Best Futures Brokers

Best For Overall

Plus500

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Best For Advanced Futures Trading

NinjaTrader

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Best For Active and Global Traders

Interactive Brokers

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Best For Non U.S. Forex & CFD Traders

AvaTrade

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Best For Active Futures Trading

EdgeClear

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Best For Fund Investing

Charles Schwab

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The world of futures trading can be thrilling – if you have the right broker. But choosing a futures broker isn’t like picking a favorite snack at the grocery store. You need the right tools, low fees, top-notch service, and a platform that doesn’t frustrate you every time you place a trade. Whether you’re looking to hedge risks, speculate on market movements or just try something beyond stocks, finding the best futures broker is key to your success.

After thorough analysis and testing various brokers, we’ve rounded up our picks for the best futures brokers: Plus500, Interactive Brokers and NinjaTrader stand out for their powerful tools, competitive pricing, and user experience that can handle anything from beginners’ baby steps to pros’ rapid trading blitzes. 

11 Best Futures Trading Brokers

Choosing the right futures broker can make all the difference in your trading experience. Here’s our detailed rundown of the 10 best futures brokers.

1. Best for Overall: Plus500

Unlike its CFD platform, which is off-limits to U.S. traders, Plus500 does allow US clients to trade futures. This is a unique offering since most international brokers completely exclude the US. traders due to regulatory restrictions.

Futures trading on Plus500 provides access to commodity futures, stock index futures, and currency futures, allowing traders to speculate on future price movements with leverage. The platform offers real-time data, advanced charting tools, and risk management features, but still lacks MT4/MT5 integration and automated trading tools.

While the futures market is inherently complex, Plus500 keeps the interface simple and accessible, making it an appealing option for US traders who want exposure to futures contracts. Serious futures traders may prefer a more specialized platform with deeper customization options.

2. Best for Advanced Trading Tools: NinjaTrader

NinjaTrader stands out for its powerful trading tools and comprehensive charts, making it a favorite among serious futures traders. With NinjaTrader, you get direct access to the futures market with intuitive charting capabilities, automated trading features, and thousands of third-party add-ons to customize your trading experience. The platform also offers deep data analysis tools, giving you more insights to optimize your strategy.

NinjaTrader’s fees are highly competitive. If you’re an active trader, you can save a lot by using their commission-free pricing model for lifetime license users, and there are no added charges for using their powerful NinjaTrader Desktop. This makes it a great fit for those who want high-end tools without breaking the bank.

3. Best for Overall Cost Efficiency: Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is a heavyweight champion when it comes to futures trading. This platform is ideal for traders looking for rock-bottom costs and a comprehensive trading ecosystem. Their commissions start at $0.85 per contract, and IBKR Lite offers commission-free trading on select products. Their deep liquidity ensures you get tight spreads, which means better pricing for your trades.

Interactive Brokers also excels in providing a wide range of futures markets. Traders have access to everything from commodities to cryptocurrencies, offering immense diversity. Their Trader Workstation platform is sophisticated and supports technical analysis, news feeds and research from reputable sources.

4. Best for User-Friendly Platform: AvaTrade

AvaTrade's incredibly user-friendly interface makes futures trading accessible to beginners. The platform offers straightforward navigation, intuitive tools, and educational resources to help users understand the futures markets. AvaTrade also provides negative balance protection, ensuring that traders can't lose more than what they have invested.

AvaTrade offers competitive spreads and multiple platforms, like MetaTrader 4/5, catering to those looking for versatility. It doesn’t charge commission on trades but earns through spreads, which means fewer upfront costs.

5. Best for Active Traders: EdgeClear

EdgeClear is designed by traders, for traders. It emphasizes direct market access and highly customizable trading features that are perfect for active and regular traders. Their fee structure is transparent and offers discounts to frequent traders, making them a cost-effective choice for high-volume traders.

EdgeClear’s platform is also API-friendly, which means traders can integrate third-party tools and develop custom scripts to enhance their trading strategies. This adaptability is especially beneficial for implementing specific algorithmic trading strategies.

