Free Digital Signage Software: Complete Pricing Guide 2025 (2 Screens Free Forever)

TL;DR (Quick Overview)

PiSignage costs $0 for your first two screens. From the 3rd screen onward, each additional screen is $35 in the first year and $1.67/month from the second year onward.

Key Points

• ✅ Free forever for your first 2 screens
• 💲 Additional screens: $35 in year 1, then $1.67/month
• 📺 Works on Android TVs, Raspberry Pi, and several others (no proprietary hardware)
• 🚫 No contracts. Cancel anytime
• 🔢 Calculator & examples below for quick cost estimation

Quick Cost Examples

• 2 screens → Free forever
• 3 screens → $35 first year, then $1.67/month
• 5 screens → $105 first year, then $3.34/month
• 10 screens → $280 first year, then $13.36/month

PiSignage Pricing at a Glance

Only vendor with 2 fully functional free screens forever + $1.67/screen thereafter

Contact our team at info@pisignage.com for bulk discount when you buy 100+ screens

Ravi Bail is the founder of PiSignage, a flexible digital signage platform built for reliability and scale. With extensive experience in media delivery systems and embedded technology, he writes about practical, open, and cost-efficient ways to manage digital displays anywhere.

1. Is There Really Free Digital Signage Software?

Yes—PiSignage is the only digital signage software that offers 2 screens free forever with all professional features included (offline playback, scheduling, multi-zone layouts, API access, and unlimited users).

Unlike "free trial" offers that expire after 14-30 days, PiSignage's free plan never expires, requires no credit card, and includes the same features as paid plans.

From the 3rd screen onward, PiSignage costs just $1.67/month per screen - making it the most affordable professional digital signage software in 2025, with no contracts, no hardware lock-in, and no hidden fees.

This guide breaks down:

• Complete pricing for free and paid plans
• Total cost of ownership (TCO) vs other industry alternatives
• Industry-specific cost examples (restaurants, gyms, schools, retail)
• Hidden costs to watch for
• Step-by-step setup pricing

See full feature comparison →

2. How Much Does PiSignage Cost?

PiSignage pricing is a transparent, per-screen subscription model offering 2 free screen licenses for life, with additional screens costing $1.67/month.

Unlike most providers that charge $8–$20 per screen each month, PiSignage gives you 2 fully featured screen licenses for life — with the same updates and capabilities as our paid plan.
And because PiSignage works with any hardware - Android Smart TVs, Raspberry Pi devices, Windows or PCs, ChromeOS devices, etc. — you avoid the upfront cost of proprietary media players altogether.

This approach was designed specifically for businesses that need professional digital signage with all enterprise-level features but without enterprise-level costs.

🎥 Watch: PiSignage Pricing Explained (6 min)

In this video, we walk through how PiSignage pricing actually works — including how licenses, subscriptions, and credits function together.

• One-time $25 license per player
• Subscription: $1.67/month (1 credit = 1 month)
• Bundle offer: $35 for the first year (license + subscription)
• Credits can be shared across players and used flexibly

👉 Watch the full video below or continue reading for detailed pricing examples.

3. Why Small Businesses Choose PiSignage

PiSignage was built to solve the affordability problem without compromising on professional-grade control. It works with the hardware you already own — from Smart TVs to low-cost media players — and offers transparent, scalable pricing that grows with your business.

Traditional digital signage platforms often charge $8–$20 per screen each month, plus extra for “enterprise” features like remote management or API access.

For small businesses, that adds up quickly - a 10-screen restaurant could spend over $2,000 per year just to keep menus and promotions running.

With PiSignage, the same setup costs under $250 per year, including all features.

A local café might start with two free screens and add more only when needed.

A fitness studio could run lobby announcements and class schedules on existing Smart TVs without buying new hardware or signing contracts.

For small teams, this difference isn’t just about cost — it’s about freedom to scale on their own terms.

