NinjaTrader is a futures trading platform known for its competitive commissions and low margins. It also offers a full suite of trading tools for futures traders, so you’re probably wondering, can I use NinjaTrader in Canada? Keep reading to find out and learn about what options are available for Canadian traders.
Is NinjaTrader available in Canada?
Yes—but only for residents of Ontario. If you live in Ontario, you can use NinjaTrader to trade futures with low commissions and margins.
But if you live in any other Canadian province or territory, you’ll need to find an alternative broker for all your online trading needs.
Like NinjaTrader, Interactive Brokers supports futures trading—a feature that's not widely available from Canadian brokers. But this platform also offers access to a huge range of trading opportunities, including stocks, ETFs, options, forex and more on exchanges around the world. And with different mobile and desktop trading platforms based on whether you're looking for a simple user experience or something more advanced, there are lots of good reasons to check out Interactive Brokers.
Pros
Platforms for beginners as well as advanced users
Trade on 160 global markets
Supports over 100 order types
Competitive trading commissions
Cons
$2–$12 per withdrawal (1 free/month)
Beginners might be overwhelmed by advanced platform features
Monthly subscription fee for real-time data
Monthly Account Fee
$0
Account Types
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, Joint
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Index Funds, ETFs, Forex, Currencies, Futures
Get 100 free online stock and ETF trades when you open a new account & get up to $15,000 in cashback when you transfer funds from outside CIBC to your new or existing account. Valid until March 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.
While you can't trade futures with Investor's Edge, you can use this Big Bank trading platform to trade stocks, ETFs, options, precious metals and more. The platform offers a host of research and analysis tools to help you choose investments, including charting tools as well as access to research reports from CIBC Capital Markets, and there are plenty of educational resources for new investors. That's why CIBC Investor's Edge is well worth a look if you're ready to start your investing journey.
Pros
Fee discounts for young, student and active traders
Easy-to-use platform
Good variety of research and analysis tools
Trade a wide range of assets
Cons
Discount brokerages have lower fees
$100 annual fee if the balance of your accounts is $10,000 or under
Annoying to deposit funds if you don't have a CIBC account
Unlike NinjaTrader, Questrade doesn't support futures trading. But it does let you trade options, FX and CFDs, along with more beginner-friendly investment types like stocks, ETFs and bonds. It supports fractional share trading, so you don't need a large balance to start investing, and the fact that it offers commission-free stock and ETF trading is a big plus. And with a wide selection of account types available along with up-to-date-market news and research tools, there are plenty of reasons why you should check out what Questrade has to offer.
Pros
Commission-free stock trading
Managed portfolios also available
User-friendly for beginners
Supports fractional share trading
Cons
No futures trading
High minimum investment for IPOs, GICs and bonds
Subscription fee for real-time data
Signup Offer
Get free contracts, no commissions and a 30 day free trial of Questrade Plus. Use the offer code FREEOPTIONS.
Moomoo is a discount brokerage where you can trade Canadian and US stocks and ETFs as well as US options. Commissions are competitive at $0.0149 per share (minimum $1.49 per trade), and there are desktop and mobile apps available based on your trading needs. Plus, if you ever need any assistance with your account, Moomoo offers 24/7 customer support.
Pros
User-friendly trading platform
Free US Level 2 market data
Offers a paper trading account
Useful stock analysis tools and screeners
Cons
High fees for large trades
Only provides access to a limited range of markets
Limited range of account types
Signup Offer
Get up to $4,600 in trading perks.
Monthly Account Fee
$0
Account Types
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, FHSA
Available Asset Types
Stocks, Options, ETFs
ETF Transaction Cost
USD$0.99/stock
Option Fee
US stocks and ETFs: USD$0.99/stock (min. US$1.99 per trade)
Get 5% cash back on every dollar you invest up to $15,000 and 1% cash back on any amount above that. Plus, new clients receive unlimited free trades. Use code QTRADE2025. Valid until January 5, 2026. T&Cs apply.
Qtrade lets you trade Canadian and US stocks and ETFs as well as crypto ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, new issues, GICs and options. Unlike NinjaTrader, there's no futures trading available, but Qtrade does provide a full suite of research and analysis tools along with user-friendly trading platforms. You can also access analyst recommendations from Morningstar, get real-time quotes to follow the market, and use a range of portfolio analytics tools to ensure that you're on track to meet your investment goals.
Pros
$0 commissions on equities, mutual funds, ETFs and options
Plenty of research and analysis tools
Trade a wide range of assets
Handy portfolio analytics tools
Cons
Other platforms provide access to a wider range of markets
Signup Offer
Get 5% cash back on every dollar you invest up to $15,000 (up to $750 cash back) and 1% cash back on any amount above that (up to max. cash back of $2,000). Plus, new clients receive unlimited free trades. Use code QTRADE2025. Valid until January 5, 2026.
RBC Direct Investing is well worth a look if you're searching for a feature-packed Big Bank broker in Canada. While it doesn't support futures trading like NinjaTrader does, it does provide access to stocks, ETFs, bonds, options and more. You can also take advantage of real-time quotes to make informed trading decisions, plus portfolio analytics, educational resources for new investors, and stock screeners and technical analysis tools to help you choose your investments.
