NinjaTrader
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