- Low trading fees and free ACH withdrawal
- Great platform and research
- Fast customer service
- Optimus Flow only available for Windows
- Credit/debit card not available
Optimus Futures is a US-based introducing broker that offers futures trading services. Its futures trading fees are among the lowest on the market, and there is no charge for ACH withdrawals. The desktop platform and research tools are excellent, meeting the needs of experienced traders, and customer service provides quick, helpful responses.
On the negative side, the Optimus Flow platform is available only for Windows. For deposits and withdrawals, credit/debit card payments are not supported.
Fees
Optimus Futures offers low futures trading fees and low margin requirements, making it easier to open and maintain positions. Platform usage is free and ACH withdrawals come at no cost. However, wire withdrawal fees can be relatively high.Low futures fees
US index futures fees are as follows: $0.25-$0.05 per side depending on the contracts traded. Non-US customers may be subject to an additional clearing fee of $0.16 per side on micro contracts.
The commission will not exceed $0.75 per side even if you trade only low volumes, but clients who meet daily volume thresholds can qualify for even lower fees, with discounted commissions as low as $0.10 per trade.
On top of trading commissions, there are three more fee elements:
- Order routing fee: Free when using the Optimus Flow platform (other FCM platforms may charge up to $0.50 per trade).
- Exchange, clearing & NFA fees: These vary by exchange and product. For the most popular Micro E-mini and E-mini futures, the fees are approximately $0.25 and $1.28 per trade per contract, respectively.
- Market Data: CME Level 1 market data is free if you place at least 10 trades per month. Otherwise, it costs $3/month. While the free data is a nice benefit for active traders, it’s a bit inconvenient that you have to manually apply for a rebate each month.
Optimus Futures also provides options on futures. Options fees are the same as those for simple futures contracts.
Low margin requirements for futures
Optimus Futures offers low day trading margin requirements compared to industry peers — for example, Micro E-mini S&P 500 margins can be as low as $50, and Standard E-mini S&P 500 margins start at $500 — a low entry point that can be attractive if you’re an active trader.
No inactivity fee, no withdrawal fee
There is no inactivity fee, and both deposits and ACH withdrawals are free. On the other hand, domestic and international wire withdrawals are relatively high compared to industry averages.
No platfrom fees
Optimus Futures doesn’t charge a monthly platform fee for using its Optimus Flow platform, which helps keep overall costs low.
Check out a detailed analysis of all the fees, commissions, and other charges levied by Optimus Futures for more information.
Safety
Optimus Futures is a legit brokerage that operates as an introducing broker for FCMs (Futures Commission Merchants), which hold your funds and are regulated by top-tier financial authorities. On the negative side, Optimus Futures doesn’t disclose its financials, which may be seen as a lack of transparency.Deposit and withdrawal
Optimus Futures offers reasonably quick withdrawals. However, only wire or check withdrawals are available and wire withdrawals carry a high fee. Credit/debit cards are not available either.Mobile app
Optimus Futures provides a user-friendly and well-designed mobile app. You can trade using a wide range of order types and you can set price alerts. However, a two-step and biometric login is not available.Desktop platform
Optimus Futures’s desktop platform is highly customizable and has many advanced features to assit futures trading. However, it might feel complicated at first and it also lacks a two-step login.
