The Complete Guide

NinjaTrader: The Complete Guide

What NinjaTrader is, how to get it for free, and how to set it up with the right tools — every guide, download, and answer in one place.

⚙️

Affordable Indicators tools are add-ons that run inside NinjaTrader — a free, professional futures trading platform. You install NinjaTrader first (free), then add our tools on top. New to NinjaTrader? Start with the step-by-step guide →

What is NinjaTrader?

NinjaTrader is a brokerage and software services company with over 800,000 trading platform users and thousands of trading software add-ons. One of its biggest advantages is the ability to customize indicators and strategies — unmatched in the industry. NinjaTrader attracts professionals from all over the world and offers NinjaTrader Desktop, NinjaTrader Web, and the NinjaTrader mobile app.

NinjaTrader Desktop is free for charting, backtesting, and unlimited simulated trading — you only fund an account when you’re ready to trade live. That free platform is also where third-party add-ons like ours run.

🖥️ NinjaTrader Desktop

Customizable like no other platform in the world, powered by Microsoft C#. NinjaTrader 8 — now called NinjaTrader Desktop — keeps gaining new features and remains one of the premiere platforms for futures trading. Windows-based, and the home of every NinjaScript add-on.

🌐 NinjaTrader Web

Trade from any browser — Chrome, Safari, and more. Workspace configurations are stored in the cloud for instant access from anywhere. Added in 2023 after NinjaTrader acquired Tradovate.

📱 NinjaTrader Mobile

Apple and Android apps with real-time market data, customizable charts, and on-the-go order management. Advanced order types keep you connected wherever you are.

Get set up, step by step

Whether you’ve never opened NinjaTrader or you’re re-licensing a new machine, these guides cover the whole path — download, NinjaTrader Machine ID, importing add-ons, and your first chart.

⭐ Getting Started with NinjaTrader

The front door: download the free platform, register your NinjaTrader Machine ID, and import your tools — about 15 minutes end to end.

Start here →

⬇️ Download NinjaTrader (Free)

Get NinjaTrader Desktop with live data configured in as little as 10 minutes — charting, backtesting, and sim trading included, no payment required.

Download guide →

📦 Install Indicators & Add-Ons

Import any NinjaScript add-on in about two minutes — plus the fixes for every common import error.

Install guide →

🔑 NinjaTrader Machine ID

Find your NinjaTrader Machine ID, register it for your license, and understand why it sometimes changes.

NinjaTrader Machine ID guide →

❓ NinjaTrader FAQ

Quick answers to the questions we hear most about the platform, data, licensing, and our tools.

Read the FAQ →

🔧 Resolve NinjaScript Errors

Our free troubleshooting guide for import failures, compile errors, and the manual-import fallback.

Fix errors →

Learn NinjaTrader

Deep-dive guides for actually using the platform day to day:

🎓 How to Use NinjaTrader

The learning hub: get oriented, practice in simulation, place orders, and manage risk.

Start learning →

📈 Chart Setup & Workspaces

Open your first chart, pick the right chart type, add indicators, and save your layout.

Set up charts →

📡 Data Feeds & Connections

How market data works, connecting Rithmic / Tradovate / prop-firm accounts, and fixing feed issues.

Connect data →

🧭 The Indicators Guide

What NinjaTrader indicators are, the four categories that matter, and how to choose yours.

Read the guide →

More guides & tutorials

Is NinjaTrader Good for Beginners? Hotkeys & Shortcuts: Productivity Guide How to Simulate Trades (Paper Trading) How to Use the Chart Trader NinjaTrader Web vs Desktop How to Run NinjaTrader on a Mac Minimum Deposit to Trade Live Best Free NinjaTrader Add-Ons

Compare NinjaTrader

NinjaTrader vs TradingView NinjaTrader vs Tradovate NinjaTrader vs ThinkorSwim NinjaTrader vs Tastytrade NinjaTrader vs TradeStation NinjaTrader Review

Popular NinjaTrader Add-Ons

Once NinjaTrader is running, these are the add-ons our 8,000+ customers reach for first — every one a lifetime license with free updates and live chat support.

Trade Copier →Mirror trades across every prop-firm account Enhanced Chart Trader →One-click order tools on your chart Impact Order Flow →See real buying & selling pressure

Browse all NinjaTrader software →

Get help

For questions about our add-ons, use the live chat button in the corner or the Help Center — and for hands-on platform training there’s Premium NinjaTrader Support (paid one-on-one sessions). For platform-level support (accounts, data feeds, billing), reach NinjaTrader directly at ninjatrader.com or +1 312-262-1289. Need custom NinjaScript work instead? See NinjaTrader Programming.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NinjaTrader?

NinjaTrader is a futures brokerage and trading-platform company with over 800,000 platform users. Its Windows platform, NinjaTrader Desktop, is famous for deep customization: traders can add third-party indicators, strategies, and tools (called NinjaScript add-ons) on top of the free platform.

Is NinjaTrader free?

Yes — NinjaTrader Desktop is free for charting, backtesting, and unlimited simulated trading. You only need to fund a brokerage account when you want to trade with real money. Download it here.

Do Affordable Indicators tools require NinjaTrader?

Yes. Every Affordable Indicators product is an add-on that runs inside NinjaTrader Desktop — they are not standalone apps. Setup is always: (1) get NinjaTrader free, (2) add our tools on top. The Getting Started guide walks through both.

Does NinjaTrader work on Mac?

NinjaTrader Desktop is Windows-based. Mac traders typically run it in a Windows environment (Boot Camp, Parallels, or a Windows VPS) — see our Mac guide for current options.

Buy with Confidence·🛡️ 8,000+ customers·⭐ 4.8 Trustpilot·🏆 18 years programming experience

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.