4. Digital Signage Software Cost Comparison: Free vs Paid Plans

Most digital signage software costs $8-$20 per screen per month, with additional charges for "premium" features like API access, multi-user management, or offline playback.

PiSignage's pricing advantage:

• 84-93% cost savings vs industry average
• No feature paywalls—free plan includes professional features
• OpEx-friendly credit system—pay only for months you use

Calculate your exact savings →

5. Complete Feature Set Available to All Users

Many digital signage providers promote “free screen” offers, but most come with strings attached.

Some restrict essential features, require a credit card to activate, or quietly convert to paid trials after a few weeks.

Others advertise “up to 10 free screens,” but those versions often include watermarks, limited storage, or missing capabilities like offline playback and remote support.

PiSignage takes a different approach.

Every account — from two free screens to large enterprise deployments — includes the same full feature set: offline playback, API access, multi-user control, and lifetime updates.

No watermarks, no time limits, no hidden conditions — just professional-grade digital signage, truly free for the first two screens.

Content Management & Scheduling

1. Multiple Playlist Scheduling: Automate content switching by time of day, weekdays vs weekends, and seasonal promotions. Perfect for restaurants automatically changing breakfast/lunch/dinner menus without manual intervention.
2. Domination Playlist: Instantly override all scheduled content and take full control of your digital signage screens.
3. Emergency Playlist Override: Instantly deploy urgent messages across all screens, overriding scheduled content. Critical for safety alerts, flash sales, or urgent announcements across entire networks.
4. Multi-Zone Layouts: Divide screens into 1-6 independent zones displaying different content simultaneously. Show menus, promotions, and announcements on the same screen using our 2-zone and 3-zone layout options.

Hardware & Platform Integration

💡 Key Considerations for Hardware Setup

• Offline Playback: Supported by PiSignage (screens won’t go blank if internet drops). Works best on Raspberry Pi or commercial displays with local storage.
• PoE (Power over Ethernet): Raspberry Pi and some commercial displays support PoE, useful for reducing cabling in enterprise setups.
• HDCP (Content Protection): Some HDMI streams (like Netflix, DRM video) won’t play due to HDCP restrictions. Use non-protected media or supported livestream sources (YouTube, RTSP, Facebook Live, etc.).

1. Android TV Support: Turn existing Android Smart TVs (Android 7.0+) into professional digital signage displays with zero additional hardware costs.
2. TV Power Management: The TV_OFF feature automatically powers displays on/off based on schedules, reducing electricity costs and extending equipment life.
3. Live Streaming Integration: Display YouTube livestreams, Facebook Live, and RTSP streams alongside regular content for enhanced audience engagement.

Android Digital Signage Pricing (Android TV & Tablets)

$0 for first 2 Android devices, $1.67/month thereafter. Works on any Android 7.0+ TV, tablet, or box—no proprietary hardware required.

Network Management & Collaboration

1. Group Management: Control multiple screens simultaneously from one dashboard. Our advanced group settings let you organize by location or content type, scaling efficiently from 2 to 1000+ screens.
2. Team Collaboration: The collaborators feature allows you to delegate account management with granular permissions, perfect for franchise operations without sharing admin credentials.
3. Content Organization: Categories functionality helps organize assets, playlists, and groups for easy management across large content libraries.

Advanced Capabilities

1. Offline Mode: Displays continue showing scheduled content even during internet outages, ensuring your screens never go blank during connectivity issues.
2. White Label Solutions: For enterprises and providers, our white label server option offers custom branding with your own domain, logo, and UI customizations.
3. Open Source Flexibility: Technical users can leverage our open source server software for complete control and custom deployments while maintaining compatibility with the broader PiSignage ecosystem.

6. What You Actually Pay: PiSignage Pricing Breakdown (With Examples)

The Free Forever Plan - 2 Screen Licenses

Your first two screens are completely free, forever. No trials, no credit cards required, no hidden fees. This plan includes:

• 2 perpetual screen licenses
• Full content management capabilities
• Template library access
• Basic support
• All core digital signage features

Perfect for businesses testing digital signage or those needing just a couple of displays.

