Review methodology

How review verification and scores work

TraderWaves keeps provider reviews public, understandable, and separate from provider endorsements.

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Anyone can leave one rating per provider, with an optional written review.
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A new review stays private until the reviewer verifies their email.
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Public scores use published reviews only.
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The score is Bayesian-adjusted using a 3.5 prior with weight 7. All published reviews count toward the score. Verified reviews count 3× as much as unverified reviews.

How reviews are verified

TraderWaves matches a connected account's platform and server to the listed provider. Only the verified match is shown publicly—never account or trading data.

Verified trading experience

This badge appears on an individual review when TraderWaves has matched a connected account's platform and server to the broker or prop firm being reviewed. Only the verified match is shown publicly—never account or trading data.

Verified reviews

100% verified reviews

Shown on a provider's profile as a percentage, this represents the share of published reviews with verified trading experience. It confirms the reviewer's relationship with the provider; it does not verify the review's claims or represent an endorsement by TraderWaves.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't TraderWaves use a simple average?

A simple average can make a provider with one five-star review appear better established than one with hundreds of reviews. Bayesian adjustment reduces the influence of very small samples while allowing the score to reflect the provider's reviews more strongly as more are published.

Does "100% verified" mean the provider is trustworthy?

No. It means every published review currently shown for that provider comes from someone whose trading experience was matched to it. It does not guarantee that the provider is trustworthy or that every claim in those reviews is correct.

Can a verified review still be negative?

Yes. Verification is independent of the rating or opinion expressed. It confirms the reviewer's relationship with the provider, not whether their experience was positive.

Can I review a provider without connecting a trading account?

Yes. Your review can still be published after email verification, but it will not carry the Verified trading experience badge and will have less influence on the adjusted score.

Which trading accounts can I connect?

TraderWaves supports selected brokers, trading platforms and account servers. Visit our supported brokers page to check whether your trading account can be connected.

If your provider is supported, connecting an eligible account may allow reviews of that provider to receive the Verified trading experience badge.

Why are verified reviews weighted more heavily?

A connected account gives TraderWaves stronger evidence that the reviewer had experience with the provider. Verified reviews therefore carry more weight, while unverified published reviews still contribute to the score.

What happens if I submit another review for the same provider?

TraderWaves allows one review per person for each provider. Submitting another review updates your existing review instead of adding a duplicate.

Why does a provider have reviews but a different score than I expected?

The displayed score considers the number of reviews, the Bayesian starting point and the additional weight given to verified trading experience. It may therefore differ from the visible ratings' simple arithmetic average.

Should I make a decision based only on the review score?

No. Reviews describe individual experiences and should be considered alongside the provider's terms, regulatory status, trading conditions and your own research.