# SURFboard Central — user reviews > 264 indexed App Store user reviews of SURFboard Central by ARRIS Group, Inc., rated 1.65/5 from 1,527 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfboard-central/id1478418148/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfboard-central/id1478418148.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 168 · 4★ 67 · 3★ 38 · 2★ 41 · 1★ 1,213 ## What do users think of SURFboard Central? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use - 🚀 Fast setup - 💡 Helpful for monitoring home network - 🔒 Secure connection **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unstable - 🔍 Limited functionality - 💤 Slow and unresponsive - 🤔 Confusing setup process - 🔒 Poor security and privacy - 🚫 Doesn't work with all devices **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes frequently - Fails to connect to network - Incorrect device information displayed - Parental controls don't work as expected - Unable to change network name or password **Most requested features** - Add more advanced configuration options - Improve parental controls and internet scheduling - Provide a web-based interface instead of just a mobile app - Allow users to bypass the app and access router settings directly ## Newest reviews (18 of 264) ### 4/5 — Arris *2026-07-05, version 4.3.5* Always have been pleased with Arris ### 1/5 — Predatory *2026-07-05, version 4.3.5* This app won’t even let you have access to your own modem unless you create an account and submit your email and info. Avoid Arris from now on. ### 1/5 — Surfboard AX7800 w130 fix firmware issue please *2026-06-30, version 4.3.5* Please not buy a any product of this brand they discontinue and his product not work more for not have any update of the firmware ### 1/5 — WiFi communication error *2026-06-30, version 4.3.5* Completely blocked from changing password or settings. It’s online with internet on G18 modem router. Clearer very poor software. Should easily connect if my computer or phone has internet from the modem/router ### 1/5 — Useless App and Useless Customer Service *2026-06-27, version 4.3.5* The app is about as useful as a rock for trying to fix issues during setup. My device repeatedly failed to download the required firmware updates, meaning it’s completely unusable. Customer support is only available during work days, meaning that if you work from home and need the internet to do so it’s impossible to get any support with issues during the setup. Can’t recommend anyone use the app or buys the hardware. ### 1/5 — Enojado *2026-06-21, version 4.3.5* Compré un equipo y me resultó muy malo ### 1/5 — Waste of time and space *2026-06-11, version 4.3.5* Logged into Surfboard to see settings, check for firmware updates ISP might not have installed, etc. Arris touted this app as a better experience with more features. It is a lie. It is actually a way for them to harvest email addresses and find where their devices are in use. There are absolutely no additional features, and actually even fewer features than the devices own website. ### 1/5 — Why bother ? Pointless *2026-06-04, version 4.3.5* This app takes the information that you provide to it and stores it on our page.. and then connect you to the pdf of the Manual.. there is a Webner fee that you can look at the quality of the connection.. but not in the app.. completely pointless ### 1/5 — Cheeks *2026-06-01, version 4.3.5* This app is cheeks ### 1/5 — Literally Does Nothing *2026-05-26, version 4.3.5* This app does literally nothing to manage the modem. Simply give stats that can easily be obtained from the web interface. No logs, not nothing. Why did I download this? ### 1/5 — Can’t actually access my router *2026-05-24, version 4.3.5* Router is already setup. I used the Surfboard Manager app. It told me to switch. I did. Central keeps insisting I am starting with a new router. I don’t want to start again. I’m already set up. Nuts that I can’t login with my existing credentials. ### 1/5 — worst modem *2026-05-24, version 4.3.5* junk ### 1/5 — No customer support for bug fixes *2026-05-22, version 4.3.5* Surfboard gateways, including the G36, require passwords between eight and 20 characters in length. However, the SURFBoard Central app can only handle passwords up to 15 characters in length. That’s fine if you are a home user with a single device, but if you have a password policy across multiple devices that requires passwords longer than 15 characters this app will not work for you. ### 2/5 — Good for set up but that’s it. *2026-05-21, version 4.3.5* As other reviewers have stated after set up this app is useless. ### 1/5 — Worthless *2026-05-20, version 4.3.5* Going to buy a new router from a different manufacturer just to not have to use this worthless app ever again. ### 1/5 — Junk *2026-05-17, version 4.3.5* I set up a password with the web interface. I tried logging in to the app with said password, but it says the password requirements were not met with that password. Why? It did in fact meet the requirements. Junk app! ### 1/5 — Does not connect *2026-05-10, version 4.3.5* Been trying for over a year to connect periodically with my iPhone and it just doesn’t work. Don’t waste your time with this app. ### 2/5 — The built in Spectrum phone number is just outdated *2026-05-07, version 4.3.5* Otherwise… it’s not awesome making an account but at least there is an easy to use delete button…? