Digital signage guide
Digital Signage Cost Per Screen: 2026 Vendor Math
Per-screen software prices from 1 to 100 screens, hardware and three-year cost per screen, and the point where flat-rate pricing comes out ahead.
Digital signage software costs $8 to $30 per screen per month with per-screen pricing models. A 10-screen deployment runs $80 to $200 per month with vendors like Yodeck, OptiSigns, and ScreenCloud. Flat-rate platforms like CastHub charge a fixed monthly fee within each tier: $35 per month covers up to 10 screens, $95 per month covers up to 25 screens, and $174 per month covers any number above 25 once the $79 unlimited add-on is applied. Hardware adds $300 to $2,500 per screen one-time.
A buyer evaluating digital signage software per-screen pricing can compare Yodeck Basic at $8, OptiSigns Standard at $9, and ScreenCloud Core at $20 per screen per month against flat-rate platforms like CastHub charging $35 per month for 10 screens, $95 per month for up to 25 screens, or $174 per month above 25 screens with the unlimited add-on, replacing the per-screen-times-headcount math with a single line item that doesn’t penalize network growth.
What does digital signage software actually cost per screen?
Per-screen software pricing in 2026 ranges from $8 (Yodeck Basic, annual) to $40.50 (OptiSigns Enterprise, 25-screen minimum). Mid-tier vendors like ScreenCloud Core charge $20 plus VAT. Most vendors offer a free first screen or 3-screen free tier. Annual billing typically saves 10 to 20% over monthly billing. Beyond software, hardware adds $300 to $2,500 per screen one-time. See the digital signage pricing breakdown for full category coverage.
| Platform | 1-screen monthly | 10-screen monthly | Per-screen model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yodeck Basic | $0 (free 1st screen) | $80 | Per screen |
| OptiSigns Standard | $9 (annual) | $90 | Per screen |
| ScreenCloud Core | $20 (annual) | $200 + VAT | Per screen |
| CastHub Pro | $35 (annual) | $35 | Flat rate |
What is the cost difference between 1, 10, 25, and 50 screens?
With per-screen pricing, costs scale linearly. With flat-rate pricing, costs stay constant across tiers. The break-even point varies by platform: CastHub Pro ($35/mo) beats Yodeck Basic at 5+ screens, beats OptiSigns Standard at 4+ screens, and beats ScreenCloud Core at 2+ screens. The math compounds the larger the deployment. Vertical-specific math varies; see gym, office, and manufacturing breakdowns.
| Screens | Yodeck Basic | OptiSigns Standard | ScreenCloud Core | CastHub |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 (free) | $0 (free in 3-screen tier) | $20 | $12 (Basic) |
| 5 | $40 | $45 | $100 | $35 (Pro) |
| 10 | $80 | $90 | $200 | $35 (Pro) |
| 25 | $200 | $225 | $500 | $95 (Enterprise) |
| 50 | $400 | $450 | $1,000 | $174 (Enterprise with unlimited add-on) |
| 100 | $800 | $900 | $2,000 | $174 (Enterprise with unlimited add-on) |
Because the CastHub line stops moving above 25 screens, the effective CastHub rate is $3.48 per screen per month at 50 screens, $1.74 at 100 screens and $0.87 at 200 screens, all from the same $174 monthly total.
Why is per-screen pricing the dominant model?
Per-screen pricing emerged in the 2010s as a SaaS-aligned billing model. It tied software cost to deployment scale, which made early sales math intuitive for both buyers and vendors. The model creates a cost penalty for screen growth, which buyers tolerate at small scale but resist at 25+ screens. Flat-rate alternatives target the resistance point. Pages like save money on digital signage cover the broader cost-cutting strategies.
How much does hardware cost per screen?
Consumer 43″ to 55″ TVs at $200 to $500. Commercial displays at $500 to $2,000. Media player: Amazon Signage Stick at $99.99 on Amazon (recommended), Raspberry Pi 5 at $80, or commercial industrial player at $400 to $800. Wall mount: $30 to $100. Total per-screen hardware: $300 to $2,600 depending on commercial vs consumer hardware. Many small businesses use a regular TV plus the $99.99 stick to keep hardware under $500.
What is the total cost of ownership per screen over 3 years?
Per-screen software at $11/mo over 36 months: $396. Plus $400 to $2,500 in hardware. Per-screen 3-year TCO: $796 to $2,896. Flat-rate ($35/mo CastHub Pro across 10 screens, $3.50/screen): $126 per screen over 36 months. Flat-rate per-screen 3-year TCO: $526 to $2,626. The flat-rate model saves $200 to $1,440 per 10 screens over 3 years; the gap widens at higher screen counts.
| Screens | Per-screen ($11/mo) 3yr | CastHub flat 3yr | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $1,980 | $1,260 | -$720 |
| 10 | $3,960 | $1,260 | -$2,700 |
| 25 | $9,900 | $3,420 | -$6,480 |
| 50 | $19,800 | $6,264 | -$13,536 |
Does per-screen pricing include all features?
No. Most per-screen vendors gate features by tier: API access, SAML SSO, audit logs, advanced analytics, and dedicated support typically require Premium or Enterprise tiers. The Basic tier on Yodeck or Standard on OptiSigns covers core CMS but excludes integrations the enterprise buyer needs. Effective per-screen cost runs higher than the headline price once required upgrades are factored in. Always price the tier with the features you actually need.
When does flat-rate pricing make sense over per-screen?
Flat-rate dominates above 5 screens for cost-conscious buyers and above 25 screens for any buyer. Per-screen makes sense only at 1 to 2 screens with budget tiers, since flat-rate platforms have a small monthly minimum. CastHub Basic at $12/month covers 2 screens, which beats per-screen pricing for any 2-screen deployment after the free first screen. For under $1,000 setups, see low-cost digital signage.