Best NinjaTrader Forex Brokers of 2023

Since 2011, we’ve traded with and reviewed over 200 brokers worldwide. To find the best brokers with NinjaTrader offering for you, we’ve dedicated over 50 hours per broker, exploring more than 250 factors across 9 key areas. We’ve then compared them to identify the top performers in various categories. With decades of combined experience, our team of trading experts provides reliable and trusted opinions.

By: Jitan Solanki
Reviewed By: FX Empire Editorial Board
Updated: Sep 19, 2023
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NinjaTrader has carved out a niche for itself in the competitive landscape of trading platforms. Founded in 2003, NinjaTrader set out to challenge the status quo, offering a range of robust features aimed at both novice and professional traders. Over the years, it has gained a solid reputation for its customizable interface, advanced charting capabilities, and competitive pricing models.

Choosing a broker that integrates seamlessly with NinjaTrader’s extensive features is crucial. As we dive deeper into broker reviews, we’ll pay special attention to how well each one accommodates NinjaTrader’s functionalities, among other critical factors like trust and fees. With the right broker, you can maximize what NinjaTrader has to offer, ensuring a trading experience that’s not just robust, but also tailor-made for your needs.

List of Top Forex Brokers with NinjaTrader

  • FXCM – Best Overall
    NinjaTrader, Trading Station, MT4, TradingView. Capitalise.ai and ZuluTrade. 3,000+ tradable instruments. Commission-free trading, competitive spreads.
  • Interactive Brokers – Best Low Spreads
    Nasdaq-listed company. High level of safety and transparency. Very low spreads and commissions. 50,000+ instruments from 150 markets.
  • FOREX.com – Best Research Tools
    DMA accounts for raw interbank pricing. Trading Central research tools. Statistics-driven trade ideas from SMART Signals. In-house market research, trade ideas, and live webinars.

How did FXEmpire select the Best NinjaTrader Forex Brokers?

  • We confirmed each broker accommodates the NinjaTrader platform.
  • We assessed the range of tradable instruments permitted to trade through the broker’s connection to the NinjaTrader platform.
  • We checked that the tools and features of NinjaTrader are also available with third-party brokers.
  • We investigated available educational materials dedicated to NinjaTrader usage.
  • We’ve verified the authorization, regulation, and licensing of each broker with the regulatory bodies in the countries where they operate.
  • We opened a live account with the broker to check the live spreads and fees are transparent and competitive.

Our team of experts has identified brokers’ strengths and weaknesses using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.

Now let’s dive into the selected brokers.

Best Overall

FXCM

4.5
Losses can exceed deposits, 70% of retail CFD accounts lose money
  • Min Deposit
    $50
  • Tradable Instruments
    3075
  • Fees
    Medium

Established in 1999, FXCM is part of Leucadia Investments which is a part of the merchant banking arm of the publicly traded Jefferies Financial Group. Authorized by the UK FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and FSCA, the broker provides an excellent overall offering with a wide range of asset classes, platforms and tools, and competitive fees.

Key NinjaTrader Features:

  • Available Platforms: Windows desktop
  • NinjaTrader Accounts: FXCM CFD and FXCM Active Trader
  • Fees: NinjaTrader Multiple Broker Add-On $99 per month
  • Tradable Instruments: 3,000+ CFDs on forex, indices, commodities and global stocks

Once you connect the NinjaTrader platform to your FXCM trading account, you have access to more than 3,000 CFDs across multiple asset classes. Traders tap into all of the premium charting and technical analysis tools from NinjaTrader, as well as full strategy automation and access to a wide range of customized indicators and automated strategies from the NinjaTrader Ecosystem.

During our live fee test, I found that the spread for EUR/USD during the London and New York sessions averaged 0.9 pips which is better than the industry average of 1.0 pips for a commission-free trading account.