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Worthless *2026-08-24, version 4.3.5* The single worst app I’ve ever seen. Nonfunctional. Totally worthless. People should be fired for this. ### 1/5 — Sent in circles and circle! *2026-08-24, version 4.3.5* The most flawed app possibly on the App Store! The app has me doing the same thing over and over and over again. To the point that I’m stuck Toth the SSID the modem has now, the app is just absolute garbage. Go to Xfinity or your service provider and set up your device for the 19th time. (My device is working great & everytime has been working great over and over again). Oh delete the app & reinstall it a dozen times. That should do the trick. Nope. (Get another product not made by Arris and it does the trick)! ### 1/5 — Hate it *2026-08-01, version 4.3.5* If you upgrade your phone you lose the ability to use this app to connect to your device without factory resetting your device and then setting it back up with your new phone. Stick with the web install, at least you can access it from any device locally. If you know what you are doing you can connect to your device remotely via the web GUI. 👎🏻👎🏻 don’t use this app ### 1/5 — Unquestionably trash *2026-07-31, version 4.3.5* I just wanted to test to install my new VPN in the router itself but this app is outrageously bad. It’s all already set up from like two years ago but it literally will not let me login with the account I’ve already created without trying to force me to do a factory reset first. Has the app owner been compromised? Is this some kind of shifty phishing attempt? You can’t even go back a screen to try a different option. You literally have to uninstall the whole damn thing to start a process over but the useless garbage app can only handle an initial setup. Nothing else. ### 1/5 — I Gave It A Try *2026-07-28, version 4.3.5* I wanted to see what this offered, but it had varying results trying to connect to my network. A web browser did what I needed. Uninstalling seems to be the only way to restart the process. ### 1/5 — No info in the app *2026-07-24, version 4.3.5* Just opened my app and all I see if the basic info about my device. Can’t manage my network, set parental controls, etc. Not able to find any way online to get help from Arris. ### 1/5 — Fist yourself *2026-07-23, version 4.3.5* See title ### 1/5 — Not configurable equipment *2026-07-20, version 4.3.5* Never download the Firmware update . Useless app and equipment. ### 1/5 — Just doesnt work *2026-07-18, version 4.3.5* App wont even actually open for me, just shows me the surfboard logo endlessly ### 1/5 — How is this useful? *2026-07-10, version 4.3.5* My modem is in bridge mode. The only time I needed this app was when the modem wouldn’t connect to the ISP. The app requires Internet connection which makes it useless ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Does the job *2026-06-13, version 4.3.5* I felt compelled to write a positive review just because there are a lot of bad ones out here. This app is for one thing and that is to help you install your modem. That’s it and it does so flawlessly. I’m not sure what the expectation is beyond that? It’s a modem, nothing else. Your ISP is responsible for firmware updates as long as you ensured it’s certified by them. It took all of 5 minutes to get my S33 installed. I downloaded ithe app, used it for said 5 minutes, and deleted it. I fully expect to not think about this modem again until it’s eol and needs to be replaced. ### 5/5 — App won’t open *2026-05-11, version 4.3.5* App won’t open ### 5/5 — it’s chill *2026-02-19, version 4.3.5* lowk easy to use ### 5/5 — Good app *2025-10-13, version 4.3.5* Helps monitor the house hold ### 5/5 — Very useful *2025-09-01, version 4.3.5* I was intimidated to set up my new modem and router seeing the initial reviews. I would recommend downloading Xfinity App first to set up the modem. Once, you’re able to connect the device to your ISP, then use the Surfboard app to finish the connection. It’s very handy with setting up the network, changing and managing new connection. ### 5/5 — Infinitely better than the ISP *2025-08-24* I was using an Xfinity modem because for some reason it was $25/mo to rent their modem with unlimited data, but $30/mo to pay for unlimited data when using your own modem. A truly scummy decision from the wonderful higher ups at that company. Anyway, I eventually bit the bullet to pay the extra $5 to use my own equipment because my Xfinity modem (no matter how many replacement models I got) would constantly pause devices in my home kicking them offline. My PS5, both my Switches, and my Desktop were all hard wired with Cat6 cables and I’d still end up in the NAT 2 lobbies and that’s when I was allowed to play for more than 5 minutes before getting unceremoniously kicked thanks to the pause feature. Bought a G36, plugged it in, and all of a sudden all my devices are NAT type 1, my internet is super fast, my latency is generally in the low 10s of milliseconds and nothing ever randomly disconnects. I guess I see why the Xfinity provided modem was the cheaper option seeing as it is by far the worst option. I am genuinely shocked that I have literally zero internet problems, I figured some of the speed issues on the devices that weren’t pausing all the time were related to issues with the signal coming into my house, but no, of course not. The ISP supplies you with absolute junk, strong arms you into using it, and then provides next to no support for their garbage product. ### 5/5 — ArrisMax *2025-07-25, version 4.3.5* Easy and plus fast ### 5/5 — Surfboard Central *2025-07-22, version 4.3.5* My experience with this app and installing my new S33 modem and Mesh routers was very positive experience. No problems at all with the installation and the app did and is meeting my needs ### 5/5 — Excellent Modem Router combo with WiFi 6 and many extras. Excellent customer service su *2025-04-27, version 4.3.5* Excellent product G34 ### 5/5 — Works fine for me *2025-03-16, version 4.3.5* I have no issues. Always launches and takes me to the router page when settings need to be changed. --- *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 2026-09-04.*