Optimus Futures Review

Richard Montana | August 2, 2022

Optimus Futures is a people-first discount brokerage that combines support and technology to provide a seamless trading experience. They provide a flexible infrastructure for any trading plan, including a superb selection of 35 platforms for web, desktop and mobile. There are an impressive 10 data feeds and 6 FCM’s for your orders. You can utilize an excellent selection of free professional grade trading tools to assist with your analysis and trade management. They have deep discount trading commission and low day trading margins. One of the things I like most about them is that they provide a personalized approach, where they speak to you as an individual to try and understand your own needs. I much prefer this over anonymous brokers who have so many clients it would be impossible to cater for them all individually. Overall, I think they can be a great choice for anyone in the USA who is looking for a discount futures brokerage for self-directed trading. They can cater to day traders, scalpers, and long-term traders. Whether you are a retail trader, professional trader or looking for institutional trading solutions, they have something for everyone.

Summary

Optimus Futures is a leading online futures broker that caters to traders seeking fast execution and stable data feeds combined with aggressive margins and deep discount commissions. They are an Independent Introducing Broker clearing through some of the largest capitalized Futures Commission Merchants (FCM) in the US. An FCM is an entity that solicits or accepts orders to buy or sell futures contracts, options on futures, retail off-exchange forex contracts or swaps, and accepts money or other assets from customers to support such orders. The broker has established relationships with multiple FCM’s in order to give you the option to decide where you want to place your funds and which trading platform(s) and technology you prefer to use. The six FCMs you can select when using Optimus Futures are the following: AMP, Ironbeam, ADM Investor, GAIN Capital (brand name of City Index and Forex.com), TradeStation and Wedbush.

The broker provides you with a great choice of various trading platforms, implementing some of the most innovative and advanced technology. Traders benefit from some favourable trading conditions, such as competitive commissions, aggressive margins, multiple clearing firms, easy account transfer, and more. They offer full services at discounted brokerage prices to help clients achieve their long-term trading goals. Despite their impressive trading infrastructure, it is great to see that Optimus remains a customer-focused company, providing clients with dedicated brokerage services with a 24/7 Support Desk through their clearing partners, Live Chat, a vast Knowledge base, YouTube channel with hundreds of tutorials and a trading forum where you can interact with like-minded traders.

Deep Discount Trading Commissions

Pay as little as $0.50 / side no matter how much you trade. Clients who meet their daily trading volume thresholds qualify for even more savings with deep discounted commissions as low as $0.10 / Side.

Aggressive Margins

Optimus offers low day-trading margins to accommodate traders that require high leverage to trade their accounts – $400 Day Trading Margins for EMinis.

Futures Market Data Feeds

Optimus Futures has partnered with Multiple Datafeeds to deliver streaming real time futures quotes and historical market data direct from the exchanges, giving you a true tick-by-tick view of the markets.

Futures Trading Clearing & Execution

Optimus Futures is an Independent IB with relationships with multiple Futures Clearing Merchants (FCM’s) giving you the option to decide where you want to place your funds and which technology you prefer to use.

Automated Trading Systems

Optimus runs automated futures trading solutions for customers and helps customers find algorithmic solutions suitable to their trading needs.

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Regulation

When it comes to choosing a broker, regulation is one of the most important things to look out for. I would always prefer to use a regulated broker as they can give you certain protection that an unregulated brokerage firm cannot. Optimus Futures LLC is a member of the NFA and registered with CFTC. I personally consider this to be top-tier regulation and would therefore have no problem trusting them for my day trading activities.

Countries

The broker can accept traders from different parts of the globe, provided that their respective countries of residence permit online futures trading with foreign brokers. If you find that they cannot provide services in your country, please feel free to look for an alternative on our broker ratings page.