I also found that on top of NinjaTrader, you can trade from the award-winning FXCM Trading Station platform, TradingView, and MT4 as well as other specialty platforms such as Capitalise.ai for code-free algo trading and ZuluTrade for social trading.

Pros
  • Multiple trading platforms
  • Algo trading and social trading tools
  • 3,000+ financial instruments
  • Commission-free trading
Cons
  • Cannot use MT4 and NinjaTrader from the same FXCM account

Best Low Spreads

Your capital is at risk
  • Min Deposit
    $5
  • Tradable Instruments
    1100
  • Fees
    Medium

Established in 1978, Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a heavyweight in the trading industry. Publicly traded on the NASDAQ Exchange, IBKR is regulated by multiple international agencies, including CFTC, NFA, IIROC, ASIC, and FCA. You can trade thousands of instruments from 150 global markets and exchanges with rock-bottom fees and the lowest spreads in the industry.

Key NinjaTrader Features:

  • Available Platforms: Windows desktop
  • NinjaTrader Accounts: IBKR Individual, Joint, Retirement, Trust, Family
  • Fees: NinjaTrader Multiple Broker Add-On $99 per month
  • Tradable Instruments: 50,000+ stocks, ETFs, options, futures, spot currencies, bonds, metals, mutual funds, CFDs

Interactive Brokers delivers an exceptional trading service tailored for seasoned traders. Integrated with NinjaTrader, it enables you to invest in actual equities, as well as trade options, futures, and forex via Chart Trader. This invaluable tool lets you execute trades straight from the NinjaTrader chart, with orders seamlessly directed to your IBKR account. I particularly enjoyed trading currency pairs with quotes from 14 of the largest global banks providing over 60% of the world’s forex liquidity.

During our live fee test, I found the spread for EUR/USD during the London and New York sessions averaged 0.25 pips with a low commission of 2 USD per lot. This is much better than the industry average commission of 3.50 USD. On top of NinjaTrader, you can access the award-winning IBKR Trader Workstation (TWS) platform which provides a large range of technical indicators and drawing tools, free customizable market scanners, and real-time news from Reuters and Dow Jones.

Pros
  • NASDAQ-listed company
  • Largest range of tradable instruments
  • Ultra-low spreads and trading fees
  • Wide selection of accounts and platforms
Cons
  • Customer support is not enough fast and accessible

Best Research Tools

72.5% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    5680
  • Fees
    High

Established in 2001, Forex.com is owned by financial services company StoneX Group which is a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Exchange. Regulated by the UK FCA, CySEC, IIROC, and ASIC among others, Forex.com provides an excellent range of in-house market research and trading tools, including SMART Signals and Trading Central.

Key NinjaTrader Features:

  • Available Platforms: Windows desktop
  • NinjaTrader Accounts: Standard, DMA
  • Fees: NinjaTrader Multiple Broker Add-On $99 per month
  • Tradable Instruments: 5,000+ global stocks, forex and metals

Through NinjaTrader, you can tap into the Market Analyzer for rapid real-time scans of forex opportunities based on custom data points like price, time, and indicator values. Additionally, Forex.com offers access to Trading Central services, featuring valuable technical insights and expert opinions. Their in-house market research is also noteworthy and provides substantial value.

During our live fee test, I found the spread for EUR/USD during the London and New York sessions averaged 1.3 pips which is around the industry average of 1.0 pips for a commission-free trading account. In addition to NinjaTrader, you have the option to trade via MT4 and Forex.com's exclusive web platform, enriched with added functionalities like Performance Analytics for a deeper understanding of your trading performance.

