Tradovate Professional Market Data Rates
Market data on Tradovate isn't one flat price. What you pay comes down to a single label: non-professional or professional subscriber. Here's how to get it right.
Market data on Tradovate isn't one flat price. What you pay for live CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX quotes comes down to a single label the exchanges attach to you: non-professional or professional subscriber. That label is the difference between a few dollars a month and a per-exchange fee that runs well over a hundred dollars. Get it right before you subscribe and you'll never overpay.
The Two Tiers, Side by Side
Non-professional pricing is a small bundle. Professional pricing is charged separately for each exchange, so the total climbs fast if you want live data across all four CME Group markets.
| Non-professional | Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical monthly cost | A small bundle for all four CME Group exchanges (around $12 for Level I / top-of-book, roughly $41 for Level II / depth) | Charged per exchange, per month, at a much higher rate, well over $100 per exchange, in the region of $140 to $156 |
| How it's billed | One bundled subscription, or a single exchange on its own (around $4 Level I / $16 Level II each) | Each exchange billed separately, so all four means four separate charges |
| Who it's for | Individuals and small entities trading their own money | Anyone who doesn't meet the non-professional test |
| What you sign | The non-professional Market Data Subscriber Certification | The professional data agreement |
Treat those dollar figures as a guide, not gospel. Exchange fees change and Tradovate updates its schedule over time, so confirm the current numbers on the subscription screen before you commit. The gap between the tiers, though, is always large, which is why your status matters so much.
Which Category Are You?
Almost everyone trading their own account is non-professional. You tip into the professional tier the moment any one of these is true:
- You're registered or qualified with the SEC, CFTC, NFA, a state securities regulator, or any securities or futures exchange or association.
- You act as an investment adviser or asset manager, or you trade or manage money for other people.
- You receive or use the data for a business, or on behalf of another person or entity.
- You're employed in a role that uses market data professionally, or you're affiliated with a firm that would count as professional.
One "yes" is enough to move you to the professional rate. Being self-employed doesn't disqualify you on its own. A sole trader, or a small LLC, trust, partnership or corporation trading its own capital, can still qualify as non-professional as long as none of the points above apply.
How to Lock In the Non-Professional Rate
Open the Market Data Subscription Screen
In the Tradovate web or desktop app, open the settings menu and look for Market Data Subscriptions, then choose the CME Group exchanges you want live quotes for. If you only trade the S&P and Nasdaq futures, a single CME subscription may be all you need rather than the full bundle.
Complete the Non-Professional Certification
During sign-up you self-declare your status on the Market Data Subscriber Certification (also shown as the Market Data Agreement). Choose Non-Professional and confirm the statements apply to you. If Tradovate asks, upload a clear photo or scan of the signed pages to your account dashboard. Answer honestly. A false non-professional declaration can trigger back-billing at the professional rate.
Keep a Live, Funded Account
The low non-professional rate is tied to an active, funded live account. A demo-only or unfunded account can push you to delayed data or the higher tier. If your live orders are getting blocked until you sign a data agreement, that's this requirement in action.
Confirm Your Quotes Are Live, Not Delayed
Once the subscription goes through, check that your symbols show live prices instead of a delayed marker. If quotes still lag, the subscription may not have taken effect yet.
Prop Firm and Evaluation Accounts
On a prop-firm evaluation or funded account, you usually don't buy market data yourself. The firm provisions it, and how the professional or non-professional side is handled varies by firm and account type. Check your firm's current rules rather than assuming Tradovate's direct-account pricing applies to you.
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Start Your Free 5-Day TrialThis guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.