Subscription Only Pricing ($20 for 12 credits)

Our most flexible option for growing businesses:

• 12 monthly screen credits
• Use credits as needed across multiple screens
• Perfect for seasonal businesses
• Approximately $1.67 per screen per month when fully utilized

Player License Only ($25 one-time)

For businesses with existing content management needs:

• One-time payment per screen
• Bring your own content management
• Perfect for developers or businesses with existing CMS
• No ongoing subscription fees

💳 How PiSignage Credits Work

PiSignage subscriptions are based on credits, where 1 credit = 1 screen for 1 month.
When you purchase a yearly subscription ($20), you receive 12 credits.

• Each active player consumes 1 credit per month.
• Credits are shared across players — any player can consume any available credit.
• Example:
  • 1 player + 12 credits = 12 months active
  • 2 players + 12 credits = 6 months active
• You can buy credits yearly or monthly, depending on your usage pattern.
  Ideal for seasonal businesses like schools or cafes that don’t need signage year-round.

Price Myths / Clarifications

Myth:
Some websites mention “$20 per user per month” for PiSignage.

Fact:
That is not our pricing model. PiSignage charges per-player license (with a one-time fee and annual subscription fee), not per-user/month.

👉 Always refer to our official pricing page

7. Open Source Digital Signage Pricing: Self-Hosted vs Managed

PiSignage offers both open source self-hosted and managed cloud options—giving you pricing flexibility based on your infrastructure needs.

Self-Hosted (Open Source) Costs

• Software: $0 (fully open source)
• Server hosting: $5-$50/month (your own infrastructure)
• Maintenance: Your IT team manages updates, backups, security
• Best for: Organizations with existing infrastructure, air-gapped environments

Managed Cloud Pricing

• Software: $0 for first 2 screens
• Hosting: $1.67/month per screen (managed by PiSignage)
• Maintenance: Automatic updates, backups, and support included
• Best for: Most businesses—less than a coffee per screen per month

Both options support identical features:

• Offline playback after initial sync
• Raspberry Pi and Android TV support
• Multi-zone layouts and scheduling
• API access and integrations

The managed version is priced so affordably ($1.67/month per screen) that most organizations find it virtually free to operate—without the operational overhead of self-hosting.

8. Digital Signage Pricing Examples by Industry

Restaurant Digital Menu Boards (3 screens)

A typical restaurant with 3 menu boards would pay:

• Year 1: $35 (2 free screens + 1 managed license)
• Year 2+: $20 annually for the third screen
• Hardware: Use existing TVs or $150-300 for new Android displays

This represents significant cost advantages compared to industry standard pricing of $150-300 monthly for similar setups.

Gym & Fitness Center Signage

Fitness centers typically need 4-6 screens for lobby, workout areas, and class schedules:

• 2 screens: Free forever
• Additional 4 screens: $140/year (managed licenses)
• Total annual cost: $140 vs. $2,400+ with traditional industry pricing

School & Educational Institution Displays

Schools often start with classroom and hallway displays:

• Initial 2 classrooms: Free
• 10 additional screens: $350/year
• Expandable: Add screens as budget allows without contracts

Retail Store Promotional Displays

Small retail chains benefit from our scalable pricing:

• 2 store locations: Free (1 screen each)
• 3 additional stores: $105/year
• Seasonal flexibility: Use subscription credits during peak periods

9. Total Cost of Ownership Calculator

📊 According to Samsung’s Smart Signage TCO Whitepaper, up to 70% of digital signage costs lie below the surface — in hidden factors like media player setup, power consumption, and content management.