Pros
  • High-quality in-house research
  • Trading Central, SMART Signals tools
  • Multiple account types
  • Insightful educational resources
Cons
  • Wide spreads in some instruments on Standard account

Our Methodology

FX Empire has been leading the way in providing high-quality, detailed, and transparent broker reviews for more than a decade. The review process has evolved over the years to now include over 250 research data points across nine core categories which include:

  • Trustworthiness: We check and confirm the broker’s regulatory status, authorizations, and license to operate in different jurisdictions.
  • Fees: We open live trading accounts to test the broker’s fees for transparency and competitiveness.
  • Trading platform and tools: We evaluate the broker’s trading platforms and tools for their user-friendliness and features.
  • Tradable instruments: We explore the number and diversity of tradable instruments offered by the broker.
  • Customer support: We test the ease of access to customer support and the level of knowledge of the live support agents.
  • Payment methods: We research all of the deposit and withdrawal methods offered by the broker, including the fees and processing times of each one.
  • Account types: We assess the depth of the broker’s account types and check its features such as minimum deposits, leverage, execution style, and more.
  • Research and education: We explore the quality and depth of the market research and education materials offered by the broker.

For this guide, we verified the availability and the seamless integration of NinjaTrader with each broker. We checked the ease of connection from NinjaTrader to the broker’s trading account and estimated the variety and number of tools and features accessible from NinjaTrader. In addition, we delved into the educational resources each broker provides specifically for NinjaTrader usage.

Meet Our Writers

The team of forex and CFD writers and editors at FX Empire is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists. Our writers have been published on leading financial websites such as Investopedia and Forbes. In addition, they all have extensive trading experience.

Get to Know Our Authors

Dan Blystoneauthor

Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licenced futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.

Jitan Solankiauthor

Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.

Plamen Stoyanovauthor

Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.

Vladimir Zernovauthor

In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.

How to choose a NinjaTrader forex broker?

To choose a NinjaTrader forex broker, pay attention to the following points:

How to find a well-regulated broker?

While NinjaTrader provides an advanced trading platform to trade from, it partners with third-party brokers to link your trading account to its platform. Therefore, it is important you choose a reliable broker regulated by an established financial jurisdiction.

To find a well-regulated broker, consider the following steps:

  • Identify Regulatory Bodies: Look for brokers overseen by reputable authorities. All the brokers listed on this page have entities authorized and regulated by Tier 1 regulators such as the UK FCA, ASIC, the CFTC, and NFA.
  • Verify with Regulators: Use the registration number to validate the broker’s status on the regulatory agency’s own database.
  • Check the Website: Regulatory information and registration numbers should be easily found on the broker’s website.
  • Account Segregation: Ensure the broker keeps client funds separate from their own operational accounts.
  • Examine Legal Docs: Go through terms, conditions, and other legal documents to check for compliance with regulatory standards.

Read more about Best FCA-regulated forex Brokers and Best ASIC-regulated forex brokers.

How to check whether fees are transparent and competitive?

There are a variety of fees to consider with a broker. Some of them include:

  • Spread. This is the difference between the buy price and sell price of a financial instrument, which should be as low as possible.
  • Commission. This is a fee to open and close a trade and it also should be as low as possible. Some brokers offer commission-free trading accounts.
  • Overnight, or swap fee. This is the cost of holding a leveraged or margined position overnight and is based on the two different interest rates of the currency pair, plus a broker markup.
  • Deposit and withdrawal fee. There may be a fee to deposit and withdraw funds which can differ based on the method (bank wire, credit card, e-payment, etc.).
  • Inactivity fee. Some brokers charge a monthly fee if there is no activity on a trading account over a certain number of time.

Brokers will generally advertise their fees on their website but you can also check the broker’s terms and conditions document or turn to customer support for any help.

If you’re linking NinjaTrader to a third-party broker account, be mindful of additional fees for integration. While NinjaTrader’s Multiple Provider Add-On service allows free connection to your broker’s platform, it doesn’t enable trading. To execute trades from NinjaTrader and route orders to your broker account, you’ll need to opt for the Multiple Broker Add-On service, priced at $99 per month.

Check out our guide on Best lowest spread forex brokers.

How to choose the right account type?

Most NinjaTrader brokers offer a variety of trading accounts. Generally, account types can be categorized into a commission-free with higher spreads account or commission-based with lower spreads account.

