If you have ever delved into futures trading, you know how easy it is to make a mistake that costs real money — fast.
Maybe you jumped into a contract too big for your account size, or maybe you held onto a position because you were sure the market “had to” turn back in your favor. Futures trading is fast, and when you’re wrong, the bill adds up quickly.
A big loss can hit new traders very hard, both financially and psychologically, disheartening them from continuing their journey to learn and improve their trading skills.
That’s where trading simulators come in, and really shine. A good simulator lets you test orders, manage contracts, and see how your strategy plays out without putting cash at risk.
You don’t get quite the same rush, or panic, as real money trading, but it’s close enough to build skill, confidence, and discipline.
Different platforms do this in different ways. Some make it easy to test complex systems, while others are built to feel more like live trading.
In 2025, a handful of simulators stand above the rest. Each one comes with pros, cons, and certain types of traders they fit better.
Why Use a Trading Simulator?
A lot of people skip practice because they think it doesn’t matter, fake money doesn’t count. The truth is, it absolutely does.
A simulator gives you a safe place to mess up and still walk away with real learnings from the experience.
You can think of it being like a doctor or a pilot. You wouldn’t want your first real operation or flight to involve human lives — a crash or a botched operation may be a “real lesson” but the cost to human lives involved would be too high for that to be worth anything.
Similarly, in trading, you may want to jump into the exciting world of trading straight away, but the implications for you and your family’s well-being can be drastic, if the start is botched up.
Key benefits of starting out futures trading with a simulator:
- No financial risk. You can blow up an account ten times in a simulator, and the only thing that hurts is your pride.
- Repetition builds skill. Run the same setup again and again until it feels automatic.
- Learn the mechanics. Order types, margins, trailing stops, spreads, you’ll actually understand how they work.
- Spot your own weaknesses. Even in a sim, you’ll notice hesitation, overtrading, or chasing losses.
The only warning is that simulators can give a false sense of confidence. Execution is usually cleaner than live markets, and emotions are way easier to control when it’s not your rent money on the line.
That doesn’t make them useless, it just means you shouldn’t treat a perfect sim record as proof you are ready to go full size in live trading.
The Psychology Gap
One thing simulators can’t fully capture is how your brain behaves when money is on the line. In a simulator, it’s easy to hold a losing position because deep down you know nothing real is at risk.
In live markets, that same position might make your hands sweat and your judgment cloudy. That doesn’t mean sim trading is useless, far from it. But it does mean you should use it as a place to develop habits. Keep track of whether you follow your rules, even when you’re bored or tempted to just try something. That discipline is what transfers best to live trading.
The Top Futures Simulators in 2025
Here are five simulators that stand out right now. Each one has its own strengths, so the best choice depends on how you trade.
1. NinjaTrader Simulator
What it is: NinjaTrader has been around forever in the futures world. Its built-in simulator is about as close as you’ll get to live trading without real money.
What if offers:
- Full access to futures markets like CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX.
- Supports advanced order types (OCO, ATM strategies, etc.).
- Market replay mode lets you test strategies on past data, so you can run through wild sessions like Fed announcements and see how your system holds up.
Also Learn: 5 Fundamental Indicators Every Futures Trader Should Watch
How to use it:
Start with replay mode on volatile days, then test in real-time simulation to get a feel for how orders behave. This is especially good if you’re building a rules-based strategy and want to see how it reacts when the market whipsaws.
Caution:
It can feel overwhelming at first. NinjaTrader is powerful, but the interface takes time. Don’t try to master every feature in one go.
2. TradingView Paper Trading
What it is: TradingView is mostly known for charting, but the paper trading function has become surprisingly solid for futures.
Why it matters:
- Works right inside TradingView’s world-class charts.
- Supports broker connections for live-like data.
- The TradingView community shares scripts and setups, which you can test in the simulator.
How to use it:
Code a basic system, like a moving average crossover, in Pine Script. Backtest it with TradingView’s tools, then flip it into paper trading mode and watch how it performs moving forward.
Caution:
Paper trades on TradingView usually fill instantly, which doesn’t always happen in live markets. Your backtest might look cleaner than reality.
3. Thinkorswim PaperMoney (Charles Schwab)
What it is: PaperMoney is the simulator inside Thinkorswim, and it covers equities, options, and futures.
What’s on offer:
- Institutional-grade charts and analytics.
- Lets you practice options on futures, which is rare.
- Great for traders who like to mix asset classes.