Platforms

Optimus Futures maintains a wide selection of futures trading platforms to help you become an effective trader. They provide access to advanced platforms and multiple data feeds which can accommodate the fast fills and timely execution you need to realize potential profits in today’s volatile markets, all at very competitive rates. I think that they have some of the best trading platforms that you will find anywhere, with probably the most impressive selection that I have ever seen. You can choose from various platforms according to your own trading style. It is normal that the choice may seem overwhelming at first. If you are not sure which platform is right for you, there is a handy feature that will help you to pick a platform and to determine the best combination of technology and features at the lowest possible price. The broker can help you find a good solution without compromising on cost or performance.

Optimus Flow

Optimus Flow is the brokers signature trading platform with a ground-breaking trading interface using analytical panels for enhanced visual display, better technical analysis and faster order execution. Get professional charting, volume analysis tools, order flow surface, TPO profile charts and more. You can trade futures on a modern and easy-to-operate trading platform and get a trading advantage in the market using professional charting tools.

Optimus Flow

The platform enables you to analyze the market with easy-to-use features and an extensive list of chart types. There is a wide list of drawing tools and indicators which are ideal for technical traders to analyze volatility, support & resistance, trends, as well as reversal points. You can add and compare several assets on the same chart to find out their relationship with each other. Use absolute price scales to see how each instrument has performed since the start of the year. The platform is packed with more features than most traders will ever need.

Optimus Flow Features

• Live Market Data and Quotes (Includes Level 2 Data)
• Chart Trading (Includes Time and Tick Charts)
• Simulated Trading
• Strategy Backtesting with Live Data
• Market Replay
• Chart Drawing Tools
• Technical Indicators (40+)
• Market Depth
• DOM Trader
• Time & Sales
• Standard and Custom Timeframes

Optimus Trader

Optimus Trader is the brokers flagship trading platform as well as the first trading platform in the industry to utilize Rithmic’s low latency execution over the web. A user-friendly, visually stunning and function-rich futures trading platform that suits all the needs of professional traders, while making the platform easy to access for beginners as well. Optimus Trader gives traders a unified user interface across multiple devices – PC, Phone or Tablet. Using a single login, traders can access the platform through a browser on any device with an internet connection and everything is synced from the last session, meaning your customized trading experience moves seamlessly with you.

Optimus Trader

An efficient, no-frills platform for active traders who prioritize fast execution over fancy features that real traders never utilize in live market conditions. Designed to keep you focused on the information and tools you need to place trades in fast moving markets. An easy to learn layout that is ideal for beginners, while the ever-expanding list of indicators and trading tools make it a valid alternative for professionals. Widget based layout allows you to customize your trading screen and build your own “Trading Hub”. Each chart, indicator, DOM is displayed in its own widget which you can move, resize or restyle to achieve the best possible layout. Link widgets and stay organized – changing one widget will change all the other linked items as well.

Optimus News

Optimus News is a Trading News Platform that helps traders stay on top of the financial markets with real-time, relevant analysis of key economic events and custom-tailored notifications for the markets they trade at the exact manner of release. The platform provides an easy way to access all Economic Events [such as Unemployment Rate, Interest Rate decisions, etc.] with extremely detailed information. All Optimus Futures customers get free Unrestricted Access to the Optimus News platform.

Firetip

Firetip is a full featured professional-grade trading platform. Designed for traders that demand reliability and high performance, Firetip incorporates the features you need to better facilitate your trading. Firetip is designed to be an intuitive, easy to learn trading platform with direct market access, charting, news, account details and statements all at your fingertips.

TT® Platform

TT offers a streamlined, go-anywhere trading experience for professional traders. Whether you are on your desktop, laptop or mobile device, TT works for you wherever you go with advanced tools to keep your eye on the market. View real-time and historical market data and trade with the click of your mouse or automate your trading strategy and deploy your algo to servers throughout their global network of collocated data centres for superior execution. It’s built on an all-new scalable open architecture that enables both TT and end users to innovate and respond to changing market and customer needs with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

MT5 Platform

MetaTrader 5 is an all-in-one free platform for trading futures via any smartphone device, browser or operating system: Windows, Mac and Linux. The platform offers a powerful arsenal of tools available with a click of the mouse. Get access to a flexible trading system with technical and fundamental analysis, Market Depth and the support of all types of trading orders and execution modes. This is my platform of choice simply because I am already accustomed to MetaTrader as I have been using it for many years. I think it is extremely user-friendly and has more than enough features and functionality for effective manual and automated trading.

