Try Futures Trading.
Start For Free.
Open your free account and access a professional platform in simulation mode with real market data, so you can practice, test your strategy, and build confidence before trading live.
*As voted by Stocks & Commodities Readers' Choice Award, 2024
The intelligent way to start trading futures
Simulated trading isn't just for beginners. It's how serious traders test new strategies without putting capital at risk.
Understand the market before you trade it.
Futures have their own mechanics: margin, tick values, expiry, order types. Getting familiar with these in a simulated environment costs nothing. Getting familiar with them once you go live does. Take the time to learn the platform and understand how the markets move before putting money to work.
Test new strategies without risking your account.
Even experienced traders use a simulated environment before deploying new ideas. Backtest on historical data, replay past sessions tick-by-tick, or run your strategy against live conditions using the simulated account — all before committing real capital.
A professional platform. In simulation.
The simulated environment is the same platform as the live one. Every tool, every feature, real market data. Practice with no restrictions before you commit real capital.
Live market data in simulation
Real-time price feeds. Not delayed, not synthetic. You trade simulated capital against actual market movements. The same data feed as the live account, at no cost.
Full charting suite
100+ indicators, all chart types, Pine Script strategies, identical to the live platform. No restrictions. Customise everything to match your trading style before you go live.
Market replay
Replay historical sessions tick by tick, synchronised across all your charts. Speed up to 1,000x to test faster. Build confidence on real past conditions before risking a single euro.
Backtesting engine
Run automated strategies against historical data. See how your approach would have performed before committing. Refine your edge in a simulated environment before committing real capital.
Full order types
Market, limit, stop, OCO, bracket orders. All available in simulation. Exactly the same as when you go live. Get fluent with order management before you start trading with real money.
P&L tracking
Track your simulated balance, open positions, daily P&L and performance metrics, the same dashboard you'll use live. Understand your numbers in a simulated environment before they're real.
Practice trading in simulation. Decide when you're ready.
Access to a simulated trading environment continues alongside your live trading once you fund.
Trade in a Sim Environment first. Go Live when you're confident.
Start with a free 14-day trial. Fund your account when you're ready — and sim continues alongside your live trading.
Open your free account
No credit card. No minimum deposit^. Your 14-day simulated trial begins immediately with real market data.
Trade in simulation
Use live data, backtest strategies, replay historical sessions. 14-day free trial — then unlimited sim with a funded account.
Go live when ready
Fund your account when your simulation results give you confidence. No minimum deposit^ — go live at your own pace.
^ACH and debit card transfers are subject to a $5.00 minimum.
Know your costs before you commit
Price transparency isn't optional. Here's exactly what futures trading with NinjaTrader costs.
Commission — no hidden spread markup
Flat per-side commissions. No markup on the spread. No inactivity fees. No withdrawal fees.
Per micro contract
(per side)
Per standard contract
(per side)
Intraday margin
Micro E-mini
Your data is protected under GDPR. NinjaTrader's EU entity processes data in accordance with GDPR. Opening a simulated account does not require financial information and you can close your account and request full data deletion at any time. See our privacy policy for full details.
Why futures — and why sim first
Most European retail traders start with CFDs. Here's an honest comparison of what you're actually getting.
| What you need to know | Futures (NinjaTrader) | CFDs (typical broker) |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange-traded — transparent pricing |
CME exchange
|
OTC / broker sets price
|
| Defined contract value & tick size |
Fixed, published
|
Varies by broker
|
| Flat commission — no spread markup |
$0.09 / micro
|
Spread is the cost
|
| Simulated trading with real data |
Free 14-day trial
|
Varies
|
| Start from low capital |
$50 margin / micro
|
Yes
|
The full platform. In your hands.
Open your free account and access the full platform in simulation mode, with the same tools and the same data, with no capital at stake.
- Real market data from day one
- No funding required to start
- Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY) Ltd, CySEC licence no. 342/17
Common questions
No. Opening a simulated account requires only basic registration — name and email address. No credit card, no bank details, no minimum deposit.
The free trial gives you 14 days of simulated trading with live market data. After that, simulated trading continues — unlimited — alongside any funded account. If you're not ready to fund after 14 days, you can still open an account and wait until you are.
Yes. The simulated account uses real-time Level 1 (top-of-book) market data — the same feed used in live accounts. You experience real spreads, real price movement, and real volatility. This is not a synthetic feed.
European clients are covered by Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY) Limited, regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC, licence no. 342/17, Limassol, Cyprus).
You can request full deletion of your personal data at any time under your GDPR rights. NinjaTrader processes data in compliance with GDPR. Submit a data deletion request via the privacy policy page.
Futures are exchange-traded: pricing is transparent and set by the market, not the broker. Costs are a flat commission per contract — no spread markup. The simulated account lets you explore futures at zero risk before deciding whether they suit your trading style.
Trading derivatives and other financial instruments, including leveraged products, involves significant risk and is not suitable for all investors. You may lose more than your initial investment, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Trading may be subject to national restrictions and limitations. Any cost or figure references are illustrative only and will vary based on provider, market conditions, position size, and timing.