6. Best for Full-Service Features: Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab brings futures trading with the strength of a full-service brokerage house. They offer a powerful, flexible trading platform called StreetSmart Edge, which provides futures traders with in-depth market research, real-time news and a broad set of trading tools. Schwab’s integrated tools help traders gauge market trends and identify profit opportunities.

Schwab’s futures trading fees are slightly higher at $2.25 per contract, but the added service and support make it worthwhile for those who want the full package. Schwab also provides 24/7 customer support, something many traders find invaluable when navigating the complexities of futures trading.

7. Best for Versatile Trading Options: TradeStation

TradeStation is a robust futures broker with a well-designed platform and a selection of investment options. It offers flexible pricing, allowing users to choose between per-contract pricing or unbundled pricing, which can be beneficial for high-volume traders. TradeStation’s RadarScreen feature helps you scan thousands of markets to identify trading opportunities in real time, a valuable tool for active traders.

The platform’s charting capabilities are also top-notch, with advanced drawing tools and a wide selection of indicators catering to new and seasoned traders. The margin requirements are competitive, making it a versatile choice for different trading strategies.

8. Best for Low-Cost Trading: Generic Trade

Generic Trade is a no-frills futures broker with a clear focus: low-cost trading. Their commission is just $0.59 per contract, regardless of the number of trades you make. It’s perfect for traders who don’t need fancy platforms and want straightforward market access without the added fees.

The platform offers basic charts and data but removes many of the extra features that may be unnecessary for cost-conscious traders. This keeps its offering simple and effective, ensuring you pay only for what you need.

9. Best for Innovative Features: tastytrade

tastytrade, formerly known as tastyworks, caters to traders who love a visual, engaging interface. The platform is designed to emphasize options and futures, providing educational content that helps users make informed decisions. The unique layout and streaming content give traders insights straight from experts.

tastytrade charges $1.25 per futures contract, which is competitive. It offers commission caps for certain trades. Its ethos revolves around providing education alongside trading, which is great for those looking to expand their knowledge as they trade.

10. Best for Global Trading: Tickmill

Tickmill offers access to a broad range of futures markets, making it ideal for traders looking to join global trading. Their MetaTrader 4 platform is well-regarded for its speed, reliability, and user-friendly interface. Tickmill is known for its tight spreads and low commissions, especially in its VIP accounts.

Their platform also includes algorithmic trading capabilities, which is perfect for users who want to implement their custom trading scripts across different international markets.

11. Best for Beginners and Support: Optimus Futures

Optimus Futures is committed to providing personalized support to traders. Their educational resources and helpful customer service team cater well to beginners, guiding them through futures trading from start to finish. The platform is user-friendly and offers integration with multiple trading platforms, allowing traders to use their preferred tools.

Their commission structure is also competitive. They offer low margins, allowing beginners to start trading futures without committing too much capital upfront.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Futures Broker

Choosing a futures broker isn’t just about the lowest commission; multiple factors come into play. Here are some key points to consider:

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the broker is regulated by relevant financial authorities, such as the CFTC or NFA, to provide peace of mind that your investments are secure.
• Trading Platforms and Technology: Look for a broker that offers a reliable, intuitive platform. The quality of the charting tools, market data and execution speed can make or break your trading strategy.
• Commission Rates and Fees: Compare brokers' commission rates, margin requirements, and any hidden fees. A slight difference in commission can significantly impact your profits, especially for active traders.
• Available Markets and Products: Choose a broker that offers the futures contracts you want. Whether you want to trade commodities, financials or indices, ensure your broker has what you need.
• Customer Service Quality: Responsive and effective customer service is crucial. Look for brokers offering 24/7 support, especially if you plan to trade across different time zones.

Picking the Perfect Futures Broker

Finding the right futures broker can be a game-changer for your trading journey. Whether you’re looking for advanced tools, low commissions or great customer service, there’s a broker out there. From NinjaTrader's advanced features to Interactive Brokers' cost efficiency, align your choice with your trading goals and risk tolerance.

Frequently Asked Questions