Comparison · Beacon vs eCanvasser
eCanvasser pioneered digital canvassing. Beacon handles the same tasks: territories, walk lists (each canvasser's addresses), doors, and dispositions (the result recorded at each door). Its pricing is roughly 25 to 29% lower, every plan includes unlimited canvassers, and the phone app keeps working without cell signal on every plan from Starter up. Live GPS tracking is available at the Growth tier, and AI Script Coach is a paid add-on from $29/mo. The sections below set out the pricing and feature differences line by line.
Summary
Feature by feature
| Feature | Beacon | eCanvasser |
|---|---|---|
| Works without cell signal | IncludedDoor visits saved on the phone, sent to the server when signal returns | IncludedAvailable; offline mode is a licensed feature |
| AI Script Coach | Add-on, from $29/moPersonalized talking points per door, on any tier | Not availableNo AI features in the product |
| Route optimization | IncludedAutomatically orders the walk by street, giving extra weight to priority contacts | IncludedRoute planning up to 200 stops |
| Data enrichment | IncludedBuilt in; adds phone, email, and demographic details | Not availableRequires a third-party data vendor |
| Digital proposals & e-sign | IncludedTemplates used at the door, with electronic signature capture | Not available |
| Real-time GPS tracking | Growth+Live canvasser locations on Growth ($129) and up | PartialBasic location logging only |
| Gamification | IncludedBadges, streaks, team leaderboards | Not available |
| Territory management | IncludedMap areas, overlap checks, and coverage % per territory | IncludedTerritory assignment available |
| Custom surveys | IncludedFive question types, works without cell signal | Included |
| Signed webhooks | IncludedVerified updates sent to your other software, retried if delivery fails | LimitedNarrow API (few connection options) |
| REST API | IncludedFull REST API with OpenAPI documentation | PartialLimited endpoints (connection points) |
| Mobile distribution | PWA installInstalls from the browser as a web app in 30 seconds, no app store step | Native iOS/Android |
| Pricing model | Flat tiersFrom $59/mo by contact volume; unlimited canvassers; only GPS & AI cost extra | Lead volume and tier limitsMany features locked to higher tiers |
The five main differences
eCanvasser gives canvassers a fixed script. Beacon's AI Script Coach uses the contact's record, tags, and past conversations to suggest an opening line and follow-up for that door, so newer volunteers have something close to what an experienced canvasser would say. It is a paid add-on, from $29/mo, that works on any tier, so it can be turned on for the final weeks of a campaign and turned off between programs.
With eCanvasser, adding details to a contact list means using a separate data vendor and sending spreadsheet (CSV) files back and forth. Beacon's enrichment tool adds phone, email, and household details such as age, income range, homeowner status, and property value from one screen.
Beacon's route optimizer does more than shorten the walking distance. It gives extra weight to priority contacts, so the most valuable doors are visited on the first pass through a block rather than a second. eCanvasser added route planning recently, though the two approaches are not really comparable in practice.
Both products work without signal, but Beacon was designed this way from the start. On every plan, the app saves door visits on the phone, sends them to the server in the background when signal returns, and sorts out duplicate visits on the server. Dead zones, basements, and rural roads are all handled the same way: the visit is held on the phone and uploaded when signal returns.
eCanvasser limits many features to higher tiers and prices by lead volume. Beacon prices by contact tier, from Starter at $59 for 2,500 contacts up to Enterprise at $599 for 250K+, with unlimited canvassers on every plan. Only two things cost more: live GPS, available at Growth, and AI Script Coach, a paid add-on from $29/mo. Everything else is included on Starter.
Pricing, head to head
Beacon Pro
$149 /mo
Beacon Pro covers 25,000 contacts with unlimited canvassers and live GPS tracking. Surveys, gamification, and the rest of the platform are included on every plan, with AI Script Coach available as a paid add-on from $29/mo.
eCanvasser Pro
$199 /mo
eCanvasser Pro covers 20,000 contacts under a per-lead pricing model, with features limited by tier. Neither AI features nor built-in data enrichment are available at any price.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Export your contacts from eCanvasser as a CSV file and upload them to Beacon. Addresses are placed on the map automatically, and records can go through data enrichment in the same step to add phone numbers or email.
Yes. The product uses the terms"Canvassers · Voters · Territories · Walk Lists." Beacon supports voter file import, VoterID matching, party affiliation, and precinct assignment. It also works for door-to-door sales and nonprofit programs. The data is organized the same way, and only the labels change.
Yes. Every Beacon plan includes full offline support. Canvassers can download their walk list and record door visits without signal, and their saved results upload automatically when the connection returns.
Beacon Pro is $149/mo for 25,000 contacts. eCanvasser's nearest tier is $199/mo for 20,000. Beacon is 25% lower, with room for 25% more contacts. AI Script Coach is a Beacon add-on from $29/mo, which eCanvasser does not offer at all. Data enrichment is $0.10/record on Beacon, while eCanvasser requires a third-party vendor.
AI Script Coach is a paid add-on for any Beacon plan. AI Basic is $29/mo ($23/mo billed annually) with 500 coaching requests a month, then $0.12 each, and AI Advanced is $99/mo ($79/mo billed annually) for heavier use. It is billed separately because each use of the AI has a real cost. Including it in the plan price would either raise the platform price or limit usage. You can add it for the final weeks of a campaign and drop it between programs.
Beacon is month-to-month by default, and annual billing saves 20% for teams that want to commit for a year. No multi-year contracts are required.
Switch to Beacon
Start a free trial, import your exported eCanvasser file, and canvass your first turf (assigned canvassing area) this week. We will help you move your data.