You’re entering the futures trading world, the platform you choose is the most important tool. But with so many options, which futures trading platforms are best for your trading strategies, technical requirements and budget?
In this article we break down the top futures trading platforms of 2025, we look at each for tools, user experience and unique features—so you can make an informed decision like your trades.
Top Futures Trading Platforms
Let’s get straight to the platforms for futures trading.
- Best for Tools: NinjaTrader
- Best for Experience: Tradovate
- Best for Analytics: Quantower
- Best for Social Trading: TradingView
- Best for DMA: R|Trader Pro
- Best for Order Flow: ATAS OrderFlow Trading
- Best for Strategy: MotiveWave
- Best for Multi-Asset: MultiCharts
- Best for Simulation: Jigsaw Daytradr
- Best for Charting: Investor/RT
Best for Tools – NinjaTrader
Price: Free, Monthly, Lifetime.
Features:
- Third Party Indicators and Apps Installable
- Build Automated Trading Strategies
Pros:
- Highly Customizable
- Many Technical Analysis and Charting Tools
- Low Intraday Commissions
Cons:
- Steep Learning Curve for Beginners
- Free Plan has limited features
NinjaTrader stands out with many tools and options.
For active traders who demand the best from their tools, the desktop application is highly customizable and feature rich.
You can add third party indicators and apps and build automated trading systems—features that puts it high on the list for serious futures traders who want to optimize their strategies and customize their trading space.
But beginners may find there’s a steep learning curve due to the many features. The free plan is more limited than the paid plans or lifetime access.
The platform is a platform. It gets attention with its flexible pricing structure which has free entry level plans and monthly or one-time payment options for different budget of traders.
Low intraday commissions is a big plus for high volume traders. This combination of cost and technical superiority makes NinjaTrader a popular choice among many futures traders.
Best for Experience – Tradovate
Price: $99/month
Features:
- Cloud based system available on multiple devices
- Depth of Market (DOM) designed for easy use
Pros:
- Integrated trading across multiple devices
- Advanced features
- Fast performance and multiple device compatibility
Cons:
- More expensive for casual traders
- Less customization than some competitors
If you want a seamless experience, Tradovate might be for you. It’s fast and cohesive trading across devices. For the dynamic trader, Tradovate offers a platform where all iterations of its cloud based system is free, so you can trade on:
- Windows
- Mac
- Web browsers
- iPads
- iPhones
- Android devices
The convenience is valued by traders who want to be in control of their trades on the go. But accessing this platform costs $99/month.
With Tradovate’s depth of market (DOM) you can quickly and easily see price data, place orders fast and manage open positions.
The platform has advanced trading tools like one click order entry, volume histogram to see market activity at different prices, bracket orders for advanced trade management strategies like stop losses or take profits to be set up on execution of a trade.
It also has quote sync, customizable hotkeys for faster execution of actions and multiple server side brackets so critical trades are executed even if your device fails or loses internet connection.
While these advanced features makes it attractive to experienced traders who want to utilize every edge in the market — beginners may find it expensive compared to other platforms in the market which may be more budget friendly yet still perform well enough during the initial stages of trading.
Best for Analytics – Quantower
Price: Freemium model with paid subscriptions.
Features:
- Advanced charting and visualization tools
- Create synthetic instruments
Pros:
- Detailed market visualization
- High customization of workspace
Cons:
- Need to invest to access advanced features
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
Quantower is a top futures trading platform for traders who want to use innovative analytics. It has advanced charting and visual tools, create synthetic instruments and multiple chart types to track their movements.
These features gives you detailed market visualization to help you do market analysis for better trading decisions. Quantower allows you to customize your trading workspace with multiple panels, templates, display options and external extensions.
Accessing these advanced features requires paid subscription – which can be a challenge for beginners.
Despite the challenges for beginners or the cost of premium features on this futures trading platform, Quantower’s approach is good.
Its advanced analytical features and charting puts it in a league of its own. The freemium model is a good starting point to get you the basic functionality for free.
This might lure traders to commit resources later to access full features through subscription upgrades.
Best for Social Trading – TradingView
Price: Free plan with free access. Professional plans start at $9.95/month. Features:
- Social trading
- User friendly interface
Pros:
- Users can share and access strategies within community
- User friendly interface for both new and professional traders
Cons:
- Limited order execution features
- Advanced features require paid subscription
TradingView is best for traders who want community engagement and the social aspect of trading. It’s good for social trading where users can share strategies and insights within a network.
This is a big advantage of TradingView because users can benefit from shared knowledge, opinions and stay updated with market movements.
