Scores reflect the Overall AI Score for each category
Based on recent customer reviews, Smart Online Trader (Diversit-e Smart Trade College) is praised most for its people. Learners repeatedly name coaches and account managers such as Uan, Michael, Willem and Damian for patient, jargon-free explanations, quick setup of trading accounts, live market sessions and support offered in both Afrikaans and English. A minority of reviewers raise serious concerns about the R14 000 to R24 000 course pricing, 12-month payment contracts, five-day cancellation windows, credit bureau listings, broker spreads on funded accounts and refusal of refunds.
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 49m
TrustIndex
7.9
Ranking
#5
in Short Courses
Reply Time
50m
NPS Score
33
Recommended: Likely
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 49m
Oct '25 - Sep '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Online Trader
What do customers say about Smart Online Trader?
Based on recent customer reviews, Smart Online Trader (Diversit-e Smart Trade College) is praised most for its people. Learners repeatedly name coaches and account managers such as Uan, Michael, Willem and Damian for patient, jargon-free explanations, quick setup of trading accounts, live market sessions and support offered in both Afrikaans and English. A minority of reviewers raise serious concerns about the R14 000 to R24 000 course pricing, 12-month payment contracts, five-day cancellation windows, credit bureau listings, broker spreads on funded accounts and refusal of refunds.
Is Smart Online Trader trustworthy?
Smart Online Trader has a TrustIndex of 7.9 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 27 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 100% of negative reviews, typically within 49 min. Hellopeter has tracked Smart Online Trader across 1,184 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (27)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Feb 2012
Misleading
I approached this company because I was interested in their funding options. I don't have experience with other prop firm options, so I am completely new in this department and no idea how it actually works. I organised a meeting with Uan to chat with both my husband and I and explained my story to them in detail, what I needed to get out of trading and how I needed someone that can explain everything to me like I have never traded before. I emphasized all my struggles that I have had with trading in the past and reiterated that I really needed help. Smooth guy... has all the right answers. They promised the moon and the stars.. said they were a large organisation with a strong community and a "Rolls Royce" course. The course costs R24 000, but you are allowed to pay it off over a certain period at R1300 per month. This R24000 would include a very detailed course, daily market insights, a specific hand-in-hand mentorship to help you reach your goals, an instant funded account and 2 free evaluations for a prop firm account and a live trading account with R20 000 capital to trade (R10 000 that they give you and R10 000 that the broker matches). Right, this sounded amazing. I was not interested in the course, but I wanted the funding options as Capital was my problem, and the R20 000 account made it seem like it was a no-brainer. After accepting the R1300 option they sent me a personal loan form to sign. First red flag. Anyone with a little bit of financial know-how knows that signing a personal loan agreement is the WORST financial decision anyone can make. The course would cost me R50 000 after I take the interest into account. I then decided to pay the course upfront, and then suddenly got a reduction in the course to R14950, and was told I can use the R10 000 that Im "saving" to fund my own account and then the broker would still match the R10 000, so I still have R20 000 to trade with. Right so 2nd red flag... they actually just pump up the cost of their "grand" course, to use your own money to fund your account and make it seem like they are doing you one hell of a favour. Then comes the funded account. What they don't tell you is that the spread with their highly questionable broker (Quicktrade) is literally 3-10 times more than any other broker. For instance BTC spread with most brokers is usually $12-$25 but with Quicktrade it is $225!! When I complained to Uan he asked me what I expected and that surely I should understand that they need to make money somehow for giving me this funded account. I pointed out to him that they are already getting a 20/80% split on profits made (which seems impossible to do in retrospect) and that I pertinently asked him in a previous voicenote if they profit off my losses, to which he said "no". Their website also states that they use a 100% A-book broker. There was also never clear instructions to me about daily max losses .. and that should you breach a daily max loss, the funded account is closed completely (and not just for that day). I never knew this and realise afterwards that that is how all funded accounts work, but none of this was explained to me when I initially had my meeting with him to ask him how this whole funded account thing works. He also admitted to me that I would actually never be able to reach my pre-discussed goals with the funded account, due to the high spreads. Then there is their community: they have members, but you have no idea who they are or how to interact with them, so really this does not meet the definition of a "community". Also, on their platform where they have a forum absolutely no-one ever comments on anything except the people who work in their company (and