City Traders Imperium vs The 5%ers (2026): Battle of the Funds

If you hate "Challenges", you look for Instant Funding. The two heavyweights in this arena are City Traders Imperium (CTI) and The 5%ers.

Both avoid the "Demo Challenge" game. Both want to fund you directly. But their structures cater to different time horizons.

Round 1: Direct Funding Cost

CTI (Direct Funding):

• Pay roughly £1,000 for a $20k account.
• Instant live credentials.

The 5%ers (Hyper Growth):

• Pay roughly €450 for a $20k account.
• Instant live credentials.

Winner: The 5%ers. It is significantly cheaper to get started.

Round 2: Time Limits (The CTI Advantage)

CTI has a unique feature on their evaluation accounts (Day Trading): 1 Year Time Limit. Most firms are "Unlimited" now, but CTI explicitly structured their rules around long-term flexibility before everyone else.

However, in 2026, The 5%ers is also unlimited. This advantage has neutralized.

Round 3: Scaling

The 5%ers doubles your account at 10%. CTI has a slightly more complex tiered scaling. They require you to hit targets to unlock the next level.

The major difference is Drawdown:

• CTI: Often absolute drawdown (easier to understand).
• 5%ers: Fixed loss from starting balance.

Verdict

The 5%ers wins on price and accessibility. The Bootcamp model is simply unbeatable value ($95 entry). CTI is a premium boutique. Their London-based floor heritage shows. Their educational courses are arguably better, but the funding is more expensive.

Winner: The 5%ers for 90% of traders. CTI for those who want mentorship included.