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For futures day traders, three costs matter most: commissions, day-trade margin and platform or data fees. Here's how the brokers we've verified compare, from each broker's own pricing pages on November 3, 2026. Exchange and NFA fees are extra unless noted.
Quick picks
- Best overall: NinjaTrader. $0.39 micro / $1.29 E-mini per side on the free plan, $50 MES day margin, no minimum deposit.
- Lowest margins: AMP Futures. $40 MES and $400 ES day margins, 50+ platforms.
- Lowest base commission: Optimus Futures. $0.25 micro / $0.75 E-mini per side.
- Simplest app: Plus500 Futures. Flat fees, free data, $10 minimum.
These are our picks under our published methodology. The right broker for you depends on your volume, platform and contract.
Comparison
| Broker | Micro / E-mini per side | ES / MES day margin | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NinjaTrader (Free plan) | $0.39 / $1.29 | $500 / $50 | None |
| AMP Futures | $0.60 / $1.95 all-in* | $400 / $40 | $100 |
| Optimus Futures | $0.25 / $0.75 | $500 / $50 | $500 |
| Plus500 Futures | $0.49 / $0.89 | Not verified | $10 |
| Tradovate (Free plan) | $0.39 / $1.29 | Not listed | Any amount |
| TradeStation | $0.50 / $1.75 (lowest tier) | Not verified | Not verified |
| Interactive Brokers (fixed) | $0.25 / $0.85, exchange fees included | Not verified | Not verified |
| Charles Schwab | $2.25 / $2.25 | Not verified | Not stated |
*AMP's quote includes exchange, NFA, platform and routing fees but doesn't say whether it's per side or round turn.
What 100 micro round turns cost
Per-side rates are hard to compare in your head. Here's the commission on 100 micro round turns a month (200 sides), a realistic month for an active part-time day trader:
| Broker | Commission on 100 micro round turns | Exchange fees |
|---|---|---|
| Optimus Futures | $50 | Extra |
| Interactive Brokers (fixed) | $50 | Included |
| NinjaTrader / Tradovate (Free) | $78 | Extra |
| Plus500 Futures | $98 | Extra |
| TradeStation (lowest tier) | $100 plus $20 clearing | Extra |
| Charles Schwab | $450 | Extra |
Because some quotes include exchange fees and others don't, small gaps can flip once you add them. Use the table to spot big differences, such as Schwab's flat $2.25 on micros, rather than to rank brokers a few dollars apart.
Broker by broker
NinjaTrader
Best if you trade micros actively and want a full desktop platform. Low free-plan rates, $50 MES margin and paid plans that cut commissions further at high volume. CQG and Rithmic routing cost extra. See our NinjaTrader vs Tradovate comparison.
AMP Futures
Best if platform choice matters most. AMP lists more than 50 platforms and the lowest day-trade margins we found. Platform and data fees vary by platform. See AMP vs NinjaTrader.
Optimus Futures
Best if you want the lowest base commission and a free proprietary platform. Accounts clear through Ironbeam, and the minimum deposit is $500.
Plus500 Futures
Best if you want a simple app with flat fees and $0 platform and data fees. You're limited to Plus500's own web and mobile apps.
Tradovate, TradeStation, Interactive Brokers and Schwab
Tradovate matches NinjaTrader's pricing with a browser-first setup. TradeStation and Interactive Brokers suit traders who also trade stocks and options; IBKR's tiered pricing gets cheaper at high volume. Schwab's thinkorswim platform is popular with existing Schwab customers, but its flat $2.25 per side makes micros expensive.
Low margin is not low risk
A $50 day-trade margin lets you open an MES position with very little cash, but a normal day's move can cost far more. A 20-point move against one MES is $100, twice the margin, and on ES the same move is $1,000. Size positions from your risk per trade with the position size calculator. See Margin and Leverage in Futures.
Day-trade margin ends at the close
Day-trade margins apply only while the session is open. If you hold a position past the broker's cut-off, the much higher exchange-set overnight margin applies, and brokers may close positions that don't meet it. Learn your broker's cut-off time and plan to be flat before it, or keep enough cash for overnight margin. Our futures trading hours guide explains the daily schedule.
How to choose
- Decide your platform first. If you need a specific charting or order-flow tool, check which brokers support it.
- Estimate your monthly round turns and price them at each broker, adding exchange fees.
- Check data fees for the exchanges you trade.
- Confirm day-trade margin and the time it switches to overnight margin.
Full rankings: futures broker comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Which futures broker has the lowest commissions?
Among brokers we verified, Optimus Futures lists the lowest base rates at $0.25 per micro side and $0.75 per E-mini side, before exchange fees. Interactive Brokers' fixed pricing is $0.25 and $0.85 with exchange fees included.
Which broker has the lowest day-trade margin?
AMP Futures lists $40 for MES and $400 for ES, the lowest we found. NinjaTrader and Optimus list $50 and $500.
Are commissions quoted per side or round turn?
Most brokers quote per side, so a round turn costs double. AMP's quote doesn't say which.
Do I need a paid plan to day trade?
No. NinjaTrader and Tradovate both offer a Free plan. Paid plans only save money above roughly 495 micro or 165 E-mini round turns a month.
Which broker is best for beginners?
Plus500 Futures offers a simple app with a $10 minimum and free data; NinjaTrader offers no minimum and a free simulator. Either works for learning with micros.
Can I day trade futures with a small account?
Brokers allow it, and there's no pattern day trader rule for futures. But size from risk, not margin. See how much money you need to trade futures.
Compare futures prop firms side by side
Prices, drawdown rules and payouts, verified from official sources.
Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. This article is for education only and is not investment advice.