Tradingview vs NinjaTrader | Side by side comparison

In this post I’ll compare two of the most popular trading platforms on the market: TradingView vs NinjaTrader.

I’ve created a side by side comparison of the main features of each platform. I compare in detail such things as user experience, charting tools, indicator selection, costs, support and brokerage access. I’ll give you my vote for which platform performs best in each category and at the end offer my opinion on which platform performs best in this TradingView vs NinjaTrader comparison.

TradingView vs Ninjatrader key features side by side comparison

First lets compare the main features of each platform side by side.

System Requirements

One of the key features that creates a key distinction between TradingView and Ninjatrader is system requirements. Tradingview is web browser, desktop and mobile-app based while NinjaTrader is only available as a software download.  

	TradingView	NinjaTrader
Web-based	YES	NO Web based software is available for NinjaTrader
Desktop download	YES, PC, MacOS and Linux	YES, Windows only *Unless using virtual machine software for Mac
Mobile application  (iOs & Android)	YES	NO official mobile application in the works yet. In this post I discuss Ninjatrader mobile app options

Subscription Options and Pricing

	TradingView	NinjaTrader
Free access/download	Free web-based access	Free download with free live futures/forex market data, advanced charting and strategy back testing
Subscription Options	4-tiered subscription options Basic (Free) Essential ($12.95) Plus ($24.95) Premium ($49.95) Note: prices are in monthly payments  For more information, click here	NinjaTrader users enjoy no platform-related costs* For live trading, NT platform can be either leased or purchased through lifetime subscription. More on this later.

*this will be discussed further in the next section

Supported Instruments

	TradingView	NinjaTrader
Forex/Currencies	YES	YES
Stocks/Equity/Index	YES	YES
Futures	YES	YES
Cryptocurrency	YES	NO

*The NinjaTrader brokerage doesn’t support stock trading. To trade stocks on NinjaTrader users need to trade through a supported partner broker.

Interface Design

	TradingView	NinjaTrader
User Interface Design	Modern Smart and highly intuitive which appeals to more recent generation of traders	Simple Simple interface which is akin to a Windows-type interface
Chart Design	Charts are powered by HTML5Highly intuitive customizable charts Chart navigation is very smooth and fluid; navigation is made easy with the use of a mouseA developer friendly chart that utilizes a common programming language	Simple, clean, and fully customizable charts ( e.g. bar spacing and width)Each chart is a free floating window which can be resized easily to fit in the workspace  Chart navigation is made easy with horizontal and vertical panningHas chart panels that contain objects like data series, indicators, and drawing tools

Charting, Alerts, and Indicators

	TradingView	NinjaTrader
Free multiple chart view/workspaces	Additional views require an account upgrade	YES
No limitations on alerts	Only limited to a number of free alerts	YES
Number of free built-in indicators	Up to 100+ built-in indicators (Free)	Up to 100+ built-in indicators (Free)
Add-on Indicator Library (on top of built-in)	Library of indicators has up to 5,000+ custom made using Pine Script	Library of indicators has up to 1,000+ custom-made, 3rd party add-ons using NinjaScript

Help Center and User Support

	TradingView	NinjaTrader
Customer support hotlines	Support tab allows users to submit “tickets” straight to the system Beginning from Customer Support 2.0, TradingView bid goodbye to email support.	24/5 customer support hotlines  Has a 24-hour emergency trade desk hotline and weekend technical support.
Proprietary support articles	Has a well-populated help center with articles on various categories (e.g. chart, data, alerts, financials, pine script)	NT does this very well – offering extensive, well-written user guides as well as a support forum for free on its website.For reference, click here
Availability of third party / articles published online	Vast user network and stellar reputation made TradingView a common topic on online articles	Similarly, NT’s broad customer base sparks much attention in online articles as well

Direct to Market Access

	TradingView	NinjaTrader
Direct Market Access for speedy executions	YES, Available with direct market access	YES, Utilizes CQG/Continuum

TradingView vs NinjaTrader pros and cons comparison

To further deepen and dissect the differences of NinjaTrader vs TradingView, I have laid out the pros and cons to see how the two platforms fare against each other. The remainder of the post is divided into a series of categories. Where I will discuss the pros and cons of each platform against one another. At the end of each section I will pick a winner for that category. 

