NinjaTrader
ninjatrader.com
Futures broker and platform whose desktop charts, backtesting and simulator are free, with order-flow tools, market replay and thousands of add-ons.
What it is
NinjaTrader is two things under one name: trading software (desktop for Windows, plus web and mobile apps) and a US futures brokerage, NinjaTrader Clearing, which is regulated by the CFTC and a member of the NFA. The company is now owned by Payward, the parent of Kraken. The software is free to use without a funded account for charting, strategy backtesting and simulated trading, with no time limit.
For chart work, the desktop platform offers hundreds of indicators, more than ten chart styles, tick-based bars, Chart Trader for placing orders from the chart, Level II, time and sales, and a scripting language (NinjaScript) for custom indicators and automated strategies. A large third-party ecosystem sells or shares add-ons. Order Flow+ (volumetric bars, volume profile, cumulative delta) and Market Replay, which plays back historical data tick by tick, are unlocked once a live account is funded.
The paid choice is about commissions, not software. The Free plan has no monthly fee and charges $0.39 per side on micro contracts and $1.29 on standard ones; the $99 Monthly plan and $1,499 one-time Lifetime plan lower those rates. Exchange, clearing and NFA fees come on top, and real-time exchange data is a separate subscription after a 14-day free trial. If you want to use the desktop platform with another broker such as Interactive Brokers, the multi-broker add-on is $99 a month.
Key features
- Charting
- Hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart styles, including tick charts, with Chart Trader for placing and managing orders directly on the chart.
- Order Flow+
- Volumetric bars, volume profile, order flow VWAP and cumulative delta to show buying and selling pressure; unlocked with a funded account.
- Market Replay
- Replays recorded market data tick by tick so you can practise or test ideas on past sessions; requires a funded account.
- Simulator and backtesting
- Free simulated trading and strategy backtesting without funding or a time limit.
- NinjaScript and add-ons
- A C#-based scripting language for custom indicators and automated strategies, plus thousands of third-party apps and add-ons.
- Multi-device platforms
- NinjaTrader Desktop, a web platform and mobile apps share one account; the desktop version offers the deepest customization.
- Other data and brokers
- The desktop platform can connect to providers such as Kinetick, IQFeed, eSignal, Interactive Brokers and FOREX.com via a $99/mo multi-broker add-on.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | No monthly fee; $0.39 per side micro and e-Nano, $1.29 per side standard contracts |
| Monthly | $99/mo | $0.29 per side micro and e-Nano, $0.99 per side standard contracts |
| Lifetime | $1,499 one-time | $0.09 per side micro and e-Nano, $0.59 per side standard; includes Order Flow+ |
Commissions are per side, so a round trip costs double. Exchange, clearing and NFA fees and real-time market data subscriptions are extra. Plan benefits activate only on a funded live account (any amount above $0). The multi-broker desktop add-on is $99/mo.
Free option: Charting, backtesting and simulated trading are free with no time limit and no funding; a new account includes a 14-day trial of live futures data.
Checked September 25, 2026 on ninjatrader.com. Prices change; confirm on the provider's site before you subscribe.
Strengths
- Charting, backtesting and simulation are free indefinitely
- Deep order-flow tools and tick-by-tick market replay for futures
- Large third-party add-on ecosystem and NinjaScript for custom indicators and automation
- Low intraday margins, from $50 on micro index futures
- Desktop, web and mobile platforms on one account
Limitations
- Real-time data, Order Flow+ and Market Replay need a funded NinjaTrader brokerage account
- Built around futures; stocks, options and forex on the desktop platform require a third-party broker or data connection
- Using the desktop platform with another broker costs $99/mo for the multi-broker add-on
- Exchange, clearing, NFA and data fees are charged on top of the commission rates
- The most customizable version, NinjaTrader Desktop, runs only on Windows PCs; Mac users get the web platform
Good fit for
- Futures day traders who read order flow
- Traders who want to practise on a simulator or replay before going live
- Traders who build or buy custom indicators and automated strategies
Look elsewhere if
- Stock and options traders, who will find broader tools at an equities broker
- Traders who want browser-only charting with social ideas and many asset classes
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NinjaTrader questions
Is NinjaTrader free?
Yes for charting, backtesting and simulated trading, with no time limit. Live trading on the Free plan has no monthly fee but pays commissions, exchange fees and market data costs.
What are NinjaTrader's commissions?
Per side: $0.39 micro and $1.29 standard on Free, $0.29 and $0.99 on the $99 Monthly plan, and $0.09 and $0.59 on the $1,499 Lifetime plan. Exchange, clearing and NFA fees are extra.
Can NinjaTrader trade stocks?
NinjaTrader's own brokerage is for futures, including CME single stock futures. The desktop platform can trade stocks, options and forex only through a supported third-party broker connection.
Does NinjaTrader run on Mac?
NinjaTrader supports PC, Mac and mobile through its web and mobile platforms; the full NinjaTrader Desktop application is Windows software.
Who owns NinjaTrader?
NinjaTrader Group is owned by Payward, Inc., the parent company of the Kraken exchange.
Written from NinjaTrader's own website and documentation. All Trading Tools lists and compares tools; it does not recommend trades or give financial advice. Sources: ninjatrader.com, ninjatrader.com/pricing, ninjatrader.com/trading-platform/free-trading-charts, ninjatrader.com/trading-platform/customize/market-data-brokerage-options, ninjatrader.com/platform, ninjatrader.com/trading-platform/ninjascript-tutorial.