RentKit vs Bouncy Castle Network
When a great starting platform meets growing business needs.
Bouncy Castle Network (BCN) gives inflatable hire companies a managed website with integrated booking at a low monthly cost. It reports more than 3,000 customers across 22 countries, has a 5.0/5 Capterra rating, and has served the niche for 20 years. It fits new and small bouncy castle businesses that want BCN to manage the website.
RentKit is built for a different stage of business. It is the platform you move to when you have outgrown what BCN can offer - when you need accounting integration (QuickBooks Online and Desktop), route optimization for a growing fleet, multi-category inventory management, and a native mobile app for running your business on the go. BCN's own reviewers flag this: "As we have evolved we have outgrown what they can provide for us."
This is not a "BCN is bad" argument. It is a "different tools for different stages" reality. BCN gets you started. RentKit grows with you.
BCN is the best platform for getting started in inflatable hire. RentKit is the platform you grow into when your business needs accounting integration, route optimization, and multi-category depth.
Side-by-Side
| Feature | RentKit | Bouncy Castle Network |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $99/mo (2 users incl, +$35/user) | £25-£70/mo (varies by package) |
| QuickBooks Integration | Yes (Online & Desktop) | No accounting integration |
| Xero Integration | No | No |
| Route Optimization | Built-in | Basic route planning (add-on vehicles extra) |
| Native Mobile App | iOS & Android (full admin) | Driver app only (no admin app) |
| Website Builder | No (embeddable catalog widget) | Yes — done-for-you websites |
| Online Booking | Customer-facing catalog & wishlist | Full booking system with payments |
| Multi-Category Inventory | Yes (all rental types) | Inflatable/party focused |
| Revenue Reporting | Built-in | Basic statistics |
| Third-Party Integrations | Yes | No API, no integrations ecosystem |
| Customer Support | Evening & weekend hours | Phone, live chat, tickets |
| Multi-Location | Included | Not documented |
| National Directory | No | Yes (bouncycastlehire.co.uk) |
| Contract Management | Yes | Not available |
Where Bouncy Castle Network excels
BCN is strongest for new and small inflatable hire businesses that want a managed website.
Done-for-you websites
BCN builds your website for you - design, hosting, domain, the lot. If you are not technical and do not want to manage a website yourself, this removes a real barrier. RentKit requires you to have your own website (or build one) and embed the catalog widget.
Lower entry price
BCN starts at roughly £25/month. For a solo operator just getting started, that is a low-risk way to get professional online presence with booking capability. RentKit at $99/month (2 users included, $35/month per additional) is built for businesses that have moved past the startup phase.
National hirers directory
BCN operates bouncycastlehire.co.uk, a directory that drives consumer traffic to BCN customers. It is a built-in lead generation channel that creates real value, especially for new businesses building their local presence.
20 years of niche expertise
BCN's founders (Eddie Daniels and Fiona) came from the bouncy castle hire industry. They have been building for this specific audience since 2003. That depth of understanding shows in the product.
Community
BCN runs hidden Facebook groups and a member network that creates real peer support. When you are a new hire company trying to figure out pricing, insurance, and marketing, having a community of 3,000 operators matters.
Proven customer satisfaction
BCN has a 5.0/5 Capterra rating across 95 reviews. Reviewers consistently describe customer service as responsive, helpful, and invested in their success.
Where RentKit leads
Accounting integration
BCN has no connection to QuickBooks, Xero, or any accounting software. That means manual double-entry for every invoice, every payment, every refund. RentKit integrates directly with both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. As your business grows and your bookkeeper or accountant starts asking for clean data, this becomes essential.
Multi-category inventory
BCN is built for bouncy castles and inflatable hire. If your business expands into tables, chairs, tents, staging, lighting, or any other rental category, BCN cannot serve those workflows. RentKit works across all event rental categories from a single platform.
Native admin mobile app
BCN offers a driver app for delivery logistics, but there is no native mobile app for business owners to manage their operation. RentKit's iOS and Android app lets you create orders, check availability, manage inventory, and handle day-to-day admin from your phone.
Built-in route optimization
RentKit includes route optimization as a core feature. BCN offers basic route planning with additional vehicles available as paid add-ons (£120-£240/year).
Third-party integrations
BCN operates as a closed system - no API, no Zapier, no integration marketplace. RentKit connects to the tools your business already uses. As your operation becomes more sophisticated, that connectivity matters.
Revenue reporting
RentKit includes built-in revenue reporting. BCN offers basic statistics but lacks the financial reporting depth that growing businesses need for decision-making.
Website independence
RentKit's embeddable catalog widget works on any website platform. You are not locked into a template system where every site looks like every other BCN site - a complaint that shows up in BCN reviews: "All websites look very much the same across many companies."
Multi-location support
If your business opens a second location or branch, RentKit includes multi-location management. BCN does not have documented multi-location support.
What users say about Bouncy Castle Network
These are sourced from verified reviews on Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice. BCN's overall ratings are exceptional - these are areas where specific users have identified gaps.
On outgrowing the platform
“As we have evolved we have outgrown what they can provide for us.
On website sameness
“All websites look very much the same across many companies, which doesn't give the chance to stand out and be individual.
On customization limits
“Options to customize the website without help from support representatives are limited.
On learning curve
“There is a high learning curve without a dedicated administrator to oversee and control back office.
On feature requests
“Feature requests never receive any updates from the Dev team once submitted.
On multi-day and complex hires
“Too few options for multi-day hire, limited options for high quantity assets like party hire.
Which platform fits?
BCN is likely the right choice if:
- You are starting a new bouncy castle or inflatable hire business and need a website built for you
- You want the lowest possible monthly cost to get online with booking capability
- Your business is primarily inflatables and you do not plan to expand into other rental categories
- You do not need accounting software integration (you handle finances manually or through a separate system)
- You value being part of a large, niche-specific community of hire operators
- You want the lead generation benefit of BCN's national hirers directory
RentKit is likely the better fit if:
- You have outgrown your current booking system and need proper rental management software
- You need QuickBooks Online or Desktop integration to keep your accounting clean
- Your business has expanded (or is expanding) beyond inflatables into other event rental categories
- You need a native mobile app to manage your business on the go, not just a driver app
- You want built-in route optimization and revenue reporting
- You want your software to connect to other tools through integrations
- You are running multiple locations or planning to expand
- You want a website that looks distinctly yours, not a template shared with thousands of other hire companies
Thinking About Moving from BCN to RentKit?
If BCN is working for your business today, there is no rush to switch. It is a solid platform for the operators it serves best.
The businesses that typically move from BCN to RentKit are the ones that have grown past the startup phase. You have a fleet of delivery vehicles, your accountant is asking for QuickBooks data, you are renting more than just inflatables, and you need software that can keep up. BCN was built to get you started. RentKit is built to scale with you.
Moving means setting up your own website on WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or another platform, then embedding RentKit's catalog widget. Inventory, customer data, and booking history can be migrated. A demo can walk through the steps against your current BCN setup.
See RentKit for yourself
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The RentKit team wrote this comparison. If anything is outdated or inaccurate, contact us and we will update it.
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