--- title: "Bolster Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Bolster the right Construction Estimating solution for you? Explore 79 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/199769/Bolster/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" --- Bolster 4.3 (79) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/199769/Bolster/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated September 16th, 2026 # Reviews of Bolster Ease of use 4.1 Customer Service 4.4 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews RT Russell T Office ManagerConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “You only get one chance at making a good first impression - Bolster does that very well by combining Text, Images and Pricing for all the various options.“ May 28, 2026 JH Joshua H PresidentConstruction, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I wish the system auto-populated client information, and the search feature is a little difficult to navigate.“ June 7, 2026 GB Gerencia B General ManagerTransportation/Trucking/Railroad, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “I was amazed at how Bolster was able to give a live price update depending on the choices of the client in terms of material choices and changes on materials or deductions on the quantity of the building materials.“ April 16, 2025 Cristopher O OwnerConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The number of bugs and minor details that don't work when clicking on some options.“ May 3, 2026 Eric N ConsultantPublic Policy, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “I loved how Bolster nails super-fast matches with killer interim execs, game-changer for quick wins without the hiring hassle“ December 15, 2025 GK Graham K Owner, EstimatorConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “My only complaint is that the software can be "buggy" due to the constant improvements and development.“ June 15, 2026 JH Joshua H PresidentConstruction, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Bolster is a very cost effective estimating tool that makes it easy to generate detailed, professional proposals.“ June 7, 2026 Andrew B OwnerConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Software was extremely clunky and price templates did not update properly.“ March 27, 2026 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 79 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Levi P. Consultant Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Best sales software for contractors out there" February 26, 2026 5.0 Worth it if you commit to it. Its a great software to boost sales with presentations and options, and upgrades. Pros Sales is the top priority in our contracting business and this definitely solved it! The presentations, options upgrades and selections are the number one feature. Cons Set up time can be long. We took about 2 months to fully implement everything and put all our supplier pricing in the software. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Sales and Design Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A game changer for remote teams." January 30, 2026 4.0 In spite of the cons, I would say that the software is worth it. It has enabled my estimating team to work in coordination and in a timely manner. The Bolster Support team typically responds quickly and is always helpful. Pros Top two pros: Customization and Speed Love that I am able to tailor pricing to meet my company's needs. With the template features the turnaround time has sped up immensly. Cons Top Two: Aesthetics and Technical Issues Every now and again there are glitches or features will "act incorrectly." Best way to deal with this is to make sure you are saving your work, and double check before sending out estimates. I miss the Aesthetics and user experience of the Cost Certified version of this software. It had more visual appeal. Review Source BW Brooks W. Owner Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Company Owner" June 19, 2025 1.0 My initial rep was great and very helpful however he left the company, and no one picked up where he left off, so I was never able to use the software at all Pros I liked the idea of the software; however, they never finished setting up my software to allow me to use it. They would not provide a refund, so my experience felt like a total scam. Cons Inability to get the roofing and bathroom estimating templates created. They did not finish the templates for me to use them. Review Source DS Daniel S. CEO Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Bolster review" June 8, 2026 5.0 Great experience. I will continue using. Clients are happy, and my quotation speed is outstanding. 100% satisfied! Pros Great soft, User-friendly interface, My clients are happy to receive the bids via Bolster. Very helpful and quick response when customer support is requested. Cons Change order interface. I can't change the invoice amounts. Nothing more to squeeze in a min of 100 letters, sorry! Review Source QM Quentin M. Adm Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Good overall, just need some improvemets" December 16, 2025 5.0 the support team at Bolster is very responsive and they work hard to resolve system glitches. We have been using Bolster for a couple of years and though not perfect, it has been helpful for our company to have and it is worth a try! Pros Bolster’s estimating software has many useful tools, and when building an estimate, we have ENDLESS options including a prebuilt library of items we can edit to fit our needs. Before this we used QuickBooks for sending quotes, so this has been a nice step up and we have not regretted it! Cons With that said, there are some hassles we’ve learned to navigate when creating a proposal; when clicking the “clear changes” button, just know it will get rid of ALL work including anything saved, and when changing the theme (cover photo) of an estimate - while inside the preview layout - it will automatically change it on ALL other proposals currently using that same theme, without warning. A few other tricky features that we encountered: internal messages from prospective clients can be easily overlooked and once read, the notification seems to stay on, the