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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · City Traders Imperium facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24 · Topstep facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24
AI 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 profileAI visibility score 31.4 / 100 · AI visibility rank #4 · Founded 2012
Topstep is a proprietary trading firm based in Chicago, United States, founded in 2012. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $150,000. The profit split is 90% (100%…
Open the Topstep profileCity 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. Topstep (Chicago, United States, founded 2012) scores 31.4 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #4 of 76 prop firms), named in 39% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $150,000, pays a 90% (100% of first $10,000) profit split and offers NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.
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 | City Traders Imperium | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| AI visibility score | 1.8 / 100 | 31.4 / 100 |
| AI visibility rank | #28 | #4 |
| Named in AI answers | 3% | 39% |
| AI sentiment (0–100) | 2 | 39 |
| Founded | 2018 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Chicago, United States |
| Evaluation models | Instant funding, One-step, Two-step | One-step |
| Asset classes | Commodities, Crypto, Forex, Indices | Futures |
| Platforms | Match-Trader, MT5 | NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView |
| Maximum allocation | $100,000 challenge / $80,000 instant (scaling to $4M) | $150,000 |
| Profit split | up to 100% (VIP tiers: Bronze 90%, Silver 100%) | 90% (100% of first $10,000) |
| Challenge fee from | $29 ($2.5K 1-Step) | $49/month ($50K Combine) |
| Account sizes | $2.5k, $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k | $50k, $100k, $150k |
| Payout frequency | first withdrawal after 7 days (challenge) or 5 days (instant); weekly at Bronze, anytime at Silver; processed within 24 hours | on demand (instant payouts after 5 winning days or 3-day consistency path) |
| Daily drawdown limit | none (1-Step, Instant, Direct); 5% (2-Step) | none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K) |
| Maximum drawdown | 5% (1-Step); 10% (2-Step); 3% (Instant, Direct); balance-based | trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day) |
| Minimum trading days | 3 profitable days (challenges) | 2 |
| Time limit | none | none |
| News trading | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend holding | Yes | No |
| EAs / algos allowed | Yes | Restricted |
| Broker backing | Not verified | Topstep Brokerage LLC (NFA-registered introducing broker, affiliate) |
| 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 | City Traders Imperium | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 6.1 | 56 |
| Perplexity | 0 | 38.6 |
| Gemini | 0.2 | 33.9 |
| Claude | 0 | 17.9 |
| Google AI Mode | 4.6 | 41.6 |
| Google AI Overview | 0 | 30.7 |
| Google top-10 | 0 | 0.2 |
Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.
Topstep scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (1.8 / 100 vs 31.4 / 100), which measures how often ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Google name a firm when traders ask which prop firm to use.
City Traders Imperium pays up to 100% (VIP tiers: Bronze 90%, Silver 100%); Topstep pays 90% (100% of first $10,000) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).
Entry-level challenge fees start at $29 ($2.5K 1-Step) at City Traders Imperium and $49/month ($50K Combine) at Topstep. Fees change often and discounts are common, so treat these as the floor.
City Traders Imperium: Match-Trader, MT5. Topstep: NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.
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). Topstep: maximum drawdown trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day), daily none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K).
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.