Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | FundingPips | City Traders Imperium |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% → 90% | 80% (up to 100%) |
| First Payout | 5 | On demand (after 7 profitable days) |
| Payout Frequency | Every 5 days (Tuesdays) | Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant) |
| Max Account Size | $100,000 | $100,000 |
Winner: FundingPips
In this independent head-to-head comparison of FundingPips vs City Traders Imperium, we break down challenge rules, pricing, profit splits, and payout conditions to help you decide which prop firm is the better fit for your trading style.
FundingPips: The Fastest Payout Cycle in Prop Trading
City Traders Imperium: Est. 2018. No Daily Loss Limit on 1-Step. Monthly Salary. Scales to $4M.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, FundingPips scores 9.6/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: FundingPips scores 9.6/10 vs City Traders Imperium at 8.6/10.
Minimum Fee: FundingPips starts from $36; City Traders Imperium starts from $29. City Traders Imperium is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: FundingPips offers 80% → 90%; City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium has the higher split.
Platforms: FundingPips supports cTrader, Match Trader, MT5; City Traders Imperium is on MT5, Match Trader.
Tradeable Markets: FundingPips covers Forex, Metals, Energy, Indices, Crypto; City Traders Imperium offers Forex (28 pairs), Indices (9), Gold, Silver, Oil, Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, ADA, XRP).
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how FundingPips and City Traders Imperium compare on pricing.
FundingPips challenge fees start from $36. The firm has operated since 2022. Total payouts to date: $260M+.
City Traders Imperium challenge fees start from $29. The firm has operated since 2018.
On entry-level pricing, City Traders Imperium offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
FundingPips profit split: 80% → 90%. City Traders Imperium profit split: 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: FundingPips pays Every 5 days (Tuesdays); City Traders Imperium pays Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of FundingPips:
FundingPips launched in 2022 from Dubai and has since become one of the fastest-growing prop firms in the industry by a significant margin. The numbers are hard to argue with: $260M+ in total rewards paid to traders, 4.7/5 on Trustpilot from over 10,000 reviews, and a 5-day payout cycle that gives traders up to four withdrawals per month. For a firm founded three years ago, this is an exceptional track record.
CEO Khaled Ayesh is publicly visible and actively engaged with the trading community — a transparency marker that matters when evaluating younger firms. FundingPips also runs consistently among the lowest-fee prop firms in the space, with a $5,000 account available for $36.
FundingPips suits forex, commodities, and crypto traders who want a high-frequency payout cycle, permissive trading rules, and low entry costs. The 5-day payout schedule is the standout feature — if cash flow matters to your trading operation, getting paid every Tuesday rather than every two to four weeks is a meaningful difference.
EAs and expert advisors are permitted, news trading is allowed, and crypto trades 24/7 on weekends. The trailing drawdown is the main technical challenge — it follows your highest balance, not just the starting amount, which demands tighter ongoing risk management than static drawdown firms.
FundingPips uses a two-phase evaluation structure called Student → Practitioner → Master:
All fees are refunded after your 4th successful payout — effectively making the challenge free for traders who maintain funded status through four withdrawal cycles. FundingPips also offers 1-Step, Pro, and Zero program variants with different fee and rule structures — check their site for current availability and pricing on those formats.
| Account Size | Fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $36 |
| $10,000 | $66 |
| $25,000 | $158 |
| $50,000 | $278 |
| $100,000 | $529 |
FundingPips earns an 8.8 BestProp score — the second-highest we award. The combination of $260M+ in proven payouts, 4.7/5 Trustpilot from 10,000+ verified reviews, industry-lowest fees, and a 5-day payout cycle makes it one of the most compelling prop firms available in 2026.
The trailing drawdown is the only significant challenge — it requires ongoing discipline to avoid giving back gains and seeing your drawdown limit tighten with every new high. Traders who understand trailing drawdown mechanics and manage it actively will find FundingPips one of the best-value funded trading programs on the market.
Here is our full independent review of City Traders Imperium:
City Traders Imperium (CTI) was founded in June 2018, making it one of the longest-established prop firms in the world. Operated by CTI FZCO and headquartered at Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE, with UK phone support, the firm is led by CEO Daniel Martin and co-founder Martin Najat. CTI holds a 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from 1,150+ reviews. Maximum initial account: $100,000; maximum combined allocation: $440,000; scaling potential to $4,000,000. All accounts operate on MetaTrader 5 or Match Trader.
CTI distinguishes itself on two fronts: the 1-Step challenge carries no daily loss limit — one of very few prop firms to offer this — and traders receive a monthly salary ($12.50-$500 depending on account size and program) in addition to profit splits. The firm also includes trading education (academy access) with all programs.