TradingView

TradingView is an advanced financial visualization platform with the ease of use of a modern website. Whether you are looking at basic price charts or plotting complex spread symbols with overlayed ratios, TradingView has the tools and data you need. Access to latest market news, favourite charts and chat with other members wherever you are.

TradeStation

The TradeStation Platform offers electronic order execution that enables clients to design, test, optimize, monitor and automate their own custom futures trading strategies. TradeStation has one of the top-ranked futures trading platforms on the market, with more data, speed and analytical power than even the most advanced futures traders demand. Plus, you’ll get low pricing and knowledgeable, professional support.

MultiCharts

MultiCharts’ is based on building robust trading strategies, accurate market data with minimal delivery time, order execution within milliseconds, and lower-than-average transaction fees. With tools such as high-definition charting, technical indicators, backtesting, and strategy execution, everything you need is at your fingertips.

MultiCharts.NET

MultiCharts.NET combines best features of MultiCharts with robust potential of the .NET framework. Engineered specifically for programmers, users can create strategies and indicators in C# and VB.NET. Watch a short intro video to get an overview of the .NET Editor and tight integration we created with Visual Studio. Remember, you can choose between 32 and 64-bit versions for the one that suits your needs best.

Sierra Chart

Sierra Charts is a complete and professional trading platform supporting manual trading, automated trading, simulated trading and powerful and highly customizable charting. We provide historical and forex market data, and support many external Data and Trading services as well that provide futures, stock, index, forex and all types of market data from exchanges around the world.

R-Trader Pro

R-Trader is well suited for the trader who wants quick execution on the electronic markets. Traders have the ability to trade futures and options from a price ladder or an order ticket. R-Trader also offers option chains, prebuilt strategies for futures and options plus streaming real-time quotes.

ATAS

ATAS is a professional futures trading platform designed for order flow analysis. The platform is used by proprietary trading companies and professional traders throughout the world. Optimus Futures seamless integration with ATAS can deliver streaming real time quotes and historical market data direct from the exchanges.

GAIN Trader

GAIN Trader is an easy to use electronic trading platform that handles all of the complexities associated with trading and order management. From streaming quotes to full order desk communication, GAIN Trader’s interface gives you instant access to a full suite of tools.

iBroker

iBroker from OEC helps you move with the markets. It is fully integrated with OEC Trader. Use live market data to monitor your account and execute trades that work seamlessly with your OEC account. A simple, intuitive app for trading Futures & Futures Options.

Bookmap

Bookmap is an Order Book visualization platform that takes “real-time” order flow information and presents it in an easy to consume picture or “Heat Map”. Traders are able to get their “feel” back by visually seeing the live auction process. A visual historical depth-of-market (DOM) data provides a unique perspective that enables discretionary traders to get faster and deeper insight into live market dynamics to anticipate short-term price action.

Jigsaw

Designed specifically for futures day traders, the daytradr platform is a robust stand-alone multi-threaded trading platform that connects to CQG, Rithmic, GAIN Futures (OEC) and IQFeed. daytradr contains all the features from the popular plug-in from Jigsaw and much more, to give you an edge in the markets.

CQG Desktop

CQG M is now CQG Desktop. CQG Desktop is the next generation of trading and data visualization from the original data and analytics experts that have been trusted for more than 30 years. CQG Desktop offers trading, market data, charting, and analytics all in one easy-to-use product that can be customized to meet your trading needs. The new web-based technology doesn’t require any software to download so it’s easier than ever to access the markets with CQG.

CQG QTrader

CQG QTrader offers powerful trading tools and technical analysis features to trade and monitor the markets. It combines advanced analytics, charts, and multiple trade execution interfaces in one comprehensive solution for professional traders.

