Introduction
City Traders Imperium (CTI) has been a trusted name in prop trading since 2018, offering funded traders the flexibility and resources they need to succeed.
We’ve already stacked our prop firm against some of the biggest names in the industry, including FTMO. Now, it’s time to break down how CTI stacks up against Alpha Capital Group (ACG), a newer UK-based firm that launched in 2021.
Below, we’ll dive deep into both firms’ 2-step challenges and explain why CTI offers a more flexible, trader-first approach.
Quick Overview: CTI vs. Alpha Capital Group
Feature | CTI 2-Step Challenge | Alpha Capital Group (ACG) |
Founded | 2018 | 2021 |
Challenge Fee | $39 – $519 | $97 – $997 |
Phase 1 Target | 10% | 8% |
Phase 2 Target | 5% | 5% |
Max Drawdown | 10% (Balance-based – Static) | 10% (Balance-based – Static) |
Daily Drawdown Limit | 6% | 5% |
Min. Trading Days | 3 days per phase | 3 days per phase |
News Trading | ✅ Allowed anytime | ❌ Restricted (±2 mins of news events) |
Lot Size Restrictions | ❌ None | ✅ Yes (based on account size) |
Average Trade Duration Rule | ❌ None | ✅ 2-minute minimum average |
Fee Refund | ✅ Yes, upon passing | ❌ No refund |
Scaling Plan | 50% per milestone (10% profit) | 10% per milestone (10% profit) |
Profit Share | Up to 100% | 80% |
Salary Option | ✅ Up to $500/month | ❌ Not available |
Leverage | FX: 1:30 | FX: 1:30 |
Lower Cost, Higher Value
Alpha Capital Group’s 2-step challenge, ‘Alpha Pro’, is structured similarly to most prop firms.
Traders pay a one-time fee ranging from $97 to $997 to access accounts with varying balances. The targets are relatively standard: 8% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2.
In contrast, the CTI 2-Step Challenge packages start at a one-time fee of just $39 and can cost up to $519. The challenge requires traders to meet specific profit targets: 10% in the first and 5% in the second phases.
💡 Bonus:
At CTI, once you pass both phases, your entire challenge fee is refunded. Alpha Capital Group offers no such rebate.
News Trading? You’re Free with CTI
Many prop firms restrict trading during major news releases. This approach can limit traders from finding profitable trading opportunities.
Alpha Capital Group enforces a strict rule: no trades 2 minutes before or after medium- or high-impact events. If you trade during this 4-minute window — even if your TP hits — your profits are voided.
This is where CTI stands apart. We allow news trading without restrictions on all our funding programs. While we are flexible, we also encourage responsible trading with proper risk management. But, unlike ACG, we won’t penalise you for being active during market-moving opportunities.
Generally, CTI offers a more flexible environment where traders don’t have to worry about overly restrictive terms and conditions.
No Lot Size Limitation with CTI
Another example of CTI’s flexibility is our approach to lot sizes.
While we emphasise risk-conscious trading, we do not impose lot size limitations on our accounts. The most crucial rules are maintaining discipline within the maximum drawdown limits and using leverage.
In contrast, Alpha Capital Group imposes lot size restrictions on their ‘qualified’ accounts, which is the funded stage after their initial 2-step challenge.
These limits vary depending on the account balance as follows:
$5k = Max 2.5 lots | $10k = Max 5 lots
$25k = Max 10 lots | $50k = Max 20 lots
$100k = Max 40 lots | $200k = Max 80 lots
Alpha Capital does offer the option to request an increase in these limits, but only if you can provide what they consider ‘sufficient trading data.’
No Average Trade Duration with CTI
Alpha Capital also imposes another hurdle: their 2-minute average trade duration rule. This rule requires the average duration of all your trades on any account to exceed 2 minutes.
According to the ACG, this measure is intended to prevent “tick scalping and high-frequency traders from attempting to manipulate their price feed.”
While the intention to curb high-frequency trading is understandable — we at CTI also advocate for responsible trading — we believe in minimising restrictive rules to allow for greater trading freedom.
As mentioned earlier, adhering to our Maximum Drawdown limits is the key metric at CTI. We find that restrictions on lot size, trade duration, and news trading only add unnecessary complexity.
Our focus is on providing you with the freedom to trade effectively and responsibly.
Refund After Assessment
Getting funded by a prop firm is a long-term investment that involves some initial sign-up fee payment.
One advantage of choosing CTI is that we refund your assessment fee once you successfully complete the two-step Challenge.
At this stage, the financial risk is removed, allowing you to focus entirely on generating real and significant profits.
In contrast, Alpha Capital Group (ACG) does not offer the same benefit, leaving traders to bear the upfront cost even after they’ve proven their skills.
50% Scaling Growth with CTI
One of the most exciting aspects of being a funded trader is the opportunity to scale your account.
At CTI, we stand out as the only prop firm that increases your demo account balance by 50% each time you hit a 10% profit target. No cap, no gimmicks.
In contrast, Alpha Capital Group offers a scaling rate of just 10% of the initial equity after achieving the same 10% growth.
The Only Prop Firm with a Monthly Salary
CTI made history at the start of 2023 by becoming the first prop firm to offer a monthly salary in addition to the profit share that traders typically earn.
Depending on the account, selected traders can receive up to $500 per month. For life!
To be eligible for this salary, you need to be a Gold Trader Level in the CTI VIP Program.
Once you meet this criterion, you’ll not only enjoy the regular profit share on your funded account but also benefit from a consistent monthly salary + Anytime Payouts + Exclusive access to CTI one-to-one risk managers.
Unsurprisingly, Alpha Capital Group and many other prop firms do not offer a salary benefit like this. With CTI, you’re not just trading — you’re building long-term income stability.
Final Verdict: CTI vs. Alpha Capital Group
While Alpha Capital Group offers some advantages, such as higher challenge account balances and higher leverage, CTI outshines ACG in nearly every other aspect. We offer:
✅ Lower starting fees
✅ No restrictions on news trading or trade duration
✅ No lot size limits
✅ Faster progression
✅ Full challenge fee refund
✅ 50% scaling plan
✅ Up to 100% profit share
✅ Exclusive $500/month salary program
CTI is built for modern, independent, and serious traders who want flexibility and long-term growth, not just another challenge.
But that’s not all. We also provide extra features you won’t find at ACG, such as:
- Instant Funding – Skip the two-phase challenge and get funded faster.
- Instant Funding Pro – Go live in just 10 active trading days with no assessment.
- Wider market access – Trade a broader range of assets.
- Balance-based drawdown – Gives you more control and less risk under pressure.
When you weigh the benefits, it’s clear that CTI is the smarter choice for elevating your funded trader career!
