NinjaTrader at a glance
An established multi-asset broker, reviewed by the Tradelytic team and rated by traders.
NinjaTrader is a US-based futures broker and trading platform established in 2003 and now part of the Kraken group. Through its CFTC-registered brokerage, NinjaTrader Clearing, traders can access over 100 futures contracts covering stock indices, energy, metals, currencies, interest rates and cryptocurrency futures. The firm offers no minimum account deposit and intraday margins from $50 on selected Micro contracts.
Trading is available through NinjaTrader Desktop, Web and Mobile, with advanced charting, SuperDOM order entry, backtesting and automated trading capabilities. The Free plan charges commissions from $0.39 per Micro contract per side, while the Lifetime plan reduces them to $0.09, excluding exchange and clearing fees.
NinjaTrader is particularly attractive to active futures traders seeking professional tools and competitive transaction costs. However, paid data subscriptions, account activity fees and potentially substantial futures leverage deserve attention before trading live.
Our verdict
The Tradelytic editorial assessment — independent of any commercial relationship.
NinjaTrader is a strong choice for active futures traders who value sophisticated charting, flexible order execution and competitive commissions. Its free simulated trading, $50 intraday margins on selected Micro contracts and advanced desktop tools make futures markets accessible to traders with different experience levels.
The main trade-offs involve costs and complexity. The lowest commissions require a $1,499 Lifetime purchase, while real-time market data, exchange fees and a potential $35 account activity charge add to expenses. NinjaTrader also focuses on futures rather than traditional stocks, spot forex or CFDs, and its advanced desktop interface has a learning curve.
Our take: NinjaTrader is especially appealing for dedicated futures day traders, scalpers and systematic traders. Beginners should use the simulator first and understand margin risk before committing real capital.
Pros & cons
The honest summary, weighed from our testing and trader feedback.
- CFTC-regulated futures brokerage with NFA membership
- No minimum deposit to open an account
- Micro futures commissions from $0.09 per side
- $50 intraday margins on selected Micro contracts
- Advanced charting, SuperDOM and automated trading tools
- Desktop, web and mobile trading access
- Free simulated trading and strategy backtesting
- Lowest commissions require a $1,499 Lifetime plan
- Exchange, clearing and market data fees add up
- $35 activity fee may apply to inactive Free-plan accounts
- Limited to futures rather than traditional stock or CFD trading
- Advanced desktop tools can overwhelm beginners
Who it's for
Here's how to tell if this broker is right for you.
- Actively trade Micro E-mini or standard futures contracts
- Want professional charting, order flow and SuperDOM tools
- Build, backtest or automate strategies using NinjaScript
- Prefer low intraday margins and transparent commission plans
- Want to practise futures trading in a free simulator
- Primarily trade spot forex, CFDs or individual shares
- Want real-time exchange data without additional charges
- Trade infrequently and want to avoid activity-related fees
- – Prefer a broker with no exposure to leveraged futures
Fees & platforms
What it costs to trade, and what you'll trade on.
NinjaTrader offers three pricing plans designed for different levels of futures trading activity. Commissions vary by contract size and subscription, while exchange, clearing and regulatory fees apply separately. Traders should also consider market data, withdrawal and account activity charges when calculating their total trading costs.
NinjaTrader Commissions & Pricing Plans
NinjaTrader offers three pricing plans tailored to different trading volumes and budgets.
- **Free Plan ($0/month):** Commissions start at $0.39 per Micro futures contract and $1.29 per standard futures contract, per side.
- **Monthly Plan ($99/month):** Reduced commissions of $0.29 per Micro contract and $0.99 per standard contract, per side.
- **Lifetime Plan ($1,499 one-time):** The lowest commissions, starting at $0.09 per Micro contract and $0.59 per standard contract, per side.
All plans have additional exchange, clearing and regulatory fees. The Free plan suits occasional traders, while Monthly and Lifetime can offer better value for active futures traders.
For example, a Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) round-trip trade costs approximately $1.88 on Free, $1.68 on Monthly and $1.28 on Lifetime, including standard transaction fees.
NinjaTrader Minimum Deposit & Margins
NinjaTrader has no minimum deposit requirement to open a brokerage account, although ACH and debit card transfers require at least $5. The amount needed to trade depends on the contract's margin requirement.
Popular Micro E-mini futures have intraday margins starting at $50, while selected standard E-mini contracts start at $500. These lower day-trading requirements allow traders to control larger positions with relatively little capital, but they also increase leverage-related risk.
Overnight and exchange initial margin requirements are considerably higher. NinjaTrader can change intraday margins during periods of market volatility, and accounts that fall below maintenance requirements may face liquidation.
NinjaTrader Inactivity & Market Data Fees
NinjaTrader charges a $35 minimum account activity fee on applicable Free-plan brokerage accounts that log in but do not place a live trade within a 30-day period. Legacy accounts may have different charges.
Eligible funded brokerage accounts receive complimentary Level I CME Group and Eurex market data. Other subscriptions may cost extra. For non-professional users, separately purchased CME Level I data costs $12 monthly for the four-exchange bundle, while Level II full-depth data costs $48.
Professional data subscribers face higher exchange fees. Traders should also consider third-party integrations and optional order-routing charges.
NinjaTrader Deposit & Withdrawal Fees
For US brokerage accounts, NinjaTrader offers free ACH deposits and withdrawals. Incoming bank wires are also free on the broker's side, although intermediary banks may charge separately.
Domestic US wire withdrawals cost $30, while international wire withdrawals are charged at 30 units of the originating currency. Currency conversions cost 1% of the converted amount, with a minimum charge of 10 currency units.
These costs are worth considering for international traders or anyone who withdraws frequently. Funding and withdrawal methods may differ by country and contracting entity.
NinjaTrader Futures Markets & Trading Costs
NinjaTrader provides access to more than 100 futures contracts across CME Group, Eurex, ICE and Coinbase Derivatives. Available markets include equity indices, energy, precious metals, currencies, interest rates, agricultural commodities and cryptocurrency futures.
Popular contracts include E-mini and Micro E-mini stock index futures, gold, crude oil and Bitcoin futures. Micro contracts allow smaller position sizes than their standard equivalents.
Unlike forex CFD brokers, NinjaTrader generally charges explicit futures commissions rather than embedding the broker's entire trading fee in a spread. Traders still face bid-ask spreads, exchange fees and potential slippage, especially during volatile or illiquid sessions.
NinjaTrader Trading Platforms & Tools
NinjaTrader offers three primary trading interfaces: Desktop, Web and Mobile.
NinjaTrader Desktop provides the most advanced functionality, including SuperDOM depth-of-market trading, multi-monitor charting, NinjaScript automation, custom indicators, Market Replay and historical backtesting.
The web platform offers browser-based charting and order management, while iOS and Android applications support trading and position monitoring on the move.
Free simulated trading allows users to practise strategies before funding a live account. The desktop platform also supports thousands of third-party tools and add-ons, making NinjaTrader particularly suitable for traders who want to customise their workflows.