— Comparison · Beacon vs PDI
Political Data Inc paired its voter file with desktop-era canvassing tools. Beacon is voter-file-agnostic and cloud-native — bring any list, any party, any organization. Real-time GPS at the Growth tier, AI Script Coach as a $29/mo add-on, transparent pricing from $59/mo, unlimited canvassers on every plan.
— Quick verdict
— Feature by feature
| Feature | Beacon | PDI |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-native platform | IncludedBuilt for the cloud from day one; no installs | HybridDesktop-first architecture with web options |
| Voter-file-agnostic | IncludedAny voter file, any CSV — L2, Aristotle, PDI export, your own | PDI data onlyTools paired tightly with PDI's voter file product |
| AI Script Coach | $29/mo add-onPersonalized talking points per door, on any tier | Not availableData only, no AI coaching layer |
| Real-time GPS tracking | Growth+Live canvasser positions, geofence alerts; on Growth ($129) and up | Not availableNo real-time tracking layer |
| Works without cell signal | IncludedKnocks saved on the phone, sent to the server when signal returns | LimitedLimited mobile capabilities |
| Data enrichment | IncludedBuilt-in append; phone, email, demographics at $0.10/record | Some dataVoter-file fields included; limited enrichment beyond |
| Route optimization | IncludedAuto-orders the walk by street, with priority weighting | Not available |
| Modern UI / UX | IncludedBuilt modern, works on any phone | FunctionalDesktop-oriented design |
| Gamification | IncludedBadges, streaks, team leaderboards | Not available |
| Custom surveys | IncludedFive question types, works without cell signal | Included |
| Same-day setup | MinutesImport CSV, draw turfs, walk same day | LongerSales-assisted onboarding typical |
| API & webhooks | IncludedFull REST API + signed webhooks with retry | LimitedLimited integration options |
| Pricing model | Flat tiersFrom $59/mo by contact volume; unlimited canvassers; on the website | Custom quoteSales call required, opaque pricing, long-term contracts typical |
— The five real differences
PDI's canvassing tools are designed to work with PDI's voter file. Beacon is voter-file-agnostic — bring L2, Aristotle, NationBuilder, your secretary-of-state export, or your own custom CSV. The data model accommodates any source. No data vendor lock-in.
PDI was built in the desktop era. Beacon is cloud-native from day one, deployed on modern infrastructure with automatic scaling. No desktop installs, no IT department needed, no server maintenance. Updates ship continuously and apply instantly.
PDI does not offer real-time GPS tracking. Beacon streams canvasser positions every 30 seconds, with a live activity feed showing interactions as they happen. Field directors see the whole operation on one dashboard, in real time, and can reassign on the fly.
PDI provides voter data. Beacon adds an intelligence layer: AI Script Coach generates personalized talking points using demographics, past interactions, and your campaign script. Predictive lead scoring ranks the walk list by probability of a positive disposition. Same data; better doors first.
PDI requires a sales call and custom quoting that often runs into the thousands per month. Beacon publishes pricing on the website — Starter $59 / 2,500 contacts to Enterprise $599 / 250K+. Sign up, import contacts, draw territories, walk the same day. No long-term contracts, month-to-month by default.
— Pricing, head to head
Beacon Pro
$149 /mo
25,000 contacts. Unlimited canvassers. Live GPS tracking + geofence alerts. Surveys, gamification, and the platform on every plan. AI Script Coach is a $29/mo add-on. Voter-file-agnostic, any party, any org.
PDI
Custom ($$$)
Custom quoting based on voter-file size and tools. Sales-assisted onboarding. Long-term contracts typical. AI coaching, real-time tracking, and route optimization not included at any quoted price.
— Frequently asked
Beacon works for campaigns of any party — Republican, Democratic, nonpartisan, ballot measure. It also works for nonprofits, advocacy groups, and door-to-door sales teams. The data model is the same; the labels and dispositions adapt.
Yes. Export your data from PDI as CSV and drop it into Beacon. Voter IDs, party affiliation, and precinct assignments are preserved. Records geocode automatically and can run through enrichment in the same flow.
Beacon supports voter file import with VoterID matching, party affiliation, precinct assignment, and voter score tracking. Built-in enrichment adds phone, email, and 40+ demographic attributes at $0.10/record on top of whatever's in the voter file.
No. Beacon is month-to-month by default. Annual billing saves 20% if you want to lock it in. No multi-year deals required, no minimum commitment.
Keep PDI for the data, run Beacon for the field op. Export from PDI as CSV on each refresh and import to Beacon. Many programs run this way — voter file vendor on one side, Beacon's canvassing platform on the other.
— Switch the program
Start a free trial, import your PDI export, and walk the first turf this week. We'll help you migrate.