Platforms / NinjaTrader
Prop firms that support NinjaTrader
Verified July 20, 2026
12 of the 34 prop firms we track offer NinjaTrader. Below: how the platform actually works, what it costs, whether you can automate on it, and which firms to look at.
Vendor
NinjaTrader, LLC
Launched
2004
Asset classes
Futures
Automation
Full native automation
Mobile
NinjaTrader Mobile app covers account monitoring, charting and order management, though it's less feature-complete than the desktop platform, which remains the primary experience.
Cost model
Free to use for charting/simulation; a paid license (lease or lifetime) is required for live trading outside a connected brokerage's bundled access, and Rithmic or Tradovate connectivity fees may apply on top depending on which data feed you connect.
What NinjaTrader actually is
NinjaTrader has been a fixture of independent futures trading since 2004, and it remains the platform most futures prop firms point to when a trader wants to build or run an automated strategy without becoming a professional software developer. Its NinjaScript language, built on C#, supports custom indicators and fully automated strategies with tick-level backtesting, and its order-flow tools — footprint charts, volume profile, market-depth visualization — are still a step ahead of most competitors for traders who read the tape rather than just candlesticks.
Since NinjaTrader Group acquired Tradovate, the two platforms increasingly share infrastructure, but they remain distinct products: NinjaTrader is the heavier, more configurable desktop terminal aimed at traders who want deep customization, while Tradovate is the lighter, cloud-native option built for cross-device simplicity. Most prop firms that list 'NinjaTrader' as a platform expect you to connect it to a Rithmic or Tradovate data feed, which — as with any Rithmic-based setup — can carry its own monthly connection fee on top of the firm's account pricing.
The tradeoff for that depth is a real learning curve. NinjaTrader's interface is dense, Windows-only, and slower to get comfortable with than TopstepX or Tradovate's cloud apps — but for traders serious about systematic strategy development, order-flow analysis, or running multiple charted strategies simultaneously, it remains one of the most capable retail futures platforms available, and it's a large part of why it appears in the platform list of nearly every established futures prop firm.
Strengths
- + Deep, mature charting and strategy-development environment built specifically for futures traders
- + NinjaScript backtesting and strategy automation is best-in-class among desktop futures platforms
- + Large ecosystem of third-party indicators, add-ons and order-flow tools
Weaknesses
- − Windows-only desktop client — no native macOS version, so Mac users need a VM or remote desktop
- − Steeper learning curve than cloud-native platforms like Tradovate or TopstepX
- − Live trading outside a bundled brokerage connection typically requires a separate paid license
Data feeds and connectivity
Connects to multiple data/execution backbones — most commonly Rithmic or its own Tradovate-owned infrastructure since NinjaTrader Group acquired Tradovate — so feed quality depends on which connection type the prop firm wires up.
Automation and API access
NinjaScript (C#-based) is one of the most mature retail algo-development environments in futures trading, supporting custom indicators, automated strategies, full backtesting with tick-level replay, and a large marketplace of third-party add-ons.
Prop firms offering NinjaTrader
| Firm | Type | Entry | Split | Drawdown | First payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep | futures | $49 | 90% | eod-trailing | 7 days |
| Apex Trader Funding | futures | $37 | 100% | trailing | 8 days |
| My Funded Futures | futures | $77 | 90% | eod-trailing | 5 days |
| Alpha Futures | futures | $79 | 90% | eod-trailing | 7 days |
| Take Profit Trader | futures | $150 | 90% | eod-trailing | 5 days |
| Earn2Trade | futures | $150 | 80% | trailing | 14 days |
| Tradeify | futures | $49 | 90% | eod-trailing | 10 days |
| TradeDay | futures | $63 | 90% | eod-trailing | 10 days |
| Elite Trader Funding | futures | $75 | 100% | trailing | 7 days |
| Bulenox | futures | $50 | 100% | trailing | 7 days |
| Lucid Trading | futures | $55 | 90% | static | 14 days |
| Funding Ticks | futures | $45 | 90% | eod-trailing | 5 days |
Platform availability changes when a firm switches liquidity or technology providers. We re-check each firm's platform list on the verification date above, but confirm on the firm's own site before you buy an evaluation specifically for NinjaTrader.
Who NinjaTrader suits
- • Futures traders who want to build, backtest and automate custom strategies without hiring a developer
- • Order-flow and tape-reading traders who want deep DOM and volume-profile tools
NinjaTrader FAQ
- Is NinjaTrader free to use with a prop firm?
- Charting and simulation are free. Live trading typically requires either a paid NinjaTrader license or a bundled connection through a broker/data feed the prop firm has arranged — check the specific firm's rules on which license tier is required.
- Does NinjaTrader work on Mac?
- Not natively — it's a Windows desktop application. Mac users generally run it through a Windows virtual machine, Boot Camp, or a remote desktop/VPS solution, which several prop firms and third parties offer as an add-on service.
- Can I automate a full strategy on NinjaTrader without coding?
- Partially — NinjaTrader has strategy-builder wizards for simpler rule-based logic, but full custom strategies and indicators require NinjaScript (C#) code. It remains more accessible than building against a raw API like Rithmic's, but it isn't fully no-code.
- Does NinjaTrader use Rithmic or its own data feed?
- Both are common. NinjaTrader can connect to Rithmic, to Tradovate's infrastructure (its sister company under NinjaTrader Group), or to other supported data feeds depending on which the prop firm has integrated.