Glossary · Platforms
Trading platform
- Also called
- trading terminal
- platform
What it means
In a prop firm, the trading platform is chosen per market. Forex and CFD firms commonly use MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade, Match-Trader or TradeLocker. Futures firms commonly connect through Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, ProjectX or Volumetrica, and display charts in third-party front ends.
The platform choice affects licensing cost, how quickly accounts can be created and closed by API, which risk engine and CRM integrations exist, which countries the vendor will serve, and what traders already know how to use.
Platform access can change. In the past few years several prop firms had to switch or pause platforms at short notice after vendor policy changes, so most firms now plan for more than one.
Related terms
Read these next.
MetaTrader 4 and 5
cTrader
DXtrade
Match-Trader
TradeLocker
Rithmic
On your website
Where this shows up on a prop firm site.
Challenge pricing table
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What Trading Platform Should a New Prop Firm Use?
Trading Platform Cost for Prop Firms (2026)
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