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Checked By Richard Berry - Updated
The best futures brokers in the US like Interactive Brokers and Plus500 offer direct market access to on exchange futures contracts from major exchanges like CME and CBOT with low commissions and are heavily regulated by the CFTC.
| Name | Logo | Futures Commission | Minimum deposit | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | CTA | Feature | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Futures Commission $0.25 to $0.89 | Minimum deposit $2,000 | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | Account Types:
| Interactive Brokers Futures Trading Review: Best Futures Broker 2025 Account: Interactive Brokers Futures Trading Description: Interactive Brokers offer one of the best futures trading platforms in the UK for both simple and complex trading strategies. Overall, Interactive Brokers is the cheapest major brokerage offering futures trading so is suitable for traders looking for discount execution from a well-established and capitalised company. Can you trade futures on Interactive Brokers (IBKR)? Yes, Interactive Brokers are one of the best (if not the best) futures brokers in our comparison matrix. IBKR offer very cheap futures trading on global exchanges for experienced clients. Interactive Brokers won “best futures broker” in our 2023, 2024 and 2025 awards as they provide very low trading costs, and institutional-grade futures trading platform and wide market access. Interactive Brokers offer one of the best futures trading platforms in the UK for both simple and complex trading strategies. Overall, Interactive Brokers is the cheapest major brokerage offering futures trading so is suitable for traders looking for discount execution from a well-established and capitalised company. Pros
Cons
Overall4.8 | ||
 | Futures Commission $0.49 to $0.89 | Minimum deposit $100 | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | Visit Platform Trading in futures involves the risk of loss. | Account Types:
| Plus500 US Futures Trading Review: DMA access to US futures Account: Plus500 US Futures Trading Description: In 2023, Plus500 launched its online trading platform in the US. Through the platform, those in the US can trade futures on a range of instruments including equity indexes, crypto-assets, currencies (forex), and commodities. Is Plus500 a good futures broker? Yes, Plus500 is an online trading company that operates in over 50 countries worldwide and in the US, its platform allows you to trade futures on a range of assets. Plus500 also offers a range of features designed to help traders capitalize on opportunities in the markets including charting tools and real-time news feeds. There is a demo account for those looking to learn how to trade futures before committing real money, but one downside is that there are some platforms that offer more futures markets than Plus500. Pros
Cons
Overall4.5 |
If you are a beginner futures trader, it is worth starting with a demo account and utilizing a broker’s trading academy, webinars, and insights for learning and to understand the risks involved.
❓Here’s how we selected the US’s best forex brokers:
- Hands-on analysis: Our review team tests each futures broker using real money for a genuine trading experience
- Stand-out features: We compare what sets each futures platform apart to highlight their unique strengths
- Customer feedback: Over 30,000 votes from the Good Money Guide annual awards help shape our ratings
- Exclusive interviews: We speak directly with futures broker CEOs and senior management to get their insights
- Our process: Find out more about how we choose and rank providers on our How We Rate page
What are the best futures brokers for beginners and small accounts?
Micro and mini futures are great for beginners because you can trade in smaller size. Most futures brokers give you access to the main future contracts, but with the exception of the mini S&P which is one of the most heavily traded contracts, in the World, mini and micro futures are not are widely available.
Plus500: Offers both micro and mini futures with competitive pricing. Provides access to various equity indices and is known for its user-friendly platforms.
If you are a beginner futures trader, it is worth starting with a demo account and utilizing a broker’s trading academy, webinars, and insights for learning and to understand the risks involved before risking real money.
What is the best broker for trading micro and mini futures?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR): Offers the lowest commissions, especially beneficial for high-volume traders. Provides extensive market access across various exchanges.
What are Micro and Mini Futures?
Micro futures are a smaller, more accessible version of standard futures contracts. They allow traders to participate in futures markets with lower capital requirements, making them ideal for individual or beginner traders.
Pros:
- Lower risk exposure
- Better suited for small portfolios
- Great for learning futures without high stakes
- More flexibility in position sizing and risk management
Cons:
- Lower tick value which means smaller profit potential per move
- Still leveraged products that are high risk
- Fewer institutional players (but still very liquid)
US Futures Broker FAQs:
Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions by people searching for the best futures brokers in America.
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.
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
AMP futures claim to beat any written commission quote which means that compared to Interactive Brokers they could be cheaper. However, AMP do not display commission rates only, where as IBKR does.
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.
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.
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 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, 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.
