Webull Futures Trading vs MetroTrade Compared [2026]

Webull launched futures trading in April 2024, bringing its familiar multi-asset platform into a market that has long been dominated by dedicated futures brokers. For retail traders, this creates a genuine choice: use a platform you already know for stocks and options, or use a brokerage built specifically for futures.

Both Webull and MetroTrade are CFTC-registered, offer competitive pricing, and provide access to core CME Group futures markets. But the differences between them go beyond the commission line. This guide compares Webull futures trading and MetroTrade across pricing, intraday margins, platform tools, contract access, and trader fit so you can make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways

• Commission differences are real but context-dependent. Webull charges $0.25/side on micro contracts vs MetroTrade’s $0.29/side, but MetroTrade is cheaper on e-mini contracts at $1.09/side vs Webull’s $1.25/side.
• Intraday margins are significantly lower at MetroTrade. MetroTrade’s intraday margin on the Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) is approximately $50, compared to Webull’s $268.73, making the difference far more substantial than the commission gap.
• Webull suits multi-asset traders; MetroTrade suits futures-focused traders. Webull is a better fit if you trade stocks, options, and futures in one account, while MetroTrade is built entirely around the futures trading experience.
• Both are regulated, low-cost options for retail traders. Neither charges platform fees, and both provide free CME market data.

Note that futures trading uses leverage, which amplifies both gains and losses.

Webull Futures Trading: What You Need to Know

How Webull Entered the Futures Market

Webull Financial is registered as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) with the CFTC and is a member of the NFA. It added futures trading to its existing multi-asset platform in April 2024, positioning futures as one of several product lines alongside stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto.

The futures offering is accessible through the same Webull account used for other asset classes. Traders who already use Webull for equities can apply to add futures trading without opening a separate brokerage relationship.

What Webull Offers for Futures Traders

Webull provides access to a broad range of futures contracts across several categories:

• Equity index futures: E-mini S&P 500 (ES), E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ), E-mini Russell 2000 (RTY), E-mini Dow Jones (YM)
• Micro contracts: Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES), Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ), Micro Crude Oil (MCL), Micro Bitcoin (MBT)
• Metals, energies, and agriculture: Gold (GC), silver (SI), crude oil (CL), natural gas (NG), corn (ZC), soybeans (ZS), wheat (ZW)
• Currencies and interest rates: Euro (6E), Japanese Yen (6J), 10-Year Treasury Note (ZN), U.S. Treasury Bond (ZB)

Platform tools include a DOM (Depth of Market) price ladder through its TurboTrader entry point, 50+ technical indicators, customizable charting, and a mobile app synchronized across devices. Webull also provides free CME real-time market data and unlimited paper trading with no time limit.

One important operational detail: Webull’s intraday margin rates are only active from 9:00 AM to 4:15 PM EST, Monday through Friday. Positions must be at or above the full initial margin requirement by 4:15 PM EST, or they may be subject to liquidation.

MetroTrade Futures Trading: What You Need to Know

How MetroTrade Is Built for Futures

MetroTrade is a CFTC and NFA-registered introducing broker (IB) that operates as a futures-only brokerage. The entire MetroTrade product ecosystem, including its proprietary trading platform MetroTrader, is built around retail futures traders.

Unlike multi-asset platforms that add futures as a feature, MetroTrade’s platform, pricing, tools, and educational resources are all designed with futures traders in mind. There are no stocks, ETFs, or crypto products to navigate around.

What MetroTrade Offers for Futures Traders

MetroTrade provides access to core CME Group futures markets, including:

• Equity index futures: E-mini S&P 500 (ES), E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ), and their micro equivalents (MES, MNQ)
• Energy futures: Crude Oil (CL), Natural Gas (NG), etc.
• Metals futures: Gold (GC), Silver (SI), etc.
• Additional CME Group contracts across equity index, energy, metals, currencies, and more

The MetroTrader platform is available on web and mobile, and includes a full DOM trading ladder, drag-and-drop chart order entry, bracket orders, trailing stops, and over 75 technical indicators and studies. For more on what MetroTrader offers, see MetroTrader: A Free Futures Trading Platform for Traders.

MetroTrade offers a 30-day demo account for testing the platform with delayed Level 1 market data before trading live. There is no platform fee and no account minimum to open.

Commission Comparison: Webull vs MetroTrade

Commissions are the most visible difference between these two brokers, and the picture is more nuanced than it might appear at first glance.

Webull has a $0.04/side edge on micro contracts, which adds up for high-frequency micro traders. A trader executing 100 round-trip trades on MES per month would save $8 in commissions with Webull, all else being equal.

On e-mini contracts, the dynamic reverses. MetroTrade’s $1.09/side rate is $0.16 less per side than Webull’s $1.25/side. A trader doing 50 round-trip trades on ES per month would save $16 in commissions with MetroTrade.

For a broader view of how both brokers compare to the rest of the industry, see Futures Trading Fees Compared Across Brokers [2026].

Pro tip: Before treating the micro commission difference as the deciding factor, calculate your actual monthly cost based on how many contracts you trade and which contract type dominates your activity.

Note that frequent trading does not guarantee profitability and may increase transaction costs.

Intraday Margin Comparison: Webull vs MetroTrade

Intraday margin is the amount of capital required to hold a futures position open during the trading session. It is typically set well below the exchange’s overnight initial margin, making it possible to trade with a smaller account. The lower the intraday margin, the more efficiently a small account can deploy capital.

Note: margin rates are as of March 2026 and are subject to change.

