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Richard Berry
- October 2, 2023
Best US Futures Trading Platform: Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review
Name: Interactive Brokers
Description: Interactive Brokers is a major US online automated electronic broker company. The financial broker is listed on the Nasdaq Exchange with ticker IBKR. The firm operates in 150 electronic exchanges in 33 countries, and offers trading in 23 currencies. Interactive Brokers has more than 1.75 million institutional and retail customers.
Why we like them
Interactive Brokers is an exceptional trading platform that offers institutional-grade trading capabilities to private clients around the world. IBKR has some of the lowest trading and investing fees and the widest market range in the industry.
Pros
- Very low dealing fees
- Wide market range
- Direct market access
- Complex order types
Cons
- Customer services can be slow
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Pricing
(5)
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Market Access
(5)
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Online Platform
(5)
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Customer Service
(3)
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Research & Analysis
(5)
Overall
4.6Other Futures Trading Platforms:
NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader is s specialist platform that has provided access to the futures markets since 2003. Traders can use NinjaTrader to execute trades on major U.S. futures exchanges such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). NinjaTrader offers a range of tools and features for futures trading, including advanced charting, order entry, and market analysis tools. Traders can also access real-time market data and historical data for futures contracts.
AMP Futures Trading
AMP Futures is a brokerage firm that offers access to a wide range of futures markets. Here are some examples of futures contracts that you can trade on AMP Futures:
- Stock Index Futures: E-mini S&P 500, E-mini NASDAQ 100, E-mini Dow Jones, Mini Russell 2000, Micro E-mini futures, etc.
- Energy Futures: Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Heating Oil, RBOB Gasoline, Brent Crude Oil, etc.
- Agricultural Futures: Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Cotton, Coffee, Sugar, Cocoa, etc.
- Metal Futures: Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum, Palladium, etc.
Currency Futures: Euro FX, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Swiss Franc, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, etc. - Interest Rate Futures: 10-Year Treasury Note, 30-Year Treasury Bond, Eurodollar, etc.
- Commodity Futures: Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Heating Oil, Copper, Gold, Silver, etc.
This is not an exhaustive list, and AMP Futures provides access to many more futures contracts across different asset classes. It’s always recommended to check their website or contact their customer support for the most up-to-date information on the available futures contracts.
Charles Schwab Futures Trading
Charles Schwab, is one of the larges US brokerage firm, and offer futures trading from $2.25 per lot. This makes Charles Schwab an expensive futures broker compared to Interactive Brokers as Schwab is primarily focused on offering brokerage services for stocks, bonds, options, and other traditional investment products. As well as futures execution Schwab also offer futures trading clients:
- A Futures Research Center for the latest research, news, and commentary.
- Daily analysis and perspective on the futures market through their report “Looking to the Futures”.
- Industry-leading independent analysis with the Hightower Report and the Wyckoff Report.
- Daily videos featuring trade ideas from futures experts like Dan Gramza.
TD Ameritrade Futures Trading
TD Ameritrade which is now a part of Charles Schwab, provides access to a wide range of investment products, including futures contracts. Traders can use the thinkorswim platform, which is offered by TD Ameritrade, to trade futures contracts on various exchanges.offers futures trading on major US exchanges, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). They provide access to a variety of futures contracts, including stock index futures, energy futures, agricultural futures, metal futures, currency futures, and interest rate futures. One of the key features of their futures account is that they offer micro futures, which enable beginner traders to speculate on the futures market with smaller contract sizes, therefore lowering risk.
E*TRADE Futures Trading
E*TRADE (now owned by Morgan Stanley) offers futures trading through their trading platform, which provided tools and features to facilitate futures trading, including real-time market data, charting tools, and order execution capabilities. They also provided educational resources and support for traders interested in futures trading.
Key features of E*TRADE’s futures account include:
- Trade futures in eligible IRAs
- Access to the CME, ICE US, and CFE exchanges
- Micro and E-mini contracts for smaller contract sizes
- Dedicated personal service from licensed futures brokers
- $1.50 price per contract, on futures and options on futures, except for cryptocurrency futures (making them cheaper than Charles Schwab)
- 24/6 hour access to the markets
US Futures Broker FAQs:
Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions by people searching for the best futures brokers in America.
We have ranked Interactive Brokers as the best futures broker in the US. They won our award for “best futures broker” in 2023 because they offer very low-cost trading with a professional-grade futures trading platform.
Buying and selling within the futures market revolves around the price of certain commodities. There are plenty of commodities to choose from, but ultimately the futures market is dominated by around a dozen of them. The most popular future in the US is crude oil followed by heating oil and sugar. RBOB Gasoline as well as gold and corn also feature highly amongst some of the most popular commodities. Throughout 2017, wheat, soybeans and copper were also highly traded commodities.
You need a futures broker to trade futures in the US. For those thinking about investing there are plenty of US futures brokers to choose from. It is however, a highly changeable marketplace that requires the most up to date knowledge available. Making the right decision when it comes to a broker is vital so it’s important to seek out a US futures broker that has a high level of real-time data and quotes. You’ll also want to look out for brokers who do plenty of research based on technical indicators and screening tools.
It’s important to remember that futures investment is often riskier than most investment strategies because you’re essentially betting on the direction a market is likely to go, something that even the most professional and experienced analysts sometimes struggle to forecast. The futures market is difficult to crack simply because despite all the research you do and how confident you may feel about a particular investment, you could still lose plenty of money quickly.
In order to trade futures online, you’re going to want to find a reputable US futures broker. Some will have a minimum amount threshold, meaning you could need $5000 to start investing. If you do, then you can expect access to a wide selection of markets and with plenty of data on offer as well as customisable tools and trading options, giving you everything you need to turn a profit at your fingertips.
For those on more of a budget and who are perhaps new to trading, it may be worth considering one of the several brokers where there’s no minimum amount required. Also look out for brokers who provide a two-week demo for those who are new to US futures brokers and want to try out the service before making a commitment. It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for brokers that offer generous fees as well, with many prices starting from just $0.59 per contract, per side commission as well as no inactivity fees.
