Step 2 of 9

Sign up for NinjaTrader

Create your free NinjaTrader account. This takes about 5 minutes and gets you access to the platform, sim trading, and everything you need to run our algorithms.

1

Go to NinjaTrader.com

Go to NinjaTrader.com and click "GET STARTED" in the top-right corner.

NinjaTrader landing page - click GET STARTED in the top right
Click "GET STARTED" in the top-right corner of the NinjaTrader homepage.
2

Enter your email and sign up

You'll land on the sign-up page. Enter your email address and click "Sign Up". You can also sign up with Google or Apple if you prefer.

Use a real email you check regularly - NinjaTrader will send license keys, account info, and verification links here.

NinjaTrader sign up page - enter your email
Enter your email and click Sign Up. Google and Apple sign-in also work.
3

Check your email

After signing up, NinjaTrader will show a confirmation page telling you to verify your email address. Head to your inbox.

NinjaTrader confirm your email address page
NinjaTrader confirms they've sent a verification email to your address.
4

Verify your email

Open the email from NinjaTrader and click the "Confirm Email Address" button.

NinjaTrader verification email - click Confirm Email Address
Click "Confirm Email Address" in the email from NinjaTrader.
Don't see the email?

Check your spam/junk folder. The email comes from NinjaTrader and sometimes gets filtered. If you still don't see it after 15 minutes, go back to the signup page and try resending.

5

Pick your account type

Select "Individual" - this is the most common option and what nearly all of our clients use.

NinjaTrader pick account type - select Individual
Select "Individual" - it's marked as Most Common for a reason.
6

Choose Live or Sim

You'll see two options:

  • "Open Account" - Start a live NinjaTrader brokerage account for trading real money
  • "Start a risk-free trial of simulated trading" - Full platform access with sim trading. No cost.
NinjaTrader Get Started - Live or Sim options
Two paths: Open a live account, or start with a free sim trial. Both arrows show your options.
Oracle's recommendation

If you're connecting through a prop firm (like Apex Trader Funding) or your own broker using Rithmic or Tradovate, you don't need a NinjaTrader brokerage account - just the free sim trial to get platform access. Your broker provides the data connection.

The sim trial gives you full platform access so you can install algorithms, practice, and get comfortable before going live.

7

Choose Desktop

When prompted to choose your platform, select "Desktop". Our algorithms require the desktop application - the web version does not support third-party strategies.

NinjaTrader choose platform - select Desktop
Select "Desktop" - our algorithms require the full desktop platform, not the web version.
Desktop only

NinjaTrader Web does not support custom NinjaScript strategies. You must use the Desktop application to run Oracle algorithms.

8

Market data - do you need it?

This depends on how you're connecting:

Connecting through Rithmic or Tradovate (prop firm or broker)

Your broker provides the data feed. If you are only trading through your prop firm or broker, you do NOT need a NinjaTrader market data subscription. Skip this step entirely.

However, if you want to run both a NinjaTrader cash account and a Rithmic/Tradovate connection at the same time, you'll need a Level 1 market data subscription through NinjaTrader.

Trading a live cash account directly through NinjaTrader only

You'll need to subscribe to Level 1 market data through NinjaTrader for live price data on futures contracts (NQ, MNQ, etc.).

To subscribe: Log in at account.ninjatrader.com and go to Market Data Subscriptions.

Most Oracle clients don't need this

The majority of our clients trade through prop firms like Apex (Rithmic connection) and get their data feed included. You only need a NinjaTrader data subscription if you're also running a cash account through NinjaTrader's brokerage.

Checkpoint - Verify Your Account

Before moving on, confirm:

  • NinjaTrader account is created and email verified
  • You can log in at account.ninjatrader.com
  • You selected "Individual" account type
  • You chose Desktop as your platform
  • You know whether you need market data (most don't)