processing company (Plaid) used for ACH invoice payments require personal banking information that our customers feel is too invasive, we prefer to send our own review requests after we completing a job instead of Bolster’s automatic surveys that are sent to our clients (this can be turned off, if requested). With any software program, there are unpredictable bugs that have halted our progress at times, requiring some flexibility on our part. Review Source OC Olivia C. Digital creator Apparel & Fashion Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Reliable Tool That Streamlines My Workflow" November 17, 2025 5.0 Despite a few small drawbacks, Bolster has been a reliable tool that makes my workflow smoother and more efficient. Pros I really like how easy it is to use and navigate. The features help me get tasks done faster, and the support team is always responsive. Cons Some features could be more customizable, and I’ve noticed occasional minor bugs. The pricing feels a bit high for smaller teams. Review Source RC Richard C. Owner Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Business was Bolstered" May 4, 2026 5.0 Pros A very Robust system that allows me to complete a comprehensive estimate in a fraction of the time I used to do an estimate in. The value is definitely there in the time it saves me while delivering a professional proposal to my clients. Cons I guess it's not a bad thing but the updates will throw me off for a minute. I would rather the updates though instead of an outdated system. Review Source JM John M. Owner Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Improved my sales signifiactly!" February 5, 2026 5.0 My experience has been very positive. I purchased the package with more support and recieved the best service from my onboarder \[sensitive content hidden\]. Pros I really like Bolsters estimating capabilities. Once set up it is super fast to send out estimates. The home owners I have dealt with are blown away by my proposals and as a result my closing rate has gone way up. The project managment feature are also really good, they flow down from the estimate seamlessly. Cons The software is very powerfull and as a result can feel a bit intimidating. I recommend if you move forward with Bolster that you just get started estimating and then slowly learn the other capabilites within the software one you have some seat time. Review Source JM Jonathan M. owner Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Long Time Bolster User" June 20, 2026 5.0 Overall we like using Bolster because Bolster is continuing to innovate and provide the latest technologies to help save time Pros Love the customer support. \[sensitive content hidden\] is always quick to repsond. He's also very helpful in solving the problem Cons Would like to see more self help videos and user documentation of how to use Bolster, especially with the latest features that can be helpful for creating estimates more efficiently. Review Source Erick L. CEO Apparel & Fashion Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Efficient Sales Management" December 20, 2025 5.0 Overall, Bolster is a solid platform that improves sales visibility and efficiency. It’s especially useful for teams that want better structure and insights into their pipeline. Pros I like how Bolster makes it easy to track deals and manage sales activity with a clean, intuitive interface. The automation and reporting tools help save time and keep everything organized. Cons Some advanced features take time to fully learn, and customization options can feel limited in certain workflows. Pricing may be high for smaller teams. Review Source SR Seren R. IT Services Associate Insurance Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Bolster for Powerful Business Dynamics" December 1, 2024 5.0 Bolster has a collective and affirmative support for businesses. Pros Bolster makes collaboration more influential and resourceful, and businesses improve the growth pattern for all businesses. Cons Bolster is more professional and error free, reinforcing growth. Switched from [BoldTrail Back Office](https://www.capterra.com/p/171321/BoldTrail-Back-Office/)[Trimble Estimation Desktop](https://www.capterra.com/p/267718/Trimble-Estimation-Desktop/) The stability of the program is inevitable and more productive. Review Source Response from Bolster December 9, 2024 Thanks for the review Seren! CB Chris B. Owner Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Does not save any time. " March 3, 2023 3.0 The sales team misled me. The tech guy was super nice and helpful. Pros The proposals look nice. They are somewhat easy to navigate. Cons Takes way too long to set up. The software is slow/laggy and glitchy Reason for choosing Bolster I chose cost certified for price and easy of use. The ease of use is non existent. I regret purchasing this software. Switched from [QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) I switched because I was told I could do estimates in 7 minutes. That was a lie. Review Source JS Jeffrey S. Owner Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "CostCertified- The Next Level" October 27, 2020 5.0 Pros After months of research our Remodeling/Construction Company came across CostCertified and right away we saw something that would not only streamline our estimation process but would also offer our Clients with the best buying experience this industry has to offer at this level. One of the biggest differences with the CostCertified software is the Interactive Proposal which is not only a next level experience for our client but very efficient for our business. This is an absolute win-win! After talking with \[SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN\] and getting insight on the CostCertified software and the company vision we realize not only is CostCertified next level at the present, especially in terms of Client experience, but their vision for the future will only make the CostCertified experience better for business and client. Thanks for Developing such a Powerful Tool for this industry. Cons We really like everything about CostCertified and with all the updates coming soon the experience will only get better. Alternatives considered [JobNimbus](https://www.capterra.com/p/126797/JobNimbus/)[Bluebeam