Setting Up Your Data Feed
A data feed is the connection between your NinjaTrader platform and the live market data it needs to display charts and execute trades. Without an active data feed, your Ninjacators indicators and bots will not have the real-time information they need to function.
What Is a Data Feed?
Think of a data feed as a live stream of price information coming from the futures markets. It tells your NinjaTrader platform exactly what prices are doing at any given moment — tick by tick. This is separate from your brokerage account, though many brokers provide a data feed as part of their service.
Your Data Feed Options
There are two common ways to get a data feed connected to NinjaTrader:
| Option | Description | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Through Your Broker | Many futures brokers (such as NinjaTrader Brokerage, Dorman Trading, or Interactive Brokers) provide a live data feed as part of your brokerage account. This is the most common setup. | Often included with brokerage account |
| Third-Party Data Provider | If your broker does not provide a data feed, or if you want a standalone data feed for analysis purposes, providers such as Kinetick (NinjaTrader's own data service) are available. | Varies by provider; typically $20–$55/month |
Connecting Your Data Feed in NinjaTrader
- Open NinjaTrader 8.
- Click on Connections in the top menu, then select Configure.
- Click Add and choose your data provider or broker from the list.
- Enter your login credentials for that provider.
- Click OK and then connect.
Once connected, you should see a green indicator in the bottom right corner of NinjaTrader confirming your data feed is live.
Who Do I Contact to Set Up a Data Feed?
For questions about setting up or troubleshooting your data feed, please contact your broker or data provider directly, as they manage the connection on their end. If you are unsure which provider to use, our support team is happy to point you in the right direction — reach us at help@ninjacators.com.
Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Please review our full Risk Disclaimer before trading.