Is NinjaTrader a Good Broker?
Yes, NinjaTrader is a good broker for futures traders. It offers low-cost commission plans, no minimum deposit and a free platform for charting and simulated trading. It is the wrong choice if you want stocks, forex or options in the same account, because its own brokerage does not offer them.
In order to be successful, traders depend heavily on the reliability of their brokers. NinjaTrader Brokerage is a U.S.-based futures broker, and its affiliate NinjaTrader, LLC builds the NinjaTrader trading platform. Its brokerage accounts give retail clients access to futures on CME Group, Eurex, ICE and Coinbase Derivatives, including micro, crypto and single stock futures. NinjaTrader brokerage accounts can also trade event contracts, but only in a dedicated mobile experience through Tradovate.
Stocks, forex and CFDs are available only through supported third-party brokers on NinjaTrader Desktop, and trading through one requires NinjaTrader’s Multiple Broker add-on. NinjaTrader also says options trading is not currently supported on live NinjaTrader brokerage accounts. Our guide Can You Trade Stocks on NinjaTrader? explains the third-party route.
There are several areas to consider when determining if brokers and their services are high quality. Here are some of the attributes new and experienced traders should evaluate when considering a new brokerage.
- Excellent user-friendly web-based and mobile trading platform
- Low fees compared to other brokerages
- Excellent customer service with knowledgeable representatives
- Training and educational tools that fit the needs of traders of different levels
- Lower minimum deposit to open an account
- Simple account opening process
- Registration with the right regulators (for U.S. futures, the CFTC and the NFA)
Ratings for NinjaTrader
Regulation and ownership: NinjaTrader’s U.S. brokerage accounts are held and cleared by NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC, a futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA ID 0309379). You can check any firm’s registration in the NFA’s BASIC database. NinjaTrader has been part of Payward, the parent company of the Kraken crypto exchange, since Kraken completed its purchase of NinjaTrader on May 1, 2025.
NinjaTrader platform: NinjaTrader comes in three versions: NinjaTrader Desktop for Windows, NinjaTrader Web in a browser, and a mobile app for iOS and Android. There is a slight learning curve for newbies, but traders will be pleased with the ability to make trades directly from the chart. Traders can customize the tools and options to fit their needs. Every plan also lets you add third-party tools, custom indicators and automated trading strategies from NinjaTrader’s community of traders.
What you pay depends on which NinjaTrader plan you choose. All three plans include the Desktop, Web and Mobile platforms and free simulated trading:
- The Free plan has no monthly fee. Advanced charting, strategy backtesting and simulated trading are free with no time limit and no funding required. NinjaTrader says ATM Strategies, which place automatic protective stop loss and profit target orders, are available with a free NinjaTrader account. You can also trade live futures at the plan’s higher commission rates.
- The Monthly plan charges a monthly fee in exchange for reduced commissions.
- The Lifetime plan is a one-time fee, also offered in four monthly installments, that unlocks NinjaTrader’s lowest commission rates for the life of the account.
Adding funds to a live account on any of the current plans unlocks real-time market data, including free Level I (top-of-book) CME Group and Eurex data, plus Market Replay and Order Flow+. Accounts opened before June 20, 2025 stay on older pricing until the owner opts into a current plan. Order Flow+ features can help you pinpoint buying and selling pressure to verify which direction the market is moving. Current prices and commissions are on NinjaTrader’s pricing page.
Opening an account: You apply for a NinjaTrader brokerage account online from the NinjaTrader Account Dashboard. Some applications are approved automatically, though NinjaTrader may ask for extra documents or ID verification first. Individual, joint, IRA and business accounts are available. NinjaTrader does not require a minimum deposit to open an account, which makes it an easy starting point for newer traders. ACH and debit card transfers do have a $5 minimum. You still need enough money in the account to cover the margin on every contract you trade, as our guide to the NinjaTrader minimum deposit explains.
Trading fees: NinjaTrader advertises low-cost futures commissions, charged per contract and per side, and the paid plans lower the rate further. Exchange, clearing and NFA fees are added on top. Watch the account fees too: ACH withdrawals are free, but wire withdrawals carry a fee, and Free plan accounts that log in without placing a live trade every 30 days are charged a minimum activity (inactivity) fee. NinjaTrader lists its account, withdrawal and market data fees on its account fees page.
Education and training materials: NinjaTrader provides excellent training materials and resources, including platform training videos and daily livestreams. New users can practice in a free simulated account with no time limit, and a new account includes a free 14-day trial of live market data, all before trading live.
Customer support: NinjaTrader lists 24×5 technical support and a 24-hour emergency trade desk on every plan, and its website gives a phone number for each. You can also search its online help center or use its chat assistant, which can pass you to a support agent.
Awards: NinjaTrader says BrokerChooser named it the Best Futures Broker for 2025 and 2026. NinjaTrader discloses a paid marketing relationship with BrokerChooser and says it paid no application fee for the rating, so weigh that rating alongside your own test drive in a simulated account.
NinjaTrader has invested heavily in making sure that beginners and experienced futures traders have the tools they need. Its platforms are modern, and NinjaTrader Web runs in a browser and is easy to pick up for someone just starting. With no minimum deposit and a free plan, NinjaTrader is a strong choice for new and experienced futures traders. If you mainly want stocks, ETFs or options, a stock broker will suit you better. Once you have downloaded the NinjaTrader platform, come back to Affordable Indicators for our range of high-quality NinjaTrader indicators.