City Traders Imperium Prop Firm Review
Review City Traders Imperium's funding model, risk rules, payout conditions, trading restrictions and overall trader fit.
Last verified: Oct 2026
At a glance
Our research score is based on trust, payout conditions, rule transparency and overall trader fit.
9.1
Company reputation, operating history and overall trust.
9.4
Payout process, timing and conditions.
9.3
Rule clarity and trader friendliness.
Medium
Perceived complexity of restrictions.
Company & Program
Rules & Restrictions
Is it suitable for you?
Particularly useful for traders who focus on XAUUSD, scalping and short-term execution.
Getting Paid
Account & Scaling
What we like
- Established since 2018
- Founded by experienced traders
- London-founded company
- Dubai operational/academy presence
- Strong Trustpilot history
- 4.2/5 Trustpilot rating
- 1,621 Trustpilot reviews
- 82% five-star reviews
- Only 6% one-star reviews
- Forex trading available
- Commodities available
- Indices available
- Crypto available
- XAUUSD / Gold available
- MT5 available
- Match-Trader available
- 1-Step Challenge available
- 2-Step Challenge available
- Instant Funding available
- Direct Funding available
- 1-Step has only one evaluation phase
- 1-Step target is only 8%
- 1-Step has no daily drawdown
- 1-Step uses balance-based drawdown
- 1-Step has no time limit
- 1-Step allows news trading
- 1-Step allows overnight holding
- 1-Step allows weekend holding
- 1-Step allows third-party EAs
- 1-Step allows Martingale
- 2-Step has no time limit
- 2-Step allows news trading
- 2-Step allows overnight holding
- 2-Step allows weekend holding
- 2-Step starts at 80% profit share
- Profit share can reach 100%
- VIP programme available
- Weekly payouts available through VIP
- Anytime payouts available through VIP
- Instant Funding available without evaluation
- Instant Funding has static drawdown
- Instant Funding has no daily drawdown
- Direct Funding starts fully funded
- Direct Funding starts at 70% profit share
- Direct Funding payout from day 5
- Scaling available
- Up to $4M total funding potential
- Up to $2M per Instant/Direct account
- No equity-based drawdown on current programmes
- Free trial available
- CTI Academy included
- Strong customer-support reputation
What to check
- 1-Step uses a trailing maximum drawdown
- 1-Step trailing drawdown can be difficult for aggressive traders
- Instant Funding starts with only 50% of selected account size
- Instant Funding starts with only 50% profit share
- 2-Step has a 5% daily drawdown
- 2-Step requires two phases
- 2-Step requires 10% Phase 1 target
- 2-Step requires 5% Phase 2 target
- EA rules differ between programmes
- Third-party EAs are not allowed on 2-Step
- Personal EAs only on Instant Funding
- Personal EAs only on Direct Funding
- Martingale is prohibited on 2-Step
- Martingale is prohibited on Instant Funding
- Martingale is prohibited on Direct Funding
- KYC verification can create payout delays
- EA verification may require additional compliance information
- Recent complaint regarding EA source-code verification
- Recent KYC rejection complaints
- Payout conditions still depend on programme/VIP level
- Profit share increases require VIP progression
- Higher leverage is relatively conservative
- Simulated trading environment rather than live capital
Trustpilot Overview
Independent community feedback and review statistics.
Active
Recent reviews include KYC, EA verification and payout-condition complaints
Established Trader-Focused Prop Firm with Excellent Rule Flexibility and Strong Payout Infrastructure
City Traders Imperium (CTI) is one of the longer-established prop firms, operating since 2018. Its current product lineup includes a 1-Step Challenge, 2-Step Challenge, Instant Funding and Direct Funding. The 1-Step Challenge is particularly attractive for traders who want simple rules: an 8% profit target, 5% balance-based trailing drawdown, no daily drawdown, no time limit, three profitable trading days and an 80% starting profit share that can increase to 100% through the CTI VIP programme. CTI allows news trading, overnight and weekend holding across its current programmes, while EA rules vary by programme. The 1-Step is unusually flexible because personal, commercial and third-party EAs and Martingale are explicitly allowed. The 2-Step uses a 10% Phase 1 target, 5% Phase 2 target, 10% static maximum drawdown and 5% daily drawdown, with an 80% starting profit share. Instant Funding uses a 6% static drawdown with no daily drawdown and can scale to $2M per account / $4M across two accounts. Direct Funding also uses a 6% static drawdown and starts with a 70% profit share. CTI states that it has funded traders since 2018 and provides simulated trading programmes rather than real brokerage services. Trustpilot currently shows a 4.2/5 score from 1,621 reviews, with 82% five-star and 6% one-star reviews. Recent reviews are generally positive regarding support, spreads, execution and payouts, although there are also complaints involving KYC, EA/source-code verification and payout conditions. For an M5 XAUUSD scalper, CTI is one of the more attractive firms in this list because news, overnight and weekend trading are permitted and the 1-Step has no daily drawdown, but the trailing drawdown on the 1-Step still requires careful risk management.
Final Verification Checklist
Risk Rules
Confirm daily drawdown, overall drawdown and how floating losses are calculated.
Trading Restrictions
Check news trading, weekend holding, EA, copy trading and prohibited strategies.
Payout Conditions
Check eligibility, minimum profit, payout cycle and verification requirements.
Instruments
Confirm XAUUSD, Forex pairs, indices and other instruments available.
Platform
Verify MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade or other supported platforms.
Legal Terms
Always read the current Terms & Conditions before purchasing.
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