CircuitTakeoff vs Beam AI
CircuitTakeoff vs Beam AI — Which electrical takeoff tool is right for you?
CircuitTakeoff
CircuitTakeoff is a self-serve, electrical-only AI takeoff tool. Upload your plan sheets, get a structured, editable quantity list back in minutes — no sales call, no annual contract, priced for a small electrical shop.
Beam AI
Beam AI (by Attentive.ai) is a multi-trade AI takeoff platform used by general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers across 15+ trades including electrical, HVAC, plumbing, concrete, and more. Its "Done For You" service includes human QA review of every takeoff before delivery.
Feature Comparison
| Capability | CircuitTakeoff | Beam AI |
|---|---|---|
| Self-serve signup (no sales call) | Only for HVAC / Plumbing / Steel | |
| Electrical-specific self-serve plan | ||
| Multi-trade support | ✗ (electrical only) | ✓ (15+ trades) |
| Pricing visible on website | Partial (DIY tiers only) | |
| Human QA review of every takeoff | ✓ (Done For You tier) | |
| AI-automated extraction | ||
| Confidence flagging on estimated quantities | Not publicly stated | |
| Editable results | ||
| CSV / Excel export | ||
| Turnaround time | Minutes | Minutes (DIY) / 24–72 hrs (Done For You) |
| Starting price | $150/month | $8,000–$25,000/year |
*Beam AI pricing based on publicly listed rates as of August 2026; confirm current pricing directly with Beam AI, as enterprise pricing may vary by trade and contract terms.*
Top Pros & Cons
CircuitTakeoff
Pros
- Self-serve — sign up and run a takeoff today, no sales call
- Priced for a small shop ($150–300/month vs. $8K–25K/year)
- Built specifically for electrical — conduit, wire, panels, devices, fixtures, low voltage
- Every quantity is clearly flagged as high- or low-confidence, so you know exactly what to double-check before bidding
- Transparent pricing, visible on the site
Cons
- Electrical only — not a fit if you need multi-trade takeoffs in one platform
- No human QA review layer — you are the reviewer (which is also why every estimate comes with a clear confidence flag)
- Newer product, smaller customer base than established players
- Quantities only — does not include cost estimating or bid proposal generation
Beam AI
Pros
- Covers 15+ trades in one platform, useful if you bid multi-trade work
- Human-reviewed "Done For You" option, backed by a QA team
- Established player, 1,200+ contractors using the platform
- Full estimating features (labor, material, markup) beyond quantities
Cons
- Self-serve DIY pricing only covers HVAC, Plumbing, and Steel — no self-serve option for electrical contractors
- Electrical customers are routed to the enterprise "Done For You" tier, which requires a sales call and starts around $15,000/year per trade
- Pricing not fully transparent — enterprise tier requires contacting sales for a quote
- Overkill if you only need electrical takeoffs and don't bid other trades
Built for the electrical shop that doesn't need — or want to pay for — an enterprise platform.
If you're bidding electrical work and don't need 15 trades in one tool, CircuitTakeoff gets you a usable takeoff today, at a price a small shop can actually justify.