MotiveWave vs NinjaTrader (2026): the comparison
MotiveWave costs $24/month bought direct. NinjaTrader costs $99/month. 2 prop firms we track include MotiveWave at no extra cost, against 8 for NinjaTrader. The table below compares price, systems, order flow, markets and data feeds line by line. Verified on 22 September 2026.
Last verified: 22 September 2026In short
MotiveWave
MotiveWave is a trading platform (charting + execution) built by MotiveWave Software, available on Windows, macOS, Linux for futures, forex / cfd, stocks, crypto, options. Its list price starts at $24/month, and 6 prop firms we track offer it to their traders, 2 of them at no extra cost. Data verified on 22 September 2026.
NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader is a trading platform (charting + execution) built by NinjaTrader Group, available on Windows, Web browser, iOS, Android for futures, forex / cfd, stocks. Its list price starts at $99/month, and 10 prop firms we track offer it to their traders, 8 of them at no extra cost. Data verified on 22 September 2026.
| Criterion | MotiveWaveCharting + executionVisit | NinjaTraderCharting + executionVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Charting + execution | Charting + execution |
| From | $24/month | $99/month |
| Included at | TradeDay, Lucid Trading | Goat Funded Futures, FTMO Futures, Tradeify, Take Profit Trader, Earn2Trade, Bulenox, TradeDay, Lucid Trading |
| Prop firms | 6 | 10 |
| Systems | Win · Mac · Linux | Win · Web · iOS · Android |
| Order flow | 3/4 | 3/4 |
| Market replay | Yes | Yes |
| Backtesting | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Copy trading | No | No |
| Markets | Futures, Forex / CFD, Stocks, Crypto, Options | Futures, Forex / CFD, Stocks |
| Data feeds | Rithmic, CQG | Rithmic, CQG, Tradovate |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
Verdict
Across the 13 criteria compared, MotiveWave wins 2 and NinjaTrader wins 3. NinjaTrader therefore leads on the number of criteria. Every row points at a verified field: there is no absolute winner, only a winner per criterion. Pick the one that matters to how you trade.
MotiveWave vs NinjaTrader: frequently asked questions
MotiveWave or NinjaTrader: which is cheaper?
MotiveWave is $24/month and NinjaTrader is $99/month, bought direct, recorded on 22 September 2026. The real cost depends mostly on the prop firm you pick: some include one or the other at no extra cost.
Can you get MotiveWave or NinjaTrader at no extra cost?
MotiveWave is included at no extra cost by 2 prop firms we track (TradeDay, Lucid Trading); NinjaTrader by 8 (Goat Funded Futures, FTMO Futures, Tradeify, Take Profit Trader, Earn2Trade, Bulenox, TradeDay, Lucid Trading).
MotiveWave or NinjaTrader: which one for order flow?
MotiveWave includes: Footprint / order flow, Volume profile, Order book (DOM), Market replay, Backtesting, API, Alerts, Multi-monitor. NinjaTrader includes: Footprint / order flow, Volume profile, Order book (DOM), Market replay, Backtesting, API, Alerts, Multi-monitor.
MotiveWave →NinjaTrader →See the full compatibility matrix →