AMP Futures vs NinjaTrader: Fees, Margins and Platforms

AMP Futures and NinjaTrader are two of the most popular futures brokers for active retail traders, and they take very different approaches. AMP is a broker that connects to dozens of third-party platforms. NinjaTrader is a broker built around its own platform. All figures below come from each company's official site, checked November 3, 2026.

Quick verdict

• AMP Futures is likely the better fit if you want a specific third-party platform, the lowest day-trade margins we found, and quotes that already include exchange fees.
• NinjaTrader is likely the better fit if you want the NinjaTrader platform, low base commissions and paid plans that cut costs further at high volume.

Side by side

NinjaTrader's three rates are for its Free, Monthly and Lifetime plans.

Comparing commissions fairly

The two brokers quote commissions differently, which makes a direct comparison tricky.

• AMP publishes a "total all fees included" figure per contract that bundles exchange, NFA, platform and routing fees. Its quote page doesn't say whether that figure is per side or per round turn.
• NinjaTrader quotes a per-side commission and adds exchange, clearing and NFA fees on top.

So NinjaTrader's $0.39 MES rate on the Free plan isn't directly comparable with AMP's $0.60. Exchange fees on micros can be a meaningful share of the total. Before you choose on price, add the exchange and NFA fees from NinjaTrader's fee schedule to its commission, and ask AMP to confirm whether its figure is per side. Then price your typical month, for example 100 or 200 round turns.

If you trade enough to justify a NinjaTrader paid plan, its per-side commission falls to $0.29 (Monthly) or $0.09 (Lifetime) on micros. Our NinjaTrader vs Tradovate guide shows the break-even volumes: about 495 micro round turns a month for the Monthly plan.

Margins and minimums

AMP lists $40 MES and $400 ES day-trade margins, the lowest we found, plus a $100 minimum deposit. NinjaTrader lists $50 and $500, with no minimum deposit. The $10 difference in MES margin rarely matters in practice, because sensible position sizing needs far more than margin. A 20-point move against one MES is $100, more than double either broker's margin. See Margin and Leverage in Futures and How Much Money Do You Need to Trade Futures?

Platforms: the real difference

AMP Futures

AMP's site lists more than 50 trading platforms, including Quantower, MetaTrader 5, MultiCharts, TradingView, Sierra Chart, ATAS and CQG Desktop. It says Quantower, MetaTrader 5, MultiCharts .NET and TradingView are free for AMP customers. Other platforms carry their own fees, so the platform you pick affects your total cost.

One limitation: AMP's FAQ indicates that using NinjaTrader with AMP was limited to users grandfathered in with NinjaTrader keys from 2014 (Rithmic) or 2015 (CQG). If you want the NinjaTrader platform, a new AMP account isn't the route.

NinjaTrader

NinjaTrader's plans include its Desktop, Web and Mobile platforms, with top-of-book data, simulated trading and charting on every plan. Order Flow+ and Market Replay need a funded live account. CQG and Rithmic routing are available for extra fees. If you want automated strategies and a large add-on ecosystem in one place, this is NinjaTrader's strength.

Getting started at each

Whichever broker you choose, the first steps are similar. Open the account, fund at least the minimum, and spend time in simulation before trading live. At NinjaTrader, simulated trading is included on every plan. At AMP, your platform choice decides the simulation and charting tools you'll use, so pick the platform first and test it before funding. In both cases, start with one micro contract, such as MES or MNQ, and size each trade from your stop with the position size calculator.

Who each broker suits

Bottom line

Choose by platform first, then by cost. If your preferred platform is a third-party tool, AMP's breadth is hard to match. If you want NinjaTrader's platform, open with NinjaTrader. Read the full AMP Futures review and NinjaTrader review, or compare all brokers in our futures broker rankings and best brokers for day trading.

Frequently asked questions

Is AMP Futures cheaper than NinjaTrader?

It depends on volume and how you count fees. AMP's $0.60 MES figure includes exchange and NFA fees; NinjaTrader's $0.39 does not. Add NinjaTrader's fees before comparing.

Can I use NinjaTrader with AMP Futures?

AMP's FAQ indicates NinjaTrader access was limited to users grandfathered in with keys from 2014 or 2015, so new users should expect to use another platform.

Which has lower day-trade margins?

AMP lists $40 MES and $400 ES. NinjaTrader lists $50 and $500.

What is the minimum deposit at each?

AMP lists $100. NinjaTrader has no minimum, with a $5 minimum for ACH or debit card transfers.

Does AMP support TradingView?

Yes. AMP's site lists TradingView among its platforms and says it's free for AMP customers.

Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss. Confirm current pricing on each broker's site before opening an account.