City Traders Imperium vs The5ers
Rule-by-rule comparison from each firm's own website, last verified . The marked figure is the stronger one on that line.
Quick take
- Cheaper entry: The5ers ($19 vs $29).
- Faster payout cycle: City Traders Imperium (Daily / on demand).
- Higher Trustpilot rating: The5ers (4.7).
- Overall PA Score: City Traders Imperium 8.4 vs The5ers 8.7.
City Traders Imperium stronger on 1The5ers stronger on 7of 11 lines where both publish a comparable figure
| City Traders Imperium8.4 PA Score | The5ers8.7 PA Score | |
|---|---|---|
| PA Score | 8.4 | 8.7 (stronger figure) |
| Trustpilot | 4.31,636 | 4.740,518 (stronger figure) |
| Founded | 2018 | 2016 (stronger figure) |
| HQ | San José, Costa Rica | Not published |
| Markets | Forex, Indices, Crypto | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto, Stocks, Futures (stronger figure) |
| Challenge types | 1-step, 2-step, instant | 1-step, 2-step, 3-step |
| Entry fee from | $29 | $19 (stronger figure) |
| Cost per $1K allocation | $4.49 | $1.1 (stronger figure) |
| Largest account | $100K | $250K (stronger figure) |
| Profit target | 10% / 5% | 10% / 5% |
| Daily loss limit | 5% | 5% |
| Max drawdown | 10% | 10% |
| Drawdown type | static (balance-based) | Not published |
| Profit split | 80% up to 100% | up to 100% |
| Leverage | Not published | 1:100 (High Stakes); 1:30 (Hyper Growth, Bootcamp) |
| Platforms | MT5, Match-Trader | MT5 |
| Payout frequency | On demand; first payout after 7 days (challenges) or 5 days (Instant/Direct); weekly/anytime payouts unlocked via VIP ladder | bi-weekly: first payout 14 days after funding, then every 2 weeks ($150 min profit, High Stakes); cycle resets on each scale-up |
| First payout (days) | 7 (stronger figure) | 14 |
| Min trading days | 3 | 3 |
| Consistency rule | None | Not published |
| News trading | Allowed | Restricted |
| Weekend holding | Allowed | Allowed |
| Discount code | Not published | Not published |
| Visit site (opens City Traders Imperium in a new tab) | Visit site (opens The5ers in a new tab) |
Not published means we could not find the figure on the firm's own site. Sources are listed on each firm page.
Which should you choose?
The5ers scores 8.7/10 and City Traders Imperium 8.4/10, a close call on our score. Both are CFD prop firms, so the rule differences below are like for like. Which one is better depends on how you trade, so here is who each firm suits, based only on what they publish.
Pick City Traders Imperium if
- you want a faster payout cycle (daily / on demand)
- you trade high-impact news
- you need Match-Trader
Pick The5ers if
- you want the cheaper way in ($19 vs $29 for the smallest account)
- you care about cost per $1K of account ($1.1 vs $4.49)
- review volume matters to you (40,518 Trustpilot reviews vs 1,636)
Price at each account size
Cheapest program each firm sells at the sizes both offer.
| Account | City Traders Imperium | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| $2.5K | $29 | $19 |
| $5K | $49 | $35 |
| $10K | $79 | $69 |
| $20K | $449 | $22 |
| $25K | $159 | $176 |
| $50K | $299 | $249 |
| $100K | $449 | $405 |
Payouts
City Traders Imperium: On demand; first payout after 7 days (challenges) or 5 days (Instant/Direct); weekly/anytime payouts unlocked via VIP ladder. First payout after 7 days.
The5ers: bi-weekly: first payout 14 days after funding, then every 2 weeks ($150 min profit, High Stakes); cycle resets on each scale-up. First payout after 14 days.
Firm-reported payout totals are the firms' own figures. We have not audited them.
Rule changes
| Date | Firm | Field | Was | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The5ers | Hyper Growth: splitCorrection | up to 100% | 75% to $300K, 80% at $350K, 80-100% from $400K | |
| The5ers | Split scalingCorrection | High Stakes: 80% → 85% at $175K → 90% at $250K → 100% at $350K+ | High Stakes: 80% → 85% at $175K → 90% at $250K → 100% at $350K+; Hyper Growth: starts at 75%, 80% at $350K, 80-100% from $400K | |
| The5ers | First payout (days)Payouts | none | 14 | |
| The5ers | Payout frequencyPayouts | none | bi-weekly: first payout 14 days after funding, then every 2 weeks ($150 min profit, High Stakes); cycle resets on each scale-up |
Legit check
Track record, review volume, payout terms and restrictions for each firm, on one page each: Is City Traders Imperium legit? · Is The5ers legit?
FAQ
Which is cheaper, City Traders Imperium or The5ers?
Smallest published entry fee: City Traders Imperium $29, The5ers $19. Cheapest per $1K of account: City Traders Imperium $4.49, The5ers $1.1.
Which pays out faster, City Traders Imperium or The5ers?
City Traders Imperium: On demand; first payout after 7 days (challenges) or 5 days (Instant/Direct); weekly/anytime payouts unlocked via VIP ladder. The5ers: bi-weekly: first payout 14 days after funding, then every 2 weeks ($150 min profit, High Stakes); cycle resets on each scale-up.
Which has the higher profit split?
City Traders Imperium: 80% up to 100%; The5ers: up to 100%. Headline splits often need scaling or an add-on.
Which is better for beginners, City Traders Imperium or The5ers?
On our six-point beginner checklist City Traders Imperium meets 5 and The5ers meets 2. The checklist is explained on the best prop firms for beginners page.
Are City Traders Imperium and The5ers legit?
Both publish their rules and are listed with sources. See the evidence pages: propanalyse.com/firms/city-traders-imperium/legit/ and propanalyse.com/firms/the5ers/legit/.