CQG Integrated Client

CQG Integrated Client has earned a solid reputation through decades of reliable performance, providing traders with an innovative trading interface complete with accurate global market data, professional analytical tools, and advanced order routing.

CQG Spreader

CQG Spreader is a high-performance market data and electronic trading application for traders who don’t require technical analysis tools. CQG Spreader allows traders to access the CQG Spreader Core collocated servers at the exchanges.

CQG API Trader

Optimus Futures offers CQG API solutions for customers needing the most reliable data, powerful analytics, and ultra low-latency trading. Firms and traders looking to create a link between exchanges and their own software can use the CQG API to bring market information into their applications as well as execute orders directly.

Trade Navigator

Trade Navigator provides a variety of customizable charting and technical analytical features for traders of different levels. Using both the customizable charts and ladders allows traders to track trades and strategies both graphically and statistically at the same time.

TT® API

TT enables users to customize and extend the power of the underlying platform through a range of API’s.

TT API – Allows end users and third parties to build faster, more scalable trading applications for desktop and server deployment.

X_Trader API – RTD Server – Extend the power of the TT platform by integrating your automated trading logic, custom price and fill reporting and user-defined trading windows directly into the X_TRADER environment

FIX Adapter – Provides the industry-standard Financial Information eXchange (FIX) protocol for integrating customer and third-party order routing, market data and trade capture systems with the TT platform.

CTS

T4 available from Cunningham Trading Systems (‘CTS-T4’) offers real-time quotes, one-click trading, multiple order types, a built-in charting package, real-time news and economic indicator feeds, and much more to traders. Full functionality and customization allow all users to create a trading screen that fits their own trading style.

AgenaTrader

AgenaTrader is a detailed and feature-filled platform for traders of any account size. With features ranging from charting trading and integrated market scanners, AgenaTrader aims to save valuable time for traders and provide all the necessary functionality for various trading styles and strategies.

OAK Web / Desktop

The OAK System offers a ‘One Screen Solution’, providing customers the ability to route orders to any connected exchange. OAK provides easy web-based access, alleviating the headaches associated with running third-party software, such as downloading, installation, ongoing maintenance and system re-configurations.

MotiveWave

MotiveWave Software is a well-established developer of easy-to-use full-featured charting, analysis and trading software built for the individual trader. ‘MotiveWave’ has very advanced charting and drawing tools that are highly customizable and yet still easy-to-use, and also specializes in advanced analysis tools like Elliott Wave, Fibonacci, Gartley, Gann and Ratio Analysis.

VOLFIX.NET

Send market orders with a single click of the mouse. Place/Remove market orders (limit , stop orders) directly on the chart with one or two clicks of the mouse. Place/remove a group of complex market orders (linking profit and stop orders to placed order) with one or two ‘clicks’ of the mouse

eSignal

eSignal lets you watch the market move – right on your PC – then plan your market strategy and make your decisions using eSignal’s charting and technical analysis tools.

Investor/RT

Investor/RT is a powerful trading platform featuring advanced charting and market analytics. Investor/RT has been actively and continually refined over many years to meet the ongoing needs of traders and active investors.

SmartQuant

SmartQuant Algo Trading Infrastructure (QuantDesk) is designed for quantitative investors and traders, as well as institutional users such as hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, brokers, consultants and service providers. All products share the same underlying complex-event processing framework, which allows to seamlessly integrate them for tasks of any complexity.

QST

QST is a state-of-the-art futures and options trading application combining comprehensive, fast, flexible order entry / management with world-class charting and analytics, real-time quotes and news.

InsideEdge

Trade with InsideEdge, focus on trading, not managing multiple vendors. Why pay separately for charting, historical data, execution platform, and platform transactions fees? You can reduce your cost of trading and potentially increase your efficiency with the brokers combined ‘ALL-in-One’ Trading Solution.