everyone seems to be family). Their funded accounts- really all they are adding in is a funded account that you could have bought directly from a broker for MUCH less, without spending a week to work through their tons of AI created modules. Now that I actually started looking into this I realise there are tons of companies that offer much cheaper funded accounts with very clear instructions on what a funded account actually is. I wish I knew this before. If this company was "ethical" they would have pointed me to one of those companies in the first place, knowing very well that I am handing my very last bit of money over to them to help me become successful. If you have never traded before- trust me there are MUCH less complicated and way more interesting courses out there for much less. If you have traded before, just stay away.. this company will not make things better for you. I also realise they really believe that they are helping people and giving them "options" ... the fact that they don't even realise how they withheld important information that should have been explained in the INITIAL consultation, is the worrying part. Had I known the funded account would come with rules, and what the rules were I could have made a more informed decision on whether or not this was for me, but had I known about the Spreads, I would have definitely NOT signed up ever, as its near impossible to trade on a short timeframe with those hectic spreads. I want a refund, but they have already told me I cant get one. Just pulling up their shoulders. I want answers, but they have already started responding much slower than usual. I want them to be more transparant and clear in future, because someone who has never traded before will not even see how they are being blindsided by this company. Stop pretending you have this amazing course. You don't Stop pretending that you want people to win, if you also benefit from their losses. That's only a win for you, not for your client. ***- I am happy to speak to anyone who has questions.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2012
Misleading
I approached this company because I was interested in their funding options. I don't have experience with other prop firm options, so I am completely new in this department and no idea how it actually works. I organised a meeting with Uan to chat with both my husband and I and explained my story to them in detail, what I needed to get out of trading and how I needed someone that can explain everything to me like I have never traded before. I emphasized all my struggles that I have had with trading in the past and reiterated that I really needed help. Smooth guy... has all the right answers. They promised the moon and the stars.. said they were a large organisation with a strong community and a "Rolls Royce" course. The course costs R24 000, but you are allowed to pay it off over a certain period at R1300 per month. This R24000 would include a very detailed course, daily market insights, a specific hand-in-hand mentorship to help you reach your goals, an instant funded account and 2 free evaluations for a prop firm account and a live trading account with R20 000 capital to trade (R10 000 that they give you and R10 000 that the broker matches). Right, this sounded amazing. I was not interested in the course, but I wanted the funding options as Capital was my problem, and the R20 000 account made it seem like it was a no-brainer. After accepting the R1300 option they sent me a personal loan form to sign. First red flag. Anyone with a little bit of financial know-how knows that signing a personal loan agreement is the WORST financial decision anyone can make. The course would cost me R50 000 after I take the interest into account. I then decided to pay the course upfront, and then suddenly got a reduction in the course to R14950, and was told I can use the R10 000 that Im "saving" to fund my own account and then the broker would still match the R10 000, so I still have R20 000 to trade with. Right so 2nd red flag... they actually just pump up the cost of their "grand" course, to use your own money to fund your account and make it seem like they are doing you one hell of a favour. Then comes the funded account. What they don't tell you is that the spread with their highly questionable broker (Quicktrade) is literally 3-10 times more than any other broker. For instance BTC spread with most brokers is usually $12-$25 but with Quicktrade it is $225!! When I complained to Uan he asked me what I expected and that surely I should understand that they need to make money somehow for giving me this funded account. I pointed out to him that they are already getting a 20/80% split on profits made (which seems impossible to do in retrospect) and that I pertinently asked him in a previous voicenote if they profit off my losses, to which he said "no". Their website also states that they use a 100% A-book broker. There was also never clear instructions to me about daily max losses .. and that should you breach a daily max loss, the funded account is closed completely (and not just for that day). I never knew this and realise afterwards that that is how all funded accounts work, but none of this was explained to me when I initially had my meeting with him to ask him how this whole funded account thing works. He also admitted to me that I would actually never be able to reach my pre-discussed goals with the funded account, due to the high spreads. Then there is their community: they have members, but you have no idea who they are or how to interact with them, so really this does not meet the definition of a "community". Also, on their platform