In terms of user experience TradingView’s layout is good for both new and old timers in the field. The basic features are available in the free version so traders can try it out.
Those who want more advanced tools will find them behind a paywall in pro plans. Some may see the need to pay for advanced features as a negative.
But many see these premium features and the social trading environment as an investment for their success in the market.
Best for Direct Market Access – R|Trader Pro
Price: Free plan, pro plans start at $25/month.
Features:
- Direct Market Access
- Faster trade execution
Pros:
- Gives direct market access by connecting to Rithmic’s data services
- Faster trade execution
Cons:
- Limited support for 3rd party indicators
- Limited options for user interface customization
If you want direct access to the market and fast trade execution R|Trader Pro is a good choice.
It gives users direct access to the market by connecting to Rithmic’s data services, which is critical for high volume traders who want to trade on quick market movements.
Note that while it excels in these areas, the platform has limited support for external indicators and limited customization options for the interface – which may not be suitable for all users.
On R|Trader Pro orders are held on Rithmic’s servers until they are filled or cancelled.
This ensures trading continuity even during internet downtime so you won’t lose money due to connectivity issues.
Despite the limitations in personalization and 3rd party integration, this platform stands out among futures trading platforms mainly because of its core strengths: direct market access and fast trade execution.
Best for Order Flow Analysis – ATAS OrderFlow Trading
Free trial, subscriptions start at $36/month.
Features:
- Order Flow Analysis tools
- Advanced charting
Pros:
- Specialized Order Flow tools
- Detailed market visualization
Cons:
- Higher price point than some competitors
- Interface may be overwhelming for beginners
If you’re a futures trader who focuses on order flow analysis ATAS OrderFlow Trading is for you. It has specialized order flow analysis tools like volume profile, footprint and market delta – tools to dive deep into the market and find trades.
It has advanced features to help with trading decisions but its higher price may be more than some competitors. Beginners may find the interface overwhelming.
Despite these considerations ATAS OrderFlow Trading is for traders who focus on order flow analytics and depth in the market.
With advanced charting tools at your disposal you have access to detailed market visualization which helps to navigate the system.
Best for Strategy Development – MotiveWave
Cost: Free 2 week trial, subscription plans start at $99/month.
Features:
- Strategy building tools
- Strategy backtesting and development
Pros:
- Comprehensive strategy building tools
- Extensive strategy backtesting and development
Cons:
- Higher price point than some competitors
- Learning curve for beginners
MotiveWave is for traders who focus on strategy development. It has a robust set of tools for building strategies and comprehensive features for backtesting and creating trading approaches.
Futures traders can use this feature to test their strategies against historical data to see if they work before using them in live conditions. Getting access to these advanced features may cost more and beginners may struggle to learn the platform.
Despite the challenges MotiveWave stands out among futures trading platforms for its focus on strategy development. With tools to build and test strategies at your disposal it’s a good investment if you’re serious about strategy development in futures trading.
Best for Multi-Asset Trading – MultiCharts
Free 30 day trial, subscriptions start at $99/month.
Features:
- Compatible with multiple data feeds, brokers and trading services
- Advanced charting
Pros:
- Compatible with multiple data feeds, brokers and trading services
- Advanced charting
Cons:
- Higher price point than some competitors
- Learning curve for beginners
MultiCharts is for multi-asset traders. It’s compatible with multiple data feeds, brokers and trading services.
It has advanced charting so you can analyze the market across multiple asset classes which helps to navigate the system. But the advanced features come at a higher price and there’s a learning curve for beginners.
Despite that MultiCharts is for traders who trade multiple asset classes. It’s compatible with multiple data feeds, brokers and trading services.
Best for Real-Time Simulation – Jigsaw Daytradr
Features: Community Plan free, Professional Plans start at $579/year.
- Real-time simulation
- Built-in real-time audio news squawk and economic release calendar
Pros:
- Real-time simulation
- Built-in real-time audio news squawk and economic release calendar
Cons:
- Limited customization compared to some competitors
- Advanced features require paid subscription
If you’re looking for real-time simulation for futures trading Jigsaw Daytradr is a good option. It’s known for live simulations and allows traders to test their strategies in a risk free environment.
This is good for beginners and intermediate traders who want to develop their futures approach without the risk of losing money.
But when it comes to customizing your trading experience on the platform options are limited unless you pay for a subscription which unlocks advanced features.
However what makes Jigsaw Daytradr stand out among trading platforms is its ability to connect live futures trading scenarios.
The built-in audio news service and economic release calendar gives market participants real-time updates on what’s happening in the market