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Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

See the fees, features and pros and cons of some top futures trading platforms.

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By

Matt Miczulski

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Updated

Fact checked

How’s the S&P 500 going to perform over the next quarter? What’s the price of crude oil a month from now?

Nobody knows, that’s the nature of markets. But you can speculate with futures contracts.

Futures trading lets investors speculate on or hedge against price movements across various assets for profit, but it’s highly leveraged and risky.

If you’re a beginner just starting or are experienced and want to compare futures brokers, here are some top futures trading platform choices to get started.

10 best futures trading platforms

Bonus highlight

Webull

9.4 Excellent

Get 12 free shares by joining Webull. Select Go to site, then make a first deposit of $100 or more to get 10+2 free shares, each worth $3-$300, randomly drawn from the pool of NVDA, TSLA, SPCX and AAPL, minimum $36 in the pocket, plus 1-month complimentary Webull premium. T&Cs apply.
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You needn't look further than Webull if you want a low-cost futures trading platform that prioritizes accessibility and efficiency. Practice trading with Webull's paperTrade feature and take advantage of its real-time data, dynamic charting and robust analysis tools across Webull's web, mobile and desktop platforms. Futures commissions are low, with micro futures starting at $0.25 per contract and standard futures around $1.25 per contract. Upgrade to Webull Premium for $3.99 per month to unlock $0.25 off futures commissions. Plus, Webull is rolling out access to CFTC-regulated crypto perpetual futures ('perps') via its Kalshi partnership, allowing you to trade contracts without traditional expiration dates. But Webull's traditional futures market access is limited compared to more comprehensive brokers.
$160
Finder Reward
Get up to $160 from Finder Become a Finder member, then open a new Webull account through Finder as a first-time customer and make an Eligible First Deposit of $100 to $999.99 for a $20 reward, or $1,000+ for a $160 reward. Keep your deposit in your account until February 1, 2027. Offer ends December 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
Separate T&Cs and limits apply.
Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get 12 free shares by joining Webull

Robinhood

9.4 Excellent

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Don't let this new entrant to the futures markets fool you. Blending low commissions and its notoriously user-friendly design, Robinhood's futures trading introduces several distinctive features within the brokerage industry. Its commissions of $0.75 per side for non-Gold members and $0.50 for Gold members sound pretty good compared to the $2.25 per contract you'll find with some traditional brokers. Its available futures span energy, metals, indexes, currencies and crypto. Plus, Robinhood is a multi-asset platform, so you can trade more than futures in one place. You just won't get the same depth of market access as you would with bigger brokers or futures-focused platforms.
Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus N/A

Interactive Brokers

9.4 Excellent

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Trade futures worldwide. That's what you get with an Interactive Brokers account. Oh, and some of the lowest futures commissions on the market, educational courses and advanced trading tools across its different trading platforms. Trade standard futures at $0.85 per contract, per side and micro futures at $0.25 per contract, per side. Trade commodity futures globally on 30+ market centers and leverage advanced tools, like the ComboTrader for seamless futures trading and the Index Arbitrage Meter for advanced strategies. But prepare for a steep learning curve if you're a beginner looking to tackle futures on the Trader Workstation platform.
Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus N/A

TradeStation

8.2 Great

Get a $150 bonus when you open an account with promo code TSTVAGLK, fund it and maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 for 60 days. T&Cs apply.
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Read review
Who wouldn't want a robust platform with advanced charting, backtesting and real-time analytics to help you navigate the futures markets? Available on desktop, web and mobile, with APIs for building custom trading solutions, TradeStation's packed full of advanced tools and features that can help you develop the powerful futures trading strategy you've been after. Standard futures start on the higher end at $1.75 per contract, per side (scaling down with higher volume), with micro futures at $0.50 per contract, per side. And there's a pesky $10 monthly inactivity fee if you don't meet minimum activity requirements.
Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get $150

Plus500 US

9.2 Excellent

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Plus500 specializes in low-cost futures trading. Trade indices, commodities, forex, cryptocurrencies and more, with competitive, flat-rate commissions: $0.89 per side for standard contracts and $0.49 per side for micro contracts. Notably, there are no fees for account maintenance, deposits, withdrawals, routing or platform usage. With a low minimum deposit requirement of $10 and 24/7 customer support via live chat and email, Plus500 is accessible to a broad range of traders. But its research and analysis tools are lacking.
Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $10
Signup bonus N/A

Coinbase

9 Excellent

Go to site
Trade crypto futures contracts, including bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH) and XRP (XRP), with advanced trading tools, 24/7 customer support and regulated market access. Offered via Coinbase Financial Markets, US traders can trade nano and micro crypto contracts designed for manageable capital requirements with transparent per-contract commissions. But Coinbase is limited to the crypto market, so there are some market limitations.
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get up to $200 in crypto

