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NinjaTrader review summary
NinjaTrader Overview – Platform, Regulation and Broker Integrations
NinjaTrader is a U.S.-based technology firm established in 2003, best known for offering a robust trading platform equipped with sophisticated charting and analytical tools.
Beyond developing its software, NinjaTrader is registered with the National Futures Association (NFA) and operates as an introducing broker. In this structure, client funds and assets are held with partner brokerage firms — such as Phillip Capital and Dorman Trading — while NinjaTrader delivers the trading platform, pricing framework, and customer support. In other words, the custodian broker safeguards the capital, and NinjaTrader powers the trading experience.
For evaluation purposes, the platform and brokerage services were reviewed through an account opened with Phillip Capital. Phillip Capital operates globally and is supervised by respected regulators, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the United States and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom.
Additionally, traders can link external brokerage accounts to the NinjaTrader platform. Supported integrations include Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, Oanda, Forex.com, FXCM, and City Index. Connecting these accounts allows users to trade additional asset classes — including equities — while still benefiting from NinjaTrader’s advanced interface.
Recommended for active traders focusing on futures
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Best online broker
We selected NinjaTrader as Best broker for futures for 2022, based on an in-depth analysis of 100+ online brokers that included testing their live accounts. Check out the complete list of winners.
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NinjaTrader pros and cons
NinjaTrader has low trading fees, the futures fees are one of the lowest among its competitors. The desktop platform and research tools are great and suitable for experienced traders. You can use quality educational material to get you started.
On the negative side, NinjaTrader’s withdrawal and inactivity fees are high. There is no mobile trading platform and the desktop platform is available only on Windows. The product portfolio covers only futures and options on futures, unless you connect an external brokerage account, such as an account with Interactive Brokers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High withdrawal fee |
| • Great platform and research | • No mobile app and desktop is only on Windows |
| • Quality educational materials | • Only futures and options on futures |
Compare to other brokers
Saxo Bank main features and highlights
 Country of regulation |
USA, Ireland, UK, Hungary, India, Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore |
 Trading fees class |
Low |
| Inactivity fee charged |
No |
| Withdrawal fee amount |
$0 |
| Minimum deposit |
$0 |
 Time to open an account |
1-3 days |
 Deposit with bank card |
Not available |
 Depositing with electronic wallet |
Not available |
 Number of base currencies supported |
23 |
 Demo account provided |
Yes |
 Products offered |
Stock, ETF, Forex, Fund, Bond, Options, Futures, CFD, Crypto, Warrants, Structured Products |
| Country of regulation |
USA, Ireland, UK, Hungary, India, Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore |
| Trading fees class |
Low |
| Inactivity fee charged |
No |
| Withdrawal fee amount |
$0 |
| Minimum deposit |
$0 |
| Time to open an account |
1-3 days |
| Deposit with bank card |
Not available |
| Depositing with electronic wallet |
Not available |
| Number of base currencies supported |
23 |
| Demo account provided |
Yes |
| Products offered |
Stock, ETF, Forex, Fund, Bond, Options, Futures, CFD, Crypto, Warrants, Structured Products |
Our overall Interactive Brokers rating
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NinjaTrader review
Fees
NinjaTrader has low trading fees for futures and options on futures. The fee structure is transparent. On the negative side, there is a high withdrawal fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High withdrawal fee |
| • Transparent fee structure | |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
How We Evaluated NinjaTrader’s Fees
We classified NinjaTrader’s pricing as low, average, or high by comparing it against all other brokers included in our analysis.
Before diving into the numbers, it’s helpful to understand the two main categories of brokerage costs:
Trading Fees
These are charges directly linked to placing trades. They typically include:
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Commissions
-
Spreads
-
Financing (margin) rates
-
Currency conversion fees
Non-Trading Fees
These are costs not directly related to executing trades, such as:
-
Withdrawal fees
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Inactivity fees
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Account maintenance charges
In the sections below, we highlight the most relevant fees by asset class. For example, when investing in stocks, commissions are usually the primary cost to consider.
