Plan · Record · Review
Futures trading journal software for planning, tracking, and review
Keep contract details, trading costs, and the reasons behind your decisions together. TradersMill helps you organize futures trades into a record you can return to and review.
What to record in a futures trading journal
A useful record explains both what happened and what you intended. Capture the trade details while they are fresh, then add your review once the trade is complete.
Use this checklist as a starting point for your own journal:
- Instrument and contract symbol, direction, and number of contracts.
- Entry and exit prices and times, planned stop, and target.
- Commissions and other fees, alongside the recorded result.
- Setup, entry reason, and what would invalidate the plan.
- Screenshots, execution notes, and one lesson to revisit.
Keep contract size and trading costs in context
ES/MES and NQ/MNQ are supported examples of standard and micro futures contracts. The related contracts have different monetary values per tick: the same price movement and contract count do not represent the same dollar exposure.
Record the actual instrument and quantity rather than treating a micro contract as interchangeable with its standard counterpart. TradersMill uses supported futures specifications for tick-based trade calculations.
Review the costs as well as the move
Commissions and fees affect the net result. Check them against your trade records, especially when reviewing several entries or exits. Missing cost information should not be treated as evidence that trading was free.
A journal documents your decisions; it does not remove the risks of futures trading. Read the trading risk disclaimer.
Connect your trade plan with execution evidence
Use pending-trade planning to capture an idea before execution and pre-trade checklists to record your preparation. Afterward, add screenshots and notes that explain the entry, management, and exit.
Basic checklists are included in Essential. Advanced checklists and Setup Playbook require Professional or Elite; screenshot limits also depend on your plan. View Plans for the current feature details.
Explore the TradersMill journal- 01
Before: write the setup, intended entry, and invalidation.
- 02
During: preserve screenshots and notes about your decisions.
- 03
After: compare execution with the plan and record a lesson.
Review your trading day and week
Daily journaling, weekly review, and the performance calendar help you revisit your recorded activity over time. Look beyond an individual outcome and read the notes that explain it.
Advanced performance analytics are available on Professional and Elite. Analysis depends on the trades and evidence you have recorded; it is not a forecast of future results.
Explore performance reviewQuestions for your next review
- Did the entry follow the original plan?
- Was the planned invalidation respected?
- Did contract size and costs match what you expected?
- What decision should you repeat or change?
These are prompts for your own reflection, not claims of automated evaluations.
Bring in trades manually or through supported files
Enter trades manually or use supported file-import paths. File support depends on the platform and export format; do not assume every broker export is compatible.
Automatic broker sync is not currently available. Broker Auto Sync is Coming Soon.
Check the record before reviewing it
Confirm the instrument, quantity, prices, and costs after bringing in trade data. Add the screenshots and decision notes that a trade-history file cannot explain.
Visit Support or Contact Us if you need help checking an import path.
Futures trading journal questions
Can I journal micro futures?
Yes. MES and MNQ are supported examples, alongside ES and NQ. Record the actual contract symbol and quantity so the trade reflects the correct contract context.
Do I need a broker connection to begin?
No. You can enter trades manually. Supported file imports are also available, but automatic broker sync is not currently available.
Can I keep screenshots and notes with my trades?
Yes. Keep screenshots and trading notes with your trade evidence. Screenshot limits depend on your plan.
Which review tools depend on my plan?
Daily journaling, weekly review, and the performance calendar are included in Essential. Advanced analytics, advanced checklists, and Setup Playbook require Professional or Elite. Compare plans.
Where can I read about data privacy?
Read the Privacy Policy for information about how TradersMill handles your data.
Start building a reviewable trading record
Bring your futures trade details, plans, and lessons into one journal. Start with the record of a trade you want to understand.
Create Your TradersMill Account