Getting Started and Setup

In this section I will discuss the ease onboarding for each platform. 

TradingView is very easy to set up as it only requires a modern browser to access the platform – no download required, just an email registration and you are ready to go. In contrast, NinjaTrader is a downloadable software that requires a desktop installation. Users also have to set-up a data feed connection on a trial basis that expires every two weeks. 

Winner: TradingView. The easier setup goes to TradingView. It’s extremely simple and doesn’t require any software download or installation.  

Interface software and platform access

TradingView, is a web-based application, that can also be accessible via mobile or tablet. This makes accessing the platform simple, straightforward and seamless. NinjaTrader, on the other hand, doesn’t offer the same mobility. Users will always require access to their local PC. PC software access arguably offers better stability. More power and security.

Winner: TradingView. Because of mobility, I score TradingView an easy winner. being able to access the platform remotely is of huge benefit. Plus browser based software is becoming more prevalent, security is improving and stability increasing.

Platform Costs

This category will discuss the differences in costs of each platform subscription and the features for each option. 

Firstly, TradingView has a 4-tiered subscription option. Each account type has a different level of accessibility of the platform’s features. The main difference is the limitations on key features (e.g., free account has a 3 indicator limit as opposed to the Plus account which has a 10-indicator limit). This is a type of user pays type of structure. Some may find it frustrating. Others that rely less on these types of features benefit from all the other features of this great platform for a reduced price. Personally I think it’s a decent cost structure.

TRADINGVIEW PLANS	COSTS
Basic	$0.00 USD/month or year
Essential	$12.95/month or $155.40/year
Plus	$24.95/month or $299.40/year
Premium	$49.95/month or $599.40/year

NinjaTrader, on the other hand, does not carry any platform-related costs. Advanced charting, strategy back testing, and trade simulation is always free. Effectively there are no platform fees. This in contrast with TradingView model. Instead, NinjaTrader costs are heavy on the live trading part of the business. This can be done via leasing or purchasing a lifetime subscription. 

NINJATRADER LICENSE OPTIONS	COSTS	FEATURES
Free License	$0.00 USD/month or year	Advanced charting, market analysis, simulated trading, live trading Commission for NT brokerage pricing: $0.35
Lease license	$720 annual or $425 semi-annual or $225 quarterly	All features under free plus premium feature: Trader + Commission for NT brokerage pricing: $0.25
Own license	$999 one-time payment or $329 for 4 monthly installments	All features under Lease plus premium feature: Order Flow + Commission for NT brokerage pricing: $0.09

Winner: NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader’s free license grants full access on its charting, market analysis and trade simulations. It does not suffer from as many limitations on the number of allowable indicators and other market and chart analysis tools. TradingView on the other hand requires higher paid plans for increased access to features.

As a comparison a quick cost analysis of Tradingview’s highest premium plan with a 5-year subscription timeframe vs Ninjatrader Lifetime license shows NT to be a more affordable option:

NinjaTrader	Own license	$999 one-time payment
TradingView	Premium	$599 annual x 5 = $2,995

Broker Support

First, TradingView has a more extensive network of supported brokers in terms of asset types. The platform supports Futures, Stocks, Forex, as well as Crypto brokers. NinjaTrader on the other hand, mainly supports Futures and Forex but does have some stockbrokers as well. 

In comparison to other platforms such as MetaTrader who support up to 300 brokers. Both TradingView and NinjaTrader have a very limited selection of partner brokers. 

TradingView supports more than a dozen [Tradingview] brokers. NinjaTrader, a similar amount of [Ninjatrader] brokers, some more well known (e.g., Interactive Brokers, Ameritrade).

