Understanding Tradovate All-In Trading Rates
The commission you see quoted for a futures contract is never the whole cost. Here's what makes up your true all-in rate, and how to work out your own, step by step.
The commission you see quoted for a futures contract is never the whole cost. Your real cost per trade is the "all-in rate", the commission plus the exchange, regulatory, and clearing fees stacked on top. If a trade ever cost more than the commission you expected, this is why. Here's what goes into that number and how to work out your own.
What Is a Tradovate All-In Rate?
The all-in rate is the total cost of trading one contract, one side, with every fee rolled together. It bundles your broker commission with the pass-through fees the exchanges and regulators charge on top. Quote it per side and you know what one entry or exit costs; double it for the round-turn cost of getting in and back out. Two brokers can advertise the same headline commission and still cost you different amounts, because the fees layered on top aren't identical.
The Four Parts of an All-In Rate
Every all-in rate is built from the same four pieces. What changes is who sets each one and whether it moves with your broker or with the contract you trade.
| Component | Who charges it | Varies by broker? | Varies by contract? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission | Your broker (Tradovate) | Yes, depends on your plan | Yes, micro vs standard differ |
| Exchange fee | The exchange (CME and others) | No | Yes |
| NFA fee | National Futures Association | No | Yes (small, per contract) |
| Clearing fee | The clearing firm (FCM) | Yes | No |
Two things fall out of that table. Exchange and NFA fees are identical at any broker but change from one contract to the next, so a crude oil trade and a micro index trade carry different exchange fees. Clearing fees work the other way, the same across contracts, but they can differ from broker to broker. Only the commission is truly Tradovate's own charge, and it's the one your membership plan actually moves.
One trap worth flagging: a micro isn't one-tenth the cost of the standard contract even though it's one-tenth the size. The commission shrinks, but the fixed regulatory and clearing pieces don't drop at the same rate, so micros end up proportionally pricier per dollar of exposure.
How to Work Out Your All-In Rate: Step-by-Step
Look Up Your Per-Side Commission
Start with the commission, since it's the piece you control. Your plan sets it, Free, Monthly, or Lifetime, and so does your contract size, with micros costing less per side than standard contracts. Pull the figure for your exact plan and contract first. The Tradovate commission rates guide has the full per-plan breakdown, and the plan comparison shows how those fees trade off against the monthly cost.
Add the Exchange, NFA, and Clearing Fees
Now stack the pass-through fees on top. Every fill carries an exchange fee set by the CME (or whichever exchange lists the contract), a small NFA regulatory fee, and a clearing fee. Tradovate doesn't set these, they apply on every plan, and they get revised periodically, so treat them as a live line item, not a number you memorize. Tradovate publishes a fee schedule listing commission plus these fees per contract; that combined figure is your all-in rate per side.
Double It for a Round Turn, Then Confirm It
The all-in rate you just built is for one side. Double it for a complete trade, that's your round turn, and multiply by your contract count for multi-lot orders. Say a contract's all-in rate works out to roughly a dollar per side: a round turn is about two dollars, and ten contracts run around twenty. Those are illustrative numbers, not a quote, so run the math on your own current figures. Then verify against reality, open your fills report or account statement and check the commission column next to each execution.
Prop-firm and evaluation accounts are the exception. They run on the firm's own commission schedule, not the retail rates, and those vary by firm and account size, check your firm's current rules rather than assuming the numbers above apply. The account reports guide shows where to pull your own fills for reconciliation.
Why the All-In Rate Matters
- Sizing a strategy, scalping systems live or die on cost per trade, and the all-in rate is the number that actually hits your account.
- Comparing brokers or prop firms, matching all-in rates, not headline commissions, is the only apples-to-apples comparison.
- Choosing a plan, a heavy trader can earn back a paid plan through lower commissions, but only the all-in math shows where break-even lands.
Trade Every Contract at Your Real Rate with PickMyTrade
Once you know your all-in cost, the job is making every entry and exit fire cleanly so you don't leak money to missed fills or fat-finger sizing. PickMyTrade routes your TradingView alerts straight to your Tradovate account at your plan's rate, no manual clicks, no oversized orders quietly inflating your bill.
Trade at Your Real Rate, Automatically
Know your all-in cost, then let PickMyTrade fire every entry and exit cleanly, no missed fills or oversized orders inflating your bill.
Start Your Free 5-Day TrialFrequently Asked Questions
Per side. The rate covers one entry or one exit, so a full round turn costs about double, and you multiply by your contract count for multi-lot trades.
Only the commission part. Upgrading your plan cuts what Tradovate charges, but the exchange, NFA, and clearing fees are pass-through costs that no plan waives.
Not necessarily. Prop firms set their own commission schedules on evaluation and funded accounts, and they vary by firm and account size, check your firm's current rules.
This 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.