Pros
Access a wide range of investments and account types
Real-time streaming quotes
Practice Account so you can test out trading strategies
$9.95 ($6.95 if you place 150+ trades per quarter)
Option Fee
$6.95 to $9.95 (+$1.25 per contract)
Stock Trading Fee
$9.95
FX Fee
0.10% - 1.60%
Min. Deposit
$0
How does the NinjaTrader trading platform work?
NinjaTrader offers the following features to customers in dozens of countries and territories around the world, including users in Ontario.
Futures trading
NinjaTrader is a specialist futures broker where users can trade stock, energy, metal, agriculture, treasury and cryptocurrency futures. Customers can trade popular markets like E-mini S&P 500 index futures, and there are over 100 futures products to choose from.
Commissions and margin requirements
NinjaTrader has made a name for itself by offering low trading commissions and margin requirements. It offers $50 day trading margins and commissions starting at $0.09 per micro contract. Pricing varies depending on the trading plan you choose—Free, Monthly ($99 per month) or Lifetime ($1,499 one-time payment).
Trading platforms
NinjaTrader offers a choice of web, desktop and mobile trading platforms. Available on PC and Mac, its desktop trading platform offers advanced charting tools, more than 100 technical indicators, depth of market tools and advanced order types. It also has multi-screen support and provides access to thousands of trading apps and add-ons, allowing users to customize it to suit their needs. Mobile apps for iPhone and Android are also available for users who want to trade on the go.
All of the NinjaTrader alternatives featured in this guide offer web and mobile platforms. Some also offer desktop apps, including Interactive Brokers and Questrade.
Account requirements
There is no minimum deposit required to open a NinjaTrader account, though you will need to meet the broker’s margin requirements. You’ll also need to be aware of a 1% currency conversion fee if converting between CAD and USD, but there’s no annual fee to worry about. There is a minimum activity fee of $35 if you have a Free account but don’t make any trades for the month.
Futures trading simulator
NinjaTrader also offers a futures trading simulator. This free tool lets you test out your futures trading skills and strategies in a simulated environment, with live streaming market data used to provide an authentic trading experience.
Can you open a NinjaTrader account in another country?
Yes, it’s possible to open a NinjaTrader account in another country. The platform is available in dozens of countries and territories around the world, so if, for example, you’re a US citizen living in a country where NinjaTrader operates, you should be able to open an account.
If you’re unsure whether it’s possible to open a NinjaTrader account in your country, contact the NinjaTrader support team.
Which countries does NinjaTrader operate in?
NinjaTrader is available in dozens of countries around the world, including
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada (Ontario only)
China
France
Germany
India
United Kingdom
United States
If your country of residence is not available to select from the dropdown menu when you apply to open an account, NinjaTrader is not available where you live.
Can you use NinjaTrader in Canada?
Yes, NinjaTrader is available in Canada, but only for residents of Ontario. Residents of other provinces and territories will need to check out NinjaTrader alternatives.
If you’re a resident of another country and you have a NinjaTrader account, you should still be able to access your account while visiting Canada.
What is the best NinjaTrader alternative in Canada?
There’s no such thing as a single online trading platform that’s best for everyone. The right NinjaTrader Canada alternative for you depends on factors such as what you want to trade, how often you trade and your level of investing experience.
You’ll need to compare platform features and fees in line with your requirements before deciding where to open an account.
That said, some of the best alternatives to NinjaTrader in Canada include Interactive Brokers and Moomoo.
Interactive Brokers supports futures trading, which is rare in Canada, and also provides access to a huge range of global markets and advanced trading tools.
Moomoo doesn’t offer futures trading in Canada, but it does offer a user-friendly trading platform and competitive commissions for users who want to start trading Canadian and US stocks and ETFs.
Can you download the NinjaTrader app in Canada?
Yes, you can download the NinjaTrader app in Canada. It’s free to download from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
You can also download the NinjaTrader desktop app in Canada. This app is not only available for NinjaTrader customers in Ontario, but also for people in other provinces and territories who can use it to trade futures with a third-party broker.
Bottom line
Unless you’re an Ontario resident, you can’t use NinjaTrader in Canada. But the good news is that there are several legit NinjaTrader alternatives to choose from. Compare a range of options to find a platform that’s easy to use, has low fees and provides access to the markets and assets you want to trade.
Frequently asked questions about NinjaTrader
The best trading platform for you might not be the same as for someone else. You'll need to consider the markets you want to trade and your investing experience, then compare the fees and features of a range of brokers, to find the right platform for you. You can also compare the best brokerage signup bonuses to help you make a decision, and learn more about choosing a brokerage firm in our guide to the best stock trading apps in Canada.
Yes, you can trade futures in Canada, but this feature is not widely available from online brokers. Interactive Brokers is one platform that supports futures trading, and you can learn more about how it works in our guide to futures trading in Canada.
NinjaTrader offers $50 intraday margins for micro contracts and $500 margins for popular futures markets like the E-mini S&P 500. You can find a full list of margins for available contracts and markets, plus the broker's margin policy, on the NinjaTrader website.
The NinjaTrader mobile app can be downloaded from Google Play and Apple's App Store. If you want to download the NinjaTrader desktop app, you can do so from the NinjaTrader website.
Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
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