Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Blueberry Funded | City Traders Imperium |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% → 90% | 80% (up to 100%) |
| First Payout | 14 | On demand (after 7 profitable days) |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (7-day and on-demand available) | Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant) |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $100,000 |
It's a Tie!
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Blueberry Funded 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.
Blueberry Funded: Broker-Backed Prop Trading. ASIC-Regulated Foundation.
City Traders Imperium: Est. 2018. No Daily Loss Limit on 1-Step. Monthly Salary. Scales to $4M.
Both firms score equally in our independent methodology. The best choice depends on which specific features matter most to your trading style.
BestProp Score: Blueberry Funded scores 8.6/10 vs City Traders Imperium at 8.6/10.
Minimum Fee: Blueberry Funded starts from $145; City Traders Imperium starts from $29. City Traders Imperium is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: Blueberry Funded offers 80% → 90%; City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium has the higher split.
Platforms: Blueberry Funded supports MT4, MT5, DXtrade, TradeLocker; City Traders Imperium is on MT5, Match Trader.
Tradeable Markets: Blueberry Funded covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Commodities, 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 Blueberry Funded and City Traders Imperium compare on pricing.
Blueberry Funded challenge fees start from $145. The firm has operated since 2024. They have funded over 15,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $8M+.
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.
Blueberry Funded profit split: 80% → 90%. City Traders Imperium profit split: 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Blueberry Funded pays Bi-weekly (7-day and on-demand available); 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 Blueberry Funded:
Blueberry Funded launched in August 2024 as the prop trading arm of Blueberry Markets — an ASIC-regulated forex broker with an established reputation in the retail trading space. This broker-backed structure is the firm’s defining credential: unlike standalone prop firms, Blueberry Funded operates from a foundation of regulatory oversight and institutional-grade infrastructure that most prop firm startups cannot match.
With 15,000+ active traders and $8M+ in payouts at under a year old, the growth trajectory is strong. The five-program structure — from beginner instant accounts to a Prime 2-Step challenge — gives traders more entry options than most competitors.
Blueberry Funded suits forex and multi-asset traders who value the credibility of a broker-backed firm over lower fees or faster payouts. The ASIC-regulated parent company brings compliance standards and infrastructure that independent prop firms typically lack — a meaningful differentiator for traders who have concerns about firm legitimacy.
The firm also stands out for permitting martingale and grid trading strategies — approaches banned at most prop firms. If your strategy relies on these methods, Blueberry Funded is one of very few funded trading programs that will accept your application.
Blueberry Funded offers five paths to funding:
Account sizes from $1,250 to $200,000 across all programs. No time limits on any challenge phase.
Blueberry Funded supports four platforms: MT4, MT5, DXtrade, and TradeLocker — one of the broader platform selections available, catering to both legacy MetaTrader users and traders on newer platforms. Instruments cover forex pairs, metals, indices, commodities, and crypto.
Blueberry Funded earns a 7.6 BestProp score. The ASIC-regulated broker backing is the headline feature — it provides structural credibility that independent prop firms cannot replicate, and for traders who prioritise legitimacy above all else, that matters. The martingale and grid permission is also genuinely rare and valuable for traders who use those approaches.
The trade-offs are a 4.1/5 Trustpilot rating (below the industry leaders), a 14-day default payout cycle, and relatively low crypto leverage (1:2). Founded in August 2024, the track record is still building. As the firm matures under its regulated parent, these scores should improve — Blueberry Funded is one to watch as much as one to join now.
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.
Both Blueberry Funded and City Traders Imperium are evenly matched in our scoring. The right choice depends on specific features that matter most to you: pricing, profit split, platforms, or trading conditions.
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, both firms score equally. 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. Blueberry Funded: 80% → 90%. City Traders Imperium: 80% (up to 100%).
EA policies: Blueberry Funded — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Blueberry Funded — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review.
Read the full Blueberry Funded review → · Read the full City Traders Imperium review →
Both Blueberry Funded and City Traders Imperium are strong prop firms. The right choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and rules. Use the side-by-side table above to compare the key metrics.
Blueberry Funded 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.
Blueberry Funded processes first payouts in 14 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 Blueberry Funded 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.