To provide context, we compared NinjaTrader’s fee structure with two similar brokers: Interactive Brokers and Saxo Bank. These peers were selected based on objective criteria such as product range, target client profile, and pricing model.
NinjaTrader Trading Fees
Overall, NinjaTrader’s trading costs are considered competitive and generally low.
The platform offers three license options: Free, Lease, and Lifetime. This review focused on the Free license tier. Traders who upgrade to the Lease or Lifetime plans can access even lower commission rates.
Futures Trading Fees
NinjaTrader’s pricing for U.S. stock index futures is categorized as low, while fees for many other futures contracts are considered very competitive relative to industry standards.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
The commission charged by NinjaTrader depends on the license you choose. Besides, you have to pay fees independent from NinjaTrader, like exchange or order routing fees.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
*The default order routing fee is $0.10, as ‘Continuum’ is the default connection. If you choose ‘Rithmic’ connection, the order routing fee would be $0.25 per contract
NinjaTrader has also low options on futures fees. The commission, exchange, and order routing fees are the same as futures fees.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
Non-trading fees
NinjaTrader has high non-trading fees.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
The account fee depends on the license you choose:
- No account fee at ‘Free’ license
- $720 annual/$425 semi-annual/$225 quarterly fees at ‘Lease’ license
- For a ‘Lifetime’ license, there is a $1,099 single payment/$329 monthly payments for 4 months. This license is good for a lifetime
There is a $25 monthly inactivity fee, if you log in to the platform, but don’t place any round trade (buy and sell).
Withdrawals have a high fee, too: $/€ 40 for international wire transfers and $30 for domestic wire transfers.
NinjaTrader review
Account opening
NinjaTrader‘s account opening is fully digital and the minimum deposit is low, at $400. On the other hand, account verification can take a long time, as much as 4-5 business days, and the account opening process is a bit complicated.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slow |
| • Low minimum deposit | |
What is the minimum deposit at NinjaTrader?
The required minimum deposit is $400.
NinjaTrader Licenses
NinjaTrader has three licenses, ‘Free’, ‘Lease’ or ‘Lifetime’. These licenses differ in commission, price, and functionality.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
*At NinjaTrader brokerage, you can trade only futures and options on futures. If you choose NinjaTrader brokerage, your money will be held by either Phillip Capital or Dorman Trading. Both of them are US-based brokers.
** You can connect one or more of the following brokerage accounts: Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, Oanda, Forex.com, FXCM, and City Index. In these cases, your money will be held by your existing broker and NinjaTrader will just provide the platform. The advantage of connecting these accounts is that you can also trade with other asset classes, like stocks, spot forex, CFD, etc.
In this review, we tested the Free license and NinjaTrader brokerage through Phillip Capital.
NinjaTrader review – Licenses
Account types
You can choose one of the following account types:
- Individual – account is owned by one individual
- Joint – account is owned by one or more individuals
- Corporate/LLC/Trust/Partnership – account is owned by a legal entity
- Retirement – tax-advantaged account, available only for US residents
How to open your account
The opening of a NinjaTrader account via PhilipCapital is fully digital and straightforward. However, the approval of the account is rather slow. It took 5 business days for us.
The account opening process is a bit complicated, there are a lot of steps to open your account with NinjaTrader:
- On NinjaTrader’s website, choose the asset you would like to trade: futures, options, forex.
- We picked futures. In this case, you can open the account at either Phillip Capital or Dorman Trading.
- After selecting Philip Capital, we were redirected to Phillip Capital’s account opening process.
- Choose an account type: individual or corporate.
- Give your personal information, such as name, date of birth, and address. You have to answer a few questions about your financial and employment situation.
- You have to verify your identity and address. National ID, passport, and driver’s license are accepted for ID verification, while you can upload utility bill and bank statement as proof of address.
- Answer a few questions about how you want to use your account: for example, for speculation, etc.
- Accept customer and disclosure documents.
After the online registration, we received an email from NinjaTrader to fill out an Options Request Form. We had to say which markets and what positions limits we would like to trade.
