Bolster Systems has long been a recognised name in the world of passive fire protection software. From compliance documentation to digital reports and site plans, it offers a comprehensive toolkit for contractors and fire safety professionals looking to bring their processes online.
But with evolving technology, growing teams, and tighter margins, more professionals are asking the same question: Is Bolster Systems still worth the cost in 2025?
Price Point: The Elephant in the Room
While Bolster Systems is undeniably a robust platform, it comes with a significant price tag. For a team of ten users, annual costs can easily exceed £15,000 — a figure that, for many, is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
FireArrest, in contrast, offers the same core functionalities — plus several extras — for a significantly lower price. On average, businesses switching from Bolster save around £11,430 per year when using FireArrest for a team of ten. That’s not a minor cost difference — it’s a potential headcount, or the budget for multiple new tools.
Support: How Responsive Is Bolster Systems?
Customer support is often the hidden cost in any software relationship. While Bolster Systems provides support through traditional channels, users have noted longer response times during peak periods, especially when on-site issues need resolving quickly.
FireArrest boasts an average response time of just 10 minutes — with real humans, not chatbots. This makes a meaningful difference when operatives are mid-survey, facing a sync issue, or needing clarity on form submission. For teams in fast-paced environments, slow support isn’t just frustrating — it’s costly.
Included Features: A Closer Look at the Extras
Bolster Systems charges separately for some features — including image hosting and storage, depending on the plan. For teams logging thousands of photographs and installation records, these extras can quietly inflate costs year-on-year.
With FireArrest, all images are included in the subscription price. There are no hidden fees, no surprise charges — just a clear, transparent model that allows teams to document thoroughly without second-guessing file sizes or limits.
Updates: Innovation at the Right Pace
One area where Bolster Systems has received mixed feedback is around the frequency and scope of product updates. Some users feel the platform evolves slowly and lacks proactive communication about new features or improvements — which can make it feel outpaced by more agile providers.
FireArrest takes a different approach, offering free, regular updates that respond directly to user feedback and real-world site challenges. Recent updates have included enhanced admin dashboards and faster syncing, and the upcoming release will introduce QR code support for fire doors, enabling quicker access to door histories and compliance records directly on-site — without opening the app.
Usability: Modern vs. Mature
Bolster’s interface is well-established — but some users suggest that it’s starting to feel dated in places, particularly on mobile devices. Slower load times, legacy UI design, and more complex navigation structures can make onboarding new team members more time-consuming than expected.
Our reviewers discovered a similar issue with Onetrace. While the mobile aesthetics look promising, the dashboard was overly complex, requiring multiple clicks to reach basic areas of a project.
By comparison, FireArrest has a mobile-first design, prioritising real-time data capture, offline mode, and intuitive layouts. The result? Faster adoption, quicker training, and fewer mistakes in the field.
Transparency: Where FireArrest Pulls Ahead
For many professionals, transparency is everything — in pricing, in performance, and in the way support is delivered. While Bolster Systems does the job for many, it’s often FireArrest that stands out as the leaner, clearer, and more responsive platform — without sacrificing compliance or audit quality.
When a software platform starts costing more than it delivers, it’s time to explore alternatives that serve the same function, but with better support, better value, and fewer limits.
Final Verdict: Bolster Systems or FireArrest?
Bolster Systems remains a solid, established name — but as fire safety tech evolves, the market has begun to shift. The real question is no longer can it do the job? — but how well, how fast, and at what cost?
For teams looking for a modern, transparent, and cost-effective approach to passive fire documentation, FireArrest is emerging as the smarter choice. Refreshingly offering a free trial, it’s leaner, faster, and, for many teams, thousands of pounds cheaper per year.