1-Step Challenge ($29-$469 for $2.5K-$100K): Single phase, 8% profit target. No daily loss limit. Max drawdown: 5% static. Minimum 3 profitable days. First payout on demand after 7 profitable days and 2% net profit (or $100 minimum). Subsequent payouts monthly (last 5 days of month). Up to 100% profit split. No time limit. The absence of a daily loss limit is the defining feature — traders cannot be stopped out by a single volatile session as long as their total equity remains above the 5% threshold. Available from $2,500 (entry fee: $29) up to $100,000 ($469).
2-Step Evaluation ($39-$549 for $2.5K-$100K): Phase 1: 10% target. Phase 2: 5% target. Daily loss: 5%. Max drawdown: 10% static. Minimum 3 profitable days. First payout on demand after 7 profitable days. Subsequent payouts monthly. 80-100% split. No time limit. Standard two-phase structure with the widest max drawdown buffer of any CTI program.
Instant Funding ($69-$1,499 for $2.5K-$80K): No evaluation required. 10% profit target required before scaling. Max drawdown: 6% static. First payout on demand after 5 profitable days and 2% net profit. Bi-weekly payouts (14th/15th and last 2 days of month). Up to 100% split. Leverage 1:10. Suitable for traders who want immediate funded access and are willing to demonstrate a 10% gain before accessing scaling.
Instant Funding Pro ($299-$4,799 for $5K-$80K): Premium instant access tier with the same fundamental structure as Instant Funding but at a higher fee level. Verify full specifications and any additional benefits directly on the CTI website.
CTI pays a monthly salary to all funded traders regardless of trading performance — amounts range from $12.50/month (small 1-Step) to $500/month ($100K 2-Step or Instant accounts). This is a genuinely unusual feature in the prop firm industry: traders receive guaranteed regular income in addition to their profit split. Confirm exact salary amounts per program on the CTI website.
The $5/lot forex commission meaningfully impacts scalpers and high-frequency traders. Factor into target calculations: on 100 round trips/month on a $50K account, that is $500 in commission before profit split.
Platforms: MetaTrader 5, Match Trader. Instruments: 28 Forex pairs, 9 major indices (leverage 1:10), Gold, Silver, Oil (leverage 1:10), Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, ADA, XRP — zero commission). Leverage on Forex: 1:30. No restrictions on news or overnight trading on funded accounts.
City Traders Imperium earns a 7.6 BestProp score. Founded in 2018 — over seven years of operation — makes CTI one of the most battle-tested prop firms in existence. The 4.5/5 Trustpilot from 1,150+ reviews reflects a long track record. The no-daily-loss-limit on the 1-Step is a meaningful structural advantage for traders who can manage total drawdown discipline. The monthly salary is a genuinely unique feature that adds a real income floor. Small account sizes from $2,500 at $29 entry fee are accessible. Scales to $4,000,000.
Key trade-offs: the EA restriction (own source code only) makes CTI unsuitable for most algorithmic traders who use commercial tools. The $5/lot forex commission is high and penalises active traders. MT5/Match Trader only limits platform choice. Monthly payouts on 1-Step/2-Step (once per month window) means cash flow is less frequent than bi-weekly or weekly competitors. The 7-profitable-day minimum for first payout also adds waiting time. CTI is best suited to discretionary traders — particularly those with a custom EA — who value longevity and the unique salary feature over faster payouts or EA flexibility.
Overall, our independent scoring gives FundingPips the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If City Traders Imperium better matches your specific trading style, instruments, or preferred platform, it may still be the right choice for you.
Use our comparison table above and review the challenge fees at both firms before making your final decision. Both offer risk-free evaluation programs — the challenge fee is the only money at risk.
Based on our independent scoring, FundingPips scores higher overall (9.6/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
City Traders Imperium offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
City Traders Imperium offers the higher profit split. FundingPips: 80% → 90%. City Traders Imperium: 80% (up to 100%).
EA policies: FundingPips — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: FundingPips — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review.
Read the full FundingPips review → · Read the full City Traders Imperium review →
Based on our scoring methodology, FundingPips edges ahead in this comparison. However, the best choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and account size. Read the full breakdown above for a detailed verdict.
FundingPips offers 80% → 90% profit split, while City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%) profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
FundingPips processes first payouts in 5 day(s), while City Traders Imperium takes approximately On demand (after 7 profitable days) day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither FundingPips nor City Traders Imperium are regulated in the traditional financial sense — prop firms operate as private companies providing traders access to simulated or real capital. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before participating in any prop challenge.