NinjaTrader

8 Great

Get up to $250 in futures commission rebates* T&Cs apply.
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Read review
NinjaTrader offers competitive futures trading fees and low margins. Its commissions for its free plan are competitive, $1.29 per side for standard contracts and $0.39 for micro contracts, with even lower commissions for its paid plans. Meanwhile, NinjaTrader's cloud-based futures trading infrastructure offers seamless trading across its desktop, web and mobile platforms, and its unlimited simulated trading lets you test new trading ideas before putting money at risk. There are no minimum deposit requirements to use NinjaTrader, but you must pay for real-time market data before trading.
Minimum deposit $0

Charles Schwab

9.4 Excellent

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Kick off your trading session with daily futures commentary from Schwab's futures specialist, level up with Schwab's library of futures educational material or practice trading with the paperMoney simulated trader. When you're ready to go live, Schwab's suite of thinkorswim trading platforms is available with its wide range of advanced tools and functions. Trade various futures markets, but commissions are high at $2.25 per contract, per side.
Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get a $101 bonus

tastytrade

8.6 Great

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Designed primarily for derivatives trading, tastytrade boasts competitive pricing on futures with $1 to open and $1 to close a standard contract and $0.75 to open and $0.75 to close a micro futures contract, plus exchange, clearing and regulatory fees. Its asset variety is expansive, and its trading tools are powerful — think customizable platforms, advanced charting tools and backtesting. Web, browser and desktop trading is available, as are trading courses, live demos and the ability to trade futures in an IRA. But no live demo account to practice trading.
Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Refer a friend and you each get $100

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

8.6 Great

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Available in brokerage and IRAs, E*TRADE's futures trading includes an expansive list of available markets, pro-level tools — available via web and mobile app — and a dedicated futures research center. Trade standard, micro and E-mini contracts on E*TRADE's powerful Power E*TRADE and Power E*TRADE app, but futures commissions are on the higher end — $1.50 per contract, per side or $2.50 per contract, per side for crypto futures.
Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get up to $1,000
terms apply

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Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.

Methodology: How we choose the best brokerage accounts

Finder’s investment experts reviewed 11 brokers and cryptocurrency exchanges available on the market to narrow down the best platforms for trading futures.

We analyzed each platform based on 21 key metrics collected directly from brokers. Then we assessed each provider’s performance based on five different categories, weighing each metric according to the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts.

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

What to look for when choosing a futures trading platform

Finder’s picks for the best platforms for futures trading are meant to provide a starting point for finding the right broker for your investing style and goals.

Consider the following factors when comparing your options:

  • Fees and commissions. Look for transparent and competitive pricing.
  • Execution speed. Ensure fast and reliable order execution for optimal trading.
  • Trading tools. Check for advanced charting, risk management and technical analysis features.
  • Market access. Ensure the platform supports the futures markets you want to trade.
  • Contract duration and perpetual futures. Most traditional futures (like crude oil or equity indexes) have set expiration dates and must be closed or rolled over. If you want positions without expiration dates, look for platforms offering CFTC-regulated perpetual futures, such as Webull (via Kalshi) or Coinbase Financial Markets.
  • Regulation and security. Verify that the platform is regulated and has strong security protocols.
  • User interface. Choose a platform with an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface.
  • Leverage and margin requirements. Understand available leverage and margin rules.
  • Customer support. Ensure prompt and helpful customer service availability.
  • Order types. Look for a variety of order types (e.g., limit, stop-loss, market orders).
  • Mobile access. Check if the platform offers mobile trading for flexibility.
  • Educational Resources. Look for tools or materials to support your learning, especially if you’re new.

Compare and find the broker that's right for you

Match your experience level with your trading and investing goals to find the right broker for you.
If you're a And want to Consider this
Beginner investor Do most or all of your trading on your mobile device Best stock trading apps
Beginner investor Trade and invest with as few fees as possible Best discount stock brokers
Beginner investor Outsource portfolio management automatically and at a low cost Best robo-advisors
Beginner investor Gain exposure to multiple assets like stocks, bonds or gold through a single fund Best ETF brokers
Experienced investor Get an overall idea of providers on the market and what they're best for Best brokerage accounts
Experienced investor Invest internationally in stocks, ETFs and other assets Best international stock brokers
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement with upfront tax benefits Best (traditional) IRA
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement and enjoy tax-free withdrawals Best Roth IRA
Investor of any experience level Diversify with low-cost index funds Best brokerage accounts for index funds
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Investments editor and market analyst
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Matt Miczulski is an investments editor and market analyst at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on Yahoo Finance, CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise
Matt has written 295 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management
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