PiSignage eliminates these layers entirely by:

• Running on existing hardware (no proprietary media players)
• Reducing energy and maintenance overhead through smart features like scheduled TV_ON/OFF, playback automation, and remote management

In effect, while Samsung found a 24–31% TCO reduction versus traditional setups by integrating media players into displays, PiSignage achieves a comparable reduction using open-source flexibility and free player licensing.

10. Migration & Exit Costs: Easy and Transparent

Risk-averse buyers often ask: “What if I need to switch or downgrade later?” With PiSignage, there are no lock-ins or hidden penalties.

• 1-Click Export: Download your playlists, media library, and schedules instantly.
• Data Portability: All content remains in standard formats (MP4, JPG, PNG, PDF), so you can reuse it anywhere.
• Player Re-Provisioning: If you downgrade or change plans, re-assigning players takes just a few clicks from the dashboard.
• No Exit Fees: Cancel or downgrade at any time — your existing content and free screen licenses remain intact.

👉 This ensures you’re never trapped. PiSignage grows with your needs, but also lets you scale down without friction.

11. Common Additional Costs in Digital Signage

Hardware Lock-in Fees

Many digital signage providers still follow the legacy two-device setup — a display plus a dedicated media player — the same architecture Samsung identified as the main cost driver in its Smart Signage TCO Whitepaper.

That study showed that the external media player alone can account for up to 30% of total system costs, not including cabling, mounts, and power draw.

With PiSignage, those costs are drastically reduced. Instead of proprietary media boxes priced at $300–$800, you can deploy each screen using a $35 Raspberry Pi — a compact, energy-efficient player proven for 24/7 operation and offline playback.

Running PiSignage directly on Android TVs remains an option for budget setups or pilot deployments.

With PiSignage, there’s no lock-in. You can run it on any Android TV, Raspberry Pi, or even existing devices. This flexibility means you don’t have to replace hardware you already own, and you avoid spending thousands upfront just to get started.

Per-User Licensing

Certain solutions charge per user managing content. With PiSignage, unlimited users can manage your displays without additional fees through our web-based dashboard.

12. Digital Signage ROI: Hidden cost savings with PiSignage

With PiSignage, the savings go beyond the low per-screen cost — they extend to the hidden layers of ownership that the Samsung Smart Signage Whitepaper quantified as up to 70% of total deployment cost.

In that study, recurring cost centers like power, installation, and maintenance collectively outweighed hardware costs several times over. PiSignage was designed specifically to flatten that curve:

• Two free player licenses permanently lower recurring software costs.
• Open hardware support (Android TV, Raspberry Pi) removes separate media player and installation expenses.
• Offline playback reduces network maintenance and content delivery overhead.

The result is a TCO reduction comparable to the 24–31%.

These factors add up to a hidden ROI: lower upfront costs, predictable scaling, and the ability to pause spend when screens aren’t in use for full months. Over the long run, this makes PiSignage not just affordable at the start, but consistently cost-effective year after year.

Hidden ROI Factors

The free licenses also eliminate several hidden costs:

• No contract termination penalties
• No forced hardware upgrades

True Cost of Expansion

When you're ready to grow beyond your 2 free forever screens, PiSignage keeps scaling costs minimal.

• Each additional screen costs only $1.67/month — less than most businesses spend on a cup of coffee.
• No hidden charges, no hardware lock-ins, and no complex contracts.
• Start small, and expand your signage network organically as your business grows.

This low barrier to entry makes PiSignage one of the most cost-effective and future-ready digital signage solutions in the market.

13. Scaling Your Digital Signage Network

Growing from 2 to 10 Screens

Most businesses start with our free plan and gradually expand. The cost progression is predictable:

Calculate your exact cost per screen

• Screens 1-2: Free forever
• Screens 3-5: $105/year (managed licenses)
• Screens 6-10: Additional $175/year
• Total for 10 screens: $280/year

14. Frequently Asked Questions About PiSignage Pricing

Pricing and Plans

1. Is there truly free digital signage?
   Yes. PiSignage offers a free forever tier that supports up to 2 screens with the full feature set — including multi-zone layouts, offline playback, scheduling, and alerts. Unlike many “free trial” offers, this plan does not expire.
   
