City Traders Imperium vs Blue Guardian Side-by-side breakdown — fees, rules, payouts, and our verdict

City Traders Imperium and Blue Guardian both show up on most "best prop firm" shortlists, but they are built for different traders. City Traders Imperium scores 4.4/5 on our review and has been paying traders since 2018 (8 years); Blue Guardian scores 4.3/5 and has been paying traders since 2023 (3 years). The table below puts every rule side by side — this intro is the short version.

On entry cost, City Traders Imperium charges from $39 and Blue Guardian charges from $10 for its standard evaluation. The profit split is 80% base, up to 100% at City Traders Imperium versus 90% standard rising to 100% at Blue Guardian — but a bigger split only matters if the payout actually arrives, so weigh it against the payout-speed row. The drawdown models differ: City Traders Imperium uses static (evaluation); trailing (instant), Blue Guardian uses static. 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.

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