Source: Webull and MetroTrade

MetroTrade’s intraday margins are substantially lower across every major equity index contract. The MES day margin at Webull is $268.73, compared to approximately $50 at MetroTrade. For the MNQ, Webull requires $407.55 versus approximately $100 at MetroTrade. On the full-size ES, Webull’s day margin is $2,686.86 versus MetroTrade’s approximately $500.

To put that in concrete terms: a trader with a $500 account could trade the MES intraday at MetroTrade, while that same account would fall short of Webull’s $268.73 day margin requirement with meaningful room to spare after accounting for losses and fees. The margin gap between these two brokers is considerably wider than the commission difference, and it matters most for small-account traders who are sizing positions carefully.

Note that futures trading uses leverage, which amplifies both gains and losses.

Platform Comparison: Webull vs MetroTrader

Webull Platform Strengths

Webull’s trading platform has been refined over several years for equity and options traders. The interface is well-designed and familiar to anyone who already uses the platform for stocks or options. Key strengths for futures traders include:

• All asset classes in one account: stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, and futures managed under a single login
• TradingView integration available for advanced charting workflows
• Strong mobile app with synchronized trading across devices
• Unlimited paper trading with no time expiration, good for strategy testing over an extended period
• Free real-time CME market data included

MetroTrader Platform Strengths

MetroTrader is designed from the ground up for futures trading. Every feature in the platform relates to futures execution, position management, or market analysis. Key strengths include:

• DOM trading ladder for real-time order book visibility and fast execution at specific price levels
• Drag-and-drop chart order entry for visual trade management directly on the chart
• 75+ technical indicators and studies, compared to 50+ on Webull
• Bracket orders with attached stop-loss and take-profit in a single entry
• Modular layout system: customize and save workspace arrangements including multiple chart windows, position panels, and account metrics
• Real-time P&L, margin usage, and equity monitoring built directly into the platform interface

Key Differences to Consider

The most important platform distinction is focus. Webull is a multi-asset platform where futures is one product among many. MetroTrader is a futures-only platform where every tool is built around the needs of a futures trader.

For a trader who also actively trades stocks or options, the single-account experience on Webull is a genuine convenience. You do not have to manage a separate login, fund a separate account, or switch between platforms.

For a trader whose primary or sole activity is futures, the MetroTrader experience is more purpose-built. There is no friction from unrelated asset classes, and the platform tools (DOM ladder, bracket orders, chart trading) are built to futures trading workflow standards.

Contract Access and Market Coverage

Both brokers cover the same core futures markets that retail traders focus on most. Equity index futures and their micro equivalents, energy, metals, agricultural contracts, and FX and interest rate futures are available on both platforms.

The only meaningful difference in contract coverage is that Webull also offers Coinbase Derivatives crypto futures, including Bitcoin, Ether, Nano Bitcoin, Nano Ether, Solana, and others. MetroTrade does not currently offer CDE crypto futures.

For the majority of retail futures traders whose activity is concentrated in equity index, energy, and metals markets, both brokers provide equivalent access.

Account Setup and Eligibility

Both brokers require a separate futures account application, which is standard for CFTC-regulated futures trading. The application involves eligibility requirements, including trading experience, financial information, and risk acknowledgment.

At Webull, futures trading is added to an existing Webull brokerage account. Webull requires a minimum equity of $100 to activate a futures account. Once activated, the account can remain open below that amount, but you must meet the applicable margin requirement for any contract you want to trade.

MetroTrade is a standalone futures brokerage. You open a new account directly with MetroTrade, and the application is processed through the FCM. MetroTrade does not require a minimum deposit to open an account.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of what to expect, see How to Open a Futures Trading Account [2026 Guide].

Who Should Choose Webull for Futures?

Webull is a strong fit for a specific type of futures trader. It works best when:

• You already use Webull for stocks or options and want to add futures without a separate brokerage account
• You trade micro contracts in high volume and want to take advantage of the $0.25/side commission rate
• You need access to a broader contract range, including CDE crypto futures
• Your account is funded well above the day margin thresholds

Webull’s futures offering works best as part of a multi-asset trading approach. If futures is one of several asset classes you trade, consolidating everything into one Webull account is a practical choice.

Who Should Choose MetroTrade for Futures?

MetroTrade is a better fit when futures are your primary focus. It works best when:

• Futures trading is your main or only activity, and you want a platform built around that workflow
• You trade e-mini contracts (ES, NQ) regularly and want the lower $1.09/side commission rate
• You are a small-account day trader and need the lowest available intraday margins on equity index futures
• You value a DOM ladder, drag-and-drop chart trading, and a futures-specific platform interface

Traders coming from a prop firm environment often find MetroTrade a natural transition to live brokerage trading. For more on that transition, see Switching from Prop Trading to Live Trading: What to Expect.

Stock traders exploring futures for the first time will find MetroTrade’s educational resources useful as well. See Trading Futures vs Stocks: Key Pros and Cons for context on how futures trading differs from what you already know.

Side-by-Side Summary

Conclusion

Webull and MetroTrade are both legitimate, low-cost options for retail futures traders. The best choice depends on what you trade, how you trade, and whether futures is your primary focus or one product among several.

Webull has a marginal commission edge on micro contracts, a broad contract catalog, and the convenience of a single multi-asset account. MetroTrade has substantially lower intraday margins across all major equity index contracts, no minimum deposit requirement, a full-session margin window without a hard end-of-day cutoff, and a platform purpose-built for futures trading.

If you want to explore MetroTrade, open an account today to start trading live futures.

Frequently Asked Questions

The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered trading, investment, tax, or legal advice. Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for every investor. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should carefully consider whether trading is appropriate for your financial situation. Always consult with a licensed financial professional before making any trading decisions. MetroTrade is not liable for any losses or damages arising from the use of this content.