Means & Methods Lab, home
Facts: desk research, not tested · Reviews: members' opinions

STACK vs Beam AI

Two cloud takeoff and estimating products for contractors, sold in different ways. STACK is established self-serve takeoff, estimating and field software that now calls itself an AI preconstruction platform, with AI that reads and names sheets, auto-counts symbols and flags pricing drift; per-user plans are listed from $49 to $348 a month and Takeoff & Estimate has a free version. Beam AI is an AI-first takeoff service: QA-checked Done For You takeoffs and estimates in 24-72 hours or instant Do It Yourself AI takeoffs, on annual licenses from $8K per trade. Desk research from vendor pages read Oct 28, 2026; not tested, no winner.

DESK RESEARCH, NOT TESTED. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Oct 28, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: STACK (Takeoff & estimating; vendor publishes prices) vs Beam AI (Takeoff & estimating; vendor publishes prices). Facts last checked Oct 28, 2026. No winner declared; not tested.

Side by side

STACK vs Beam AI: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowSTACKBeam AI
CategoryTakeoff & estimatingTakeoff & estimating
AI role (our label)AI features added to established productAI-first
What it doesCloud-based construction software covering digital takeoff, estimating and proposals, and field/project management ("Build & Operate"). The vendor now describes STACK as an AI preconstruction platform: AI that reads uploaded sheets, auto-names pages, and flags revisions; AI auto-counting of symbols and suggestions of scope that may be missed; and AI described as pressure-testing pricing and flagging risk, gaps, and pricing drift in estimates. Unlimited viewer seats. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the homepage announces STACK for Excel, an integration launched with partner Velixo that connects takeoff and estimating data directly in Excel. Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: the homepage still calls STACK an AI preconstruction platform (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates that flag risk, gaps and pricing drift) with unlimited viewer seats, a jobsite mobile app and Try It Free and Create Free Account options. The STACK for Excel (Velixo) announcement seen Oct 19 was not on the homepage in today's read. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI takeoff, integrated estimating, a field app); the STACK for Excel partnership with Velixo is back in the navigation as a featured partner item. Revenue, win-rate and speed lines are vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates that flag risk, gaps and pricing drift; field app; unlimited viewer seats). The menu lists STACK IQ, version compare, STACK for Excel (Velixo) and ERP connectors, and the homepage describes a regional cost data integration for material and labor items. Revenue, win-rate and speed lines and the 5-out-of-5 rating are vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates that flag risk, gaps and pricing drift; field app; unlimited viewer seats; STACK IQ and STACK for Excel with Velixo in the menu). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines and ratings remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates where AI pressure-tests pricing; jobsite app; STACK IQ and STACK for Excel with Velixo in the menu). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines and ratings remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (STACK IQ plan organization and search, AI Takeoff with advanced trade tools and version compare, integrated estimating with STACK for Excel and ERP connectors, a field app with punch lists and forms). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines, ratings and quotes remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (STACK IQ plan organization and search, AI Takeoff with advanced trade tools and version compare, integrated estimating with STACK for Excel and ERP connectors, a field app with punch lists and forms). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines, ratings and quotes remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 27, 2026 (also read for a compare): homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates where AI pressure-tests pricing; jobsite app; STACK IQ and STACK for Excel with Velixo in the menu). A featured blog article now describes STACK IQ connecting Claude and ChatGPT to STACK projects (vendor statement). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines, ratings and quotes remain vendor claims not used here.AI takeoff and estimating offered two ways: QA-checked takeoffs and estimates delivered in 24-72 hours, or instant do-it-yourself AI takeoffs. The vendor calls these "Done For You" (from uploaded plans and specs) and "Do It Yourself". Part of Attentive.ai. Vendor claims 99%+ accuracy (vendor claim, not verified). Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the pricing page still lists Do It Yourself for HVAC, plumbing and steel, Done For You construction-plan takeoffs for all trades (up to 2 takeoffs in parallel on that tier), Done For You aerial imagery takeoffs for landscaping, snow, paving and striping with access to the Attentive.ai OnSite mobile app, and Bid Management tools on the Done For You tiers. Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: the homepage still offers Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates in 24-72 hours and do-it-yourself AI takeoffs, now framed for commercial contractors across construction and field services with estimating through bid management in one workflow; the 99%+ accuracy figure is still a vendor claim. Customer quotes on the pricing page were not used. