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Tradovate Review
Tradovate is a cloud based futures trading brand now owned by NinjaTrader. It operates under NinjaTrader Clearing LLC, not as its own separately regulated firm.
Min Deposit
N/A
Spreads From
Not spread based, commissions from $0.09 per side on the Lifetime plan
Max Leverage
Exchange set futures margins, around $50 for popular equity index day trades
Platforms
Tradovate web and mobile platform, NinjaTrader platform (shared login)
Pros
- Backed by NinjaTrader Clearing LLC, a CFTC regulated futures commission merchant
- Commissions as low as $0.09 per micro contract under the paid Lifetime plan
- No monthly fee Free plan option with no set funding minimum
- One login gives access to both the Tradovate and NinjaTrader trading platforms
- On demand market replay tool lets traders test past sessions without downloads
Cons
- Not its own separately regulated company, it trades under NinjaTrader Clearing LLC
- Ownership has changed twice recently, first to NinjaTrader in 2022, then Kraken in 2025
- The cheapest per contract pricing needs a $1,499 upfront Lifetime plan payment
- Standard contract commissions on the Free plan reach $1.29 per side
Tradovate started as an independent, cloud based futures broker founded by Rick Tomsic around 2014. NinjaTrader Group bought Tradovate Holdings in January 2022 for $115 million, and Tomsic joined NinjaTrader as chief strategy officer.
Tradovate is now a trading name of NinjaTrader Clearing LLC, which the National Futures Association lists under ID 0309379 alongside the NinjaTrader and Kraken Derivatives US brands. In 2025, NinjaTrader itself became part of the crypto exchange Kraken, adding another layer to its ownership structure.
Traders get commissions from $0.09 per micro contract on the paid Lifetime plan, or a no monthly fee Free plan with higher per contract pricing. A single login now works across both the Tradovate and NinjaTrader platforms, and day trading margins on popular equity index futures start around $50.
Max Leverage
Exchange set futures margins, around $50 for popular equity index day trades
Spreads From
Not spread based, commissions from $0.09 per side on the Lifetime plan
Platforms
Regulation, fund safety, track record
Spreads, execution, leverage
Platform quality, charting, features
Analysis, webinars, learning materials
Support quality, responsiveness
Mobile app quality, features
