NinjaTrader Review

Active futures traders seeking low commissions

CFTC NFA

Founded 2003 · United States · Kraken

Why investors choose this broker

Very low per-contract futures commissions on the lifetime license plan
No minimum deposit required to open an account
Advanced desktop platform with 100+ built-in indicators and NinjaScript C# automation
Free simulated trading (demo) account available

Review summary

NinjaTrader is a US futures brokerage and trading platform offering advanced charting, NinjaScript automation, and tiered pricing from a free plan to a lifetime license.

Pros

Very low per-contract futures commissions on the lifetime license plan
No minimum deposit required to open an account
Advanced desktop platform with 100+ built-in indicators and NinjaScript C# automation
Free simulated trading (demo) account available
Data syncs across desktop, web, and mobile
Large ecosystem of third-party add-ons and indicators
Monthly lease plan offers reduced commissions for a fixed monthly cost

Cons

Only futures traded directly - options on futures, stocks, ETFs, and crypto all require third-party broker connections
$35/month inactivity fee for funded accounts that log in but do not trade
Lifetime license requires a $1,499 upfront payment to unlock lowest commission tier
Full-featured desktop platform is Windows-only
Live market data subscriptions are required and carry additional monthly costs
Platform has a steep learning curve for new traders
Customer support response times reported as slow by some users

Company background

NinjaTrader was founded in 2003 by Raymond Deux and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company began as a trading technology developer before expanding into brokerage through acquisitions, including Mirus Futures in 2014 and Tradovate in 2021. NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC launched as a registered FCM in 2021. In May 2025, Kraken completed a $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader, with the platform continuing to operate under its own brand within the Kraken group.

NinjaTrader primarily serves self-directed retail futures traders in the United States. Direct trading covers futures contracts only; options on futures, forex, and other instruments are accessible through third-party brokerage connections configured within the platform.

Fees and pricing

NinjaTrader uses a tiered pricing model. The free plan charges $1.29 per side per standard or E-mini contract and $0.39 per micro contract, with exchange and NFA clearing fees included in the all-in rate. A monthly lease at $99 per month reduces rates to $0.99 and $0.29 per contract. The lifetime license at $1,499 one-time locks in rates of $0.59 per standard contract and $0.09 per micro contract.

There is no minimum deposit and no account opening fee. ACH withdrawals are free; domestic wire transfers cost $30. An inactivity fee of $35 per month applies to funded accounts that log in but place no live round-trip trades within a 30-day period. Live market data subscriptions are purchased separately and vary by exchange.

Regulation and safety

NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC is registered as a futures commission merchant (FCM) with the CFTC and is a member of the NFA. As a registered FCM, NinjaTrader Clearing is required to hold client funds in segregated accounts at approved depositories, separate from the firm's own capital. NinjaTrader is not a securities broker-dealer and does not carry SIPC or FDIC protections for trading funds.

Platform experience

NinjaTrader offers a Windows desktop application with advanced charting, over 100 built-in technical indicators, NinjaScript C# strategy automation, and access to thousands of third-party add-ons. The NinjaTrader Web platform runs in a browser without installation. iOS and Android mobile apps provide quotes, charts, and order entry, with data syncing across all surfaces. A free simulated trading account is included with registration, using live market data for practice without funding.

Pros and cons

NinjaTrader's main advantages are very low futures commissions on the lifetime license plan, no minimum deposit, a powerful and customisable desktop platform, NinjaScript automation, and a large third-party add-on ecosystem. The main drawbacks are the platform's narrow direct product scope limited to futures only, a $35/month inactivity fee, the $1,499 upfront cost for the best commission tier, Windows-only full desktop access, and mandatory paid data subscriptions.

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Trading fees & commissions

NinjaTrader offers three pricing tiers: a free plan with commissions from $1.29 per standard contract and $0.39 per micro contract, a monthly lease at $99/month with lower per-contract rates, and a one-time lifetime license at $1,499 with rates as low as $0.59 and $0.09 per contract respectively.