Tools

I think that the provided platform should have more than enough tools implemented for even the most demanding of traders. Not to mention, you can find access an abundance of free and paid add-ons for some of the platforms and even develop your own if you have the programming skills to do so. If not, you can always hire a freelancer to bring your ideas to life. Whatever the trading strategy you have in mind is, chances are that you will be able to create it in one of the platforms. However, it is also nice to see that Optimus Futures provides you with some standalone trading tools that are designed to ensure you can get an enhanced trading experience and make the most of your trades. These tools include automated trading systems, advanced charts, commission calculators, and more.

Education

Whilst I believe that Optimus Futures is probably more suitable for traders who already have some experience, there are various educational resources on the broker’s website to help educate beginners. They include trading guides, trading blogs, trading podcasts, futures trading community, video library, webinars and an FAQ section. There is a decent amount of frequently updated content but this isn’t a specific reason why I would opt for Optimus over another broker. Where they really excel is trading technology and customer support. If you are an absolute novice, then you may want to browse our best brokers for beginners to find a suitable option.

Markets

Optimus Futures offer trade execution systems that provides market data and order routing to and from the world’s principal exchanges. At Optimus Futures (using Optimus Flow), you can trade only futures and options on futures. Other popular asset classes such as real stocks or ETFs are not available. If you are looking for a variety of other assets then you might want to consider IG as an alternative option. The following exchanges are available for futures trading:

CME

CME Group is the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, handling 3 billion contracts worth approximately $1 quadrillion annually (on average). The exchanges – CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX – offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather and real estate.

CBOE

CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE®) is the home of volatility futures, featuring futures on the CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX®). CFE is owned by CBOE Holdings, Inc. and trades on CFE are cleared by The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). CFE is an all-electronic, open access market model with dedicated market makers and market participants providing liquidity.

Eurex

Eurex is one of the world’s leading derivatives exchanges offering a broad range of international benchmark products, operating the most liquid fixed income markets in the world and featuring open and low-cost electronic access. With market participants connected from 700 locations worldwide, trading volume at Eurex exceeds 1.5 billion contracts a year. Therefore, Eurex is the market place of choice for the derivatives community worldwide.

Kansas City Board of Trade

The Kansas City Board of Trade, located in Kansas City, Missouri, is the world’s largest futures market for hard red winter wheat. Prices discovered at the Kansas City Board of Trade are the benchmark for wheat prices around the world.

Minneapolis Grain Exchange

Since its inception in 1881, MGEX has been the principal market for Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW) – first as a cash market, then futures and options. Millers, exporters, elevators, farmers and speculators look to MGEX when they trade HRSW wheat – and with good reason. Known for its stable and reliable trading environment, MGEX has a reputation as a good place to do business.

ICE Futures US

Global Futures and Options Exchange for Agricultural, Energy and Financial Contracts. With a heritage dating to the 1870 founding of the New York Cotton Exchange, ICE Futures U.S. is a regulated market offering futures and options contracts for agricultural commodities, as well as equity indexes, currencies and North American natural gas and power. The second largest futures exchange in the U.S, ICE Futures U.S. contracts are cleared through ICE Clear U.S.

ICE Futures Europe

Established in 1981 as the International Petroleum Exchange, ICE Futures Europe is a regulated futures exchange for crude and refined oil, natural gas, power, coal and emissions, interest rates and equity index futures and options contracts. All contracts are cleared by ICE Clear Europe, the leading global clearinghouse for energy markets.

NYSE Liffe

NYSE Liffe is the global derivatives business of NYSE Euronext. It comprises the derivatives (futures and options on futures) business of Euronext, N.V. originally traded on individual venues in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Lisbon and Paris markets. Each exchange is under the umbrella of NYSE Euronext. Both NYSE Euronext and NYSE Liffe were acquired by the Intercontinental Exchange in November of 2013.

NYSE Liffe US

As part of NYSE Euronext, NYSE Liffe U.S. was acquired by the Intercontinental Exchange in 2013. ICE began transferring the Liffe U.S. products over to its own platforms on June 9, 2014, starting with interest rate futures.