NinjaTrader review – Account opening
Our best alternatives to NinjaTrader are:
The highest ranking competitors are:
NinjaTrader review
Deposit and withdrawal
NinjaTrader‘s deposit and withdrawal services could be better. You can use only bank transfer and check, and there is a high fee for bank withdrawals. As a plus, there is no deposit fee and withdrawals are quick.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Quick withdrawal, less than 1 business day | • High withdrawal fee |
Account base currencies
At NinjaTrader, you can hold your cash only in 3 account base currencies: USD, EUR, GBP.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
Why does this matter? For two reasons. If you fund your trading account in the same currency as your bank account or you trade assets in the same currency as your trading account base currency, you don’t have to pay a conversion fee.
A convenient way to save on currency conversion fees is by opening a multi-currency bank account at a digital bank. Revolut and Transferwise both offer bank accounts in several currencies with great currency exchange rates as well as free or cheap international bank transfers. Opening an account only takes a few minutes on your phone.
Deposit fees and options
NinjaTrader doesn’t charge any deposit fee. However, your intermediary bank might charge a fee, if you make an international bank transfer.
US residents can use checks for depositing.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
A bank transfer can take several business days.
You can only deposit money from accounts that are in your name.
NinjaTrader review – Deposit and withdrawal – Deposit
NinjaTrader withdrawal fees and options
NinjaTrader has high withdrawal fees. The bank withdrawals costs $30, and an international bank transfer costs $/€ 40.
US residents can also make a withdrawal by using check. It’s free at Dorman Trading, but has a $4 fee at Phillip Capital.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
How long does it take to withdraw money from NinjaTrader? We tested the international bank transfer and it took one day.
How do you withdraw money from NinjaTrader?
Finding out how we can initiate a withdrawal wasn’t easy.
- First, open the online withdrawal form. You can find it, if you click on FAQ and select the ‘How do I withdraw funds?’ category.
- Then, select the withdrawal method: check or wire.
- Fill out the form. You have to add information, such as your name, account number, and the amount you wish to withdraw. For wire transfers, you have to add the wire information, such as SWIFT code or your bank’s name.
- Submit the request. NinjaTrader will send you an email confirming that they initiated the withdrawal.
NinjaTrader review
Web trading platform
At the time of the review, NinjaTrader provided only a desktop platform. The only way to use a web trading platform along with NinjaTrader’s desktop trading platform is if you connect an external brokerage account, with a broker like Interactive Brokers or Oanda.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
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NinjaTrader review
Mobile trading platform
At the time of the review, NinjaTrader provided only a desktop platform. We think that a mobile trading platform is a big miss as traders can’t follow their positions on the go. Similarly to the web platform, the only way to use a mobile trading platform along with NinjaTrader is to connect an external brokerage account, such as an account with Interactive Brokers or Oanda.
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NinjaTrader review
Desktop trading platform
NinjaTrader‘s desktop platform is great for active traders: highly customizable with many advanced features. However, it might feel complicated at first, and also lacks a two-step login.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Clear fee report | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Good customizability (for charts, workspace) | • Available only on Windows |
| • Good variety of order types | |
| • Many great tools for technical analysis |
NinjaTrader review – Desktop trading platform
Login and security
NinjaTrader provides only a one-step login. A two-step authorization would be more secure.
The first time you want to use your account, you have to set your license key and the credential for the connection:
- You can set the license key, if you click on ‘Help’ and ‘License Key’.
- You can set the credentials, if you click on ‘Connections’ and select ‘Configure’.
Now you can simply log in, if you click on the connection you set up, such as ‘My NinjaTrader Continuum’. After it’s activated (becomes green), you’ll see your positions and can start trading.
Search functions
The search functions work well. There are multiple ways to find an asset to trade.
Maybe the easiest way is to click on ‘Tools’ and then go to ‘Instrument Lists’. Here, you can compile your own instrument lists or edit the pre-defined lists, like ‘Futures’ or ‘Forex’. When you add a new asset to your list, you can search by typing its name or you can search through categories.
