Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | City Traders Imperium | FundYourFX |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (up to 100%) | 70-80% |
| First Payout | On demand (after 7 profitable days) | 1 |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant) | On Demand (within 24 hours) |
| Max Account Size | $100,000 | $200,000 |
Winner: FundYourFX
In this independent head-to-head comparison of City Traders Imperium vs FundYourFX, 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.
City Traders Imperium: Est. 2018. No Daily Loss Limit on 1-Step. Monthly Salary. Scales to $4M.
FundYourFX: One of the most affordable prop firms with refundable fees and 24-hour payouts.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, FundYourFX scores 8.8/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: City Traders Imperium scores 8.6/10 vs FundYourFX at 8.8/10.
Minimum Fee: City Traders Imperium starts from $29; FundYourFX starts from $16. FundYourFX is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%); FundYourFX offers 70-80%. City Traders Imperium has the higher split.
Platforms: City Traders Imperium supports MT5, Match Trader; FundYourFX is on Match Trader.
Tradeable Markets: City Traders Imperium covers Forex (28 pairs), Indices (9), Gold, Silver, Oil, Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, ADA, XRP); FundYourFX offers Forex, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how City Traders Imperium and FundYourFX compare on pricing.
City Traders Imperium challenge fees start from $29. The firm has operated since 2018.
FundYourFX challenge fees start from $16. The firm has operated since 2021. They have funded over 220,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $36,000,000+.
On entry-level pricing, FundYourFX offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
City Traders Imperium profit split: 80% (up to 100%). FundYourFX profit split: 70-80%. City Traders Imperium delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: City Traders Imperium pays Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant); FundYourFX pays On Demand (within 24 hours). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
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.
Here is our full independent review of FundYourFX:
FundYourFX was founded in 2021 and operates out of Hong Kong. The firm is consistently ranked among the most affordable prop firms in the industry, with 1-Step Classic evaluations starting at $21 for a $5,000 account. With over $36 million paid to traders and a Trustpilot rating of 4.7/5 from more than 3,600 reviews, FundYourFX has earned strong trader credibility.
The 1-Step Classic is the flagship program — a single-phase evaluation with a refundable fee, 10% profit target, and 80% profit split on funded accounts. The 1-Step Pay After Pass (PAP) has an even lower upfront cost but a higher 12% profit target and a reduced 70% profit split on the funded side. Both programs use the Match Trader platform exclusively.
Both 1-Step programs use a 4% daily drawdown and 6% maximum static drawdown. There is no consistency rule, no minimum trading days, and no time limit — traders can take as long as needed to hit the profit target. EAs and weekend holding are fully permitted.
Payouts are processed within 24 hours via crypto or bank wire transfer. The fee on the 1-Step Classic is refundable — traders get their evaluation fee back with their first funded payout. The firm has paid out over $36 million to date across its trader base.
Both 1-Step programs scale funded accounts up to $6 million. There is no news trading restriction on funded accounts.
Overall, our independent scoring gives FundYourFX 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, FundYourFX scores higher overall (8.8/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
FundYourFX 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. City Traders Imperium: 80% (up to 100%). FundYourFX: 70-80%.
EA policies: City Traders Imperium — check the review. FundYourFX — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: City Traders Imperium — check the review. FundYourFX — check the review.
Read the full City Traders Imperium review → · Read the full FundYourFX review →
Based on our scoring methodology, FundYourFX 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.
City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%) profit split, while FundYourFX offers 70-80% profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
City Traders Imperium processes first payouts in On demand (after 7 profitable days) day(s), while FundYourFX takes approximately 1 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither City Traders Imperium nor FundYourFX 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.