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates in 24-72 hours, Do It Yourself instant AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel, aerial and blueprint takeoffs for maintenance and construction); it now spells out instant Excel estimates across trades with in-platform estimating for HVAC and plumbing, and bid management that captures ITBs from your inbox and tracks bid statuses, due dates, owners, RFIs and addenda. The pricing page adds auto-addenda detection to its feature list. Accuracy, bid-capacity and customer-count figures, customer quotes and star reviews are vendor material not used here. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates in 24-72 hours, Do It Yourself AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel, aerial and blueprint takeoffs, Excel estimates and bid management); a site banner now promotes Beam AI's own annual precon conference (Convergence) on November 4-5, 2026, and the login menu separates Construction and Field Services. Accuracy, capacity and customer-count figures, quotes and star reviews remain vendor material not used here. Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates in 24-72 hours, Do It Yourself AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel, aerial and blueprint takeoffs, Excel estimates and bid management; the banner still promotes its Convergence precon conference on November 4-5, 2026). Accuracy, capacity and customer-count figures, quotes and star reviews remain vendor material not used here. Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates in 24-72 hours, Do It Yourself AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel, aerial and blueprint takeoffs, Excel estimates and bid management; the Convergence conference banner for November 4-5, 2026 is still up). Accuracy, capacity and customer-count figures and quotes remain vendor material not used here. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates, Do It Yourself AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel, aerial and blueprint takeoffs, Excel estimates and bid management; the banner still promotes the Convergence precon conference on November 4-5, 2026). Accuracy, capacity and customer-count figures and quotes remain vendor material not used here. Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates, Do It Yourself AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel, aerial takeoffs, Excel estimates and bid management; the banner still promotes the Convergence precon conference on November 4-5, 2026). Capacity figures and quotes remain vendor material not used here. Re-checked Oct 27, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (Done For You QA-checked takeoffs and estimates, Do It Yourself AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel, aerial takeoffs, Excel estimates and bid management; the banner still promotes the Convergence precon conference on November 4-5, 2026). Capacity figures and quotes remain vendor material not used here.
Who it's forSpecialty contractors, general contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, owners and developers.Commercial contractors and field service businesses; trades listed include HVAC, electrical, concrete, utility/civil, paving, earthwork, and more.
Pricing (as publicly stated)Per-user subscription. Takeoff & Estimate $299/user/mo; Build & Operate $49/user/mo; full platform $348/user/mo. A free version of Takeoff & Estimate is offered; Build & Operate has a two-week free trial. (Pricing re-checked Oct 14 and Oct 19, 2026; unchanged, shown as "as low as" per user per month.) Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month; a free account is still offered). The pricing FAQ still asks whether a free trial is available, but its answer was collapsed in our read, so the two-week Build & Operate trial was not re-confirmed. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month); the FAQ answer rendered this time and again confirms a free version of Takeoff & Estimate and a two-week free trial for Build & Operate. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as; free version of Takeoff & Estimate; two-week free trial for Build & Operate). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as; free version of Takeoff & Estimate; two-week free trial for Build & Operate). Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as; free version of Takeoff & Estimate; two-week free trial for Build & Operate). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as). Re-checked Oct 27, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as). Re-checked Oct 28, 2026 (also read for a compare): unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as; free version of Takeoff & Estimate; two-week free trial for Build & Operate).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; unchanged Oct 19, 2026: DIY from $8K, Done For You construction plans from $25K, aerial from $10K annual license; Enterprise custom.) Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license, Done For You construction plans from $25K annual with up to 2 takeoffs in parallel, Done For You aerial from $10K annual license; Enterprise talk to us). The page says licenses are sized to annual bid capacity rather than per project or per takeoff. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade, Done For You construction plans from $25K annual, Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade, Enterprise custom; licenses sized to annual bid capacity). Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade for HVAC, plumbing and steel; Done For You construction plans from $25K annual based on trade and volume, up to 2 takeoffs in parallel; Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade based on site acreage and service; Enterprise custom; licenses sized to annual bid capacity). