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

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

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†’
VS
DNA Funded
Est. 2024
4.3
out of 5.0
from $39 challenge fee
Up to 90% profit split
Visit DNA Funded β†’ Full review β†’

Quick Verdict

Overall Score
City Traders Imperium
Lower Entry Fee
Both similar
Higher Profit Split
DNA Funded
Larger Max Account
DNA Funded

Full Comparison

Metric City Traders Imperium DNA Funded
Our Score 4.4/5 4.3/5
Challenge Fee from $39 from $39
Profit Split 80% base, up to 100% Up to 90% βœ“
Max Account $200,000 (scaled to $4,000,000) $600,000 βœ“
Evaluation Type 1-Step / 2-Step / 3-Step / Instant Funding 1-Step / 2-Step / 3-Step
Drawdown Type Static (evaluation); Trailing (Instant) Static
Min Trading Days None Varies
Time Limit No time limit Varies
Platforms MT4, MT5, MatchTrader, TradingView MT5, cTrader, DXtrade, TradeLocker
Payout Speed Bi-weekly, 24-48 hours Standard cycle
News Trading βœ“ βœ“
Weekend Hold βœ“ βœ“
EAs / Robots βœ“ βœ“
Fee Refundable βœ— βœ“
Founded 2018 2024
HQ United Kingdom Unknown

Score Breakdown

Customer Support City Traders Imperium: 8.6 Β· DNA Funded: 8
Value for Money City Traders Imperium: 8.4 Β· DNA Funded: 9
β–  City Traders Imperium β–  DNA Funded

City Traders Imperium and DNA Funded 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); DNA Funded scores 4.3/5 and has been paying traders since 2024 (2 years). The table below puts every rule side by side β€” this intro is the short version.

On entry cost, City Traders Imperium charges from $39 and DNA Funded charges from $39 for its standard evaluation. The profit split is 80% base, up to 100% at City Traders Imperium versus Up to 90% at DNA Funded β€” 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), DNA Funded 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 DNA Funded allows it. If your strategy carries positions across the weekend, that alone should decide this comparison for you.

Pros & Cons

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

DNA Funded

βœ… Pros
β€’ Over 800 tradeable instruments. That's among the widest access on this entire list
β€’ Backed by DNA Markets, a regulated broker β€” a stronger trust signal than several unregulated names here
β€’ Spreads advertised from 0.0 pips, genuinely competitive if cost matters to you
β€’ Gets you in starting at $49
❌ Cons
β€’ Launched in 2024 β€” the shortest track record on this list by a wide margin, so payout consistency over time is simply unproven
β€’ There isn't much independent long-run review coverage yet, compared to firms that have been around since 2015 or 2016
β€’ Only two platforms supported, versus FTMO's three

More head-to-head comparisons

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

Compare more firms: Full comparison table β†’