The split
At City Traders Imperium, the reward for consistency is unparalleled. While you typically start with an 80% split on evaluation accounts, the firm offers a VIP program (Bronze, Silver, Gold levels) where you can climb to a 90% and eventually a 100% profit share. On their Instant Funding programs, the split starts lower, at 50% or 70% depending on the chosen plan.
Think Capital offers a more standardized approach. The base profit split is 80% across most programs. However, they allow you to increase this to 90% from the start by paying a +25% add-on fee during the challenge purchase. Their "Bolt" (Instant) program also scales up to 90% profit share as you grow the account.
How often you can withdraw
City Traders Imperium has different cycles depending on the account:
- 1-Step and 2-Step: The first payout requires at least 7 profitable trading days. Subsequent withdrawals are monthly, requested during the last 5 days of each month.
- Instant Funding: After the initial requirements, payouts become bi-weekly (on the 14th/15th and the last 2 days of the month).
Think Capital offers more speed but often at a price:
- Standard: Payouts are bi-weekly (every 14 days).
- With Add-on: You can pay a +25% fee to unlock weekly payouts.
- Bolt (Instant): Strictly bi-weekly, with no option for the weekly add-on.
Minimums and methods
Both firms set a similar floor for withdrawals, but their logistics differ:
- City Traders Imperium: Minimum withdrawal is $100 or 2% of net profit (whichever is higher). They pay via Bank Transfer and Crypto.
- Think Capital: Minimum withdrawal is $100. They utilize Crypto, Bank Transfer, and the Rise platform. Note that using Rise incurs a $50 fee per month whenever a payout is requested.
What delays a payout
The path to the cash register can be slowed down by specific risk and consistency rules.
At City Traders Imperium, the most unique hurdle is the mandatory Stop Loss rule. Not using one is a soft breach; the system will automatically close your trade after 1 minute if no stop loss is set. Additionally, for 1-Step and 2-Step accounts, you must have at least 7 profitable days (defined as 0.5% profit or more) before your first withdrawal.
At Think Capital, the "Bolt" program is the most restrictive regarding consistency, featuring a 20% best-day cap (no single day can account for more than 20% of your total profit). Across all accounts, they also limit "stacking" to a maximum of 2 simultaneous positions. On most plans (except Dual Step Swing), news trading is prohibited unless you purchase a +25% add-on, and violating the 4-minute window around high-impact news results in account termination.
What it takes to get there
To reach the funded stage, you must first clear the entry costs and evaluation phases:
- City Traders Imperium: Offers 1-Step, 2-Step, and Instant Funding. Prices are very competitive for small accounts, such as $29 for a $2,500 1-Step challenge. They use MetaTrader 5 and MatchTrader. News trading is allowed by default, and EAs are permitted (with some restrictions on 3rd-party EAs).
- Think Capital: Offers a wider range of phases (1, 2, and even 3-step "Nexus" challenges). A $5,000 Nexus challenge costs $39. Their platform suite is superior for modern traders, offering MetaTrader 5, ThinkTrader, and native TradingView integration. They do not allow VPNs and have a much longer list of prohibited countries.
Which pays out more comfortably
City Traders Imperium is the better choice for the disciplined, "institutional" trader who doesn't mind a slower monthly schedule in exchange for the chance to keep 100% of the profits and trade news without extra costs.
Think Capital is more comfortable for the "retail" trader who values platform variety (TradingView) and is willing to pay extra for the convenience of weekly payouts and a 90% split from day one without waiting months for VIP status.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a challenge, City Traders Imperium or Think Capital?
City Traders Imperium is cheaper for entry-level capital, offering a $2,500 1-Step account for just $29. Think Capital’s smallest entry is the $5,000 Nexus (3-Step) account for $39, or a $2,500 Bolt (Instant) account for $49.
Between City Traders Imperium and Think Capital, which one allows news trading more easily?
City Traders Imperium allows news trading by default on all its plans without extra fees. In contrast, Think Capital restricts news trading on most of its popular plans (Lightning, Nexus, Bolt) unless you pay an additional +25% fee for a specific add-on.
Which firm offers a higher profit split, City Traders Imperium or Think Capital?
City Traders Imperium offers the highest potential split, allowing traders to reach 100% profit share through its VIP Silver level. Think Capital caps its profit split at 90%, which can be obtained either through a paid add-on or by scaling the Bolt program.
Which platforms can I use at City Traders Imperium vs Think Capital?
City Traders Imperium provides MetaTrader 5 and MatchTrader. Think Capital offers a more diverse selection, including MetaTrader 5, their proprietary ThinkTrader platform, and direct integration with TradingView, which is a significant advantage for many technical analysts.
