Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | City Traders Imperium | Earn2Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (up to 100%) | 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500) |
| First Payout | On demand (after 7 profitable days) | 14 |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant) | Weekly |
| Max Account Size | $100,000 | $200,000 |
Winner: Earn2Trade
In this independent head-to-head comparison of City Traders Imperium vs Earn2Trade, 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.
Earn2Trade: Futures prop trading with a subscription career path and one-time Gauntlet Mini evaluation.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, Earn2Trade 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 Earn2Trade at 8.8/10.
Minimum Fee: City Traders Imperium starts from $29; Earn2Trade starts from $68. City Traders Imperium is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%); Earn2Trade offers 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500). Earn2Trade has the higher split.
Platforms: City Traders Imperium supports MT5, Match Trader; Earn2Trade is on Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, Finamark.
Tradeable Markets: City Traders Imperium covers Forex (28 pairs), Indices (9), Gold, Silver, Oil, Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, ADA, XRP); Earn2Trade offers Futures (CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT).
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how City Traders Imperium and Earn2Trade compare on pricing.
City Traders Imperium challenge fees start from $29. The firm has operated since 2018.
Earn2Trade challenge fees start from $68. The firm has operated since 2016.
On entry-level pricing, City Traders Imperium 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%). Earn2Trade profit split: 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500). Earn2Trade delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: City Traders Imperium pays Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant); Earn2Trade pays Weekly. 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 Earn2Trade:
Earn2Trade was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA. It is a futures-only prop firm offering two distinct evaluation models: the Trader Career Path® (TCP), a monthly subscription program, and the Gauntlet Mini™, a one-time fee evaluation. Both programs provide access to real futures markets via established platforms including Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, and Finamark.
TCP is a subscription-based evaluation at $150/month for a $25,000 virtual account. After passing (hitting the $1,750 profit target while staying within drawdown limits), traders receive a funded LiveSim® account with no additional subscription fee. The funded account then scales through four capital tiers: $25K → $50K → $100K → $200K by repeatedly meeting profit targets at each stage. No monthly fee is charged at any funded tier — only the evaluation subscription applies.
The Gauntlet Mini is a one-time fee evaluation program starting at $50,000 virtual accounts and available up to $200,000. Fees start from $68. Unlike TCP, passing the Gauntlet Mini grants a funded account matched to the evaluation size rather than a scaled entry point. Full fee details are available at earn2trade.com/the-gauntlet-mini.
TCP uses an end-of-day (EOD) drawdown calculation during evaluation — losses are measured at day close rather than intraday. Daily loss limits apply: $550/day on the $25K account, scaling proportionally through the tiers. A 30% consistency rule applies during evaluation only — at least 30% of trading days must be profitable. This requirement is dropped once funded.
Payouts are made weekly. The profit split is 50% for withdrawals under $1,500 and 80% for withdrawals over $1,500 — an unusual tiered structure that rewards larger payouts. An activation fee is deducted from the first funded withdrawal (no upfront charge). News trading is unrestricted across all programs.
Overall, our independent scoring gives Earn2Trade 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, Earn2Trade scores higher overall (8.8/10). 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.
Earn2Trade offers the higher profit split. City Traders Imperium: 80% (up to 100%). Earn2Trade: 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500).
EA policies: City Traders Imperium — check the review. Earn2Trade — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: City Traders Imperium — check the review. Earn2Trade — check the review.
Read the full City Traders Imperium review → · Read the full Earn2Trade review →
Based on our scoring methodology, Earn2Trade 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 Earn2Trade offers 50% (payouts under $1,500), 80% (payouts over $1,500) 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 Earn2Trade takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither City Traders Imperium nor Earn2Trade 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.
