City Traders Imperium (CTI) and FTMO now offer the same three routes to a funded account: a 1-Step Challenge, a 2-Step Challenge and an instant account. CTI adds a fourth, Direct Funding. This page compares each CTI program with its FTMO counterpart, using both firms’ published terms as of 28 October 2026.
FTMO prices its accounts in euros and CTI in US dollars. To compare like for like, each FTMO price is also shown in US dollars at the European Central Bank reference rate of €1 = $1.1188 (26 October 2026). The dollar figure you pay FTMO will move with the exchange rate.
CTI vs FTMO at a glance
| CTI | FTMO | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | 1-Step, 2-Step, Instant Funding, Direct Funding | 1-Step, 2-Step, Instant Account |
| Entry price (smallest account) | $29 (1-Step, $2,500) | €79, about $88 (1-Step, $10,000) |
| First payout | 7 days on the challenges, 5 days on Instant Funding | 14 days after your first trade |
| Profit share | 80%, rising to 90% and 100% through the VIP program | 80% to 90% (2-Step), 90% (1-Step and Instant) |
| Largest account path | $400K total on the challenges, $4M on Instant Funding and Direct Funding | $2M total through the Scaling Plan |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5, Match-Trader, TradingView | MetaTrader, cTrader, TradingView |
9 reasons traders choose CTI
Several of the biggest differences only show up once you’re funded.
- News trading on funded accounts. CTI allows it on every program.
FTMO blocks orders for 2 minutes before and after major news on its standard funded accounts. - Weekend and overnight holds. Allowed on every CTI program.
FTMO asks standard funded accounts to close positions before market breaks longer than 2 hours. - Up to 100% profit share. CTI’s Silver VIP level pays 100%.
FTMO’s ceiling is 90%. - Faster payouts. Your first CTI payout comes after 7 days on the challenges, 5 days on Instant Funding and on demand from day 5 on Direct Funding, and payouts are approved and processed within 24 hours.
FTMO’s first reward comes after 14 days. - 1-on-1 coaching from the first VIP level. Bronze traders get a monthly coaching session, Silver traders get two.
- Direct Funding. A funded account with no evaluation and on-demand payouts.
FTMO has no equivalent. - Smaller starting accounts. CTI’s challenges start at $2,500 and $5,000.
FTMO starts at $10,000. - No daily drawdown on the 1-Step, Instant Funding and Direct Funding.
Every FTMO program has a daily loss limit. - No consistency rules on any CTI program.
FTMO applies a best day rule on its 1-Step and Instant Account.
1-Step Challenge: CTI vs FTMO
Both firms’ 1-Step programs put you through a single evaluation phase. The rules behind that phase are quite different.
| 1-Step | CTI | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| $10K account | $79 | €79 (about $88) |
| $25K account | $159 | €199 (about $223) |
| $50K account | $299 | €319 (about $357) |
| $100K account | $449 | €499 (about $558) |
| Profit target | 8% | 10% |
| Daily drawdown | None | 3% |
| Max drawdown | 5% trailing, balance based | 10% trailing, end of day |
| Consistency rule | None | Best day must be 50% or less of total profit |
| Minimum trading days | 3 profitable days | None |
| First payout | 7 days | 14 days |
| Profit share | 80% to 100% | 90% |
CTI’s 1-Step costs less at every size (about $64 less at $25K). It also asks for a lower target and has no daily limit or consistency rule, so one strong day can count in full. If you trade in bursts, CTI’s rules suit you better.
FTMO gives you more total room (10% against 5%) but adds a 3% daily cap and the 50% best day rule. If you need a wide drawdown, FTMO’s is twice the size.
