Comparison

Bolster Research Study vs REACH

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bolster Research Study

Read full description

**The Bolster app is provided as part of a research study hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (IRB #25-1793) and can only be accessed by the study team and active study participants who have provided informed consent. The app will only collect information from individuals who access the app with a login and password provided through this channel. No personal identifiers are stored within the app, and linking data to a specific individual can only be done with a key kept by the research team.** Bolster is a self-guided wellness tool developed for caregivers of young adults at risk for or currently experiencing symptoms of psychosis. Bolster provides support to caregivers by providing information about psychosis, symptoms, and treatment, communication skills to use with their loved one, step-by-step guides for common caregiving challenges, and a tracking feature to note patterns of symptom severity. If you are interested in and think you might be eligible for the research study in which Bolster is tested, please visit bolsternc.org to learn more.

About

REACH

Features
Read full description

This is a companion app for REACH tDCS Study.

Screenshots

Bolster Research Study4 screens
REACH4 screens

Verdict

The call

Bolster Research Study and REACH are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters โ€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bolster Research Study ships an update every 3 months, REACH every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and June 24, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Bolster Research Study versus REACH: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBolster Research StudyREACH
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 months โ€” betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size40 MB35 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperBenjamin BuckSooma Oy

In-app purchases

None

Bolster Research Study

No in-app purchases

None

REACH

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bolster Research Study free?
Bolster Research Study is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is REACH free?
REACH is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Bolster Research Study or REACH have ads?
Neither Bolster Research Study nor REACH shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bolster Research Study or REACH?
Bolster Research Study ships an update every 3 months, and REACH every 4 months. Most recently, Bolster Research Study was updated on September 14, 2026 and REACH on June 24, 2026.

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