Businesses are increasingly adopting digital signage to engage customers, share information, and enhance their brand. However, one of the key concerns before getting started is understanding the cost of digital signage and how it fits into your budget. This guide breaks down the essential components of digital signage costs to help you and your team make informed decisions.
Key Factors in Digital Signage Costs
The cost of digital signs depends on several factors, including the size of the digital signage system, the type of digital displays, the type of digital signage players, the software chosen for content management, and installation costs. Here’s a breakdown of these costs:
Hardware Costs: Digital Signage Displays and Media Players
The core of any digital signage solution is the hardware, which includes the digital signage display and the media players that drive the content. The overall digital signage price for hardware can be tailored to meet the needs of your business, whether you’re just starting or planning to expand your digital signage network.
Most businesses use off-the-shelf consumer-grade TV screens, which work fine for 90% of digital signage cases. Depending on size, resolution, and durability, commercial displays can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. One consideration when choosing a display is whether you want it to display 1080p HD or 4K content. Another consideration is whether your display will be outside or inside and how bright you need it to be.
Digital signage media players vary in price, but affordable options are available for all business scenarios. For small businesses that just want to display images and videos, a low-cost digital signage player can offer a cost-effective way to get started without sacrificing quality. A great small business media player option is the Raspberry Pi-based Screenly Player at $219. Businesses that need to display content that requires more processing power may need to opt for a more expensive, more powerful digital signage player. The Screenly Player Max can provide more processing power for $319. Learn more about Screenly’s digital signage players.
Software Costs: Content Management and Creation
Once the hardware is set, the next step is selecting software for content management and creation. Digital signage software solutions range from free digital signage software, like Screenly’s Anthias, to paid platforms with advanced features. Free software can be ideal for businesses needing basic features, while more robust options offer tools for remote management, scheduling, and analytics.
Screenly offers a variety of plans starting at $11 per screen per month. Users can opt for a higher-tiered plan at $25 per screen per month depending on their required features.
Content creation is another cost to consider. Whether created in-house or outsourced, quality digital signage content is essential for engaging your audience and maximizing the value of your digital signage network. Today, businesses can significantly lower the cost of high-quality content production using AI-assisted tools and user-friendly design suites like Canva.
Installation and Maintenance Costs
The installation cost of digital signage varies with the complexity of the setup. Of course, a single-screen setup is less expensive than a multi-screen digital signage network. Additionally, ongoing maintenance costs must be considered to ensure the system runs smoothly. These costs can vary depending on location and the managed service provider market in your area.
Long-Term Costs: Scaling and Expanding Your Digital Signage System
For businesses looking to expand their digital signage network in the future, it’s important to consider long-term costs. These costs include potential additions to digital displays, software upgrades, and more complex content management systems. Investing in scalable hardware and software solutions from the start can help manage these future costs effectively.
With Screenly, users can start with one screen and scale up at any time as their needs grow. Adding a screen is as simple as adding another license to your account. You will need one digital signage player per screen.
Managing Digital Signage Costs for Small Businesses
Small businesses need to be strategic in managing digital signage costs. Selecting a low-cost digital signage player and exploring free digital signage software is one way to keep expenses low while still achieving your business goals.
However, many businesses will find that they need more advanced features for their digital signage solutions. It is best to plan out your digital signage deployment needs and management workflow so that you can get your digital signage right the first time and do not have to redo the deployment. Whether you need basic displays or a more advanced digital signage network, there are options available that fit within a variety of budgets.
Getting started with digital signage
The cost of digital signage can be adjusted to suit various budgets, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. By understanding the key components—hardware and software, installation, content creation, and long-term costs—businesses can make informed decisions that support their growth.
To get started with Screenly, sign up for a free account using the link here. We do not require a credit card to get started, and you can see inside Screenly right now.
