# TP vs SURFboard Central

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TP at 92% against SURFboard Central's 11%. TP also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.6) and ratings volume (84K vs 1.5K). SURFboard Central's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TP sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. SURFboard Central asks for nothing beyond the download.

TP holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TP has 84K ratings behind it against 1.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of TP's written reviews are positive against 11% of SURFboard Central's.

TP ships an update every 3 weeks, SURFboard Central every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TP | SURFboard Central |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (84K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-deco/id1186159417/reviews)** | [1.6 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfboard-central/id1478418148/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **84K** | 1.5K |
| Positive reviews | **92.3% of reviews** | 10.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#100** | — |
| Size | 497 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TP-Link Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1713842892) | [ARRIS Group, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/571770115) |

## What reviewers say

### TP

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

**Currently charting:** #100 Top Free · Utilities, #129 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 (8)**

| 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 |
| Total Security Yearly | $159.99 | 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


### SURFboard Central

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfboard-central/id1478418148)

Simplify the setup and management of your home network devices. This app provides step-by-step installation guides, Wi-Fi configuration, and network monitoring for various modems, routers, and mesh systems.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step device installation guides, Wi-Fi network configuration and management, Guest network setup, Client device monitoring, Parental controls and screen time management, Network health monitoring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast setup
- 💡 Helpful for monitoring home network
- 🔒 Secure connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔍 Limited functionality
- 💤 Slow and unresponsive
- 🤔 Confusing setup process
- 🔒 Poor security and privacy

**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

**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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TP free?

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

### Is SURFboard Central free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TP or SURFboard Central?

TP is rated higher. TP averages 4.9 out of 5 from 84K ratings, while SURFboard Central averages 1.6 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do TP or SURFboard Central have ads?

Neither TP nor SURFboard Central shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TP or SURFboard Central?

TP ships an update every 3 weeks, and SURFboard Central every 2 months. Most recently, TP was updated on September 25, 2026 and SURFboard Central on September 23, 2026.

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