2-Step Challenge: CTI vs FTMO
This is the closest match of the three. Targets, drawdowns and time limits are the same at both firms.
| 2-Step | CTI | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| $10K account | $99 | €89 (about $100) |
| $25K account | $199 | €250 (about $280) |
| $50K account | $329 | €345 (about $386) |
| $100K account | $549 | €540 (about $604) |
| Profit target | 10% then 5% | 10% then 5% |
| Daily drawdown | 5% | 5% |
| Max drawdown | 10% static | 10% static |
| Minimum trading days | 3 profitable days per phase | 4 days per phase |
| Time limit | None | None |
| First payout | 7 days | 14 days |
| Profit share | 80%, then 90% and 100% through VIP | 80%, 90% with the Scaling Plan |
In dollar terms CTI’s 2-Step is cheaper at every size, from $1 less at $10K to about $55 less at $100K. CTI also offers $2,500 ($39) and $5,000 ($59) accounts, which FTMO does not. The main differences sit after you pass: CTI pays your first payout a week sooner, and its profit share can reach 100%.
Instant Funding vs the FTMO Instant Account
Both skip the evaluation, but they are built differently.
CTI’s Instant Funding starts you on half the account size with a 6% static drawdown and no daily limit. Hit a 10% milestone and your balance doubles to the fully funded balance, 100% of the account size; from there it keeps doubling at each 10% milestone, up to $2M per account. Profit share is 50% on the starting balance and 70% to 100% once fully funded. Fees run from $79 for a $2,500 account to $1,599 for $80,000.
FTMO’s Instant Account gives you the full balance from day one, a 90% profit share, a 3% daily loss limit, a 10% maximum loss that trails your balance intraday, and a consistency rule where your best day must be 30% or less of total profit. Fees run from €169 (about $189) for $5,000 to €2,999 (about $3,355) for $100,000.
| Instant | CTI Instant Funding | FTMO Instant Account |
|---|---|---|
| $5K account | $139 | €169 (about $189) |
| $10K account | $259 | €339 (about $379) |
| Starting balance | 50% of account size | 100% of account size |
| Fully funded balance | 100% of account size, after the first 10% milestone | 100% of account size from day one |
| Daily drawdown | None | 3% |
| Max drawdown | 6% static | 10% trailing, intraday |
| Consistency rule | None | Best day 30% or less of total profit |
| Profit share | 50% at start, 70% to 100% fully funded | 90% |
| First payout | 5 days (fully funded) | 14 days |
| Scaling | Balance doubles at each 10% milestone, up to $2M per account | Not part of the Scaling Plan |
The trade-off is plain. CTI starts smaller, with simple rules and room to grow the account far beyond its starting size.
FTMO pays more from the first day on the full balance, but with daily, trailing and consistency limits.
Payouts, profit share and scaling
First payout. CTI pays after 7 days on the challenges and 5 days on a fully funded Instant account.
FTMO’s first reward can be requested 14 days after your first trade.
Profit share. At CTI you start at 80% on the challenges. The VIP program raises it to 90% at Bronze and 100% at Silver, with weekly payouts at Bronze, anytime payouts at Silver, and a potential monthly salary at Gold.
FTMO pays 90% on the 1-Step and Instant Account, and 80% on the 2-Step until you meet its Scaling Plan or Premium Programme conditions.
Scaling. CTI’s challenges scale by 25% at each milestone, up to $200K per account and $400K in total, and Instant Funding and Direct Funding go up to $4M in total.
FTMO adds 25% every four months if you make 10% and take two rewards in that period, up to $2M in total, a higher ceiling than CTI’s challenges.
Which one fits your trading
Choose by the rules you can live with, not by headline size.
- Trade in bursts and dislike daily limits: CTI’s 1-Step or Instant Funding.
- Want the classic two-phase route at a lower entry price and a faster first payout: CTI’s 2-Step.
- Need a wide 10% drawdown on a one-phase evaluation: FTMO’s 1-Step.
- Want a full instant balance with a 90% split from day one and can live with a 3% daily limit and a 30% consistency rule: FTMO’s Instant Account.
Want to see the full rules before you decide? Compare the 1-Step Challenge, the 2-Step Challenge and Instant Funding, or try the free Challenge trial first.
All figures are taken from each firm’s own published terms on 28 October 2026 and can change.
