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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · Apex Trader Funding facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24 · City Traders Imperium facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24
AI visibility score 16.7 / 100 · AI visibility rank #6 · Founded 2021
Apex Trader Funding is a proprietary trading firm based in Austin, United States, founded in 2021. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $150,000 (up to 20 accounts).…
Open the Apex Trader Funding profileAI visibility score 1.8 / 100 · AI visibility rank #28 · Founded 2018
City Traders Imperium is a proprietary trading firm based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, founded in 2018. It offers one-step, two-step, instant-funding evaluations on forex, indices, commodities, crypto. Funded accounts go up…
Open the City Traders Imperium profileApex Trader Funding (Austin, United States, founded 2021) scores 16.7 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #6 of 76 prop firms), named in 23% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $150,000 (up to 20 accounts), pays a 90% (100% of first $25,000) profit split and offers NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts. City Traders Imperium (Dubai, United Arab Emirates, founded 2018) scores 1.8 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #28 of 76 prop firms), named in 3% of AI answers, runs Instant funding, One-step, Two-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $100,000 challenge / $80,000 instant (scaling to $4M), pays a up to 100% (VIP tiers: Bronze 90%, Silver 100%) profit split and offers Match-Trader, MT5.
Scored on 9 measurable dimensions where both prop firms have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
| Criteria | Apex Trader Funding | City Traders Imperium |
|---|---|---|
| AI visibility score | 16.7 / 100 | 1.8 / 100 |
| AI visibility rank | #6 | #28 |
| Named in AI answers | 23% | 3% |
| AI sentiment (0–100) | 21 | 2 |
| Founded | 2021 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Austin, United States | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Evaluation models | One-step | Instant funding, One-step, Two-step |
| Asset classes | Futures | Commodities, Crypto, Forex, Indices |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts | Match-Trader, MT5 |
| Maximum allocation | $150,000 (up to 20 accounts) | $100,000 challenge / $80,000 instant (scaling to $4M) |
| Profit split | 90% (100% of first $25,000) | up to 100% (VIP tiers: Bronze 90%, Silver 100%) |
| Challenge fee from | Not verified | $29 ($2.5K 1-Step) |
| Account sizes | $25k, $50k, $100k, $150k | $2.5k, $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k |
| Payout frequency | every 5 trading days | first withdrawal after 7 days (challenge) or 5 days (instant); weekly at Bronze, anytime at Silver; processed within 24 hours |
| Daily drawdown limit | none | none (1-Step, Instant, Direct); 5% (2-Step) |
| Maximum drawdown | trailing (end-of-day or intraday, by account type) | 5% (1-Step); 10% (2-Step); 3% (Instant, Direct); balance-based |
| Minimum trading days | 1 | 3 profitable days (challenges) |
| Time limit | none | none |
| News trading | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend holding | No | Yes |
| EAs / algos allowed | Restricted | Yes |
| Status | active | active |
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that prop firm — we never fill gaps with estimates.
| Engine | Apex Trader Funding | City Traders Imperium |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 10.2 | 6.1 |
| Perplexity | 25.8 | 0 |
| Gemini | 32.8 | 0.2 |
| Claude | 17.3 | 0 |
| Google AI Mode | 12.9 | 4.6 |
| Google AI Overview | 25.5 | 0 |
| Google top-10 | 0 | 0 |
Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.
Apex Trader Funding scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (16.7 / 100 vs 1.8 / 100), which measures how often ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Google name a firm when traders ask which prop firm to use.
Apex Trader Funding pays 90% (100% of first $25,000); City Traders Imperium pays up to 100% (VIP tiers: Bronze 90%, Silver 100%) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).
Apex Trader Funding: NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts. City Traders Imperium: Match-Trader, MT5.
Apex Trader Funding: maximum drawdown trailing (end-of-day or intraday, by account type), daily none. City Traders Imperium: maximum drawdown 5% (1-Step); 10% (2-Step); 3% (Instant, Direct); balance-based, daily none (1-Step, Instant, Direct); 5% (2-Step).
Risk warning: prop firms are not regulated brokers or investment firms. Evaluations are paid, fees are usually non-refundable, most accounts are simulated, and a firm can change its rules or stop paying out. Most participants fail the evaluation. Nothing on this page is financial advice; read the firm's terms before you pay. Full risk disclosure.