Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | City Traders Imperium | Forexive |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (up to 100%) | 80% (up to 95%) |
| First Payout | On demand (after 7 profitable days) | 14 |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant) | Bi-weekly |
| Max Account Size | $100,000 | $200,000 |
Winner: City Traders Imperium
In this independent head-to-head comparison of City Traders Imperium vs Forexive, 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.
Forexive: Est. Sep 2024, UK. Up to 95% Split. 2-Step 12% Max DD. EAs & Copy Trading OK.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, City Traders Imperium scores 8.6/10 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 Forexive at 7.4/10.
Minimum Fee: City Traders Imperium starts from $29; Forexive starts from $49. City Traders Imperium is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%); Forexive offers 80% (up to 95%). City Traders Imperium has the higher split.
Platforms: City Traders Imperium supports MT5, Match Trader; Forexive is on MT4, MT5.
Tradeable Markets: City Traders Imperium covers Forex (28 pairs), Indices (9), Gold, Silver, Oil, Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, ADA, XRP); Forexive offers Forex only.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how City Traders Imperium and Forexive compare on pricing.
City Traders Imperium challenge fees start from $29. The firm has operated since 2018.
Forexive challenge fees start from $49. The firm has operated since 2024.
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%). Forexive profit split: 80% (up to 95%). City Traders Imperium delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: City Traders Imperium pays Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant); Forexive pays Bi-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 Forexive:
Forexive Ltd (Company No. 15746920) was founded on 30 September 2024 and is registered in the United Kingdom, led by CEO Hooman Abbasi. The firm operates from Czech Republic and is active in 180+ countries with a team of 100+. Forexive offers two evaluation tracks (1-Step and 2-Step) with a top split reaching 95% and a maximum initial account of $250,000, scaling to $2,000,000. All accounts run on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Instruments are currently limited to Forex only.
As a September 2024 launch, Forexive has a very limited public operating history. TheTrustedProp’s verification score of 60/100 (Average) reflects this early-stage status. The firm offers swap-free accounts, copy trading, and EA support as standard, with a commission of $3 per round lot.
1-Step Challenge ($65-$1,099 for $5K-$200K): Single phase, 10% profit target. Daily loss: 3% (equity-based static). Max drawdown: 6% (equity-based static). Leverage: 1:50 standard, 1:30 swing. Minimum 3 profitable trading days. Profit split: 80-95%. Unlimited time. No consistency rule published. Best for traders who prefer a single-phase evaluation with moderate drawdown parameters.
2-Step Challenge ($49-$999 for $5K-$200K): Phase 1: 10% target. Phase 2: 5% target. Daily loss: 5% (equity-based static). Max drawdown: 12% (equity-based static — one of the widest buffers in the 2-Step category). Leverage: 1:100 standard, 1:30 swing. Minimum 3 profitable trading days. Profit split: 80-95%. Unlimited time. The 12% max drawdown gives traders significant room to manage normal drawdown cycles across both evaluation phases.
Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Instruments: Forex only. Spreads from 0.0 pips. Match Trader and cTrader are listed as coming soon — the platform roadmap suggests expansion is planned but not yet available. Leverage up to 1:100 (2-Step) and 1:50 (1-Step).
Forexive earns a 6.0 BestProp score. The 2-Step 12% maximum drawdown is genuinely competitive — matching FundsCap’s industry-leading buffer at comparable fees. The 95% maximum profit split is among the highest published by any prop firm. EAs, copy trading, and swap-free accounts are all standard. Multiple crypto and bank payout methods add withdrawal flexibility.
The primary concerns: Forexive launched in September 2024 and has less than a year of operation at publication. TheTrustedProp’s 60/100 verification score is average and reflects the limited track record. Instruments are restricted to Forex only — no metals, indices, or crypto — which eliminates the firm for multi-asset traders. The $3/lot commission adds ongoing cost for active traders. Platforms beyond MT4/MT5 are still listed as coming soon. The customer rating of 4.1/5 is modest compared to established competitors. The combination of very young age, Forex-only instruments, and average trust score makes Forexive a monitored watch rather than a confident first-choice recommendation at this stage.
Overall, our independent scoring gives City Traders Imperium the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If Forexive 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, City Traders Imperium scores higher overall (8.6/10). 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. City Traders Imperium: 80% (up to 100%). Forexive: 80% (up to 95%).
EA policies: City Traders Imperium — check the review. Forexive — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: City Traders Imperium — check the review. Forexive — check the review.
Read the full City Traders Imperium review → · Read the full Forexive review →
Based on our scoring methodology, City Traders Imperium 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 Forexive offers 80% (up to 95%) 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 Forexive takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither City Traders Imperium nor Forexive 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.
