Beam vs Foundation

Beam8.8Visit Foundation8.7Visit

Higher score Beam #7 in Home Builder Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Beam

vs

Foundation #8 in Home Builder Software 8.7/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Foundation

• Beam fits best

  Small teams wanting free core project software

• Foundation fits best

  Residential builders needing selections and portals

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Side by side

Feature	Beam 8.8/10 Visit ↗	Foundation 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.7
Ranking	#7 in Home Builder Software	#8 in Home Builder Software
Best for	Small teams wanting free core project software	Residential builders needing selections and portals
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$200/mo	$2,200/yr
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs	Email, Live chat
Integrations	2 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market	Small business, Mid-market
Features Beam 4/5 · Foundation 5/5
Selections management	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Buyer portal	✓	✓
Budget & cost tracking	✓	✓
Schedule management	✓	✓
Trade partner management	✓	✓
Specs
Active project limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free Core plan includes estimating, portals, invoicing, and expense management Combines schedules, job costing, payments, compliance, and accounting integrations Paid tiers add AI estimating, e-signatures, workflows, and direct phone support	Combines schedules, budgets, draws, contracts, selections, and change orders White-labeled homeowner portal supports approvals, messaging, and reports Includes takeoffs, trade management, warranty tracking, and AI features
Cons	Paid plans start at $200 per month with annual billing Web-only platform without a native app Advanced Enterprise features require contacting sales	Starts at $199 per month with no free plan AI features require the first payment Integration options center on QuickBooks Online and Stripe Connect
Our verdict	Beam is cloud-based construction management and financial software for home builders, remodelers, specialty contractors, and commercial general contractors. Its scope covers estimating, proposals, project schedules, tasks, daily logs,… Read the review →	Foundation is construction management software for custom home builders and remodelers. It brings project timelines, budgets, draw requests, change orders, contracts, selections, subcontractor coordination, client communication, punch… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Beam — where it wins

  • Free Core plan includes estimating, portals, invoicing, and expense management
  • Combines schedules, job costing, payments, compliance, and accounting integrations
  • Paid tiers add AI estimating, e-signatures, workflows, and direct phone support

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid plans start at $200 per month with annual billing
  • Web-only platform without a native app
  • Advanced Enterprise features require contacting sales

• Foundation — where it wins

  • Combines schedules, budgets, draws, contracts, selections, and change orders
  • White-labeled homeowner portal supports approvals, messaging, and reports
  • Includes takeoffs, trade management, warranty tracking, and AI features

  Where it doesn't

  • Starts at $199 per month with no free plan
  • AI features require the first payment
  • Integration options center on QuickBooks Online and Stripe Connect

• Beam8.8/10 · Free plan

  Beam combines free core construction management with paid estimating, finance, and compliance tools.

  Visit BeamFull verdict →
• Foundation8.7/10 · 14-day trial

  A broad home-building platform for teams that need selections, budgets, and client portals.

  Visit FoundationFull verdict →