Beam vs Zalcro
Beam and Zalcro are both developer tools tools. Beam is aimed at developers and creators, while Zalcro is aimed at developers and freelancers. Beam costs less, from $12/mo versus $19/mo for Zalcro. Both have a free plan.
Open individual windows from one Mac as native windows on another
Plans an app's architecture before you prompt an AI builder
| Pricing | Freemium · $12 | Freemium · $19 |
| Starting price | $12/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Developers, Creators, Freelancers, Small businesses | Developers, Freelancers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | macos | web |
| Country | — | — |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Beam if
Developers and creators with two Apple silicon Macs who want a remote app to behave like a local window instead of a full screen share.
- Uses one remote app without taking over the whole desktop
- Window traffic goes directly between your Macs, not through Beam's servers
- Free plan has no card requirement and no limit on host Macs
Look elsewhere if: People who need to reach Windows or Intel machines or control a whole remote desktop across platforms (Jump Desktop, Parsec).
Choose Zalcro if
Solo founders and vibe coders who want a structured plan and prompts before building with AI tools.
- Forces structural decisions before an AI builder improvises them
- Output tailored separately for app builders and coding agents
- Clear architecture documents that can be handed to a freelance developer
Look elsewhere if: Engineering teams that already write specs and need a shared team planning workspace (Linear, Notion).
Beam vs Zalcro pricing
Beam
- Free$0Host unlimited Macs, join share links, 20 minutes a day of use
- Monthly$12/moUnlimited use on every Mac you own, send share links
- Yearly$84/yrSame as Monthly; works out to $7/mo billed annually
- Lifetime$199One-time payment, all future updates, direct connections
- Team$12/seat/moOr $84/seat/yr; 20% off from 10 seats, one invoice
Zalcro
- Starter$01 architecture per month, Phase 1 plan and tickets
- Builder$19/moUnlimited architectures, all phases; $180 billed yearly
- TeamsComing soonTeam workspaces, repo ingestion; no price yet
Beam · Key features
- Single windows from another Mac open as native windows with Dock and Command-Tab entries
- Beam several windows at once or share an entire display
- Direct typing, shortcuts, two-way resizing, app audio and clipboard sync
- Works with headless Mac minis and Mac Studios that have no display
- Encrypted Mac-to-Mac connection on local Wi-Fi or over Tailscale
- Guest share links open one window in any browser, view-only by default
Cons
- macOS only, with Apple silicon and Sonoma or later required on both Macs
- Free use is capped at 20 minutes a day
- Devices without the Mac app, such as phones, only get browser links
Zalcro · Key features
- Guided chat intake that asks clarifying questions about the app idea
- Architecture document with stack, database design, components and trade-offs
- System diagram exportable as an image, or Draw.io XML on Builder
- Phased implementation plan with a goal and done criteria per phase
- Prompt Packs with one prompt per phase for Lovable, Bolt, Replit and v0
- Dependency-aware ticket backlog with verification steps
Cons
- Free plan unlocks only the first phase and first prompt
- No team plan yet
- Linear, Jira and ClickUp output is copied text, not a native sync
Beam vs Zalcro: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Beam or Zalcro?
Beam starts at $12/mo and Zalcro at $19/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Beam and Zalcro have a free plan?
Yes, both Beam and Zalcro have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.