Beam

Beam is a construction-focused platform for contractors who want estimating, project coordination and financial workflows in one product. It suits small and midsized builders and trades, but its free plan’s user and AI-estimate caps and its payment fees deserve attention.

Overview

Beam brings proposal creation, job coordination and financial administration together, aiming to reduce spreadsheet and paperwork work across a construction business. That breadth is its strongest case: contractors can manage project activity and money alongside estimates rather than relying on a standalone estimator. The fit is less compelling for teams that need broad access on a free plan or want to avoid transaction charges.

Key features

Estimating and project coordination

The AI Assistant turns plans, takeoffs or notes into proposals and learns a contractor’s pricing and style. That tailoring can help with repeat proposal work; however, Core covers only the first five AI estimates, so regular AI-assisted estimating points toward Plus. Beam also includes daily logs, schedules, task management, change orders and a client portal for updates and documents, linking job coordination with client communication.

Financial workflows, integrations and security

Invoicing and online payments sit alongside bill payment, expense management, job costing and lien waiver management. This range makes Beam relevant to contractors seeking more than project tracking, though Scale is the plan that adds lien waiver management, compliance tracking and cost-plus invoicing. QuickBooks Online integration and partners including CompanyCam, busybusy, Dash Solutions, RenoFi and XactRemodel connect Beam with named tools in the construction workflow.

Beam says it encrypts data in transit using HTTPS and TLS, and tokenizes sensitive bank and card data instead of storing the actual numbers. Businesses processing payments must complete identity verification under its Know Your Customer and Know Your Business requirements. Payments carry a $5 flat ACH fee or a 3% credit card fee, which a business can pass on to its customer; that is a material consideration for frequent payment collection.

Pricing

Beam is freemium, with no free trial. Core costs $0 / mo and has no subscription cost; it allows up to 2 users, includes the first 5 AI estimates, and provides unlimited estimates, projects, invoices and payments. It is a useful starting point for a small operation, but the two-user ceiling and limited AI allowance make it a poor fit for a larger team or continuing AI-estimate volume.

Plus is $250 / mo billed monthly or $200 / mo billed annually. It raises access to up to 5 users, includes unlimited AI estimating and allows up to 50 cards, making it the clearest step up for a team that needs regular AI estimating. Scale is shown at $400 / mo and $500 / mo, with no billing periods clarified for those amounts; it allows up to 10 users and adds lien waiver management, compliance tracking and cost-plus invoicing. Enterprise has custom pricing, unlimited users, unlimited cards and unlimited onboarding. Direct phone support is listed for Scale and Enterprise; Beam also offers email and chat support, with contact hours Monday through Friday, 8am–6pm PST.

Platforms

Beam is web-based and supports major desktop browsers and mobile devices. Its stated platform is web, so readers who need a dedicated mobile app should compare alternatives before choosing.

Who it's for

Beam is purpose-built for small and midsized contractors, including home builders, remodelers, specialty trade contractors and commercial general contractors. Its combination of estimating, project tools and financial workflows is most persuasive for firms that want those jobs under one roof and can fit within a suitable seat tier.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Estimates, project coordination, invoicing and cost-related tools are combined, which can reduce the need to split those workflows across separate products.
• Pro: Core offers unlimited estimates, projects, invoices and payments without a subscription cost, useful for trying the broader product with a small team.
• Con: Core limits access to two users and includes only five AI estimates, constraining larger teams and sustained AI-assisted proposal work.
• Con: Payment processing adds $5 per ACH transfer or 3% for credit cards, costs that can affect collection economics even when passed to customers.
• Con: The Scale price is shown as both $400 / mo and $500 / mo without a clarified billing term, making the cost harder to evaluate.

Alternatives

For a broader home-builder shortlist, start with Home Builder Software. Choose Buildxact if Android and iOS apps, a free plan with five complimentary credits or Home Depot material ordering are priorities. BuildBook is another freemium option with Android and iOS apps. Consider Hyphen CRM if its paid, demo-led approach suits your buying process. BuildTools Bidding starts at $499 a month with a 12-month commitment billed monthly and guided onboarding included, so it is an option for buyers willing to take on that stated commitment. NEWSTAR, HomebuilderONE, Konstria and MarkSystems are other paid alternatives.

Verdict

Beam is a strong candidate for small and midsized contractors who want estimating, coordination and financial administration together, especially if Core’s two seats and five AI estimates are enough to get started. Choose it for that breadth and the no-subscription Core plan; look elsewhere if your team needs more users without moving up a tier, if payment fees undermine your model, or if a dedicated mobile app is essential.