What Is CrossTrade? Automation for NinjaTrader and Tradovate
CrossTrade combines webhook automation, copying, account controls, APIs and trade review for NinjaTrader 8 and directly linked Tradovate accounts.
CrossTrade connects external signals and applications to NinjaTrader 8 and Tradovate. TradingView alerts reach NT8 through the connected desktop Add-On, or a linked Tradovate account directly from CrossTrade's cloud. The route you choose determines what needs to stay online.
The platform combines webhook automation, NT8 copying, cloud Tradovate copying, account controls, APIs and trade review. Start with the task you need, then choose the plan and connection that support it.
How It Works
Create a TradingView alert with your CrossTrade webhook URL and an order message. CrossTrade validates the request and routes it to the selected account. Omit destination for NT8; add destination=tradovate for the direct cloud route. Inspect broker order state separately from alert receipt.
Here's what a basic alert message looks like:
key=your-secret-key;
command=place;
account=sim101;
instrument=ES1!;
action=buy;
qty=1;
order_type=market;
tif=day;
That's it. When TradingView fires this alert, CrossTrade places a market buy order for 1 ES contract on your sim101 account. You can add ATM strategies for bracket management, send to multiple accounts in a single alert, attach stop loss and take profit levels, or use the flatten_first enhancement to close any open position before entering the new one.
If you don't want to write command strings by hand, the Command Builder walks you through building a complete alert message with dropdowns and fields. Select your action, pick your order type, configure your brackets, and copy the finished command directly into TradingView.
The Command Builder writes the alert message for you
What's Included
Webhook Alerts are the foundation. Every CrossTrade plan includes unlimited webhook processing with support for the full NinjaTrader ATI command set plus CrossTrade-specific enhancements like multi-account placement, Flatten First, strategy tagging for position ownership, and require market position filters that block signals when your account isn't in the expected state.
The NT8 copier offers Order and Execution modes, with Fills Only as an option inside Order mode rather than a synonym for all fills. The direct Tradovate copier offers Signal, Execution and Order (beta) modes. Pick the mode by whether you need to copy commands, fills or working orders.
NinjaTrader Trade Copier
Account Manager monitors per-account rules such as daily profit/loss thresholds and flatten times. Monitor Lock limits restarts after a stop; it is not the threshold calculation itself. NT8 and Tradovate have different runtime and enforcement details, documented in Account Manager.
NinjaTrader Account Manager
The REST and WebSocket APIs provide supported account and order operations on Pro. MCP tools require Elite and separate OAuth permissions. The trading journal remains accessible on Free, while automatic broker capture requires an active subscription or trial.
Trading journal
VPS Hosting is available as an add-on. CrossTrade runs its own Chicago-based virtual private servers optimized for NinjaTrader, with low-latency connectivity to CME Group exchanges. If you don't want to keep a local PC running 24/7 or you need the reliability of a dedicated server for live trading, the VPS keeps your setup running around the clock.
Try CrossTrade free for 7 days — full access, unlimited alerts, no credit card required.
Who Uses CrossTrade
CrossTrade serves traders using NinjaTrader 8-connected accounts or linked Tradovate accounts who need automation, multi-account control and trade review. Common workflows include:
TradingView strategy automation. You've built a Pine Script strategy or indicator that generates reliable signals. You want those signals to execute automatically on NinjaTrader without sitting in front of a screen. CrossTrade converts your TradingView alerts into live orders with full bracket management and position control.
For multi-account trading, first verify the firm's current platform, ownership and automation rules. Then choose an account list for identical alert instructions or a copier for a leader with per-follower settings. Connectivity alone does not establish permission.
For discretionary trading, account-level limits can help enforce a session plan, but they are not a guaranteed exit price or a universal block on broker-side manual orders. Configure the relevant monitor and verify the supported action for your platform.
Getting Started
Start a free seven-day trial, choose NT8 or direct Tradovate, and follow the corresponding first-trade guide. NT8 needs the connected desktop Add-On; direct Tradovate requires a linked account and can run with your computer off.
If you want to see the full command set before signing up, the Complete Guide to NinjaTrader Commands covers every command type with examples. For setup help, the Help Docs walk through installation, configuration, and first alert testing step by step.
Questions? The team is in Discord daily alongside other CrossTrade users.
