Head to head · Updated August 2026
NinjaTrader vs Sierra Chart
Across the 13 specs we track, NinjaTrader and Sierra Chart differ on 11. NinjaTrader leads on 1 of the measurable ones to Sierra Chart's 0 — but read what those are below, because one of them may not matter to you at all.
NinjaTrader
Futures traders & algo developers
Free / $1,499 lifetime / $33/mo lease · Futures, Forex, CFDs, Stocks
Sierra Chart
Futures, order flow & advanced traders
From $26/mo (up to 35% discount for multi-month) · Futures, Stocks, Forex, Indices
Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Neither placement nor ranking is for sale. Not financial advice; trading involves risk of loss.
Which one fits you
Choose NinjaTrader if…
- you want to start charting without paying anything
- you want the widest choice of broker to route through
Choose Sierra Chart if…
- you are on a Mac
Every spec, side by side
13 specs · 11 differ · clear advantages highlighted
| Spec | NinjaTrader | Sierra Chart |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / $1,499 lifetime / $33/mo lease | From $26/mo (up to 35% discount for multi-month) |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✕ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best for | Futures traders & algo developers | Futures, order flow & advanced traders |
| Asset classes | FuturesForexCFDsStocksOptionsIndicesCrypto | FuturesStocksForexIndicesOptionsCryptocurrencyCFDsCommoditiesMutual Funds |
| Operating systems | Windows | WindowsLinux (in development)macOS (in development) |
| Brokers | NinjaTrader BrokerageTradovateRithmicInteractive BrokersDorman TradingPhillip CapitalAMP FuturesFXCMTD AmeritradeKinetick | Interactive BrokersRithmicCQGLMAXDTN IQ FeedSierra Chart Teton (proprietary routing)Any DTC-compatible broker |
| Licence | Single Device | Unlimited installs on one system |
| Subscription | Freemium / One-Time / Monthly | Monthly (multi-month discounts available) |
| Open source | ✕ | ✕ |
| Support | Email, Live Chat, Forum, Phone | Forum, Email, Support Board |
| Current version | 8.1 | Continuously updated |
| Released | Jan 2004 | 1996 |
Green marks the stronger value only where a spec has an unambiguous better direction — a higher split, a faster payout, a lower price. Breadth fields like markets and platforms are left unmarked on purpose: more coverage is different, not automatically better.
NinjaTrader vs Sierra Chart FAQ
Is NinjaTrader or Sierra Chart better for beginners?+
NinjaTrader is built for futures traders & algo developers; Sierra Chart for futures, order flow & advanced traders. Beginners usually do better on whichever one their broker already supports — fighting a data or routing setup is a worse first experience than any feature gap.
Is NinjaTrader or Sierra Chart free?+
NinjaTrader has a free tier. Note that platform cost and *data* cost are separate almost everywhere — a free platform still needs a market-data subscription for real-time quotes, and that is often the larger monthly line item.
Which markets can I trade on NinjaTrader and Sierra Chart?+
NinjaTrader covers Futures, Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Options, Indices, Crypto. Sierra Chart covers Futures, Stocks, Forex, Indices, Options, Cryptocurrency, CFDs, Commodities, Mutual Funds. Coverage on paper still depends on your broker supporting that market through the platform.
Can I run NinjaTrader and Sierra Chart side by side?+
Yes, and plenty of traders do — commonly one for charting and analysis, the other for execution. The practical limits are your machine's resources and paying twice for the same market data.