NinjaTrader Review: Ninja-Fast Futures Trading at a Low Cost
Review
Updated
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NinjaTrader is one of the most popular brokers for futures trading, with robust desktop and web platforms that you can customize to fit your needs. It's also an affordable place to invest, with lower fees and margin requirements than many of its competitors. Keep reading our in-depth NinjaTrader review to learn how it works and its pros and cons.
On NinjaTrader's Secure Website.
A leading futures broker with all the tools you need for technical analysis, charting price movements, and placing trades. Since it's only designed for futures trading, you'll need to use a different broker for any other types of investments.
Commission fees vary based on plan chosen. Plans range from a $0 monthly fee, to $99 per month, to a one-time payment of $1,499.
$0
Fund an account and get up to $250*
On NinjaTrader's Secure Website.
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.
| Broker | Best For | Commissions | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Managing your finances under one roof | $0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴ |
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Low mutual fund fees. | $0 per trade |
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options |
Learn More for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website. |
Here's a more detailed look at NinjaTrader and what it has to offer.
NinjaTrader is a futures brokerage. Unlike other popular stock brokers, it's built exclusively for buying and selling futures contracts.
It offers multiple trading platforms, including for desktop, web, and mobile, and you can trade futures with any of them. The most useful is NinjaTrader Desktop, which allows you to personalize your trading platform. You can install third-party indicators and apps designed for use with NinjaTrader and build automated trading strategies.
One of the main reasons to use NinjaTrader is the trading platform. It's fast, which is especially important with futures, which involve active trading and investing with leverage. It has useful charting tools for technical analysis, thousands of apps and add-ons, and it's fully customizable to fit your needs. For advanced futures traders looking for a platform that has it all, NinjaTrader is an excellent choice.
SEE MORE: Best Futures Trading Platforms
NinjaTrader's commissions are lower than what most brokers charge on futures contracts, although they do vary based on the pricing plan you choose. A lifetime plan requires a one-time payment of $1,499, but it gets you the lowest commissions NinjaTrader offers: $0.09 per side on micro contracts and $0.59 on standard contracts. Commissions are higher, but still reasonable, with NinjaTrader's $99-per-month and free plans.
If you're looking for an affordable place to start futures trading, NinjaTrader doesn't have any minimum deposit requirements. It also has lower margins than many futures brokers, starting at just $50 for intraday margins on micro contracts.
You can only trade futures contracts with NinjaTrader. It's not a typical stock broker where you can buy and sell individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other types of investments. Although it's an excellent futures broker, it's more limited than many competitors. There are plenty of brokers that offer futures trading and stock trading.
Both NinjaTrader and futures trading aren't recommended if you're an inexperienced investor. The NinjaTrader platform is designed with advanced users in mind and has a considerable learning curve. Because futures trading involves leverage, it's much riskier than your everyday stock investing. There's greater profit potential, which is why people do it. But you can also lose more money, and you can lose it quickly if you're not careful.
While NinjaTrader offers a mobile trading platform, it has mixed reviews in Google Play and the App Store. Users have complained about a clunky, frustrating user interface, as well as having difficulty placing trades and reviewing charts. You may be better off sticking with the web and desktop platforms, which get much higher marks from investors.
NinjaTrader offers three plans: A free plan, a plan with a monthly fee, and a lifetime plan with a one-time fee. The commissions you pay depend on the plan you choose. Here's NinjaTrader's fee and commission structure with each plan:
| Plan | Fixed Fee | Commissions Per Side (Micro) | Commissions Per Side (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0.35 | $1.29 |
| Monthly | $99 per month | $0.25 | $0.99 |
| Lifetime | $1,499 one-time payment | $0.09 | $0.59 |
NinjaTrader doesn't offer mutual funds or ETFs. You'll need another broker for those. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available.
RELATED: Best Brokers for Mutual Funds
NinjaTrader doesn't charge any fees to deposit money. ACH deposits, incoming checks, and income wire transfers are all free. There is a $30 bounced check fee.
ACH withdrawals are also free. Withdrawals made by domestic wire transfer have a $30 fee, and international wire transfers have a fee of 30 units in the originating currency.
There are also a few more fees on NinjaTrader you should know about:
There are three versions of the NinjaTrader trading platform available:
NinjaTrader's margins vary based on the type of contract and the market. It has $50 intraday margins for micro contracts and $500 margins for many popular futures markets. In markets with less liquidity and more volatility, such as crude oil, NinjaTrader has $1,000 margins.
Here are NinjaTrader's margins for some of its most popular contracts:
| $50 Margins | $500 Margins | $1,000 Margins |
|---|---|---|
| Micro E-mini Dow | E-mini Dow | Crude oil |
| Micro E-mini Russell 2000 | E-mini Russell 2000 | Gold |
| Micro E-mini S&P | E-mini S&P | Natural gas |
NinjaTrader has robust research offerings, although it's worth mentioning that these are all focused on futures trading. Specifically, it has educational resources on the following topics:
One of the more useful offerings on NinjaTrader is its livestreams. It has livestreams before the markets open and close every weekday with commentary, analysis, and trading opportunities. Some livestreams also include futures trading in real time, so you can see how other investors prepare and analyze the market.
At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and account types; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and highly rated mobile apps. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.
See our full methodology here: Ratings Methodology
NinjaTrader has a free plan available where you pay as you trade. Commissions are higher on this plan than with its monthly and lifetime plans.
NinjaTrader isn't the best option for beginners. It has an advanced platform and only offers futures contracts, which carry much more risk than investing in stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.
There's no account minimum or deposit minimum with NinjaTrader. Margin requirements vary depending on the market, starting at $50 for intraday margin on micro contracts.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
J.P Morgan Disclosure
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Disclosure:
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
Value Prop Disclosures
Promotion Disclosures
NinjaTrader special offer disclosure
*Offer valid for a limited time only. Commission rebate will be applied to the account holder’s balance for trades placed within 30 days of fund date. Rebate will be based on trades linked to this promotion only, not any other funded account. Existing clients and inactive account holders are exempt and not eligible. Offer not combinable with other offers. Traders will receive a rebate for commissions up to $250. If applicable, a rebate will be applied by the middle of the
following month. Available for individual accounts only. Joint, IRA and professional accounts are not eligible for this offer. Credits may be subject to US withholding taxes & any associated taxes are the customer’s responsibility. Offer end date and program requirements are subject to change without notice.
Exchange, clearing fee and NFA fees still apply.
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC. Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.
Investing is risky. Bonus offers subject to terms and conditions, visit robinhood.com/hoodweek for more information. Margin is not suitable for all investors. Robinhood Gold is offered through Robinhood Gold LLC and is a subscription offering services for a fee. Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker dealer.
