NinjaTrader® 8 vs TradeStation® for Automated Trading
NinjaTrader® 8 and TradeStation® are two popular platforms for traders who want to run automated strategies. Both can chart markets, test strategies and trade automatically, but they work differently. This page explains the main differences so you can see which suits you. It is part of our guide to NinjaTrader® automated strategies. Features, fees and terms change, so check each company's website for current details.
The language strategies are written in
- NinjaTrader® 8 strategies are written in NinjaScript®, which is built on Microsoft's .NET technology and uses the C# programming language.
- TradeStation® strategies are written in EasyLanguage®, a language designed to read close to plain English and used in TradeStation® for many years.
This matters when you buy a strategy: a strategy built for one platform does not run on the other. If you want both, you need a version for each. Several of our systems come in both flavors, for example the RD3 Trading System for NinjaTrader® and for TradeStation®.
Platform and broker
- NinjaTrader® is trading software that connects to a number of brokers and data providers. You pick the broker and data feed you want, within what NinjaTrader® supports.
- TradeStation® is both a platform and a brokerage. You trade through TradeStation's own account and data.
What you can trade
Both support futures and other markets, but the available markets depend on your account, your broker and your data. The strategies we offer cover futures such as the Nasdaq-100 (NQ and MNQ), and stocks and ETFs. Check the product page for each strategy to see what it trades and what it needs.
Where it runs
NinjaTrader® 8 is a Windows desktop application. TradeStation® also has a desktop platform for Windows, plus web and mobile apps. For automated strategies, most people use the desktop platform, often on a computer or virtual server that stays on while the strategy runs.
Testing before you trade
Both platforms let you run a strategy against historical data and on a simulated account. In NinjaTrader® 8, the Strategy Analyzer handles back-testing and optimization. Whichever you use, test on a simulated account before real money. Read about the limits of back-tests in backtesting and curve fitting explained.
Which should you choose?
The better platform is the one that fits your broker, your markets, your budget and the strategies you want to run. If you already have a broker or an account with one of them, that often decides it. You can start by looking at what is available for each:
Futures trading contains substantial risk and is not for every investor. An investor could potentially lose all or more than the initial investment. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.