Home / Compare / Beam AI vs Civils.ai
Beam AI vs Civils.ai
Two AI-first takeoff tools that both start from PDF drawings. Beam AI sits in takeoff & estimating in our directory; Civils.ai sits in heavy civil & earthwork. Compared here under takeoff because both publish AI quantity takeoff from plans (cross-category pair).
Side by side
| Sheet row | Beam AI | Civils.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Takeoff & estimating | Takeoff & document checks |
| AI role (our label) | AI-first | AI-first |
| What it does | AI takeoff and estimating offered two ways: "Done For You" QA-checked takeoffs and estimates delivered in 24-72 hours from uploaded plans and specs, or "Do It Yourself" instant AI takeoffs. Part of Attentive.ai. Vendor claims 99%+ accuracy (vendor claim, not verified). | AI quantity takeoffs from PDF drawings using plain-English scope prompts (areas, lengths, volumes, counts) plus discrepancy and compliance checks. Covers groundworks, landscaping, utilities, drainage, and concrete. Output is described as human/QA-reviewed. Vendor claims 97%+ accuracy on takeoffs (vendor claim, not verified). |
| Who it's for | Commercial contractors and field service businesses; trades listed include HVAC, electrical, concrete, utility/civil, paving, earthwork, and more. | Civil contractors. |
| Pricing (as publicly stated) | Annual license. Do It Yourself (construction plans): starts at $8K annual license per trade, available for HVAC, plumbing & steel. Done For You (construction plans): starts at $25K annual license, based on trade and volume, available for all trades. Done For You (aerial images): starts at $10K annual license per trade, based on site acreage and service. Enterprise: custom pricing. (Pricing re-checked Oct 15, 2026; previously not publicly listed.) | Subscription. Starter listed at US$90/month, billed monthly, single user, 10 takeoffs/month; Professional US$270/month, billed monthly, single user, 30 takeoffs/month (adds revision requests from comments, learns your standards, priority support); Enterprise custom (volume pricing and annual contracts). (Pricing re-checked Oct 14, 2026.) |
| Test status | Not tested. No scores. | Not tested. No scores. |
| Vendor links | ||
| Sources |
Facts last checked: Beam AI Oct 15, 2026; Civils.ai Oct 14, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.
Where the vendor descriptions differ
- Delivery model: Beam AI offers "Done For You" QA-checked takeoffs and estimates delivered in 24-72 hours, and "Do It Yourself" instant AI takeoffs. Civils.ai describes plain-English scope prompts for areas, lengths, volumes, and counts, with output described as human/QA-reviewed.
- Audience and scope: Beam AI names commercial contractors and field service businesses across many trades (including HVAC, electrical, concrete, utility/civil, paving, and earthwork) and also describes aerial takeoffs for maintenance work. Civils.ai names civil contractors and covers groundworks, landscaping, utilities, drainage, and concrete.
- Pricing: Beam AI now publishes annual licenses: Do It Yourself from $8K per trade per year (HVAC, plumbing & steel), Done For You from $25K per year (based on trade and volume), Done For You aerial from $10K per trade per year, and custom Enterprise (checked Oct 15, 2026). Civils.ai lists Starter at US$90/month (single user, 10 takeoffs/month), Professional at US$270/month (single user, 30 takeoffs/month), and custom Enterprise.
- Accuracy claims: Beam AI claims 99%+ accuracy. Civils.ai claims 97%+ accuracy on takeoffs. Neither claim has been tested by Means & Methods Lab.
- Extra product surface: Beam AI also describes estimating (including Excel estimates) and bid management (ITB capture and tracking). Civils.ai also describes discrepancy and compliance checks across drawings and documents.
Paraphrased from the sources listed above. Vendor claims are reported as claims.
What we can't tell you yet
Which tool is better for your work. That needs testing on the same package with a verified answer key. Planned measures for this comparison:
- Quantity error against a verified answer key on a civil bid-item schedule
- Missed items and false counts
- Minutes to first result and minutes for an estimator to correct the output
See the methodology and leaderboard status.
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