The verdict
These tools answer different questions. NinjaTrader is the right pick if you're a serious futures trader who needs execution, the order ladder and a deep strategy engine. TrendSpider is the right pick if you trade equities/options/crypto and want modern AI-driven charting and scanning. Many active futures traders use both — NinjaTrader for execution, TrendSpider with SET25 for chart analysis.
TrendSpider vs NinjaTrader: pricing models
NinjaTrader's free version exists, but the unlocked platform is either $1,499 lifetime or $80/mo. TrendSpider Elite with SET25 is $40.50/mo and includes real-time data. For pure charting and scanning, TrendSpider is materially cheaper — but NinjaTrader's lifetime license can win for traders who plan to use it for 5+ years.
Should you use both?
Plenty of futures traders run NinjaTrader for the order ladder + execution and TrendSpider on the side for multi-timeframe analysis, scanners and backtesting on equities/options. At ~$40/mo with SET25, TrendSpider is cheap insurance.