NinjaTrader

NinjaTrader is a desktop trading platform built primarily for futures traders, with a substantial following among US-based active traders. It differs from the white-label platforms elsewhere on this site in that it is a product a trader chooses and connects to a brokerage, rather than something a broker imposes.

Charting and order entry

The platform's strengths are chart-based order entry, market depth display, and the Chart Trader and SuperDOM interfaces built for scalping futures where the order book matters. Order types include the bracket structures futures traders rely on, and the ATM strategy system automates entry, stop and target placement as a single named template.

Automation in C#

NinjaScript is C#, not a bespoke scripting language, which puts the full .NET framework within reach of a strategy. Backtesting and walk-forward optimisation are built in, and strategies can run unattended against a live connection. For a developer this is considerably more capable than MQL, and it is the main reason systematic futures traders choose the platform.

Licensing and cost

NinjaTrader is not free in the way MetaTrader is to the end user. It offers a free tier for charting, simulation and backtesting, with live order routing requiring either a lifetime licence, a leasing arrangement, or acceptance of higher per-trade commissions through the platform's own brokerage. Market data for futures is a separate exchange subscription.

Forex support

Spot forex is supported through connected brokers, but the platform's design centres on exchange-traded futures, and its depth-of-market tooling is less meaningful on an over-the-counter product where the book you see is one dealer's. Traders coming from forex should be clear about which market they are actually trading before paying for the platform.

Who it suits

NinjaTrader suits systematic and discretionary futures traders who want C# automation and serious order-book tooling. It suits a spot forex trader less well, and ProForexBrokers.com would point such a trader toward cTrader or MetaTrader 5 before this.