Entry price
When looking at the sticker price, the winner depends entirely on the account size you choose. Atlas Funded is significantly cheaper for high-capital traders, while City Traders Imperium (CTI) targets the smaller retail segment.
- $10,000 1-Step: City Traders Imperium costs $79, while Atlas Funded costs $97.
- $100,000 1-Step: Atlas Funded costs $478, whereas City Traders Imperium jumps to $589.
- $100,000 2-Step: Atlas Funded is priced at $443, compared to $549 for City Traders Imperium.
- Access/Small Accounts: City Traders Imperium offers a $2,500 account for just $29, a micro-entry not available at Atlas Funded. However, Atlas Funded has an "Access" model with a $5 entry fee, though it requires a much larger activation fee (e.g., $492 for a $100,000 account) once passed.
What you pay while trading
Operational costs are where the "hidden" expenses live. City Traders Imperium charges explicit commissions that eat into your daily equity, while Atlas Funded uses a performance-based penalty system.
- Commissions: City Traders Imperium charges $5 per lot on Forex and Metals, and $0.5 on Indices. For a high-frequency trader, this can represent a 5-10% reduction in net profit over a month. Atlas Funded does not list explicit commissions in its technical data, potentially offering a cleaner execution cost.
- Leverage constraints: Both firms offer limited leverage. City Traders Imperium is quite restrictive with 1:30 on Forex and only 1:2 on Crypto. Atlas Funded provides 1:100 on Forex, allowing you to control larger positions with less margin.
- The 3-Minute Rule: At Atlas Funded, profits from trades held for less than 3 minutes are deducted on funded accounts. This is a direct financial hit for scalpers that doesn't exist at City Traders Imperium.
What mistakes cost you
The cost of an error is measured by how easily the firm closes your account or reduces your earnings.
- Drawdown Type: City Traders Imperium uses a trailing drawdown on its 1-Step accounts, which is the most "expensive" type of risk rule because it follows your profit up, making it harder to keep the account. Atlas Funded uses static drawdown on its standard plans, which is much more valuable to the trader as it doesn't move with your gains.
- Atlas Protector: This is a unique cost at Atlas Funded. If you hit a 2% floating loss, your profit split is permanently slashed to 50%. This "soft breach" costs you 40% of all future earnings on that account.
- Stop Loss Requirement: City Traders Imperium requires a Stop Loss. Forgetting one results in the trade being closed automatically after 1 minute, potentially locking in a loss you didn't intend to take.
- Resets: If you fail, City Traders Imperium only offers a 10-15% discount on a new challenge. Atlas Funded offers a more complex reset system where you can get a fresh account for 85% of the original fee while retaining passed phases.
What it costs to get paid
Getting your money out also has different price tags.
- Profit Split: Atlas Funded starts at a very aggressive 90% (and can reach 100% with add-ons). City Traders Imperium starts at 80%, though it can be scaled to 100% through its VIP Silver tier.
- Refunds: City Traders Imperium refunds 100% of the registration fee in cash when you hit a 10% profit target on a funded account. Atlas Funded returns the fee as "Atlas Balance" (platform credit), meaning you can't withdraw your refund as cash; you can only use it to buy more challenges.
- Payout Speed: Atlas Funded allows the first payout after 14 days. City Traders Imperium requires at least 7 profitable days (minimum 0.5% gain each) for the first payout, which could delay your first check significantly if the market is slow.
Where each one hides its cost
Atlas Funded hides its cost in the Atlas Protector and the refund policy. By slashing your profit split to 50% on a 2% floating drawdown, they significantly reduce their liability. Also, by refunding in "Balance" instead of cash, they ensure the money stays within their ecosystem.
City Traders Imperium hides its cost in commissions and the trailing drawdown of the 1-Step program. The commissions act as a constant tax on every trade, and the trailing drawdown increases the statistical probability that you will lose the account before reaching a payout, forcing you to pay for a new entry.
Cheapest for whom
- The High-Capital Trader: Atlas Funded is the winner. The $106 savings on a $100,000 2-Step challenge compared to City Traders Imperium is substantial.
- The Micro-Stakes Trader: City Traders Imperium is the only choice with its $2,500 and $5,000 accounts starting at just $29.
- The Swing Trader: Atlas Funded is better because its static drawdown doesn't penalize you for unrealized gains that later pull back, and its 1:100 leverage provides more flexibility.
- The Consistent Scalper: City Traders Imperium is safer despite the commissions, as Atlas Funded's 3-minute rule will void your profits.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $100,000 challenge, Atlas Funded or City Traders Imperium?
Atlas Funded is significantly cheaper for large accounts. Its $100,000 2-Step challenge costs $443, while City Traders Imperium charges $549 for the same account size. This makes Atlas Funded the better financial choice for traders looking to manage six-figure capital.
Between Atlas Funded and City Traders Imperium, which one has higher trading commissions?
City Traders Imperium has higher explicit costs, charging $5 per lot on Forex and Metals. Atlas Funded does not list a per-lot commission in its standard data, though it enforces a 3-minute minimum hold time for trades, which is a different type of cost that affects profitability for fast traders.
Does Atlas Funded or City Traders Imperium offer a better refund policy?
City Traders Imperium offers a better "real money" refund, returning 100% of the fee as withdrawable cash once you hit a 10% profit target. Atlas Funded refunds the fee as Atlas Balance, which is platform credit that can only be used for internal purchases and cannot be withdrawn to a bank account.
Which firm is more restrictive with its drawdown rules, Atlas Funded or City Traders Imperium?
It depends on the plan. City Traders Imperium is more restrictive on its 1-Step accounts because it uses a trailing drawdown, which is harder to manage than the static drawdown used by Atlas Funded. However, Atlas Funded has the "Atlas Protector" rule, which punishes a 2% floating loss by cutting your profit split from 90% down to 50%.