NinjaTrader review – Desktop trading platform – Search
Placing orders
NinjaTrader has many order types, including more sophisticated ones, like One-Cancel-Other (OCO):
- Market
- Limit
- Stop limit
- Stop-loss
- Market if Touched (MIT)
- One-Cancel-Other (OCO)
If you are not familiar with the basic order types, read this overview.
There are also order time limits you can use:
- Good-Til-Cancelled (GTC)
- Good-Til-Date (GTD)
NinjaTrader review – Desktop trading platform – Order panel
Alerts and notifications
You can set alerts and notifications on the desktop trading platform. Advanced alerting system is only available in the paid version.
Some example of the available alerts:
- Simple Moving Average Crossover: triggers when the current market price crosses above a 20-period Simple Moving Average.
- New Intraday High: triggers when a new High is formed intraday.
- Price and Fibonacci Retracements: compares the current market price to the 50% line drawn by a Fibonacci Retracements Drawing Tool.
Portfolio and fee reports
NinjaTrader has clear portfolio and fee reports. Using the ‘Trade Performance’ window, you can see your net profit or the commissions you paid. We also liked that the platform will calculate Sharpe ratio, Sortino ratio and the Ulcer index, among many others.
NinjaTrader Platform Overview
NinjaTrader focuses primarily on delivering a professional-grade trading environment tailored to active market participants.
Although NinjaTrader 7 remains accessible, the evaluation was conducted using NinjaTrader 8, the more advanced version of the platform. Version 8 introduced hundreds of upgrades and refinements, many of which were implemented based on user feedback. The desktop interface is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Russian, German, and Portuguese.
Design and User Experience
For newcomers, the desktop platform may feel overwhelming due to its depth and complexity. However, for experienced traders — particularly short-term and intraday traders — this is where NinjaTrader truly excels. Those who prefer executing trades directly from charts will likely appreciate the platform’s capabilities.
One of NinjaTrader’s standout strengths is its extensive customization. The platform allows users to tailor layouts, indicators, and strategies to their preferences. Additionally, the NinjaTrader Ecosystem offers thousands of third-party apps and add-ons.
This flexibility is made possible by NinjaTrader’s standards-based .NET programming environment, which supports custom indicator and strategy development and has fostered a strong developer community.
Features by License Type
The tools and functionality available depend on the license tier selected:
Free License
Access to core features such as advanced charting, market analytics, and simulated trading.
Lease License
Includes additional capabilities such as automated trading, strategy backtesting, and ATM (Advanced Trade Management) strategies that allow for automatic stop-loss and profit-target orders.
Lifetime (Own) License
Provides access to Order Flow+ tools, which offer enhanced visualization of order flow data. These tools help traders assess buying and selling pressure in real time, supporting more informed decision-making as market activity unfolds.
Overall, NinjaTrader’s desktop platform is designed with serious traders in mind — especially those who prioritize technical analysis, customization, and automation.
NinjaTrader review
Markets and products
At NinjaTrader Brokerage you can trade only futures and options on futures. To trade popular asset classes like stocks or spot forex, you have to connect your existing brokerage account to NinjaTrader.
NinjaTrader‘s asset classes and the individual assets within each asset class lag behind other brokers.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
Futures
NinjaTrader has an average futures selection. It’s better than most brokers that give access to futures markets, but lag behind Interactive Brokers or Saxo Bank.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
You can trade ~70 assets on these markets, covering stock indices, bonds, forex, and commodities.
The following exchanges are available for futures trading:
- CME: Chicago Mecantile Exchange
- CBOT: Chicago Board of Trade
- COMEX: Commodity Exchange Inc.
- NYMEX: New York Mercantile Exchange
- EUREX: futures and options market, which deals primarily with Europe-based derivatives
- ICE: Intercontinental Exchange
- ICE UK
The CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX exchanges are part of the CME group. Eurex is part of the Eurex Group and is owned by Deutsche Börse AG.