For novice traders, a commission-free account may be appealing, as most costs are incorporated into the spread. This simplifies both trading and quick risk assessment. On the other hand, seasoned traders might opt for an account with lower spreads, treating commissions as a separate end-of-trade expense.

Many brokers provide demo accounts as a risk-free way for traders to test the platform and trading conditions, which is essential for gaining practical experience without financial exposure. It’s crucial to note that you’ll need a live account when integrating with NinjaTrader.

Read more about Best forex STP accounts and Best forex ECN accounts.

How to choose a relevant leverage?

Through third-party brokers, you can trade a variety of asset classes from NinjaTrader, and each asset class has a different leverage/margin ratio. You can check the amount of leverage available with your broker on its product page or terms and conditions document.

The amount of leverage you can access varies based on the broker you choose and its regulatory status. For example, brokers overseen by top-tier regulators like the UK’s FCA, CySEC, and ASIC typically cap retail forex trading leverage at 1:30. In contrast, offshore-regulated brokers often provide substantially higher leverage, which can reach up to 1:500 or more.

In the first case, this leverage ratio allows you to control a $3,000 position with only $100 in your account. However, leverage amplifies both your profits and losses, as they’re calculated on the total trade value. Exercise caution with brokers offering excessively high leverage, as they are likely either unregulated or minimally regulated and based offshore.

Find out our picks of Best high leverage forex brokers.

What are the main features, capabilities, and tools of NinjaTrader?

NinjaTrader has been a leader in the futures markets for decades for good reason. Below I covered a range of excellent features and tools the platform provides.

  • 24-hour emergency trade desk at no extra cost
  • Multi-broker compatibility, allowing connections to various third-party brokers via NinjaTrader
  • Over 100 technical and customized indicators
  • Direct chart trading using Chart Trader, complemented by a broad selection of chart types and timeframes
  • Customizable scans via the Market Analyzer
  • Comprehensive historical backtesting using tick-level data
  • Creation and execution of automated trading systems
  • Comprehensive educational resources, including articles, videos, and webinars from NinjaTrader’s library

What to avoid when choosing a forex broker with NinjaTrader?

Here are some things to avoid when choosing a forex broker with NinjaTrader:

  • Unregulated brokers. Some brokers have no oversight from a government body meaning they don’t provide enough protection for traders in cases when the broker disappears with your funds or provides poor trade execution.
  • Lack of information. If a broker’s website is not transparent about fees, regulatory standing, and trading conditions, consider it a red flag and steer clear of that broker.
  • No physical presence. If a broker does not have a physical office in a reputable financial jurisdiction, that’s a warning sign. A well-regulated broker should have a staffed office, including an easily accessible customer support team.

How to avoid forex and CFD scams?

Here are some tips to avoid forex scams:

  • Choose a regulated broker in a well-established financial jurisdiction and check its license on the regulator’s online register.
  • Check the broker is an official company with a physical address using the country’s companies search portal.
  • Reach out to customer support to confirm the presence of staff and to ensure you can communicate with them directly.
  • Perform a reputation check by entering the broker’s name into a search engine and making sure there are no negative articles from credible sources.
  • Always read the legal terms and conditions carefully and screenshot or video them for evidence.
  • Use only familiar and well-known payment providers to add an extra layer of security to your transactions.
  • Start with a small amount of funds or trial the broker using a demo account.