Singapore Exchange

Singapore Exchange (SGX) is the Asian Gateway, connecting investors in search of Asian growth to corporate issuers in search of global capital. SGX represents the premier access point for managing Asian capital and investment exposure, and is Asia’s most international exchange with more than 40% of companies listed on SGX originating outside of Singapore. SGX offers its clients the world’s biggest offshore market for Asian equity futures, centred on Asia’s three largest economies – China, India and Japan.

ASX

ASX is one of the world’s leading financial market exchanges, offering a full suite of services, including listings, trading, clearing and settlement, across a comprehensive range of asset classes. As the first major financial market open every day, ASX is a world leader in raising capital, consistently ranking among the top five exchanges globally. With a total market capitalisation of around $1.5 trillion, ASX is home to some of the world’s leading resource, finance and technology companies. The $47 trillion interest rate derivatives market is the largest in Asia and among the biggest in the world.

London Metal Exchange

The London Metal Exchange is the world centre for the trading of industrial metals – more than 80% of all non-ferrous metal futures business is transacted on their platforms.

Accounts

Optimus Futures offers a variety of accounts to meet your investment needs: Individual, Joint (JTWROS & Tenants in Common), Corporate, LLC, Partnership, Trust, and Pension Plan Accounts. The minimum amount required to open an account with a live data connection is $100 which is very reasonable when you consider some brokers require a minimum deposit of hundreds if not thousands to get started. The minimum account balance needed to place a trade is $500 for Micros and $2000 for E-Minis. It takes around 10 minutes to complete your application and get access to industry leading platforms, low day trading margins and deep discount commissions, all backed by dedicated personalized support.

Support

Even though you choose to be an independent online trader, Optimus Futures is there to provide you with advice and assistance. You have access to the broker, risk management monitors, information management personnel, technicians and other supporting personnel around the clock. Optimus Futures is with you all the way. I was extremely impressed with the high quality of the support and think this is one of the key things that helps to set them apart from other brokers. With a 24-Hour Trade Desk from the FCM’s and technical knowledge of all trading platforms, every Optimus customer has access to around-the-clock support. You can reach them by Phone, Email, Chat, Twitter or Submit a Support Request.

Funding

The only acceptable methods of funding a futures trading account with Optimus Futures are through wire transfer, ACH deposit, or physical check. I found this to be very limiting when compared to other brokers who provide additional payment methods such as digital wallets and cryptos. I think they could improve by adding support for some more modern forms of payment. I don’t always want to wait around days for a bank transfer to clear, especially if there is some market news that I need to try and quickly capitalise on.

Conclusion

Optimus Futures is a futures brokerage firm that offers self-directed and automated futures trading to traders in over 40 countries. They have a fantastic selection of advanced trading platforms as well as industry leading trading tools and learning resources to help you get the most out of your trading. As a private client of Optimus Futures, they can empower you with all these and more, giving you the choices to hopefully trade better, smarter and potentially faster than you have ever done before.

Optimus Futures will equip you with the necessary technology and resources along with competitive pricing and friendly technical support to help you capitalize on your trading plan.​ They help traders with expert analysis and technical articles on their blog, weekly chart analysis of key commodity markets, in-depth platform tutorial guides and walkthrough videos, educational podcasts and an active trading community for you to interact with like-minded traders.

Overall, I am extremely impressed with many aspects this broker and the vast range of trading products and services that they can provide retail, professional and institutional traders alike. However, I wouldn’t say they are the most beginner friendly broker and the choices can perhaps be overwhelming for some. If you are looking for simplicity and don’t require all the bells and whistles that Optimus Futures delivers, you may want to consider another option from our best trading brokers instead.

Min $100 Deposit

Optimus Futures is a leading online futures broker that caters to traders seeking low latency execution and stable data feeds combined with aggressive margins and deep discount commissions.

Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

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About the Author

Richard Montana
Richard has many years of experience in broker research, testing, analysis and reviews. He knows what to look for through years of trading himself with different brokers and listening to the feedback of others.