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade; Done For You construction plans from $25K annual; Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade; Enterprise custom; licenses sized to annual bid capacity). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade; Done For You construction plans from $25K annual; Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade; Enterprise custom; licenses sized to annual bid capacity). Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade for HVAC, plumbing and steel; Done For You construction plans from $25K annual based on trade and volume; Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade based on site acreage and service; Enterprise custom; licenses sized to annual bid volume rather than per project or per takeoff). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade for HVAC, plumbing and steel; Done For You construction plans from $25K annual based on trade and volume; Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade based on site acreage and service; Enterprise custom). Re-checked Oct 27, 2026: unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade for HVAC, plumbing and steel; Done For You construction plans from $25K annual; Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade; Enterprise custom). Re-checked Oct 28, 2026 (also read for a compare): unchanged (DIY from $8K annual license per trade for HVAC, plumbing and steel; Done For You construction plans from $25K annual based on trade and volume; Done For You aerial from $10K annual license per trade; Enterprise custom).
User reviewsNo reviews yet. Read or writeNo reviews yet. Read or write
Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Oct 28, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • Who does the takeoff: STACK's homepage says you upload plans and specs, STACK AI reads every sheet, auto-names pages and flags revisions, and your estimators measure linear, area, count and volume with AI auto-counting symbols and suggesting scope you might miss. Beam AI's Done For You tier has you upload plans, specs and legends, confirm the quantities needed and add instructions; AI extracts quantities and every takeoff is QA-checked before delivery. Its Do It Yourself tier gives instant AI takeoffs for HVAC, plumbing and steel.
  • Estimating: STACK lists worksheet-style estimating with items and assemblies, AI that pressure-tests pricing and flags risk, gaps and pricing drift, trade-specific catalogs, regional cost data for material and labor items, and proposals. Beam AI says it delivers Excel estimates across trades, with in-platform estimating for HVAC and plumbing, and a customizable takeoff and estimate Excel format on Enterprise.
  • Beyond takeoff: STACK's Build & Operate covers plan viewing and markup, RFIs, issues, punch lists, daily reports and a jobsite mobile app, and its menu lists STACK IQ (connecting Claude and ChatGPT to STACK projects) and STACK for Excel with Velixo. Beam AI adds bid management that captures ITBs from your inbox and tracks bid status, due dates, owners, RFIs and addenda, plus Done For You aerial-imagery takeoffs for landscaping, snow, paving and striping with the Attentive.ai OnSite mobile app.
  • Trades named: Beam AI's FAQ lists HVAC/mechanical, concrete, electrical, plumbing, steel, civil, utilities and more, for general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. STACK says it is built for contractors, suppliers and owners, with trade catalogs for material quantification and unlimited viewer seats.
  • AI tag: Beam AI is tagged AI-first; STACK is tagged AI features added to an established product.
  • Pricing (checked Oct 28, 2026): STACK lists Takeoff & Estimate as low as $299, Build & Operate as low as $49 and the full platform as low as $348 per user per month, with a free version of Takeoff & Estimate and a two-week free trial of Build & Operate. Beam AI lists Do It Yourself from $8K per year per trade (HVAC, plumbing and steel), Done For You construction plans from $25K per year based on trade and volume, Done For You aerial from $10K per year per trade, and Enterprise on request. See each tool page for detail.
  • Not like-for-like: STACK is per-seat software your estimators run, with field tools on the same platform, while Beam AI's main offer is takeoffs delivered by AI plus a QA team on an annual license sized to trade and volume. Which fits depends on whether you want to keep takeoff in-house or hand it off.
  • Not used here: STACK's win-rate, revenue and speed lines, star rating and customer quotes, and Beam AI's accuracy, hours-saved, bid-capacity and customer-count figures, quotes and reviews (vendor material). Neither tool has been tested by Means & Methods Lab.

Paraphrased from the sources listed above. Vendor claims are reported as claims.

What users say

The facts above come from vendor websites. Whether either tool is any good for your work is something only people who use them can say. These are member reviews, all ratings shown, never edited or removed for being negative.

Used either of these? Share your take

Good or bad, an honest review from an estimator, PM or super helps the next team more than another vendor demo. You post under a handle; your email is never shown.

Questions to ask in your review

  • What STACK's as-low-as per-user prices come to for your seat count and term
  • What a Beam AI Done For You license costs for your trades and bid volume
  • How each handles your drawing sets and the trades you bid
  • What did you use it for, on what kind of work and project size?
  • How long did setup and training take, and who on your team did it?
  • What does it cost you in practice, compared with what the sales call said?

How reviews work: review guidelines and methodology. All reviews: reviews hub.

Related