HOTFTMO raises max funded to $400K β€” our review updatedNEWFundedNext now pays 90% profit split on all funded accountsDEALThe5ers free evaluation β€” limited spots this weekUPDATEE8 Markets drawdown rules updated β€” see our revised reviewHOTFTMO raises max funded to $400K β€” our review updatedNEWFundedNext now pays 90% profit split on all funded accountsDEALThe5ers free evaluation β€” limited spots this weekUPDATEE8 Markets drawdown rules updated β€” see our revised review
Head-to-Head Comparison

Funding Pips vs City Traders Imperium Side-by-side breakdown β€” fees, rules, payouts, and our verdict

Funding Pips
Est. 2022
4.6
out of 5.0
from $29 challenge fee
Up to 95% profit split
Visit Funding Pips β†’
🏷 Code:
Full review β†’
VS
City Traders Imperium
Est. 2018
4.4
out of 5.0
from $39 challenge fee
80% base, up to 100% profit split
Visit City Traders Imperium β†’ Full review β†’

Quick Verdict

Overall Score
Funding Pips
Lower Entry Fee
Funding Pips
Higher Profit Split
Funding Pips
Larger Max Account
Funding Pips

Full Comparison

Metric Funding Pips City Traders Imperium
Our Score 4.6/5 4.4/5
Challenge Fee from $29 βœ“ from $39
Profit Split Up to 95% βœ“ 80% base, up to 100%
Max Account $300,000 βœ“ $200,000 (scaled to $4,000,000)
Evaluation Type 2-Step 1-Step / 2-Step / 3-Step / Instant Funding
Drawdown Type Static Static (evaluation); Trailing (Instant)
Min Trading Days 3 days None
Time Limit Varies No time limit
Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader MT4, MT5, MatchTrader, TradingView
Payout Speed 1-2 days typical Bi-weekly, 24-48 hours
News Trading βœ“ βœ“
Weekend Hold βœ“ βœ“
EAs / Robots βœ“ βœ“
Fee Refundable βœ— βœ—
Founded 2022 2018
HQ Dubai UAE United Kingdom

Score Breakdown

Customer Support Funding Pips: 8.6 Β· City Traders Imperium: 8.6
Value for Money Funding Pips: 9.1 Β· City Traders Imperium: 8.4
β–  Funding Pips β–  City Traders Imperium

Funding Pips and City Traders Imperium both show up on most "best prop firm" shortlists, but they are built for different traders. Funding Pips scores 4.6/5 on our review and has been paying traders since 2022 (4 years); City Traders Imperium scores 4.4/5 and has been paying traders since 2018 (8 years). The table below puts every rule side by side β€” this intro is the short version.

On entry cost, Funding Pips charges from $29 and City Traders Imperium charges from $39 for its standard evaluation. The profit split is Up to 95% at Funding Pips versus 80% base, up to 100% at City Traders Imperium β€” but a bigger split only matters if the payout actually arrives, so weigh it against the payout-speed row. The drawdown models differ: Funding Pips uses static, City Traders Imperium uses static (evaluation); trailing (instant). That single rule changes how much room you really have on a losing day, so check the "Drawdown Explained" guide if the distinction is new to you.

Funding Pips allows weekend holding and City Traders Imperium allows it. If your strategy carries positions across the weekend, that alone should decide this comparison for you.

Pros & Cons

Funding Pips

βœ… Pros
β€’ Splits up to 95% depending on your consistency, which beats a flat-rate model for anyone who trades well
β€’ Weekend holds, news trading β€” both allowed, no asterisks
β€’ Widely considered one of the easier on-ramps into prop trading for newer evaluators
β€’ Fees sit below FTMO and FundedNext without giving up much
❌ Cons
β€’ Launched in 2022, so there isn't a decade of payout history backing this one up yet
β€’ Community sentiment online is mixed β€” worth a current Trustpilot check before you commit a bigger account
β€’ MT4 isn't supported here either

City Traders Imperium

βœ… Pros
β€’ One of the longer-established firms in this batch, founded in 2018 by two professional traders
β€’ Genuine one-on-one mentorship from a co-founder, a real educational component most competitors don't offer
β€’ 4.3-4.5 Trustpilot rating from over 1,100 reviews
β€’ Up to 100% profit split achievable through the scaling plan, and no daily drawdown limit on 1-Step and Instant plans
β€’ Unlimited time on every challenge, no artificial deadline pressure
❌ Cons
β€’ Does not refund evaluation fees if you fail, unlike several competitors that offer this
β€’ US traders are excluded due to regulatory restrictions
β€’ $4M scaling headline applies specifically to Instant Funding across multiple combined accounts β€” evaluation challenges are individually capped at $200K
β€’ Cross-account copy trading between separate accounts is banned
Funding Pips
4.6/5
Code:
Visit Funding Pips β†’
Read full review
City Traders Imperium
4.4/5
Visit City Traders Imperium β†’
Read full review

More head-to-head comparisons

E8 Markets vs Funding Pips β†’ FTMO vs Funding Pips 2026 β†’ FundedNext vs Funding Pips β†’ Funding Pips vs Blue Guardian β†’ Funding Pips vs Blue Guardian β†’ Funding Pips vs City Traders Imperium β†’ Funding Pips vs DNA Funded β†’ Funding Pips vs DNA Funded β†’ Funding Pips vs Funded Trading Plus β†’ Funding Pips vs Funded Trading Plus β†’ The5ers vs Funding Pips β†’ City Traders Imperium vs Blue Guardian β†’ City Traders Imperium vs Blue Guardian β†’ City Traders Imperium vs DNA Funded β†’ City Traders Imperium vs DNA Funded β†’ E8 Markets vs City Traders Imperium β†’ FTMO vs City Traders Imperium β†’ Funded Trading Plus vs City Traders Imperium β†’ FundedNext vs City Traders Imperium β†’ The5ers vs City Traders Imperium β†’

Compare more firms: Full comparison table β†’