Options on futures
NinjaTrader gives access to a few options markets. In these markets, you can trade only options on futures.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
Options on futures cover the following exchanges and products:
- CME: Equity Indexes, Interest rates, Agricultural, FX
- NYMEX: Energies
- CBOT: Dow E-mini, Interest rates, Agricultural
- COMEX: Metals
NinjaTrader review
Research
NinjaTrader has great research tools for technical trading. Charts are easy to use and have many indicators. Unique features include strategy back-testing and automated trading tools.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Good interactive chart | • No trading ideas |
| • Good set of analytical tools | |
Just like for the desktop trading platform, we tested the research tools on NinjaTrader 8.
Charting
NinjaTrader has excellent charting tools. The choice of editor tools and indicators is almost endless. You can use 125 technical indicators. There are thousands of other indicators available through NinjaTrader’s developer community, the NinjaTrader Ecosystem.
We also liked that it was really easy to add the editor tools and technical indicators to the chart.
NinjaTrader review – Research – Charting
Other technical research tools you will enjoy
There are a lot of other technical tools you can use. We just mention the top ones in our opinion:
- You can use automated trading tools through applications, like Bloodhound or Blackbird.
- You can easily build strategies. We also liked that it’s easy to backtest these strategies.
NinjaTrader review – Research – Strategy back-testing
Trading ideas
NinjaTrader does not provide trading ideas. However, they have a blog, where they post short articles that cover a variety of topics that traders might be interested in.
Fundamental data
As NinjaTrader’s main focus is on the charting and other technical tools, they don’t offer any fundamental data.
Compare Research Pros and Cons
NinjaTrader review
Customer service
We liked NinjaTrader‘s customer service. We got relevant and fast answers both on the phone and in email. Live chat is quick but sometimes they can’t answer more complex questions. The support is limited to US market hours.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Phone support | • No 24/7 support |
| • Live chat | |
| • Fast response time | |
| • Relevant answers |
You can contact NinjaTrader via:
- live chat
- telephone
- support forum
NinjaTrader has great phone support. It was fast and we got relevant answers.
Email support is also good. We usually got quick (within one day) and detailed answers.
NinjaTrader has a fast live chat. The relevancy of the answers was satisfactory, however, there were some questions they couldn’t answer and asked us to write an e-mail.
There is an active support forum, where you can interact with other users and NinjaTrader’s support team.
The only thing we missed is the 24/7 availability. The Trade Desk is available at all times, when the futures market is open, while brokerage support teams are available during US market hours. You can contact Trade Desk only in emergent situations and with emergency orders.
NinjaTrader review – Customer Service
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NinjaTrader review
Education
NinjaTrader has great education tools. There is a well-structured Help Guide, you can use a demo account, and you can attend webinars.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Demo account | • None |
| • Educational videos | |
| • High-quality help guide |
At NinjaTrader, you can learn in the following ways:
- Demo account
- Help Guide
- Platform tutorial and general educational videos
- Webinars
We think the demo account is the best way to get familiar with the platform. You can also use a ‘Simulated trading’ feature, where all market prices and conditions are simulated. It’s useful both for learning and for testing new concepts.
NinjaTrader 8’s Help Guide is also a great source of education. It is well-structured and it’s quite easy to find what you’re looking for. You can download as PDF or use the web version. The latter is better because they have embedded videos.
There are webinars covering several topics, including trading strategies, how to’s, and many others.
NinjaTrader review – Education
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NinjaTrader review
Safety
NinjaTrader is an introducing broker of brokers, like Phillip Capital or Dorman Trading. Your assets and cash will be held at these brokers, which are regulated by top-tier financial authorities, like the US CFTC or UK FCA. On the flip side, NinjaTrader is not a listed company and doesn’t disclose its financials.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Top-tier financial regulation | • Not listed on stock exchange |
| • Financial information is not publicly available | |
-
Is NinjaTrader Regulated and Safe?
Regulation
NinjaTrader is registered with the National Futures Association (NFA). This registration allows it to operate as an introducing broker, partnering with firms such as Phillip Capital and Dorman Trading.
