Digital Signage in the US — A Buyer's Guide for 2026
A practical guide to buying digital signage in the US. Hardware, software pricing in dollars, licensing, accessibility and what to check before you commit.
By the onday team · · 4 min read
This guide is for US organizations buying digital signage for the first time: restaurants, retail stores, schools, clinics, gyms and offices. It covers what to buy, what it costs and the US-specific points that general guides skip.
What you are actually buying
A working setup has three parts.
- A screen. A TV or commercial display.
- A player. A stick, box, tablet or computer that shows the content, unless the TV can do it by itself.
- Software. A cloud dashboard for uploading, scheduling and monitoring.
New to the subject? Start with what digital signage is.
Hardware: what to buy
Reuse first. A TV already on the wall is the cheapest screen you will ever buy.
Consumer or commercial? A consumer TV from any big-box or online retailer works for a screen that runs during business hours indoors. Commercial displays cost more. They are built for longer running hours and brighter spaces, and their warranties cover business use. Read the warranty: some consumer TV warranties exclude commercial settings.
Players. Fire TV sticks and Android TV or Google TV devices are inexpensive and sold everywhere. For a screen that must restart by itself after a power outage, choose Android TV in kiosk mode. Offices that standardize on Apple can use Apple TV.
Mounting. Use a mount rated for the TV's weight, anchored to studs or suitable masonry. In public spaces, keep screens and cables out of walkways.
Software pricing
Most signage software is priced per screen, per month. Published entry-tier list prices in 2026 run from about $8 to $20 for each screen. Ten screens at $10 each is $100 a month, and fifty is $500.
onday prices by account, not by screen:
| Plan | Price | Screens |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | 1 |
| Pro | $19 / month | up to 10 |
| Business | $49 / month | up to 50 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited |
At 50 screens that is $588 a year. The cost guide compares the two models in detail, and the comparison pages cover specific vendors.
When you compare quotes, ask each vendor: is the price per screen or per account, is there a minimum term, and does the tier include scheduling and user roles?
US points to check
Music licensing. Playing music in a business, including music in videos on your screens, generally requires public performance licenses from organizations such as ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, or a business music service that includes them. Silent content avoids the question.
Showing TV. Residential cable, satellite and streaming subscriptions are licensed for private homes. A business that wants live TV or streaming on a public screen needs a commercial plan from the provider. Your own signage content is not affected.
Menu labeling. Federal rules require restaurants and similar food establishments that are part of a chain of 20 or more locations to show calories on menus and menu boards. Some states and cities have their own rules. Check FDA guidance and your local health department.
Accessibility. The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to places of public accommodation. For display screens, the practical points are readable type and contrast, not relying on a screen as the only source of essential information, and making sure a wall-mounted screen does not project into a walkway where it could be a hazard. Interactive kiosks have additional requirements, so get advice if customers will touch the screen.
Student and patient privacy. Schools should keep FERPA in mind and avoid showing information from student records. Healthcare providers should never show protected health information on a waiting-room screen, including full patient names in a queue display, without checking HIPAA obligations.
Signs outside the building. Exterior digital signs and bright window displays are often regulated by city or county sign codes, and by landlords. Check before you install anything facing the street.
Time zones
A business with locations in several time zones needs schedules that fire at local time. In onday, schedules follow the time zone set for the workspace. Organizations spread across time zones can keep a separate workspace for each zone, so "lunch menu at 11:00" means 11:00 locally.
Running costs
A TV draws power every hour it is on. Two habits keep the bill down:
- Turn screens off after hours. On Android devices, onday timers can switch a screen off at closing and on before opening.
- Reduce brightness in rooms that do not need showroom levels.
Typical US setups
A coffee shop with one menu screen. Existing TV, one streaming stick, free plan. Cost: the stick.
A K–12 school. Front office, cafeteria and gym screens on existing TVs, with office staff as Editors. Pro plan.
A dental or medical office. Waiting-room screen with hours, services and health reminders. Free or Pro.
A retailer with eight stores. A window screen and an in-store screen at each: sixteen screens. Business plan, one login for the head office.
A fitness studio. Class schedules by the studio door and offers at the front desk. Pro plan.
See how schools, restaurants and cafés, retail stores and gyms use onday.
A buying checklist
- Count screens now and in two years
- Confirm which existing TVs can be reused
- Price software at both screen counts
- Check whether pricing is per screen or per account
- Test on one screen for two weeks
- Decide who will update content each week
- Check music, menu-labeling and privacy obligations
- Turn off TV power-saving timers
Start with one screen
onday is free for one screen, with no credit card. Create an account, pair a TV you already own and find out whether it fits before you spend anything. See pricing.