Revu](https://www.capterra.com/p/121586/Bluebeam-PDF-Revu/)[Jobber](https://www.capterra.com/p/127994/Jobber/)[Client Hub](https://www.capterra.com/p/180857/Client-Hub/)[Leap](https://www.capterra.com/p/162690/Leap/) Reason for choosing Bolster No other Software offers this Type and Level of Client Experience. The Best possible client experience is essential to a business. Review Source Response from Bolster October 30, 2020 Thanks Jeffrey for such great feedback. To know you did your homework, researching so many other products and still ended up choosing CostCertified means a lot to us. We are excited to continue to add to the platform "game changing" features. JH James H. President/CEO Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Great program Excellent team" April 1, 2022 5.0 Cost Certified greatly improved our customer qualification and sales process. The proposals look sweet. The Learning curve for the program is short and easy. Change Orders on this program are Awesome. Easiest change order I have ever created. Pros Time spent on estimates cut by 60%-80%. Streamlined sales and qualifying customers. Learning curve on this software is short, easy and enjoyable. Excellent support from \[SENSITIVE CONTENT\] as our onboarding Coach. Very responsive, professional and knowledgeable. We were using the software almost immediately as it integrated into our business perfectly, unlike other programs we have used. Cons Looking forward to customer messages so all team members communicate in this program with customer. Alternatives considered [Built](https://www.capterra.com/p/164380/Built-for-Teams/)[Housecall Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/140363/HouseCall-Pro/) Reason for choosing Bolster My team and I did a comparison of all the programs. For ease of use and something that helps our company instead of draining Time to train everyone. I sent employees to Charlottesville Virginia just to learn the program. Huge waste of time and energy for a lot of stuff we didn't want to use on the program. Review Source Eric N. Consultant Public Policy Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Solid platform with limited role options." December 15, 2025 4.0 Overall, Bolster was a solid win. Its quick, high-quality exec matches saved us tons of time on scaling pains. Pros I loved how Bolster nails super-fast matches with killer interim execs, game-changer for quick wins without the hiring hassle Cons Honestly, the limited role options felt a bit narrow, not every niche leadership gap gets covered super deeply. Review Source TV Tiffany V. Systems Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Promoting client self-determination on project individualization" May 6, 2025 4.0 Pros Bolster allows the clients to make specific decisions regarding the choice of the finishes as well as options that have an equivalent immediate impact on the cost. This makes it possible for clients to have their demands met fully and less require many edit of the work done. Cons The choice of abbreviations may be confusing for the clients due to the specificity of the construction works terminology. Breaking it down into simpler terms and use of illustrations may help ease the pressure on the clients in a very technical area.​ Review Source ES Emily S. manager Accounting Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Assistant Manager" October 9, 2025 4.0 My overall experience is that this product was nice but could have been a little easier and a little more thought out Pros I like the customer support and ease of use for this application. The estimating and bidding was also a nice feature Cons I did not like the customer service and how you had to navigate through. At times it was confusing and then you would go back to the main screen Review Source CB Cindy B. Office manager Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Bolster review" February 21, 2025 3.0 It is a work in progress. I am always in contact with Bolster for these issues and they get them corrected with time. Bolster is very perceptive to the complaints. Pros It is an upgrade from the original Bolster Cost Certified. Cons There have been issues where Bolster sends out invoices when we have not sent them. Not sending receipts when we click send paid invoice to the customer. Review Source HA Hazim A. Owner Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Great GC Tool!" January 8, 2025 5.0 Nice software to be used to prepare neat and impressive quote. Pros Easy, simple and efficient. Great tools in the GC industry to prepare quotes and presentation to client with a great clarity and simplicity. Cons Wish if it has more templates that represent average prices and a common scopes like new houses, additions, and similar traditional construction in the United States. Review Source Response from Bolster January 9, 2025 Thanks for the review Hazim! CJ Chad J. Estimator / Designer Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Chawick's Cost Certified Review" September 15, 2020 5.0 Great experience! I was worried about being able to follow the system but soon realized my high school education would be more than enough to follow the process. They have made it very simple. I didn't need to call the support line. That surprised me!! Pros Cost Certified changed my life. I've sold landscaping and renovations for over 20 years, 10 years of which for my own company. So many benefits but the one of most value is the savings of time. My customers approve their quotes with a click of a button. No more PDF's or in person signings. I love waking up and looking at my dashboard to see when a customer has approved a project. This alone saves 30min to 3hrs a day. I use to spend 4-8hrs quoting a project. Now, 15-60min quoting 5,000- 300,000.00 projects. You can run an entire business with this software. It probably would have saved my marriage as my wife did the books...not fun nor should you mix business with family. If I had this software 10 years ago I would still have my own business and would still be married. It has a place for your customers contact info including a call your customer or email them button...So good. Automatically moves your customer to the approved/sold column and sends