R | Trader Pro
on Mac.

Prop firms often tell new traders to install R | Trader Pro first. It’s a Windows app, so Mac users get stuck on step one. Usually you don’t need it: here’s what it’s for, how to do the same jobs from a Mac, and when Windows is still required.

By Lightwick · Updated October 9, 2026

The short answer

Mac desktop app: No. Rithmic lists Windows 10, 11, and Server 2016 or later, and says “macOS not supported for desktop — please use our web & mobile app.”
In a Mac browser: The R | Trader web app, with the same login: a DOM ladder, charts, server-side brackets, and P&L.
Signing agreements: Many firms link to Rithmic’s web agreement pages or the R | Trader web app, so you can sign in Safari. A few still require R | Trader Pro.
Trading from a Mac: A native Mac app with a direct Rithmic connection doesn’t need R | Trader Pro running.

What firms use R | Trader Pro for

When a firm’s instructions say to install R | Trader Pro, they mean one of three jobs. Each has a different answer on a Mac.

R | Trader Pro tasks and their Mac alternatives
Job	On Windows	On a Mac
Sign market-data agreements	Shown on first login to R \| Trader Pro.	Rithmic’s web agreement page, where your firm links to one.
Share one login with other platforms	Plug-in mode: turn on “Allow Plug-ins” and other apps connect through R \| Trader Pro.	Not available. Use one app at a time, or a second session if your firm sells one.
Trade and check the account	R \| Trader Pro’s DOM, orders, and P&L.	The R \| Trader web app, or a native Mac trading app.

Sign Rithmic agreements on a Mac

Rithmic won’t send market data until your agreements are signed. These firms publish a browser route Mac users can follow:

Lucid Trading: An agreement link for Mac users in its Rithmic setup guide. Source ↗
BluSky: Web agreement instructions in its help center. Source ↗
Phidias: Links Mac users to Rithmic’s web agreement pages. Source ↗
The Trading Pit: Accept Rithmic’s terms on Rithmic’s website with your platform credentials. Source ↗
Tradeify: Sign in the R | Trader web app once; Tradeify notes you can close it afterwards. Source ↗
DayTraders.com: A firm-specific Rithmic agreement page, or sign on first login to R | Trader. Source ↗

Use your trading credentials. The Rithmic user ID and password your firm issued, not the login for the firm’s website.
Check the system. Agreement pages are tied to a system, such as Rithmic Paper Trading or a firm’s own. Use the link your firm gives you.
Choose your classification carefully. Professional status carries much higher exchange fees.
Then connect your Mac app. If the login still fails, work through the Rithmic troubleshooting steps.

Some firms still require R | Trader Pro. OneUp Trader, for example, makes completing the market data forms in R | Trader Pro its required first step. If your firm does, ask support whether a web link works for your account before setting up Windows.

Does R | Trader Pro need to stay open?

Only if your trading platform is set up to connect through it. Plug-in mode is a Windows arrangement: the platform borrows R | Trader Pro’s session, so both have to run. A platform with its own Rithmic connection signs in directly. Lucid’s setup page says R | Trader Pro can be closed once the agreements are signed.

Native Mac apps connect directly, because plug-in mode isn’t available there. Lightwick connects through Rithmic’s own programming interface and doesn’t use R | Trader Pro at all. MotiveWave’s Rithmic connector works the same way on a Mac.

The R | Trader web app

Rithmic describes its web app as “your full trading platform, no installation required,” with the same login on iOS and Android. It lists a DOM ladder with live depth, candlestick and point charts, one-click buying and selling, server-side bracket orders, and real-time P&L.

It’s a good way to check positions, manage an order, or sign agreements from any browser. Rithmic says web and mobile access is not available to demo users, so if the web app won’t accept your login, ask your firm whether it’s enabled for your account. The iPad version, Rithmic Trader Pro, also installs on Apple silicon Macs from the App Store, though Apple lists it as not verified for macOS. Like any other app, it uses your Rithmic login, so sign out before trading elsewhere on the same credentials.

When you still need Windows

Your firm requires R | Trader Pro for setup

A one-time setup on a Windows PC, or in a virtual machine, may be quicker than waiting on support. After that, you can trade from a native Mac app with the same credentials.

You run several Windows platforms on one login

Plug-in mode only exists in R | Trader Pro on Windows. If your workflow depends on it, keep the whole setup in Windows; Apex’s platform guide says a Windows virtual machine is required to run Rithmic’s desktop software on a Mac.

For everything else, a Mac app with a direct Rithmic connection does the job. Lightwick puts charts, a DOM, footprint charts, and orders for your Rithmic account in one native window, and is free during beta. See the Mac platform comparison for other options.

Common questions

Is there an R | Trader Pro download for Mac?

No. Rithmic’s requirements list Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2016 or later, and say macOS is not supported for the desktop app. Rithmic points Mac users to its web and mobile apps.

Which agreement link should I use?

Use the link in your own firm’s instructions. Rithmic runs separate agreement pages for some firms and systems: for example, rithmic.com/rag_paper.html opens the page for Rithmic Paper Trading, and The Trading Pit and DayTraders.com have their own. Sign in with your trading credentials, not your firm dashboard login.

Should I choose professional or non-professional?

Answer honestly for your circumstances. Exchange fees for professional data are much higher; The Trading Pit, for example, says certifying as professional is invoiced at $488. If you’re unsure whether you qualify as non-professional, ask your firm before signing.

Can I trade in the R | Trader web app and another platform at the same time?

Not on the same login. Rithmic says connecting two applications to the same data feed at once disconnects the first. Running several platforms together is what plug-in mode in R | Trader Pro is for, and that needs Windows. Your firm may also sell an extra session.

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