# Spoke Tension Gauge > Measure bicycle spoke tension using sound for wheel building and truing. (iPhone/iPad app by Douglas Pepelko.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spoke-tension-gauge/id518870820 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Douglas Pepelko](https://appshunter.io/developer/320216531) - Category: Sports, Utilities - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 3.30/5 from 10 App Store ratings · 32 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 6 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2012-04-19 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spoke-tension-gauge/id518870820/reviews.md ## What is Spoke Tension Gauge? Build or true your wheels by sound. Easier and cheaper than handheld tools. Simply pluck a spoke and the tension is shown on the screen. Save multiple wheels to iCloud and share them among your devices. Get a visual of your wheel's tension with the 'Wheel Builder' view. Support for many different spoke sizes, shapes, and materials. Many mechanical tension gauges have low precision with steps of 10 kgf or more between readings. The app has much higher precision, down to 1 kgf. ## Key features - Measure spoke tension by sound - Visual wheel tension display - iCloud sync for multiple wheels - Support for various spoke types - High precision tension readings ## Recent user reviews (10 of 32) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spoke-tension-gauge/id518870820/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Doubtful but convinced *2022-10-23* I have two physical spoke tension meters but have retired them in favour of this app. The app is able to measure a wider range of spoke types and is more consistent in repeated measurements. I set up a test weight on a single spoke and the app tested spot on. ### 5/5 — If I keep track of which side and which spoke, it works *2022-06-11, version 3.0* If I pluck with my thumbnail, if I hold the cross-over spoke tight against the spoke I am testing, if at each spoke I hit the SET button to remember that reading before moving on to a different spoke, and if I only try to get between 80% and 120% of the average spoke tension for that side of the wheel, it works awesomely. I was surprised it remembers the front wheel spoke lengths I set on the iPad, when I open the app on my iPhone. It also remembers the rear wheel spoke lengths, but I first noticed this feature on a front wheel. Keeps track separately for both, I just had not noticed. I was surprised it tunes differently than a piano string. When the tension is too high, and I hear a lower pitched clunk mixed together with the musical note, the tension is too high just like the app says. With my deformed wheel, I had to loosen a surprising amount to get it back between the 80% and 120% where it again sounds nice. With my slightly deformed wheel, which I last tuned many years ago, I cannot get a perfect circle graph of all sixteen spokes on one side, although I can consistently get a very round circle on the other side. Once I started pushing the cross-over spoke against the spoke I am testing, I got essentially the same reading every time I plucked that spoke. I wanted to just set all the tensions on that side almost exactly the same. Almost exactly the same tension, does not work with my deformed wheel running true left and right and up and down. I studied the specifications for a popular hand-held tension meter, and found out why it can get the same reading, while the app cannot. With the popular hand-held tension meter, when you look up the chart, the very next hand-held number reading may actually be 15 kg tension different. The hand-held gives the same number, across quite a bit different tensions. The popular hand-held comes with a gauge you can measure the spoke thickness. Unless there is some feature I have missed, with the app you have to know which thickness of spoke you are using. ### 4/5 — Spoke Tension Gauge *2022-03-02, version 3.0* I’m very impressed with this app suite. A bit of a learning curve to negotiate but really very well thought out and presented. Over 45 years of building and several thousand built wheels informs my evaluation. The app will not replace well executed technique. If you are just starting out, read some of the wealth of published documentation and check out Joey Mesa’s videos. Employed properly, the app will provide a high degree of accuracy and verification of the objectives sought by skilled wheel builders: measured and confirmed uniformity of tension within tightly held limits of radial and lateral deviation. Instructions are clear, with an additional set of contextual hints. And it’s fast. Left open on your workbench the app will report instantly on any spoke you care to investigate without having to stop, pick up your manual tension gauge, test (maybe more than once) swap the gauge for a spoke wrench, adjust and repeat, and repeat again. The advantage gained from this simple bit of continuity cannot be overstated. The accompanying spoke length calculator is robust and extremely well provided for with dimensional data of hundreds of hub and rim types and an editable template for custom or otherwise unlisted hub models. Graphics are excellent. Full and comprehensive instructions as well as automatic updates to the databases and other information are included. All in all an impressive amount of real and useful information as well as a vetting tool that will help achieve accepted, high level, quality control parameters. ### 4/5 — Shockingly good *2021-08-28* This tensio app is really unique. Measuring the spoke length and dimensions are critical - read the instructions! But used properly, it really works. I find the values within 10% of my $400 ‘real’ tensio. More importantly, the values are consistent and repeatable. Great back up tool, plus it works on small wheels (16-20”) where you may not be able to use a trad tensio on the spokes. I haven’t found serious issues with crossed spokes, as some reviewers have, but I tend to pluck spokes a lot during my build. I think with time you develop better technique for getting clear, pure tones from your plucks. Banjo picks are helpful for some folks, but I prefer a soft pluck from my finger pad. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work very well *2021-06-10* This app shows the high tension side of a wheel reading lower on every spoke than the low tension side, compare to using a real tension gauge, which show correct results. Something wrong with the app. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2020-06-16, version 3.0* Gave same tension no matter what spoke I plucked or how much I tightened. Waste. Of money ### 1/5 — Not even close *2018-10-10, version 3.0* When compared to my tension meter the readings were off my by up to 100kgf. I dialed a spoke up to 200 kgf is a fixture and it read 46-56kgf. Seems like this tool could lead to damage of wheels as well as possible injury. ### 2/5 — It stopped saving my builds when the app closes *2018-07-25, version 3.0* It worked OK for my first wheel. For the second wheel, it stopped saving any of the work I was doing. I have to re-enter the spoke count, diameter, length, etc. every time I restart the app. ### 5/5 — Great! *2017-10-28, version 3.0* First, it does need to be a relatively quiet setting. Second, made truing my wheel very even with having spoke tension data. Third, I have an iPhone 7 which has great mics...so not sure how it works on a legacy device or iPad. I might even start building wheels (again) with an app like this. This app is a home run! ### 1/5 — A miserable failure *2017-08-30, version 3.0* After truing my wheel on the Park Tool 2.2 wheel truing stand I wanted to insure I had uniform tension on the spokes. Lacking a spoke tension gauge I checked for an app and tried this one. While the concept made sense, when I was done my wheel was horribly out of true. And when I could hear clear differences in tone the app failed to detect them. Pretty disappointing. ## Frequently asked questions about Spoke Tension Gauge ### What does the Spoke Tension Gauge app do? This app allows you to measure the tension of individual bicycle spokes by listening to the sound they make when plucked. It then displays this tension on your screen, helping you build or true your wheels accurately. ### How is this app different from physical spoke tension tools? It offers a more affordable and potentially easier method than handheld tools. Unlike many mechanical gauges with large increments, this app provides much higher precision, measuring tension down to 1 kgf. ### Can I save and access my wheel data across devices? Yes, the app supports iCloud saving, allowing you to store multiple wheels and share them across your devices. This makes it convenient for managing different wheelsets or collaborating. ### What kind of spokes does the app support? The app is designed to support a wide variety of spoke sizes, shapes, and materials. This versatility ensures it can be used with many different types of bicycle wheels. ### Is this app free to use? Based on the provided information, the app is free to use and does not appear to have in-app purchases or advertisements. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.0 — 2016-10-25 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. Added a visual display of tension Updated the frequency detection algorithm iCloud backup and sharing between devices Improved memory performance ### 2.2 — 2014-01-03 Significant improvements detecting tension. Updated FFT output to EMA from SMA. Updated UI for iOS7. ### 2.1 — 2013-03-13 Fixed the spoke length selector. Added manual tension entry for the wheel builder. Just touch the tension text to bring up the keyboard. Added dualside comparison mode. When holding the "side" button on the builder the display shows both sides of the wheel at once. Updated help screen to fill 4-Inch iPhone Retina screen. ### 2.0 — 2012-09-10 Wheel Builder: Specify spoke types and count. Visually tension wheels with a radial graph of tension. Save all wheel data. Two new spoke types available as requested. Improved tension detection as requested. ### 1 — 2012-04-19 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Spoke Tension Gauge | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Carbon Drive Belt Tension Tool](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carbon-drive-belt-tension-tool/id438346486) | 2.5 (20) | Free | Sports | | [Bikewise Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bikewise-pro/id1563350178) | 2.6 (7) | Free | Sports | | [TQ E-Bike](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tq-e-bike/id1597303825) | 2.8 (12) | Free | Sports | | [BYB Telemetry](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/byb-telemetry/id1535911432) | — | Free | Sports | | [Enduro CheckPoint Two](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/enduro-checkpoint-two/id1476197435) | 4.7 (15) | $3.99 | Sports | | [Velocomp](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/velocomp/id1613463154) | 3.5 (2) | $0.99 | Sports | ## More apps by Douglas Pepelko - [Quick Spoke](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quick-spoke/id589284222) All apps by Douglas Pepelko: https://appshunter.io/developer/320216531 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*