6 Best Online Brokers for Futures Trading and Commodities: 2025 Picks
We've picked the best futures trading and commodities brokers by reviewing platforms, commissions and fees, tools, research and support.
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Futures trading is a complicated business, even for experienced investors, and so is shopping for a futures and commodities broker. It’s not just about contract fees and trading platforms (although both are important factors to consider).
Trading in futures requires looking for a broker that offers the highest level of real-time data and quotes, an intuitive trading platform, an abundance of charting and screening tools, technical indicators and a wealth of research — plus the ability to leverage your account with reduced day-trading margin requirements. All of that, and you still want low costs and high-quality customer support.
These are the features and services we focused on in our rankings, concentrating on the world of online discount brokers that serve self-directed traders (not pros) seeking to quickly execute their own futures strategies.
If you’re new to futures trading and want to dabble in this strategy, you should understand how to trade futures, determine the risks involved, and have your financial bases covered. And if you decide you’d rather stick to stock trading, which — while still risky — is vanilla compared with futures? Check out our list of the best brokers for stock trading instead.
Why you can trust NerdWallet's picks: Our writers and editors together have more than 50 years of experience writing about finance, and follow strict guidelines to maintain editorial integrity. We do a deep, independent analysis of dozens of investment firms, sorting through the details to find and evaluate the information investors want when choosing an investing account. To see our full methodology and learn more about our process, read our criteria for evaluating online brokers.
Best Online Brokers for Futures Trading and Commodities: 2025 Picks
| Broker | NerdWallet rating | Fees | Account minimum | Promotion | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.4/5 | $0.25 -
$0.85 | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn moreLearn more on Interactive Brokers' website | |
4.3/5 | $0.35 -
$1.29 Lower price plans available | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn moreLearn more on NinjaTrader's website | |
4.5/5 | $1.50 | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | ||
4.0/5 | $0.25 -
$1.50 | $0 | None no promotion available at this time. | ||
4.7/5 | $1.50 | $0 | 50% Off Futures Brokerage Fees for New Customers with Code NERDAGJK | ||
4.0/5 | $2.25 | $0 | None no promotion available at this time |
Fees
$0.25 - $0.85
Account minimum
$0
Promotion
None
no promotion available at this time
Fees
$0.35 - $1.29
Lower price plans available
Account minimum
$0
Promotion
None
no promotion available at this time
Fees
$0.25 - $1.50
Account minimum
$0
Promotion
None
no promotion available at this time.
Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:
Last updated on January 2, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks the largest U.S. brokers by assets under management, along with emerging industry players. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of providers to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs. We adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
We collect data directly from providers through detailed questionnaires, and conduct first-hand testing and observation through provider demonstrations. The questionnaire answers, combined with demonstrations, interviews of personnel at the providers and our specialists’ hands-on research, fuel our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance across more than 20 factors. The final output produces star ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).
For more details about the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.
NerdWallet's Best Online Brokers for Futures Trading and Commodities: 2025 Picks
Frequently asked questions
- Can futures trading be profitable?
Yes, but you could also lose your entire investment. Investing in futures is a strategy that earns a few caveats. It comes with risk, as do all investing strategies. But futures trading is even riskier: You’re making a bet on the direction a market is going to go, an outcome that is difficult for even professional analysts to predict correctly. In other words: You can do a lot of research, feel confident in your prediction and still lose a lot of money very quickly.
- How do I get started trading futures?
To get started, open an account with a broker that supports futures markets. The broker will probably ask about your net worth, your investing experience, and how much money you make.
- How much money do you need to start trading futures?
It depends on the broker. You'll need to cover the broker's fees, plus regulatory and exchange fees. In addition to that, your broker may have other requirements, such as a certain amount in your margin account.