Lux Trading Firm scores 12.1 higher under TVSM-PF/2.0.2.
Payout split
Lux Trading Firm75% base split (scales toward 80% on funded stages)
City Traders Imperium80% (scales with milestones)
Max funded
Lux Trading Firm$10,000,000 (via scaling)
City Traders Imperium$4,000,000 (via scaling)
Payout cap
Lux Trading FirmNone
City Traders ImperiumNone
Drawdown model
Lux Trading FirmStatic max loss from initial balance
City Traders ImperiumStatic max loss from initial balance
Min trading days
Lux Trading Firm5
City Traders Imperium5
Challenge fee
Lux Trading Firm~$650–$800 for $100K (above average)
City Traders ImperiumCompetitive — varies by program type
Fee refundable
Lux Trading FirmYes — refunded with first payout
City Traders ImperiumYes — refunded with first payout
News trading
Lux Trading FirmRestricted on funded accounts during major events (evaluation: unrestricted)
City Traders ImperiumRestricted — defined window on specific instruments (funding account)
Platforms
Lux Trading FirmMT4, MT5
City Traders ImperiumMT4, MT5
Payout schedule
Lux Trading FirmOn demand; 2–4 business day processing
City Traders ImperiumFirst payout after 7 profitable days plus 2 percent min profit. Subsequent payouts monthly (last 5 days). Two-stage: up to 2 BD wallet review, then 1 BD processing plus 1 to 14 days bank. 100 USD minimum.
75% base split (scales toward 80% on funded stages)
80% (scales with milestones)
Max funded
$10,000,000 (via scaling)
$4,000,000 (via scaling)
Payout cap
None
None
Drawdown model
Static max loss from initial balance
Static max loss from initial balance
Min trading days
5
5
Challenge fee
~$650–$800 for $100K (above average)
Competitive — varies by program type
Fee refundable
Yes — refunded with first payout
Yes — refunded with first payout
News trading
Restricted on funded accounts during major events (evaluation: unrestricted)
Restricted — defined window on specific instruments (funding account)
Platforms
MT4, MT5
MT4, MT5
Payout schedule
On demand; 2–4 business day processing
First payout after 7 profitable days plus 2 percent min profit. Subsequent payouts monthly (last 5 days). Two-stage: up to 2 BD wallet review, then 1 BD processing plus 1 to 14 days bank. 100 USD minimum.
Lux Trading Firm is best for uk-based forex traders who want a regulated-jurisdiction firm and are not chasing top-tier brand recognition.
City Traders Imperium is best for experienced forex traders, comfortable with an offshore structure, who want a low-cost route to funding, unrestricted news trading, and a verifiable 8-year track record over big-brand recognition.
Computed live from the per-variable evidence behind each firm's TVSM-PF score — Lux Trading Firm takes 4 of 6 dimensions at current scores. Every variable links to a primary source on the firm pages.
Payout ReliabilityLux 23.0 · City 20.1 / 32
Lux Trading Firm wins. Lux Trading Firm pays 75% base split (scales toward 80% on funded stages); City Traders Imperium pays 80% (scales with milestones). Per-payout caps — Lux Trading Firm: None; City Traders Imperium: None — decide who keeps more in a big month.
Rule FairnessLux 18.8 · City 16.4 / 24
Lux Trading Firm wins. Drawdown models differ: Lux Trading Firm runs Static max loss from initial balance; City Traders Imperium runs Static max loss from initial balance. The model decides how much intraday heat you can take before breaching.
Rules StabilityLux 8.8 · City 4.6 / 10
Lux Trading Firm wins. Mid-stream rule changes are penalized here, and every change is tracked in our append-only changelog — so a recent payout or drawdown change shows up in this dimension rather than being quietly absorbed.
Business ViabilityLux 11.1 · City 9.3 / 16
Lux Trading Firm wins. Operating history and scale matter most when a payout goes sideways — the longer-running, better-capitalised firm carries less counterparty risk, and this dimension reflects each firm's track record to date.
Platform & ExecutionLux 5.6 · City 5.2 / 8
Effectively even. Platforms: Lux Trading Firm — MT4, MT5; City Traders Imperium — MT4, MT5. If your edge depends on a specific platform, this is the deciding line.
Cost & ValueLux 6.6 · City 6.2 / 10
Effectively even. Evaluation cost: Lux Trading Firm — ~$650–$800 for $100K (above average); City Traders Imperium — Competitive — varies by program type. Fee refundable — Lux Trading Firm: Yes — refunded with first payout; City Traders Imperium: Yes — refunded with first payout.
Rule by rule, in each firm's own terms
Verbatim from our verified spec database — the conditions are the product, so nothing here is flattened to a yes/no. Where a rule has tiers or conditions, you are reading them.
