Tradovate
A web and mobile-native futures brokerage and trading platform with simple flat-fee pricing — popular with prop firm traders for its mobile app, server-side bracket orders, and absence of platform-license fees.
What is Tradovate?
Tradovate is a futures brokerage and trading platform with native web, desktop, and mobile interfaces. Unlike NinjaTrader (Windows-only desktop) or Sierra Chart (Windows-focused), Tradovate runs in any modern browser, on macOS, on iOS, and on Android — making it the most accessible futures platform across operating systems. Owned by NinjaTrader Group since 2022, Tradovate operates as a distinct platform stack with its own brokerage, data feed, and execution infrastructure.
For prop firm traders, Tradovate is the default platform at TPT, a major option at Apex, Tradeify, FundedNext, and Phidias, and supported across virtually every major futures prop firm. The combination of mobile-first design, server-side bracket orders, and flat-fee pricing makes it competitive with NinjaTrader for active traders.
Tradovate’s cost structure: Active Plan at $99/month gives $0.79 per side commission with unlimited trades — typically the best tier for prop firm traders making 5+ trades per day. Lifetime License ($999 one-time, periodic promotions) gives $0.59 per side with no monthly fee. Free tier exists but charges $1.49 per side, making it expensive for active traders.
How Tradovate works
Tradovate platform versions:
- Web app: Full functionality in any modern browser. No installation. Works on macOS, Linux, Windows, Chromebook.
- Desktop app: Electron-based wrapper of the web app. Same functionality, slightly better performance on slow networks.
- Mobile app (iOS/Android): Full execution and chart access. Order entry, bracket orders, and stop management all work on mobile.
Tradovate features for prop firm traders:
- Server-side bracket orders: Right-click chart → Bracket Order → set Take Profit and Stop Loss prices. Stored exchange-side, survives disconnections.
- OCO orders: Native support; pair any two orders with cancel-on-fill behavior.
- Chart-based order entry: Click any DOM price to drop a limit at that level. Drag-to-modify orders directly on chart.
- News integration: Built-in economic calendar and news feed.
- Multi-account support: Switch between funded accounts within the same Tradovate session.
Pricing tiers (May 2026):
- Free Plan: $1.49/side, no monthly fee. Best for very low-volume traders.
- Active Plan: $0.79/side + $99/month. Best for 5+ trades/day prop firm traders.
- Lifetime License: $0.59/side + $999 one-time (periodic discounts). Best for high-frequency traders.
Funded account integration: Most prop firms allow Tradovate connection by entering account credentials in the Tradovate dashboard. Apex Performance Accounts, TPT PRO/PRO+, Tradeify, FundedNext Stellar all support Tradovate as a primary or secondary platform.
Worked example
Setup: Trader on TPT $50K PRO+ funded account using Tradovate Active Plan ($0.79/side). Strategy: 5 round-trips/day on NQ, average +$200/winner, -$100/loser, 60% win rate.
Daily trading via Tradovate web/mobile:
- Trader opens Tradovate web app on macOS at 9:30am ET.
- Submits BUY 1 NQ via DOM click at the bid.
- Tradovate routes to TPT-side execution; fill confirms in ~50ms.
- Trader right-clicks chart → Bracket Order → Take Profit +30 points, Stop Loss -15 points.
- Both bracket legs sit server-side at Tradovate exchange interface as OCO pair.
- Trader closes laptop, opens Tradovate iOS app at lunch — same orders visible, same positions visible.
- Bracket triggers automatically as price moves; trader receives push notification on fill.
Daily P&L math:
- Gross expected: 5 × (60% × $200 – 40% × $100) = 5 × $80 = +$400/day
- Commission: 5 round-trips × ($0.79 × 2 + $1.18 × 2) = 5 × $3.94 = $19.70/day
- Net daily: ~$380.30
Monthly subscription analysis: $99/month Active Plan vs Free Plan ($1.49/side). Active saves $0.70 per side. At 5 round-trips/day × 20 trading days = 100 round-trips/month × 2 sides × $0.70 = $140/month savings. Active Plan cost $99 → net $41/month savings. Active is the right tier for this volume.