and an invoices with one click. It even creates a Tax statement eliminating most of my accounting my needs. Upgrades & options. I love this feature. it allows the customer to be in charge of the final price. When I sell a patio, I start with cheap standard, grey boring concrete. They browse through the options and get to decide if they want to upgrade. I have never liked upgrades or options until now because I don't have to do any extra work. 1500 Characters is not enough to talk about the benefits. It will change your life! Cons It's so much better than what I use to do....excel quote files and folders and pdfs. Maybe add a calendar? I love that i can include a picture with any item in a quote but the ability to add a video would be next level. Reason for choosing Bolster Cost Certified is ahead of it's time....Our company spent months with 3 people researching relevant products and couldn't find one even close. I think it came down to the unique management of the quote through use area assemblies and the choice of upgrades and options. Revolutionary in the construction industry. You can actually quote jobs and run a business with this app....this app eliminates the administration department. Also, other competitors don't offer the time savings of online approvals. I have mixed feelings over this software as it seems eliminates the need for people as computers take over mundane, repetitive office tasks. The upside is it saves money and eliminates need to hire low skilled, unreliable staff. no more PDfs and folders. I would summarize Cost Certified as a one stop app to completely run a business. Thank you for changing my life and giving me more time to enjoy my family and hobbies. One very satisfied customer, Chadwick Review Source Response from Bolster September 16, 2020 Thanks Chadwick for your review. Again, it's knowing how much our product is making a difference in people's lives/businesses that keeps us incredibly motivated. We really appreciate the time you've taken to let us know the positive impact CostCertified has had on you and your company. BC Brent C. Owner Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "CostCertifed has helped my business grow!" October 6, 2023 5.0 Excellent! CostCertified way ahead of its competition from what I can tell. It allows for flexibility and company growth. Pros Can’t say enough about the value of CostCertified software. I can prepare painting quotes in minutes. The advantage this offers is that product items or full house assemblies can be accessed with a click of your mouse. Pricing can also be saved per item as all the information can be preloaded. As you add new items it will be saved to your own company database. Which is also accessible with your phone or iPad as it’s cloud based. The system also has CRM built-in so that you can see when your customers have last viewed their quote so that you can follow up. Also, scheduling is going to be available by the end of October. CostCertified offers full onboarding support to help you set up your company files if required. You can also personalize pictures for your customers so that they can better relate to your quotes. Cons None at this point. I have used the product for 5 years now and the company has made many improvements over that time. Review Source WH Wendy H. President Design Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great Onboarding Experience" October 11, 2023 5.0 I felt CostCertified was upfront from the beginning, they were supportive, honest, and transparent. My CSM was so dedicated to my onboarding and went above and beyond the allotted time working on my account, spending as much time as required to get my account fully set up. The ongoing support was a great value add, CostCertified was dedicated to constantly improving their service, which really speaks to their priority being the contractor, and delivering the best product for their customers Pros So customizable to the way I do business and my branding, giving my company a professional image and appearance for my customers Cons Customers struggled with the non-traditional estimate format Review Source JK Jason K. Owner Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Explore Kitchens trusts CostCertified" December 6, 2021 5.0 Pros CostCertified.com has helped our kitchen remodeling and general contractor formulas. \[SENSITIVE CONTENT\] is a great guy and \[SENSITIVE CONTENT\] account rep has been terrific. Cons We do feel at this time any more features or benefits need to added Reason for choosing Bolster Buildertrend and the Charlottesville Virginia company Review Source Response from Bolster December 10, 2021 Thanks Jason! Appreciate the review and excited to see how CostCertified is helping your company. KP Kristopher P. Owner Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Awesome estimating software" May 10, 2024 5.0 overall very happy with the program if i ever get back into renovations ill re subscribe Pros Once i got used to using the software doing a whole home quote was fast and simple. After setting up my database you could pick items from past quote to use over and over Cons The learning curve of using the software and then changing alot of the labour pricing and it was not inline with our local market Review Source Response from Bolster January 23, 2025 Thanks for the review Kristopher! CJ Chelsea J. Director of Care Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Nothing like this in industry and FREE!" January 30, 2020 5.0 It’s been amazing to use a software that simplifies the construction and renovating industry while I’m navigating renovating our home. Being able to have the assurance that knowing my payments are protected and a guarantee that you’ll have trusted estimates. I especially love being able to pick my own finishing touches in real-time. So simple and genius!! Pros Ease of use. Quick response time. User friendly. Cons I wish I would’ve known about it previously! Review Source Response from Bolster February 3, 2020 Thanks Chelsea for the kind words. We definitely think we have something special that hasn't been seen in the construction industry. We hope more people will use CostCertified for a better experience. 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