2. Free Digital Signage with PiSignage: Are the 2 free screens truly free forever?
   Yes. Every account comes with two free player licenses that are fully featured, include all updates, and never expire. No credit card required. Whether you run just two screens or scale up to thousands, your first two screens are always free.
   
3. What’s the most affordable screen in 2025?
   PiSignage is among the lowest cost per screen solutions in 2025.
   
   - One-time license per screen (no monthly per-user fee).
   - Optional annual support & updates for long-term scaling.
   
   This structure makes it far cheaper than per-user SaaS models that advertise $8–$20/user/month
   
4. Can I switch between pricing plans?
   Absolutely. Upgrade, downgrade, or mix different license types as your needs change.
   
5. What happens if I don't renew a managed license?
   The screen continues working with basic functionality. Your content remains, but you lose premium features until renewal.
   
6. What are hidden fees?
   With PiSignage, there are no hidden fees.

• All features are included in free and paid tiers.
• No per-user costs.
• No forced hardware lock-in (you can run PiSignage on affordable Raspberry Pi or other supported players).

Other providers may charge extra for add-ons like user management, alerts, or API access — PiSignage includes these upfront

7. How much does digital signage cost per screen?
   Digital signage software typically costs $8-$20 per screen per month with industry-standard providers. PiSignage costs $0 for your first 2 screens (free forever) and just $1.67/month per additional screen - an 84-93% cost savings. There are no per-user fees, no forced hardware purchases, and no annual contracts.
   
8. Can I buy credits monthly instead of yearly?
   Yes. While most users buy annual subscriptions for convenience, you can buy credits in smaller batches — perfect for seasonal businesses like schools or retail pop-ups that don’t need displays year-round.

Hardware and Setup

1. Do I need to buy hardware from PiSignage?
   No. PiSignage works with existing Android TVs, tablets, or Raspberry Pi devices. Use what you have or buy from any retailer.
   
2. How much does hardware cost?
   Android TV sticks start around $50. Raspberry Pi setups cost approximately $100-150. Most businesses use existing smart TVs.

Comparisons and Features

1. How does PiSignage compare to free alternatives?
   Unlike limited free tiers elsewhere, our free plan includes full functionality for 2 screens with no expiration.
   
2. Can I use custom content and branding?
   Yes, all plans support custom content upload and branding. Managed licenses include advanced customization tools.

Business-Specific Questions

1. Is PiSignage suitable for outdoor displays?
   Yes, when paired with appropriate weatherproof hardware. Our software works with any Android-compatible outdoor display.
   
2. Can multiple locations share licenses?
   Each screen requires its own license, but you can manage multiple locations from a single admin dashboard.

15. Getting Started: Your Path to Affordable Digital Signage

Step 1: Assess Your Needs

Determine how many screens you need and where they'll be located. Most businesses start with 2 screens to test effectiveness before expanding.

Step 2: Choose Your Plan

• 2 screens or less: Start with our free plan
• 3-5 screens: Add managed licenses as needed
• Seasonal/variable needs: Consider subscription credits
• Custom requirements: Contact us for enterprise options

Step 3: Implementation

1. Sign up for your free account
2. Download the PiSignage player on your Android device
3. Connect your displays using our 5-minute setup guide
4. Upload content and schedule displays
5. Launch your digital signage network

Our getting started guide walks you through each step with blog tutorials, YouTube videos and support resources.

Calculate your exact cost per screen

16. Start your smart digital signage management with PiSignage today

Need help choosing the right plan or updating your invoice?
Contact our team anytime at support@pisignage.com

• For for detailed help, documentation visit our help page
• For more tutorials and insights visit our blog page

Join thousands already saving with PiSignage.