Plus500 Futures vs. NinjaTrader – Which Broker is the Best for Your Trading Needs?

Plus500 Futures and NinjaTrader are leading US futures brokers, but which one should you trust your portfolios with?

I have conducted an in-depth review of Plus500 Futures vs. NinjaTrader to determine which is the better overall choice and which traders will benefit most from either broker.

• Features and Platforms
• Available Markets
• Typical Spreads and Fees
• Security and Trust
• Plus500 Futures versus NinjaTrader - Verdict

Headquarters	United States	United States
Regulators	CFTC	CFTC, NFA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established	2022	2003
Execution Type(s)	Market Maker	NDD
Minimum Deposit	$10	No
Negative Balance Protection		N/A
Trading Platform(s)	Proprietary platform, Web-based	Proprietary platform, NinjaTrader
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil	N/A	Plan commission per side + ~$0.19 exchange fee (CL/MCL futures)
Average Trading Cost Gold	N/A	Plan commission per side + ~$0.19 exchange fee (GC/MGC futures)
Minimum Standard Spreads	0.5 pips	N/A
Minimum Commission for Forex	$0.49 (mini) / $0.89 (standard)	N/A
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
	Visit Website	Visit Website

Main advantages of Plus500 Futures:

• Fastest account opening process in the industry
• Unlimited demo mode
• Futures and prediction markets
• A low initial margin requirement (for example, Micro E-mini S&P 500 intraday margin is only $50)
• Free live market data (most brokers charge $10-$25 monthly)
• Parent company is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and has over 13 million clients worldwide.
• Access to prediction markets
• A choice of standard, mini, and micro contracts
• A user-friendly web-based trading platform and mobile app ideal for beginner traders
• 24/7 customer support
• Education via the Futures Academy

Main advantages of NinjaTrader:

• A cutting-edge, customizable trading platform, available as a desktop platform, a lightweight, web-based alternative, and a user-friendly mobile app
• NinjaScript for algorithmic futures trading
• 1,000+ technical indicators, strategies, and apps
• Social trading via third-party integration
• Free demo trading for 14 days and unlimited simulated trading
• No minimum deposit requirement

Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Available Markets

Currency Pairs
Cryptocurrencies
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Stocks (non-CFDs)
Bonds
ETFs
Options
Futures
Synthetics
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Why Plus500 Futures is a better choice for most traders:

• The availability of prediction markets, which is a high-growth asset class across the US
• Over 100 CME futures with below-standard CME intra-day margin rates
• Automatic liquidation, similar to negative balance protection
• Plus500 Futures demo account has no time limit, while the demo account of NinjaTrader will real data has a 14-day time limit.
• Active guidance to use stop-loss, take-profit, and trailing-stops

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil	N/A	Plan commission per side + ~$0.19 exchange fee (CL/MCL futures)
Average Trading Cost Gold	N/A	Plan commission per side + ~$0.19 exchange fee (GC/MGC futures)
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin	N/A	BTC/MBT futures; plan commission per side + exchange fee
Minimum Standard Spreads	0.5 pips	N/A
Minimum Commission for Forex	$0.49 (mini) / $0.89 (standard)	N/A
Deposit Fee
Withdrawal Fee
Inactivity Fee	N/A
	Visit Website	Visit Website

Both brokers offer traders competitive commission-based trading accounts, but which one is cheaper?

While both brokers maintain competitive fees, Plus500 Futures is cheaper for low-volume traders, whereas NinjaTrader is ideal for high-volume traders who trade at least 5,000 round-trip micro contracts or 1,070 standard contracts.

Account Types

The account structure at Plus500 Futures and NinjaTrader is similar, also Plus500 Futures offers an unlimited demo account and NinjaTrader offers an unlimited trading simulator.

Are there any other noteworthy differences in the account structure between Plus500 Futures vs. NinjaTrader?

Here is what stands out the most:

• Plus500 Futures opens trading accounts in minutes, with 85% passing KYC without additional documents
• NinjaTrader supports algorithmic trading and includes copy trading via third-party integration
• NinjaTrader has no minimum deposit requirement

Minimum Deposit

How difficult is it to deposit at Plus500 Futures vs. NinjaTrader?

Plus500 Futures and NinjaTrader offer identical deposit methods: bank wires, credit/debit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, while the latter also accepts traditional paper cheques. Therefore, the ease of making a deposit is the same at both, with the core difference being that Plus500 Futures allows clients to trade with deposited funds in transit.

Minimum Withdrawal

Which withdrawal process is better: Plus500 Futures or NinjaTrader?

The minimum withdrawal varies by payment processor, with NinjaTrader having lower minimum amounts. Still, traders should avoid micro-transactions, as third-party payment processing fees may apply. Plus500 takes the lead in this category, as it does not charge internal withdrawal fees.

Security & Trust

Country of the Regulator	United States	United States
Name of the Regulator	CFTC	CFTC, NFA
Regulatory License Number	NFA ID 0001398	NFA ID 0309379
Regulatory Tier	1	1
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Which broker is more secure and trustworthy?

Plus500 Futures and NinjaTrader segregate client deposits from corporate funds and rank among the most trusted US-regulated futures brokers with good track records. Still, Plus500 Futures is part of a publicly listed group on the London Stock Exchange, has an average rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 from 18,000+ reviews, and is a licensed FCM (Futures Commission Merchant), enabling it to offer direct, regulated futures trading.

Plus500 Futures versus NinjaTrader - Verdict

Plus500 Futures

NinjaTrader

Which futures broker is better?

Plus500 Futures and NinjaTrader are high-quality futures brokers, and I recommend traders test them in the Plus500 Futures demo account and the NinjaTrader demo account.

My verdict:

NinjaTrader shines with its ultra-low trading fees for high-volume traders and the absence of a minimum deposit. Still, I rank Plus500 Futures as the overall superior choice, as it offers a user-friendly futures trading platform ideal for most retail traders.

Read full Plus500 Futures Review Read full NinjaTrader Review

FAQs

Which is better, Plus500 Futures or NinjaTrader?

NinjaTrader is an excellent broker for advanced, high-volume traders, as it offers ultra-low contract fees starting at $0.09. Plus500 is the better choice for most retail traders due to its user-friendly platform and availability of prediction markets.

How much commission does Plus500 Futures take?

Plus500 Futures commissions are between $0.49 and $0.89, depending on the asset, while prediction markets are as low as $0.01.

Is NinjaTrader good for beginners?

NinjaTrader is not ideal for beginners, as its cutting-edge trading platform has a steeper learning curve than Plus500 Futures.

Does Plus500 Futures or NinjaTrader have lower costs?

While both brokers maintain competitive trading fees, NinjaTrader has lower costs.

Do Plus500 or NinjaTrader sponsor any sports teams?

Yes, Plus500 sponsors the Chicago Bulls. NinjaTrader sponsors the UFC but not particular competitors.

By DailyForex.com Team

The DFX Team at DailyForex is a group of veteran financial analysts, traders, and brokerage industry experts dedicated to producing in-depth broker reviews and cutting-edge market insights, plus analysis of market trends. Holding over 16 years of experience in global financial markets, and 4 B.A. level academic qualifications in relevant degrees, we conduct thorough, unbiased evaluations of brokers to enable traders make informed decisions, using the most advanced methodology in the industry. Also, the DFX team is involved in generating technical analysis, signals, and trading strategies, with a consistent commitment to accuracy and transparency. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional trader, the DFX Team works to ensure you have the tools and insights you need to succeed as a trader in the retail CFD industry.