where they have a forum absolutely no-one ever comments on anything except the people who work in their company (and everyone seems to be family). Their funded accounts- really all they are adding in is a funded account that you could have bought directly from a broker for MUCH less, without spending a week to work through their tons of AI created modules. Now that I actually started looking into this I realise there are tons of companies that offer much cheaper funded accounts with very clear instructions on what a funded account actually is. I wish I knew this before. If this company was "ethical" they would have pointed me to one of those companies in the first place, knowing very well that I am handing my very last bit of money over to them to help me become successful. If you have never traded before- trust me there are MUCH less complicated and way more interesting courses out there for much less. If you have traded before, just stay away.. this company will not make things better for you. I also realise they really believe that they are helping people and giving them "options" ... the fact that they don't even realise how they withheld important information that should have been explained in the INITIAL consultation, is the worrying part. Had I known the funded account would come with rules, and what the rules were I could have made a more informed decision on whether or not this was for me, but had I known about the Spreads, I would have definitely NOT signed up ever, as its near impossible to trade on a short timeframe with those hectic spreads. I want a refund, but they have already told me I cant get one. Just pulling up their shoulders. I want answers, but they have already started responding much slower than usual. I want them to be more transparant and clear in future, because someone who has never traded before will not even see how they are being blindsided by this company. Stop pretending you have this amazing course. You don't Stop pretending that you want people to win, if you also benefit from their losses. That's only a win for you, not for your client. ***- I am happy to speak to anyone who has questions.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2026
So far so good. A great mentor makes a difference. Uan Oosthuizen is great.
Decided to join them on this journey and so far what I can say is this. Uan Oosthuizen is by far the most patient person I have come in contact with. No matter the question nor how many time he has to explain he does it without making you feel stupid and explains until you understand. Thank you Uan I know you will be good for us.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2026
So far so good. A great mentor makes a difference. Uan Oosthuizen is great.
Decided to join them on this journey and so far what I can say is this. Uan Oosthuizen is by far the most patient person I have come in contact with. No matter the question nor how many time he has to explain he does it without making you feel stupid and explains until you understand. Thank you Uan I know you will be good for us.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2026
Ek het hierdie wonderlike ondervinding met Uan gehad, hy het my die hele journey gemaklik laat voer en later my die belangrikste goed begin coach
Ek het hierdie wonderlike ondervinding met Uan gehad, hy het my die hele journey gemaklik laat voer en later my die belangrikste goed begin coach. Dankie vir sò 'n bekwame, geduldige en insiggewende tutor.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2026
Ek het hierdie wonderlike ondervinding met Uan gehad, hy het my die hele journey gemaklik laat voer en later my die belangrikste goed begin coach
Ek het hierdie wonderlike ondervinding met Uan gehad, hy het my die hele journey gemaklik laat voer en later my die belangrikste goed begin coach. Dankie vir sò 'n bekwame, geduldige en insiggewende tutor.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2020
Michael Muller, Account Manager at Smart Online Trader provided exceptional support, guiding me through platform challenges and keeping my trading journey on track
Michael Muller, Account Manager at Smart Online Trader provided exceptional support, guiding me through platform challenges and keeping my trading journey on track. Highly recommended!
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2020
Michael Muller, Account Manager at Smart Online Trader provided exceptional support, guiding me through platform challenges and keeping my trading journey on track
Michael Muller, Account Manager at Smart Online Trader provided exceptional support, guiding me through platform challenges and keeping my trading journey on track. Highly recommended!
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2026
Worst experience
Please do not let them fool you into this ridiculous programme. They are very quick to make you pay subscription but only after you paid, they send terms and conditions to realise its a fixed term for 12 month payment and you cannot cancel when you are not interest any longer.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2026
Worst experience
Please do not let them fool you into this ridiculous programme. They are very quick to make you pay subscription but only after you paid, they send terms and conditions to realise its a fixed term for 12 month payment and you cannot cancel when you are not interest any longer.
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
Behulpsaam
Damian is baie behulpsaam en probeer dit so eenvoudig as moontlik oordra.
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
Behulpsaam
Damian is baie behulpsaam en probeer dit so eenvoudig as moontlik oordra.