RISK

Trading carries substantial risk of loss. Prop evaluation fees are typically non-refundable and the majority of traders do not pass first attempts. This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Read full risk warning

HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON · 2026

City Traders Imperium vs Topstep

Side-by-side comparison of trust scores, profit splits, payout speed, and real trader reviews. Independent data — no sponsored rankings.

CTIM

City Traders Imperium

EST. 2018

TOPS

Topstep

✓ VERIFIEDEST. 2012

CITY TRADERS IMPERIUM

METRIC

TOPSTEP

78/100BETTER

TRUST SCORE

—66/100

0/5—

RATING

BETTER4/5

80%—

PROFIT SPLIT

BETTER90%

$4,000,000BETTER

MAX FUNDING

—$150,000

$129—

MIN COST

BETTER$49

1dBETTER

PAYOUT DAYS

—7d

25%—

PASS RATE

BETTER28%

0—

REVIEW COUNT

BETTER1

CITY TRADERS IMPERIUM DETAILS

STEPS: 2-phase
DRAWDOWN: Fixed
MARKETS: Forex, Indices, Commodities, Metals
PLATFORMS: MT4, MT5
TYPES: forex, advanced, large-cap

TOPSTEP DETAILS

STEPS: 1-phase
DRAWDOWN: Trailing EOD
MARKETS: Futures
PLATFORMS: MT4, MT5
TYPES: futures, beginner

City Traders Imperium PROS

+Max funding of $4,000,000 is vastly above the industry average of $839,272.7
+Days to first payout of 1 is far below the industry average of 6.5 days
+Founded in 2018, making it one of the more established firms in the industry
+On-demand payouts provide immediate access to profits

City Traders Imperium CONS

−Profit split of 80% is below the industry average of 84.7%
−News trading is not allowed, restricting strategy options during high-impact events
−Profit target of 10% is above the industry average of 7.9%, requiring more gain to pass evaluation

Topstep PROS

+Profit split of 90% is well above the industry average of 84.7%, offering traders a superior earnings share.
+Min challenge cost of $49 is well below the industry average of $186.7, making entry highly accessible.
+Single-step funding is better than the industry average of 1.6 steps, streamlining the path to funded status.
+Founded in 2012, Topstep is one of the most established prop firms, providing strong credibility and track record.

Topstep CONS

−Max funding of $150,000 is far below the industry average of $839,272.7, significantly limiting earning potential.
−Overall drawdown of 10% with trailing EOD type means drawdown limits tighten as profits grow, increasing risk.
−Days to first payout at 7 is slightly above the industry average of 6.5, a minor but notable delay.

PROPDNA VERDICT

City Traders Imperium

Higher trust score (78/100). Faster payouts at 1d. 80% profit split.

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