Getting Started with NinjaTrader
New to NinjaTrader? Start here. Our tools are add-ons that run inside NinjaTrader — a free, professional futures platform. Get the platform first (free), then add our tools on top. This page walks you through the whole thing.
⏱️ About 15 minutes · No payment needed to get NinjaTrader running
Where are you starting from?
Download & install NinjaTrader (free)
NinjaTrader is free for charting, backtesting, and unlimited simulated (paper) trading — you only fund an account if and when you want to trade live.
- Create a free NinjaTrader account, then download NinjaTrader Desktop (Windows).
- Our NinjaTrader Download guide has the links and what’s included — most traders are up and running with live data in under 10 minutes.
On a Mac?
NinjaTrader Desktop is Windows-based. Mac traders run it through Boot Camp, Parallels, or a Windows VPS — see How to Run NinjaTrader on a Mac. Also worth reading: avoiding OneDrive issues, the most common Windows-side gotcha.
Get comfortable in simulation
OptionalNew to the platform? Take 10 minutes here
Connect to NinjaTrader’s free simulated data, open your first chart, and click around — charts, the SuperDOM, and the Sim101 account cost nothing to explore. A great way to get oriented is our guide to the best free NinjaTrader add-ons to try first. Already bought your tool? Skip straight to Step 3.
Purchase your tool & find your Machine ID
Pick your tool from the product catalog — every license is a lifetime license with free updates. Then grab your Machine ID:
- In NinjaTrader, open Control Center → Help → About…
- Your Machine ID is shown in the window that appears — hexadecimal (numbers and letters A–F), no hyphens.
Why this matters: your license is tied to your Machine ID — it’s how our software knows it’s allowed to run on your computer. Full details in the Machine ID guide.
Register your Machine ID
- Log in and go to Members Area → NinjaTrader Machine IDs.
- Paste your Machine ID and click SAVE CHANGES — the licensing database updates near-instantly.
- Use the Notes field to label each computer (“Home Desktop”, “Laptop”) so future-you knows which is which.
One license covers one machine at a time. Need to run on more computers? Additional Machine ID licenses are available — just ask us in chat.
Download your product file
- Go to Members Area → Downloads and download your product’s .zip file (a NinjaScript archive).
- Don’t unzip it — NinjaTrader imports the .zip file directly.
Import the add-on
- In NinjaTrader: Control Center → Tools → Import → NinjaScript Add-On…
- Select the downloaded .zip → click Open.
- Restart NinjaTrader. (Yes, really — changes take effect on restart.)
Something went wrong?
“Import failed… duplicate method names” or the old version won’t go away: remove the old file first — Control Center → Tools → Remove NinjaScript Assembly, select the assembly, click Remove, then Yes — and import the new .zip again.
Manual import (almost always resolves import errors): double-click the downloaded .zip, drag the .cs and .dll files onto your desktop, then move them into Documents → NinjaTrader 8 → bin → Custom (choose Yes to overwrite; don’t put them in a sub-folder). Restart NinjaTrader — no re-import needed.
Full walkthrough with screenshots: How to Resolve NinjaScript Errors. Import steps are also covered in the Install Indicators guide.
Add your tool to a chart & verify it’s running
Where your tool lives depends on what it is:
- Indicators — right-click a chart → Indicators → find it in the list and add it.
- Chart traders, dashboards, and copiers — these open as their own windows or chart panels; each product page links its own setup guide with the exact location.
License error when the tool loads?
First, re-check Step 4 — the Machine ID (not License ID) must be registered on your account. Then make sure the email address tied to your Affordable Indicators account is entered in the tool’s settings: right-click the chart → Indicators → scroll to the bottom of the properties → under License, enter your email → OK. If a chart looks off after that, right-click it and choose Reload NinjaScript.
Still stuck? We’re quick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need NinjaTrader to use Affordable Indicators tools?
Yes. Our products are add-ons that run inside NinjaTrader Desktop — not standalone apps. NinjaTrader itself is free to download and use for charting, backtesting, and simulated trading.
Is NinjaTrader free?
The desktop platform is free for charting, backtesting, and unlimited simulated trading. You only fund a brokerage account when you want to trade live. Download it free here.
Does NinjaTrader run on Mac?
NinjaTrader Desktop is Windows-based. Mac traders run it via Boot Camp, Parallels, or a Windows VPS — current options in our Mac guide.
What is a Machine ID and where do I find it?
It’s the identifier NinjaTrader generates for your computer, and it’s what your license is tied to. Find it in Control Center → Help → About… — and note it’s the Machine ID, not the License ID. More in the Machine ID guide.
My Machine ID changed and my license stopped working.
Machine IDs are generated from your computer’s core hardware and software (RAM, motherboard, BIOS/UEFI, Windows updates, firmware), so changes there can generate a new ID. Just log in and re-register the new ID at Members Area → NinjaTrader Machine IDs — it takes a minute.
How do I update to the latest version of my tool?
Download the newest .zip from Members Area → Downloads, re-import it (Control Center → Tools → Import → NinjaScript Add-On…), and restart NinjaTrader. Your windows and settings are preserved.
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NinjaTrader® is a registered trademark of NinjaTrader Group, LLC. Affordable Indicators, Inc. builds add-ons for the NinjaTrader platform as part of the NinjaTrader Ecosystem and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NinjaTrader Group, LLC.