Tradovate vs related concepts
Side-by-side comparison of Tradovate against the most commonly confused alternatives.
| Concept | Definition | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Tradovate this term | A web and mobile-native futures brokerage and trading platform with simple flat-fee pricing — popular with prop firm traders for its mobile app, server-side bracket orders, and absence of platform-license fees. | Trading Platforms |
| Rithmic | A market data and execution infrastructure provider used by most US futures brokers and prop firms — powers Rithmic R|Trader Pro plus the back-end of NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, MotiveWave, and similar platforms. | Trading Platforms |
| NinjaTrader | The most popular full-featured futures trading platform among US prop firm traders — Windows-native (Mac via Parallels/Wine), free for charting and demo, paid tiers for live trading. | Trading Platforms |
| CQG | A premium futures market data and execution provider used primarily by professional and institutional traders — alternative to Rithmic with similar reliability but more expensive and complex. | Trading Platforms |
| Data Feed | The real-time stream of market prices, bid/ask quotes, and trade ticks delivered to a trading platform from the exchange via providers like Rithmic, CQG, or Tradovate. | Trading Platforms |
| Commission | The per-trade fee charged by your platform/broker plus exchange fees per contract — typically $1.00-$5.00 round-trip on E-minis depending on platform tier and prop firm structure. | Fees & Costs |
Why traders fail Tradovate
Using Free Plan as an active prop firm trader. Free Plan’s $1.49/side commission is brutal at 5+ trades/day. A trader on Free for 100 round-trips/month pays $298 in platform commission vs $158 on Active. The $99 monthly Active fee pays for itself in 2-3 days of typical prop firm trading.
Forgetting Tradovate is platform-and-broker bundled. Unlike NinjaTrader (separate platform from broker), Tradovate handles both functions. Some prop firms treat Tradovate as the broker-side; others let you choose between Tradovate and Rithmic-routed brokers. Verify which model your firm uses.
Mobile-only as primary platform. Tradovate mobile is excellent for monitoring and quick orders, but full chart analysis requires the web/desktop app. Don’t plan all trade decisions from mobile — use it for execution and emergency exits, not for primary chart work.
Confusing Tradovate with NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader Group owns Tradovate but they’re separate platforms with separate accounts. Migrating from NinjaTrader to Tradovate (or vice versa) typically requires fresh prop firm account setup. They share back-end ownership but not user accounts.
Frequently asked questions about Tradovate
What is Tradovate?
Tradovate is a futures brokerage and trading platform with native web, desktop, and mobile interfaces. It's a default platform option at TPT, Apex, Tradeify, FundedNext, Phidias, and most major futures prop firms. Owned by NinjaTrader Group since 2022, Tradovate operates as a distinct stack with its own brokerage, data feed, and execution infrastructure.
How much does Tradovate cost?
Three tiers in May 2026: Free Plan ($1.49 per side, no monthly fee — bad for active traders), Active Plan ($0.79 per side + $99/month — best for 5+ trades/day), Lifetime License ($0.59 per side + $999 one-time — best for high-frequency). Add CME exchange fees ($1.18/side on E-minis, $0.37/side on micros).
How do I log into Tradovate?
Visit trader.tradovate.com (web) or open the iOS/Android Tradovate app, enter your registered email and password. For prop firm accounts, link via the firm's dashboard which provides Tradovate credentials specific to your funded account. First login may require email verification or 2FA setup.
Is Tradovate good for prop firm trading?
Yes, very. The combination of mobile-first design, server-side bracket orders, and $99/month Active Plan unlimited-trades pricing makes Tradovate competitive with NinjaTrader for active prop firm traders. It's the default platform at TPT and a major option at Apex, Tradeify, FundedNext, and Phidias.
Can I use Tradovate on mobile?
Yes. The Tradovate iOS and Android apps support full execution including chart-based order entry, bracket orders, OCO orders, and position management. Mobile is excellent for monitoring and quick exits but full chart analysis is more comfortable on web/desktop. Most prop firm traders use mobile as a secondary platform.
How do Tradovate commissions compare to NinjaTrader?
Tradovate Active ($0.79/side, $99/month) is similar to NinjaTrader Lifetime ($0.59/side, $1,099 one-time) on a per-trade basis but with lower upfront cost. Tradovate Free ($1.49/side) is much more expensive than NinjaTrader monthly ($0.99-$1.49/side). For high-volume traders, NinjaTrader Lifetime saves money long-run; for traders preferring monthly costs and mobile-first, Tradovate Active wins.