WSET Tasting Notes vs Decanter Premium
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WSET Tasting Notes
This app helps wine enthusiasts and professionals create structured and consistent tasting notes. It's based on a globally recognized systematic approach to tasting, offering features like a comprehensive descriptor lexicon and blind tasting mode.
- Structured tasting note creation
- WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT) methodology
- Database of wine countries and regions
- Pre-populated grape varieties
- Aroma and flavour descriptor lexicon
- Blind tasting mode
- Searchable tasting notes
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Whether you’re a wine enthusiast tasting for pleasure or a drinks professional tasting for work, this app helps you create and store structured and consistent tasting notes for wines. Brought to you by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) — the largest wine education provider in the world — the app is based on our globally recognised Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT) at Level 2. Note: This app does not form part of the WSET® Level 2 Award in Wines course. However it is a useful tool for both current and former WSET students at all levels. Never been a WSET student? No problem! The app is a great tool for all wine tasters, complete with useful tips on how to record your notes. The app also provides a great taster of the skills you can expect to acquire through WSET courses. What’s included: • The only wine tasting app endorsed by the world’s leading provider of wine education • A database of over 300 wine producing countries and regions • Over 100 pre-populated grape varieties • A comprehensive lexicon of commonly used aroma and flavour descriptors • Pro tips to guide you through the app • Ability to record notes in “blind” tasting mode • In line with updates to the new Level 2 Award in Wines, record primary, secondary and tertiary aroma and flavour characteristics • Search through your stored tasting notes • Upload a photo to your wine notes • Simple, easy to use interface to record and store your tasting notes What is the Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine? The Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT) is a method of note taking developed by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to make tasting notes more objective and comparable. The methodology breaks down the evaluation of wine, spirits or sake into appearance, nose, palate and conclusion, supported by universal terminology. The SAT is published at four progressive levels of difficulty in support of the four levels WSET qualifications available. This app has been built for wines at level two making it suitable for those who are new to the SAT method as well as those that have completed WSET courses. A systematic approach to tasting provides wine tasters with a foundation on which to build and develop their skills. The SAT forms an integral part of all WSET courses. The Wine & Spirit Education Trust Founded in 1969, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the largest global provider of wine, spirits and sake qualifications. Trusted by the world’s most recognised drinks organisations, WSET has led the design and delivery of wine and spirit education for five decades and since 2004 over half a million candidates have taken a WSET qualification. With four progressive levels of study offered through a network of course providers in more than 70 countries and translated into multiple languages, WSET qualifications inspire and empower drinks professionals and enthusiasts. To find out more about WSET, visit wsetglobal.com.
Decanter Premium
Access exclusive wine articles, thousands of reviews, and the monthly magazine. Manage your wine collection, track favorites, and get early access to events.
- Exclusive premium wine articles
- Thousands of wine reviews and tasting notes
- Monthly magazine access and archive
- Offline magazine downloads
- My Wines feature for tracking and wishlists
- Early access to wine events
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The essential destination for wine lovers everywhere. The Decanter app features exclusive articles, thousands of wine reviews and the monthly magazine, straight to your device. Whether you’re a connoisseur with an extensive wine collection, or nearer the beginning of your journey in wine, we bring you the advice, information and inspiration you need to buy the best wines from around the world, at every price point. Our unparalleled content from world-renowned specialists helps you build your knowledge as well as your cellar, so you can get the most from your glass. What you can find in the app: • Over 1,000 new wine reviews every month. • Exclusive articles written by the world’s top wine experts. • Read Decanter magazine, the best-selling wine magazine in Europe. Access our full archive and special issues. • Save articles for later by tapping the bookmark icon on any article. • Personalise your feed by selecting the topics you’re most interested in. - For Future Publishing’s Privacy Policy please visit: https://www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy/ - For Future Publishing’s Terms of Use, please visit: https://www.futureplc.com/terms-conditions
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Decanter Premium at 4.2 against WSET Tasting Notes's 2.9. Decanter Premium also leads on ratings volume (222 vs 17). WSET Tasting Notes's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and review sentiment (36% vs 11%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Decanter Premium holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decanter Premium has 222 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of WSET Tasting Notes's written reviews are positive against 11% of Decanter Premium's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
WSET Tasting Notes ships an update every 8 months, Decanter Premium every 22 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | WSET Tasting Notes | Decanter Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (17 ratings) | 4.2 (222 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 35.6% of reviews — better | 11.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 | 222 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months — better | Every 22 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.1 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Wine & Spirit Education Trust | Future plc |
Customer experience
WSET Tasting Notes
Decanter Premium
Bugs and requests
WSET Tasting Notes
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Decanter Premium
Reported bugs
3 issues- Articles not loading or becoming unavailable
- Inability to log in or stay logged in
- Incompatibility with certain devices and OS versions
Requested features
2 requests- Easy access to vintage reports and charts
- Improved search functionality and filters
In-app purchases
WSET Tasting Notes
No in-app purchases
Decanter Premium
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WSET Tasting Notes free?
Is Decanter Premium free?
Which has better reviews, WSET Tasting Notes or Decanter Premium?
Do WSET Tasting Notes or Decanter Premium have ads?
Which is updated more often, WSET Tasting Notes or Decanter Premium?
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