Fees

Item	Fee
Account	No minimum deposit required; no account opening fee
Deposit	ACH: Free; wire transfer deposits may carry bank fees
Futures	Free plan: $1.29 per contract (standard/E-mini), $0.39 per contract (micro); Monthly lease ($99/mo): $0.99/$0.29 per contract; Lifetime license ($1,499): $0.59/$0.09 per contract - all rates are all-in per side
Inactivity	$35 per month if the account is logged into but no round-trip trades are placed in a 30-day period
Withdrawal	ACH: Free; domestic wire transfer: $30

Trading platform & features

Platforms

NinjaTrader Desktop
NinjaTrader Web
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

NinjaTrader operates through NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC, a registered futures commission merchant (FCM) with the CFTC and a member of the NFA. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at approved depositories as required by CFTC regulations.

Broker FAQs

Is NinjaTrader safe?

NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC is a CFTC-registered futures commission merchant (FCM) and NFA member. As a registered FCM, it is required to hold client funds in segregated accounts at approved depositories, separate from the firm's own capital.

Is NinjaTrader a scam?

No. NinjaTrader operates through NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA member that has been providing retail futures brokerage services since 2014 and was acquired by Kraken in May 2025.

Is NinjaTrader regulated and by whom?

Yes. NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC is registered as a futures commission merchant with the CFTC and is a member of the NFA.

Does NinjaTrader keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. As a CFTC-registered FCM, NinjaTrader Clearing is required by regulation to hold client funds in segregated accounts at approved depositories, separate from the firm's own money.

What happens to my money if NinjaTrader goes bankrupt?

NinjaTrader Clearing is a registered FCM subject to CFTC segregation requirements. Client funds are held separately from firm capital at approved depositories. NinjaTrader is not a securities broker and does not carry SIPC protection for trading funds.

What products does NinjaTrader offer?

NinjaTrader Brokerage directly supports futures trading (standard, E-mini, micro, and nano contracts). Forex, options on futures, and other instruments can be accessed through supported third-party brokerage connections. A free simulated trading account is also available.

Does NinjaTrader offer futures trading?

Yes. Futures is NinjaTrader's core product, with access to E-mini, micro, and standard contracts across indices, energy, metals, agriculture, and interest rate markets.

Does NinjaTrader offer options trading?

NinjaTrader Brokerage does not directly support options on futures through its own clearing. Options on futures can be accessed by connecting the NinjaTrader platform to a supported third-party broker such as Interactive Brokers, which requires the Multi-Broker Add-on.

Does NinjaTrader offer forex trading?

NinjaTrader does not directly clear forex trades. Forex can be accessed through third-party brokerage connections configured within the NinjaTrader platform.

Does NinjaTrader offer a demo account?

Yes. NinjaTrader provides a free simulated trading account that uses live market data, available to all registered users without any deposit.

What does NinjaTrader charge for futures trades?

On the free plan, commissions are $1.29 per side per standard contract and $0.39 per side per micro contract (all-in). The monthly lease ($99/month) reduces these to $0.99 and $0.29. The lifetime license ($1,499 one-time) brings rates down to $0.59 and $0.09 per contract.

Is there a withdrawal fee at NinjaTrader?

ACH withdrawals to US bank accounts are free. Domestic wire transfer withdrawals cost $30.

Does NinjaTrader charge an inactivity fee?

Yes. A fee of $35 per month applies to funded accounts that log into the platform but do not place any live round-trip trades within a 30-day period. A 2-month grace period applies after first funding.

Does NinjaTrader have a mobile app?

Yes. NinjaTrader provides iOS and Android apps with quotes, charts, and order entry. Account data syncs across the desktop, web, and mobile platforms.

Is NinjaTrader good for beginners?

NinjaTrader is generally better suited to intermediate and experienced futures traders. The platform has a steep learning curve, the full desktop version is Windows-only, and live market data subscriptions add extra costs. A free simulated account is available for those learning the platform.

Is NinjaTrader good for long-term investing?

NinjaTrader is focused on active futures trading rather than long-term investing. It does not offer stocks, ETFs, or bond products directly, and charges a monthly inactivity fee for accounts that log in but do not trade.

Bottom line

NinjaTrader suits users who actively trade futures and want very low per-contract commissions, advanced charting, NinjaScript automation, and a large add-on ecosystem on a Windows desktop platform. It may not suit users who want to trade stocks, ETFs, or crypto directly, prefer a platform with no inactivity fee, or are looking for a beginner-friendly environment.

NinjaTrader

Active futures traders seeking low commissions

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.