These partner brokers are supervised by at least one top-tier authority, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the United States or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom.
What Does “Introducing Broker” Mean?
As an introducing broker, NinjaTrader does not directly custody client funds. Instead:
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Your assets and cash are held with the partner broker (for example, Phillip Capital).
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NinjaTrader provides the trading platform, pricing structure, and customer support.
This structure makes it essential to understand not only NinjaTrader’s credentials but also the regulatory status and financial strength of the broker that holds your funds.
How Safe Is NinjaTrader?
To evaluate safety properly, two key aspects should always be reviewed:
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Investor protection mechanisms
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The background and regulatory standing of the custodian broker
Because NinjaTrader operates as an introducing broker, it is particularly important to examine the firm where your assets are actually held.
Investor Protection
Futures trading carries specific risks. Unlike stock investments in some jurisdictions, futures accounts are not covered by traditional investor protection schemes, and there is no negative balance protection. If your account falls into a negative balance due to leveraged losses, you are responsible for covering that deficit.
For this reason, NinjaTrader’s services are generally more suitable for experienced traders who understand the risks associated with derivatives.
Company Background
NinjaTrader was founded in 2003. A longer operational history can provide some reassurance, as it suggests the firm has navigated multiple market cycles.
In testing, the platform was accessed through an account with Phillip Capital, which acts as the custodian of client assets. Phillip Capital publishes financial statements and is regulated by a top-tier U.S. authority — both of which are positive indicators of transparency and oversight.
If you choose to integrate another brokerage account with NinjaTrader, it is advisable to independently review the background and regulatory status of firms such as:
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Interactive Brokers
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TD Ameritrade
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Oanda
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Forex.com
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FXCM
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City Index
Bottom Line
NinjaTrader operates within a regulated framework and partners with supervised brokerage firms. However, because futures trading involves leverage and limited investor protection, careful due diligence and risk management are essential before opening an account.
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Find your safe brokers
NinjaTrader review
Bottom line
NinjaTrader is a great platform for futures trading.
On the plus side, we liked the low commissions. Its advanced platform is great for experienced traders, especially for futures traders. The educational material provided by Ninja is well structured and they have an active user forum as well.
NinjaTrader Brokerage has some drawbacks though. The fees for withdrawal are high, at $30-40 per withdrawal. There is no mobile platform and the desktop platform is available only on Windows. Lastly, the product portfolio covers only futures and options on futures.
As there is no fee for the demo account and you can open it within a few minutes, feel free to try NinjaTrader.
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NinjaTrader review
FAQ
We recommend NinjaTrader for active traders focusing on futures.
Below you can find links to all aspects of NinjaTrader in this comprehensive collection.
Lower fees, lower costs?
We detailed this in our NinjaTrader fees article.
What about the minimum deposit?
Our ultimate guide to the NinjaTrader minimum deposit is updated regularly.
How to start your NinjaTrader account?
Look no further than our evaluation of the NinjaTrader account opening.
Is the quality of customer service satisfactory?
All you need to know about the NinjaTrader customer service.
Legit or scam?
Is NinjaTrader legit features all the key aspects you need to look at to see if a broker is safe and legit.
Free or premium? Or both?
A glance at actual costs and whether NinjaTrader is really free.
Is this broker good for beginners?
We checked it in Is NinjaTrader good for beginners.
Should you buy your silver bullets on NinjaTrader?
Research for silver bugs in the Silver buy on NinjaTrader guide
I want to trade options, are they available at NinjaTrader?
We explored the topic in Can you trade options on NinjaTrader?
What is the minimum account balance at NinjaTrader?
Check out the current account balance requirements at NinjaTrader in our What is the minimum account balance at NinjaTrader article.
Looking for commission and fees data for NinjaTrader?
We collected them in NinjaTrader commission and fees.
How do you withdraw money from NinjaTrader?
We tested it and collected the options and costs in How to withdraw money on NinjaTrader.
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