drawdown advantage. Compare total cost to pass at live checkout.
Before you choose
- Read up on your tier on help.alpha-futures.com for eval + Qualified rules.
- On Lucid, confirm which plans are still sold at checkout.
- Lucid’s homepage mentions a 15-minute average payout time; their help centre states performance fees are processed within two business days after approval. Worth checking both before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alpha Futures reset MLL to zero after a performance fee?
Our Premium and Zero overviews state the MLL does not slide to zero / reset on withdrawal (Premium overview). The MLL floor stays; your balance falls by the approved amount, so remaining room above MLL shrinks until you rebuild profit.
What is Lucid’s payout buffer?
On LucidPro funded, profit must exceed the buffer balance (MLL + $100, e.g. $52,100 on 50K) before withdrawal, plus 40% consistency and a minimum profit goal (LucidPro payouts). LucidFlex funded states no payout buffer but requires 5 profitable trading days with per-size daily minimums.
What is LucidDirect’s consistency rule?
20% on funded requests: largest single day must stay ≤ 20% of total profit in the payout cycle.
Can I skip evaluation at Alpha Futures like LucidDirect?
No. We publish evaluation-first entry only.
Are Lucid and Alpha Futures live accounts?
Standard paths are simulated until separate live programmes (Lucid live transition / Alpha Prime). Simulated results do not reflect real trading outcomes.
What are Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading’s Trustpilot scores?
Alpha Futures is rated 4.9 / 5 on Trustpilot. Confirm on the homepage and on our public profile: Trustpilot - alpha-futures.com.
Lucid Trading’s public Trustpilot profile has shown 4.7 / 5 (verify the current TrustScore and star breakdown on the page): Trustpilot - lucidtrading.com.
TrustScores change as new reviews are added. Always check both profiles directly before you pay.
Alpha Futures Limited, UK futures prop firm, part of Alpha Group. Simulated evaluations and Qualified Accounts.
