# ARRIS SURFboard Manager vs TP

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TP at 92% against ARRIS SURFboard Manager's 3%. TP also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.3) and ratings volume (88K vs 982). ARRIS SURFboard Manager's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TP sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ARRIS SURFboard Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.

TP holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TP has 88K ratings behind it against 982, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 3% of ARRIS SURFboard Manager's written reviews are positive against 92% of TP's.

ARRIS SURFboard Manager ships an update every 3 months, TP every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARRIS SURFboard Manager | TP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (982 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arris-surfboard-manager/id1061716447/reviews) | **[4.9 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-deco/id1186159417/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 982 | **88K** |
| Positive reviews | 3.2% of reviews | **92.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#117** |
| Size | 96 MB | 498 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ARRIS Group, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/571770115) | [TP-Link Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1713842892) |

## What reviewers say

### ARRIS SURFboard Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arris-surfboard-manager/id1061716447)

Manage and configure your ARRIS SURFboard® devices with this utility app. It facilitates onboarding and seamless transfer of settings to the new SURFboard Central app for supported models.

**Highlights:** Device management, Device configuration, Onboarding new devices, Seamless settings transfer, Supports specific ARRIS models

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works as expected
- 🚀 Smooth setup process

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
- 👎 Difficult to use
- 💤 Unresponsive and slow
- 🤯 Completely non-functional

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to scan QR code
- Login issues and lost connectivity
- Inconsistent app behavior

**Requested features**

- Ability to reset password
- Improved parental controls
- Better device management


### TP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-deco/id1186159417)

**Currently charting:** #117 Top Free · Utilities, #123 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Easily set up and manage your mesh WiFi system with step-by-step guidance for optimal home coverage. Control connected devices, manage online activity, and enhance your network security from your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Easy setup with step-by-step instructions, Optimal placement suggestions for mesh units, Device connection management, Parental controls and content blocking, Guest network creation, Network performance testing, Smart home device integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adv Parental Controls Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Security+ Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| HomeShield Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Adv Parental Controls Yearly | $17.99 | per year |
| Security+ | $35.99 | per year |
| HomeShield Pro Yearly | $54.99 | per year |
| Total Security Package | $129.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy setup
- 🚀 Excellent coverage
- 🚀 Reliable connection
- 👍 Intuitive app
- 👍 Useful features (parental controls, guest network, etc.)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues (devices disconnecting, app not finding network)
- 🐛 Unreliable app performance (slow, crashes, bugs)
- 🔒 Security concerns (lack of password protection, device authentication)
- 💡 Limited customization options (channel selection, device prioritization)

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently fails to find or connect to network
- Devices not showing up correctly in app
- Inconsistent performance after firmware updates

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually select Wi-Fi channels
- Option to force device connection to specific frequency band
- Scheduled reboots and automatic firmware updates
- More detailed network analytics and diagnostics
- Improved parental controls with content-based time limits


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARRIS SURFboard Manager free?

ARRIS SURFboard Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is TP free?

TP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ARRIS SURFboard Manager or TP?

TP is rated higher. ARRIS SURFboard Manager averages 1.3 out of 5 from 982 ratings, while TP averages 4.9 from 88K ratings.

### Do ARRIS SURFboard Manager or TP have ads?

Neither ARRIS SURFboard Manager nor TP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARRIS SURFboard Manager or TP?

ARRIS SURFboard Manager ships an update every 3 months, and TP every 3 weeks. Most recently, ARRIS SURFboard Manager was updated on November 2, 2026 and TP on November 4, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*