How to use it:
Experiment with spread trades or hedging strategies. For example, you could use S&P 500 futures to offset equity exposure while practicing option overlays.
Caution:
Execution can lag compared to a live account, so don’t rely on it for perfect order fills. It’s better for structure and practice than exact trade replication.
4. Tradovate Simulator
What it is: Tradovate is a commission-free futures broker, and its simulator is built right into the platform.
Why it matters:
- Clean, user-friendly interface that’s easy for beginners.
- Commission-free structure makes it simple to calculate costs.
- Cloud-based, so you can log in from anywhere.
How to use it:
Try practicing across multiple contracts at once, for example crude oil and mini-Nasdaq, to see how your risk changes when you’re not just trading one market.
Caution:
The analytics aren’t as deep as NinjaTrader or Thinkorswim, so if you’re heavy into backtesting, you may feel limited.
5. CME Group Free Simulator
What it is: CME Group itself offers a free simulator that focuses on education and contract details.
Why it matters:
- Lets you explore CME’s full product suite, including energy, metals, indices, and agriculture.
- Great for learning specs like tick size, margin, and contract multipliers.
- Totally free, a good entry point for beginners.
How to use it:
Practice sizing by working through examples. For instance, learn how a one-point move in the E-mini S&P translates to $50 per contract.
Caution:
It’s not meant for real-world trading practice. Think of it as a learning tool, not a long-term simulator.
Beyond Simulators: How to Build a Futures Trading Plan For Complete Beginners
Quick Comparison
| Simulator | Strengths | Weaknesses | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| NinjaTrader | Advanced orders, market replay, full futures integration | Steep learning curve | Serious futures traders |
| TradingView | Great charts, coding, community scripts | Unrealistic fills | Strategy testing and coders |
| Thinkorswim PaperMoney | Options on futures, strong analytics | Slower execution | Multi-asset traders |
| Tradovate | Commission-free, easy to use | Limited analytics | Newer futures traders |
| CME Simulator | Free, strong education focus | Not live-like | Beginners |
Building a Routine With Sim Trading
It’s also worth thinking about how you’ll use a simulator in your weekly routine. Some traders treat it like a sandbox, jumping in when they’re curious. Others run it like a full-time practice account, journaling every trade and reviewing stats at the end of the week. Neither approach is wrong, but the second one tends to give better results. By logging trades and treating the sim as if it were real, you’ll build habits that carry over. A sloppy sim routine usually leads to sloppy live trading.
Example: Testing a Simple Strategy
Let’s say you want to test a 5/11 EMA crossover on the E-mini S&P.
- On NinjaTrader: You can replay sessions from past Fed announcements and see how your rules handle sudden moves.
- On TradingView: You can code the system in Pine Script, backtest it five years, then watch it forward-test in paper trading.
- On Thinkorswim: You could combine the EMA crossover with an options hedge to see how it performs with risk protection.
Running the same idea across multiple simulators not only shows you which platform you prefer, but also highlights flaws in the strategy itself.
Trends in 2025
A few shifts are shaping the way traders use simulators this year:
- AI tools: Many platforms are adding AI-driven analysis to help spot setups.
- Regulation: With leverage rules tightening, practicing risk management before going live is more important.
- Micro contracts: The rise of Micro E-minis gives traders more flexibility, but practicing contract sizing in a sim helps avoid overexposure.
Micro contracts in particular have changed the way retail traders approach futures. With smaller sizing, it’s easier to scale in and out of positions, something you can practice endlessly in a simulator. Instead of risking too much on a single entry, you can learn to build positions in pieces, which often feels more manageable and less stressful.
Conclusion
There isn’t one simulator that’s perfect for everyone. What matters is matching the tool to the way you trade.
- NinjaTrader: if you want serious futures practice and replay.
- TradingView if you like charts and coding.
- Thinkorswim PaperMoney if you’re working across assets or options on futures.
- Tradovate if you want something simple and commission-free.
- CME Simulator if you’re just starting out.
The smartest move is to try at least two side by side. Run the same strategy in each, see how the fills feel, and watch how consistent you are. If you can stick to your rules in sim mode, you’re already ahead of most traders.
This material is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as trading, investment, tax, or legal advice. All participation in MyFundedFutures (MFFU) programs is conducted in a simulated environment only; no actual futures trading takes place. Performance in simulated accounts is not indicative of future results, and there is no guarantee of profits or success. Fewer than 1% of participants progress to a live-capital stage with an affiliated proprietary trading firm. Participation is at all times subject to the Simulated Trader Agreement and program rules.