Overview
Discount Trading is a US futures broker that's been around since 1997, and its whole pitch is low commissions and low day-trade margins. It suits active futures day traders and scalpers who already know which platform they want. It's registered with the CFTC and a member of the NFA (ID 0283032), and accounts are cleared through Ironbeam in Chicago. It takes clients from the US and most other countries, including Canada.
Accounts and costs
A standard futures account needs $1,500 to open, or $500 if you'll only trade micros. Self-directed traders pay $0.49 or less per contract on standard futures and $0.20 or less on micro index futures, with exchange, clearing and regulatory fees on top. If you lean on the desk for help, you may be moved to a higher assisted rate. Day-trade margins start at $400 for ES and $40 for MES, which is a lot of leverage. There are no inactivity fees and no minimum number of trades. Individual, joint, corporate, trust and IRA accounts are all available.
Platforms and markets
You get a choice of 20+ platforms. MegaTrader is its own free platform, and there's Sierra Chart, Quantower, R Trader Pro, TradingView, CQG Desktop, ATAS, MotiveWave, Bookmap and TickBlaze, with routing over Rithmic, CQG or Teton. Markets cover equity index, energy, metals, grains, softs, interest rate and currency futures, plus options on futures. A free $50K demo is available.
Money in and out
You fund by bank wire, ACH through Plaid or check. Wires that arrive by 11:30 AM Central are credited the same day, while ACH can take up to five business days and is held for ten before you can withdraw it. Withdrawals go out by wire or check.
Good
- Commissions of $0.49 or less per contract, $0.20 on micro indices
- Very low day-trade margins, $400 ES and $40 MES
- 20+ platforms including Sierra Chart, Rithmic, Quantower and TradingView
- No inactivity fees or minimum trade counts
- 24/6 trade support desk and IRA accounts available
Watch for
- $1,500 to open a standard account, $500 for micro-only
- Futures and futures options only, no stocks or forex spot
- Low margins mean high leverage and fast losses
- Funding by wire, ACH or check only
Accounts and costs
What each account needs to open and what you pay to trade on it.
| Account | Min deposit | Pricing | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Futures account | $1,500 | $0.49 or less per contract on standard futures, $0.20 or less on micro index futures, plus exchange, clearing and regulatory fees; broker-assisted accounts may pay $0.99 | Day-trade margins from $400 on ES |
| Micro futures only | $500 | $0.20 or less per contract on micro index futures, plus exchange, clearing and regulatory fees | Day-trade margins from $40 on MES |
Regulation
Which entity holds which licence. Your protection depends on the entity you open an account with.
Platforms and markets
Platforms
Markets
Deposits and withdrawals
- Methods
- Bank transfer
- Minimum deposit
- $500
What traders say
Scores from the sites traders use, and our summary of what they're saying, checked 6 October 2026.
There is very little trader feedback on Discount Trading. Its Trustpilot page shows 3.8 from just 3 reviews, and Trustpilot notes the company has never invited customers to review, so the score says little. Beyond that, the evidence is a handful of Reddit comments in futures trading threads, and those are positive.
What traders like
Low commissions and margins. Reddit users and a Trustpilot reviewer say it has some of the lowest rates they have found for e-mini and micro futures, with low day-trading margins.
Platform choice. Several mention using Sierra Chart, Rithmic, MotiveWave or Quantower through it, and like not being tied to one platform.
Small accounts welcome. One Reddit user who says they have been a client for ten years points to the low minimum to open an account.
No problems reported with the data feed. A Reddit user clearing through Ironbeam via Discount Trading says the feed has been reliable across platforms.
Common complaints
The evidence shows no pattern of complaints. With this few reviews, the absence of complaints is not a strong signal either way.
Recently
No dated reviews from the last 90 days in the evidence.
Where this comes from
Trustpilot: three reviews, none invited by the company.
Reddit: futures traders comparing brokers for small accounts.
Verified reviews
Reviews from traders who've connected an account at Discount Trading to Chartnaut, so you know they actually traded there. Opening soon.