Rule
Lux Trading Firm
City Traders Imperium
Drawdown model
Static max loss from initial balance
Static max loss from initial balance
Max drawdown
10% static from initial balance
8% static from initial balance
Daily loss limit
5% balance-based
5% balance-based
Payout split
75% base split (scales toward 80% on funded stages)
80% (scales with milestones)
Payout cap
None
None
Payout schedule
On demand; 2–4 business day processing
First payout after 7 profitable days plus 2 percent min profit. Subsequent payouts monthly (last 5 days). Two-stage: up to 2 BD wallet review, then 1 BD processing plus 1 to 14 days bank. 100 USD minimum.
Min trading days
5
5
Consistency rule
No formal consistency rule documented
No formal consistency rule on standard accounts
News trading
Restricted on funded accounts during major events (evaluation: unrestricted)
Restricted — defined window on specific instruments (funding account)
Weekend holds
Allowed on Forex; varies by account type
Allowed on Forex; restricted on indices
Evaluation cost
~$650–$800 for $100K (above average)
Competitive — varies by program type
Fee refundable
Yes — refunded with first payout
Yes — refunded with first payout
Platforms
MT4, MT5
MT4, MT5
Max funded
$10,000,000 (via scaling)
$4,000,000 (via scaling)
Scaling
Up to $10M via consistent performance. Lux offers some of the highest max funded amounts in the peer group.
Up to $4M funded via consistent performance milestones. Split increases to 85%+ at scale.
Verified June 2026 (Lux Trading Firm) · June 2026 (City Traders Imperium). Source extracts for every scored variable are on the firm pages.
The verdict, by trader type
A comparison that ends in “it depends” is not a verdict. Picks below are per trading style — find yours.
Most traders
Lux Trading Firm
Lux Trading Firm takes 4 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores, which makes it the safer default for a trader without a strong style preference. Read the per-dimension breakdown above first — a single dimension you care about can flip the decision.
Cost-conscious
Even
Entry cost: Lux Trading Firm — ~$650–$800 for $100K (above average); City Traders Imperium — Competitive — varies by program type. The two are line-ball on cost-value.
Rules-sensitive trader
Lux Trading Firm
If clean, predictable rules matter most, read the drawdown model first: Lux Trading Firm runs Static max loss from initial balance; City Traders Imperium runs Static max loss from initial balance. Lux Trading Firm scores better on rule fairness and clarity.
High earner
Lux Trading Firm
Profit splits: Lux Trading Firm — 75% base split (scales toward 80% on funded stages); City Traders Imperium — 80% (scales with milestones). Lux Trading Firm has the stronger payout profile once caps are factored in. Always read the per-payout cap in full before a large withdrawal.
Lux Trading Firm vs City Traders Imperium — the questions traders actually search
Is Lux Trading Firm or City Traders Imperium better in 2026?
Under TraderVerdict's independent TVSM methodology, Lux Trading Firm scores in the Strong band and City Traders Imperium in the Adequate band. Lux Trading Firm wins 4 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores. The right pick depends on which firm's payout, drawdown, and cost terms fit how you trade.
What is the main difference between Lux Trading Firm and City Traders Imperium?
Lux Trading Firm and City Traders Imperium differ across the TVSM-scored variables that decide whether a funded trader actually gets paid — profit split, drawdown model, payout caps, pricing, and operating stability. The rule-by-rule table on this page shows each one verbatim from our verified specs.
Which is cheaper — Lux Trading Firm or City Traders Imperium?
Lux Trading Firm: ~$650–$800 for $100K (above average). City Traders Imperium: Competitive — varies by program type. Weigh the fee against how long the evaluation takes you — a one-time fee beats a subscription on a slow pass, and the reverse on a fast one.
Which pays out more — Lux Trading Firm or City Traders Imperium?
Profit split: Lux Trading Firm — 75% base split (scales toward 80% on funded stages). City Traders Imperium — 80% (scales with milestones). Per-payout caps: Lux Trading Firm — None; City Traders Imperium — None. Read both cap rules in full before buying — they bind hardest in your best months.
What is the difference between Lux Trading Firm and City Traders Imperium drawdown rules?
Lux Trading Firm: Static max loss from initial balance. City Traders Imperium: Static max loss from initial balance. The drawdown model is the single most common reason funded accounts fail, so match it to whether you hold through intraday heat.
Do Lux Trading Firm and City Traders Imperium allow news trading?
Lux Trading Firm: Restricted on funded accounts during major events (evaluation: unrestricted). City Traders Imperium: Restricted — defined window on specific instruments (funding account).
What account sizes do Lux Trading Firm and City Traders Imperium offer?
Lux Trading Firm: $10,000,000 (via scaling). City Traders Imperium: $4,000,000 (via scaling). Scaling: Lux Trading Firm — Up to $10M via consistent performance. Lux offers some of the highest max funded amounts in the peer group.; City Traders Imperium — Up to $4M funded via consistent performance milestones. Split increases to 85%+ at scale..
Are TraderVerdict's prop-firm comparisons independent?
Yes. Every firm is scored against a public, versioned methodology before any commercial relationship, and affiliate links are only added to firms that clear our editorial bar. A firm cannot pay for a higher score or to remove a critical finding.