FAQ

NinjaTrader is a trading platform renowned for its advanced charting tools, automated trading capabilities, and custom indicators. Designed mainly for futures, forex, and stock trading, it enables in-depth technical analysis and strategic execution. The platform can integrate with multiple third-party brokers, giving traders the flexibility to choose their preferred brokerage service.
NinjaTrader is generally considered a safe and reliable trading platform, especially when used with well-regulated brokers. The platform employs advanced security measures, such as encryption protocols, to protect user data and transactions. However, as with any trading environment, the level of safety also depends on the broker you choose and your own risk management practices.
NinjaTrader excels in offering advanced charting capabilities, including a variety of chart types and timeframes for in-depth market analysis. It also supports automated trading, allowing traders to design, backtest, and deploy custom trading strategies. Additional features include multi-broker support, custom indicators via the NinjaTrader Ecosystem, and robust risk management tools.
NinjaTrader offers both free and paid versions of its platform. The free version provides basic functionalities like charting and manual trading but lacks features like automated trading. To unlock its full range of capabilities, including automation and advanced analytics, you'll need to opt for a paid license, which can range from a one-time payment to a subscription model. You can link NinjaTrader to a third-party broker and trade with another broker’s fee but there is a Multi Broker Add-On fee of $99 per month.
NinjaTrader is a futures broker and does take a commission. The amount of commission varies depending on your plan. A free plan offers a commission of $1.29, per side for a standard futures contract. A lifetime plan with a one-off $1,499 license payment provides a commission of $0.59, per side for a standard futures contract.
You don't necessarily need a broker to use NinjaTrader for charting and strategy development; the platform offers a free version that allows for these functionalities. However, if you intend to execute live trades, you will need to connect NinjaTrader to a supported brokerage account.
NinjaTrader can be a bit overwhelming for complete beginners due to its extensive range of features and functionalities. However, it does offer a wealth of educational resources, including tutorials, webinars, and a community forum, which can help newcomers get acclimated. The platform also provides a free version and a demo account option, enabling beginners to practice trading without financial risk.
Yes, you can execute trades directly from NinjaTrader's platform, provided you've connected it to a supported brokerage account. The platform offers multiple trading tools like Chart Trader, which allows you to place orders directly from the chart. This integrated approach facilitates quick order execution and real-time market analysis, making it convenient for traders to manage their positions effectively.
NinjaTrader is a popular platform for trading futures and forex. Equipped with a wide range of chart types, intervals, and technical analysis indicators, it also provides the ability for deep historical backtesting and automated trading solutions.
NinjaTrader does offer an Android and iOS mobile trading app but only through its own brokerage and not via third-party brokers.
NinjaTrader does not offer social or copy trading but by linking the platform to a third-party broker that does provide such as service it may be possible.
Yes, NinjaTrader is renowned for its robust automated trading capabilities. The platform allows traders to develop, backtest, and deploy automated trading strategies using its NinjaScript programming language. You can also use pre-coded strategies and adapt them to your trading objectives. NinjaTrader's Strategy Analyzer tool provides a comprehensive overview of a strategy's performance, helping traders optimize their automated systems for the best outcomes.
NinjaTrader offers a diverse range of tradable instruments, although the exact offerings can depend on the broker you choose to connect with the platform. Commonly traded asset classes on NinjaTrader include forex, futures, equities, and options.
NinjaTrader itself doesn't natively support cryptocurrency trading. However, the ability to trade cryptocurrencies would primarily depend on whether the broker you've connected with the platform offers crypto trading services.
NinjaTrader's features largely remain consistent across different brokers because it operates as an independent platform. The main distinctions come from the types of assets offered by the broker, their fee structures, available leverage or margin ratios, and regulatory status.

About the Author

Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.

Why you can trust FX Empire

At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.

Why you can trust FX Empire

FXEmpire was founded in 2011, making us one of the first forex broker review sites. You can trust FXEmpire because of our thorough and unbiased review process. With over a decade of experience, we have a team of industry experts who conduct rigorous tests to ensure our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Our reviews are designed to bring clarity and confidence to the process of choosing a broker, and are based on objective criteria and measurable data. Our editorial team is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists, who ensure that our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Additionally, our review system is based on 9 core categories and over 250 distinct variables, which ensures that all aspects of a broker are considered before giving a final rating. So, you can trust FXEmpire to provide you with honest and informative reviews that will help you make an informed decision on which broker will best enable you to reach your financial goals.