How to Paper Trade Futures (NQ, MNQ, ES) for Free

Short answer: open a free TradingView (affiliate link) account, pull up a futures symbol like MNQ1!, click Trade, connect Paper Trading, reset the account to a realistic balance and trade one micro contract. The free plan works; the catch is that futures data is delayed about 10 minutes unless you pay for real-time data.

Which futures to practice on

• MNQ: micro Nasdaq 100. $2 per point. A tenth the size of NQ. The best starting point. See micro futures explained.
• NQ: full-size Nasdaq 100. $20 per point. See what NQ is.
• MES / ES: the S&P 500 versions, slower moving.

Set it up

1. Open a chart and search MNQ1!, the continuous front-month contract.
2. Click Trade, choose Paper Trading, click Connect. Full walkthrough: TradingView paper trading.
3. Reset the account to the balance you'd really trade.
4. Set a realistic commission per contract.
5. Trade 1 contract, always with a stop and target attached.

The free plan's catch

CME futures data is delayed about 10 minutes on the free plan. You can still learn the platform, your setup and your discipline, but you won't be trading the open in real time. More in TradingView futures data explained.

Best time to practice

Practice during the same window you'd trade live, usually the first hours after the New York open. When the market's closed, use Bar Replay.

Want the whole thing in order? My free course, The Paper Route, takes you from a blank TradingView account to 30 logged sessions on paper.

Education only, not investment advice. Most people who day trade lose money. Simulated results have limits. TradingView links on this page are affiliate links: if you sign up or upgrade, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. TradingView changes its plans and menus from time to time; check its site for what's current.