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The5ers vs City Traders Imperium (2026): which prop firm is better?
To keep it fair, both firms are judged on the same information: published prices, published rules and Trustpilot ratings. The full table and our take are below.
The two firms, point by point
| The5ers | City Traders Imperium | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 6.7/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| Profit split | 80% | 80% |
| Max leverage | up to 1:100 | up to 1:30 |
| 100K challenge from | $405 (High Stakes New) | $449 (1-Step Challenge) |
| Programs | 5 | 4 |
| Platforms | MT5, cTrader, TradingView | MT5, Match-Trader |
| Payouts via | Rise, Crypto, Bank Transfer | Crypto, Bank Transfer, PayPal |
| News trading | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Weekend holding | Allowed | Allowed |
| Expert advisors (EAs) | Restricted | Restricted |
| Scalping | Restricted | – |
| Copy trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| Martingale | – | Restricted |
Our honest take
Using our scores, The5ers (6.7) finishes ahead of City Traders Imperium (6.5).
The5ers has the cheaper 100K challenge at $405, while the cheapest at City Traders Imperium costs $449.
Customers rate The5ers more highly: 4.7 of 5 on Trustpilot, against 4.2.
City Traders Imperium gives you more room to trade your way, including news, EAs and weekend holds.
- The5ers makes more sense if what you want is a cheaper challenge, better customer reviews, more programs to pick from.
- City Traders Imperium makes more sense if what you want is to trade on Match-Trader.
A short profile of each
The5ers
The5ers has been operating for about ten years and is registered in Israel and the UK. What it's best known for is a very low starting price, with accounts from $2,500. Its main product is High Stakes, a 2-Step challenge; beside it sit two 1-Step programs, Hyper Growth and Pro Growth, and a cheap 3-Step called Bootcamp.
City Traders Imperium
City Traders Imperium, usually called CTI, is a prop firm from the UK. It offers 1- and 2-Step challenges, instant accounts and direct funding, on MT5 and Match-Trader.
Questions people ask
Which is the better firm, The5ers or City Traders Imperium?
Using our scores, The5ers (6.7) finishes ahead of City Traders Imperium (6.5).
Which one costs less, The5ers or City Traders Imperium?
The5ers has the cheaper 100K challenge at $405, while the cheapest at City Traders Imperium costs $449.
Can I have accounts at The5ers and City Traders Imperium at the same time?
Yes. There's nothing wrong with buying challenges from more than one firm. The things almost every firm bans are copying another person's trades and hedging an account at one firm against an account at another.