Best Prop Firms for Tradovate

Why Tradovate matters when choosing a futures prop firm

Tradovate is a futures trading platform that runs in a web browser, as a desktop app and on mobile, with settings and layouts stored in the cloud so they follow you between devices. It is part of the NinjaTrader group. Futures prop firms offer it because it needs no installation and can connect to TradingView, which lets traders place orders from TradingView charts. The firms listed above offer Tradovate on at least one program.

Who this suits

Tradovate suits futures traders who want a platform that works on any computer, including a Mac, without extra setup; traders who move between desktop and mobile; and traders who prefer to analyse on TradingView and route orders through Tradovate. It also suits newer futures traders who find desktop platforms heavy to learn, and traders who want their workspace available wherever they log in.

The trade offs

Tradovate's charts and order flow tools are less extensive than those of a full desktop platform such as NinjaTrader, and its options for automated trading are narrower. Traders who depend on custom indicators may end up running TradingView alongside it, which can mean paying for a TradingView plan. As a cloud platform, it relies on a stable connection. Commissions per contract are set by each firm, so the same platform can carry different trading costs from one firm to the next. Some prop firms offer Tradovate only on certain programs, and platform access can change when a firm switches technology providers, so check the program you plan to buy rather than the firm's home page.

What to check before you buy

• Program availability. Confirm that Tradovate is offered on the program and account size you want.
• Market data. Check whether real time exchange data is included or billed monthly, at both the evaluation and funded stages.
• TradingView access. If you plan to trade from TradingView, confirm that the firm supports the connection and whether you need a paid TradingView plan.
• Commissions. Check the commission per contract for the markets you trade, including micro contracts.
• Close times and news rules. Find out when positions must be closed each day and whether trading around major economic releases is restricted.
• Contract limits. Check the maximum number of contracts on each account size and whether it rises as you build profit.

How to compare the firms listed

Start with drawdown, where futures programs vary widely. Compare whether each program uses an end of day or intraday trailing drawdown, the dollar amount, whether a daily loss limit applies and when the trailing stops. Then compare contract limits, the fee model, any activation fee and data costs. Finish with the payout terms: any buffer before withdrawals, the first payout date, the payout frequency, the profit split and any consistency rule. Each firm's profile sets out its programs and rules, and the comparison table can be filtered by platform.

The futures hub lists every futures firm on the site, and futures drawdown rules explained covers how trailing drawdown works. Firms supporting NinjaTrader and TradingView are listed separately, and futures prop firms for scalping compares scalping rules across firms.