Winner: Tie. This was a difficult call to decisively make. Although TradingView has a longer list of supported brokers, NinjaTrader caters to more popular brokerage options. In NinjaTrader’s favor, the platform can be a one-stop shop as it hosts its own brokerage. 

Charting Tools

This category will distinguish the two platforms in terms of the extensiveness of the charting tool library and their general usability. 

TradingView is popularly known in the community as an intuitive and user friendly charting interface. Its extensive library of over 50 drawing tools can be utilized for free. You will find all the basic as well as advanced tools to support almost every trading style.

NinjaTrader also boasts some brilliant charting features with its, customizable drawing tools. To date, NT’s drawing tool library has over 20 drawing tools, which includes the popular line/rays/channels as well as Fibonacci objects and Risk Reward tools. One feature that I really love with the NinjaTrader tools is the ability to sync a drawing tool on all open charts that display the same instrument.

General usability of drawing tools on both platforms are excellent. Both boast a smooth and intuitive experience.  Both platforms tool libraies are easily customisable. Colors, line thickness and line type and easily set for any users liking.

Winner: Tie. This is a close call. Both platforms have smooth drawing tools. and have their own key advantages. Distinct features of each are TradingView has a bigger built-in drawing tool library. NinjaTrader offers syncing of tools across charts with the same instrument. 

Charting Experience and Interface Design

TradingView has become as extremely popular charting platform mostly due to it’s charting experience and beautifully designed interface. TradingView puts charting design at its core and it has done such a stellar job with its HTML 5-powered platform. 

NinjaTrader also offers a quality charting experience. Drawing objects and adding indicators is relatively smooth and intuitive. The interface design is highly customizable allowing users to construct dashboards to their liking. It’s worth noting that NinjaTrader’s interface can be daunting on the onset. It is not as simple as TradingView which carries an interface akin to a social media platform, making it less overwhelming to first time users. 

Winner: TradingView. This isn’t as clear cut as you might expect. For me, the charting experience of TradingView is smoother and simpler. I also feel the interface design of TradingView is more user friendly. Having said that Ninjatrader offers a great charting experience and interface design.

Selection of Indicators

In terms of the selection of built-in technical indicators, Both TradingView and NinjaTrader have hundreds of indicators in their libraries.

For the selection of custom-built indicators, TradingView’s user friendly native Pine Script language has allowed users to populate the library with over 5,000 custom indicators. NinjaTrader also has a large selection of custom indicators with over 1,000 custom-made indicators. 

Winner: TradingView. TradingView’s plethora of custom-made indicators is a library makes it hard to beat.

Access to Markets and Instruments

TradingView and NinjaTrader both have access to quality data feeds. TradingView grants free real-time live data feed to Forex, Stocks, Index, and Cryptocurrencies. Live Futures data is only available via a brokerage account. 

NinjaTrader offers free daily end-of-day updates for Stocks, Forex, and Futures markets for free via Kinetick.

NinjaTrader doesn’t provide real time and historical data feed automatically for free.  But it does offer a free demo account that expires after two weeks provides market data access. Real time data feeds through Kinetick for an affordable fee.

NinjaTrader also market replay data and trading. This is a fantastic feature that unfortunately Tradingview is yet to offer. If you can’t make the market open and want to paper trade the NT market replay function allows traders to simulate trading in a real market environment anytime. Brilliant for beginner traders!

NinjaTrader also offers level 2 real-time visual order book data through its superDOM (depth of market). This is something that TradingView also doesn’t offer as of yet. 

Winner: NinjaTrader. Whilst TradingView offers live market data automatically free. NinjaTraders access to free demo account data, market replay function and level 2 order books gives NinjaTrader the clear win.

Timeframes and Chart Data Types

Timeframes

NinjaTrader supports multi-time frame analysis. This ranges from the longer terms yearly, monthly, weekly to shorter time frame of days to hours to minutes and to seconds. The platform also supports tick chart data, volume data charting.

