Digital Signage Costs in 2026 — Per-Screen vs Flat Pricing
What digital signage really costs in 2026. Hardware, software and hidden extras, with worked examples for 1, 10 and 50 screens on per-screen and flat pricing.
By the onday team · · 4 min read
The price of digital signage is confusing because it comes in two parts that behave differently. Hardware is a one-off cost that you can often avoid. Software is a monthly cost that grows, sometimes sharply, as you add screens.
This guide separates the two and works through real numbers.
The two costs
Hardware: the screen, the player and the mount. You pay once.
Software: the service that lets you manage content remotely. You pay every month for as long as the screens run.
Over three years, software is usually the larger number. That is why the pricing model matters more than the headline price.
Hardware costs
The screen. If a TV is already on the wall, the cost is zero. A new consumer TV is inexpensive and fine for opening-hours use. Commercial displays cost noticeably more. You are paying for longer rated running hours, higher brightness and a warranty that covers business use. They are worth it for a shop window in direct sun or a site that never closes.
The player. Options range from nothing at all (a smart TV's own browser) through low-cost streaming sticks to mini-PCs. Some signage vendors sell their own players. You do not need one if the software runs on ordinary devices. Our guide to turning a TV into a sign compares them.
Mounting and cabling. A wall bracket, a power socket near the screen and possibly a network cable. If you need an electrician, get that quote early.
Software: the two pricing models
Per screen, per month
This is the common model. You pay a fee for each screen, every month. Published entry-tier list prices in 2026 for three well-known platforms are:
| Platform | Entry list price | Free tier |
|---|---|---|
| Yodeck | $8 per screen / month | 1 screen |
| OptiSigns | $10 per screen / month | 3 screens, with vendor branding |
| ScreenCloud | $20 per screen / month | None |
These are list prices in US dollars, checked in 2026. Annual billing, promotions and regional pricing can change them, and vendors update prices, so confirm on each vendor's site.
Flat price per account
A few platforms charge by account and include a number of screens. onday works this way:
| Plan | Price | Screens included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | 1 |
| Pro | $19 / month | up to 10 |
| Business | $49 / month | up to 50 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited |
Worked examples
Here is what the software costs per year at those list prices.
| Screens | onday | $8 per screen | $10 per screen | $20 per screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0 to $96 | $0 to $120 | $240 |
| 10 | $228 | $960 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
| 50 | $588 | $4,800 | $6,000 | $12,000 |
Two things stand out.
At one screen, price barely matters. Several products are free or nearly free. Choose on ease of use.
At ten or more, the model dominates. Per-screen pricing scales in a straight line. Flat pricing steps up only when you cross a plan limit.
A flat plan has one catch you should know about: the step. Going from 10 screens to 11 on onday moves you from $19 to $49 a month. That is still well below per-screen pricing at that size, but it is a jump, so plan for it.
Hidden and forgotten costs
- Content creation. Someone has to make the slides. Free design tools and Google Slides cover most needs. Budget time, if not money.
- Higher tiers for basic features. Some platforms keep scheduling, user roles or certain content types for dearer plans. Check that the tier you price includes what you need.
- Proprietary players. If the software needs the vendor's own hardware, add it for every screen.
- Music licences. If your screens play music or video with sound in a public place, you probably need a licence. In the UK that is TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS. In the US, licences come from organisations such as ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Silent content avoids the question.
- Electricity. A TV running twelve hours a day uses power. Timers that switch screens off overnight help.
- Your time. A tool that takes a minute to update is cheaper than one that takes ten, whatever the invoice says.
Pounds and dollars
Most signage software is priced in US dollars, including onday. UK customers are billed in dollars and their card provider converts the charge. As a rough guide, $19 is about £15 and $49 is about £39, depending on the exchange rate on the day.
How to budget
- Count the screens you want in year one and the number you might reach in year three.
- Price the software at both numbers. The gap between pricing models grows with the second figure.
- Reuse hardware first. Buy a stick only where a TV cannot run the player itself.
- Run one screen free for a couple of weeks before you commit.
The bottom line
For a single screen, digital signage can cost nothing beyond a TV you already own. For a fleet, the pricing model decides the bill. Compare a per-screen quote against a flat one at the number of screens you expect to have, not the number you have today.
See onday pricing, or read how onday compares with Yodeck, OptiSigns and ScreenCloud.