TradingView also supports a multi-timeframe analysis. Its preconfigured timeframes are akin to NinjaTrader. However, TradingView requires an upgraded plan to access all time frames. Tradingview also offers volume data but unfortunately to my disappointment doesn’t offer tick data.

Chart Data Types 

TradingView’s chart data types include the popular bars, candles, and line. Beyond basics, more types are included such as:

• Hollow Candles
• Heikin Ashi
• Area 
• Baseline
• Renko
• Line Break
• Kagi
• Point & Figure 
• Range 

NinjaTrader’s chart types also include the popular OHLC, Candlestick, and line. The list includes:

• Box Bars 
• Equivolume
• Hollow Candlestick
• Kagi line
• Mountain 
• HLC 
• HiLo 
• Open/Close 
• Point and Figure 

Winner: NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader is the clear winner. No access to tick data limits my use of the platform. If you don’t use tick data this might not be such a big deal. NinjaTrader also offers more flexibility in customizing time data series timeframes. Ninjatrader’s user guide is also very helpful in understanding the significance of the various chart styles. 

Alerts

The alerts feature on both platforms is simple to use.

TradingView allows users to add indicators to drawing tools, Indicator or set strategy alerts. However, free accounts are only limited to 1 active alert. 

NinjaTrader also allows alerts to be added to drawing tools and indicators. Users enjoy little to no limitations in the number of alerts on the chart. A handy feature is applying alerts to all or only specific instruments. 

Both platforms allow users to be alerted via email through its sharing service. Tradingview requires an upgrade for this feature.

Winner: NinjaTrader. NT users enjoy free alerts without limitation. The alert configuration is very detailed with various condition being able to be set.

Community

TradingView is very popular as a social network. It is one of the first platforms that have integrated a social forum and message board in a trading platform. Users can easily share trade and educational ideas with matching tags. A dedicated social tab for scripts is also available.

NinjaTrader community is forum based. The NT forum acts as an outlet for questions about the NinjaTrader platform. Topics are limited to platform technicalities and programming language Ninjascript. 

Winner: TradingView. Tradingview’s social media style platform has developed a really strong community and idea sharing environment. TradingView collaborative community sets it apart from most trading platforms.

Support

NinjaTrader offers very detailed, well-organized and accessible user guides. Beyond user guides, its forum and customer hotlines are excellent additions as well to ensure users are guided well.

TradingView also has its own help center with articles on FAQs. However, the articles I came across are not as detailed as I’d like to see. I’m also not aware of any chat or phone support which is a little disappointing. The support tab does allows users to submit incident “tickets” to which the support team attends too. 

Winner: NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader is a clear winner in this category. NT’s help center is complete. The user guide is already a reliable resource for many platform-related concerns. The customer hotline is available for most of the day. In the event that they are not, users can log questions via forum which are answered by NT moderators asap. 

Learning Curve

TradingView basic function has a very small learning curve. Its interface and usability is intuitive, clean and simple.

NinjaTrader takes a bit more time to pick up. Connecting to data feeds is clumsy and first time users really need to follow a clear user guide to function features.

Winner: TradingView. Highly intuitive platform with minimal configuration complexities. Users can easily jump right in and explore features on their own without having to undergo tutorials.

Summary – My final thoughts

Both these platforms are brilliant pieces of trading software.

I’ve always been a fan of very analytical examination in the decision making process. So if you are trying to decide between each of these platforms. I think this post will really help you out.

In reflection, I’m actually a surprised by the results. I’ve been a big user of both these platforms. I love TradingView and been a heavy user of NinjaTrader.

The platform that works best for your needs will depend on what weighting you give to each of the categories and features that are important to you. Of course the topics and features I’ve discussed are by no mean exhaustive. But do give a broad overview of what to look for in a trading platform.

On balance I give the win to NinjaTrader. Price, market replay function, platform support and access to tick chart data are priorities for me and I add larger weighting in those areas. So NinjaTrader comes out on top. Your weightings probably differ. So prioritize what’s important to you against our discussion above to come to your own conclusion.