With the rising cost of digital advertising and the added hidden cost of ad fraud, businesses need to find an intelligent way to convey their message in a vivid, entertaining, and captivating manner. This is where digital signage plays a substantial role.
Digital signage, sometimes called electronic signage, is display technologies like LED walls (or video walls), projection, e-paper, and LCD monitors that vividly display fun and interactive visual content, marketing messages, or digital images.
It is primarily found in transit hubs, museums, sporting arenas, shopping malls, hotels, corporate spaces, restaurants, and schools.
Many businesses use this technology to display menus, promote deals, and provide wayfinding, messaging, marketing, and outdoor advertising.
It is a cost-effective approach to engaging your customers and getting them to do business with you. However, digital signage doesn’t just work on its own.
It is powered by software with unique features that set one solution apart from the other. It is this same uniqueness that makes one more suitable for one business than the other.
This piece will discuss factors you must consider before choosing a specific software and then review 9 cost-effective digital signage solutions, considering features and price.
Factors to consider when selecting digital signage solutions
Digital signage solutions are powerful tools that can help capture your audience's attention and get customers to engage with your business profitably. The following are some considerations to remember in your quest for a digital signage solution.
Your business needs
A digital signage software solution is an investment that should match your business needs. Hence, it is critical to ask yourself the following questions.
Does the software meet all your needs?
Is the digital signage software easy to use?
How much does it cost?
Is the software flexible enough to meet your needs now and in the future?
Does it offer enough customisation options so that you can add or remove content when needed without needing to go through a developer every time?
Type of solution
You need to consider the type of solution that is best for you. Partnering with a cloud-based digital signage solution partner means you can use your computer or smartphone to access it from anywhere in the world.
Protection and security
Another factor to consider is the protection of the components needed for a digital display to work. High-tech features like industrial screens and CMS systems are generally expensive.
Improper protection of these components puts them at risk of damage, especially when people believe they are weather-resistant. Investing in high-quality safety glass, resistant materials, and effective air cooling systems is crucial.
Furthermore, concerning the security of the software itself, unlike non-cloud-base solutions where the user is responsible for the protection of the digital signage solution it uses, a cloud-based signage software solution provider ensures the solution it provides has secure hosting options with only authorised users able to view content shown on the screens.
Cost and flexibility
Digital signage software should be cost-effective, flexible, and adaptable to business growth.
When it comes to cost, some digital signage solution providers in the market today hide their prices in the fine print of their contracts. Some companies employ certain tactics, such as locking users in on finance plans with subpar equipment and software.
This strategy is designed to trap users with the locked-in contract, which they can’t escape from, and they end up with poor service.
To avoid being in such an unfavourable situation, ensure the provider’s pricing structure is transparent. This way, you can avoid being overcharged for a package of services your company will not utilise.
Also, you need the solution to be flexible enough to meet your business’s constantly changing and growing needs, which means your digital signage requirements will evolve!
It should allow for easy addition and removal of screens and locations, ensuring businesses don’t have to worry about significant changes in the future.
Responsiveness, user-friendliness, and ease of updating
The best digital signage solution should be responsive, user-friendly, and easy to update, allowing for content addition and visual appeal across all devices.
Having a digital signage solution that is challenging to use is a no-no. The interface of the cost-effective solution you choose should be easy to use, understand, and intuitive.
In addition, it should easily integrate with existing tools you use, like Google Sheets or KPI dashboards. A user-friendly software that easily integrates with your existing device saves you time and gathers your data in one place.
Every software system requires an update from time to time. Having a responsive, easy-to-use system ensures that there will be no messy configuration difficulties when upgrading from one version of software to another.
Content customisation
Numerous content types can be displayed on your sign. Text, photos, video, and audio should all be accessible. The software you choose should allow you to easily communicate and customise content on your screens at any time and location within your venue.
This is significant because, under certain conditions, one medium may be more effective than the other. The ability to freely use or customise various content will help you maximise your digital signage investment.
Training requirement
Even though most content management systems (CMS) are intended to be at least somewhat user-friendly, you need to check if your solution requires a steep learning curve. If it does, your marketing staff and those who load and schedule the content must receive initial training.
Setup time
Some digital signage applications have a complicated installation process. More time spent on initial configuration may thwart efforts to update regularly, resulting in a poor ROI.
Setup time shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and those who aren’t tech-savvy should have no trouble using it.
Best cost-effective digital signage solutions
Now that we have discussed the factors you should consider before choosing a digital signage solution. Let's review the 9 best cost-effective digital signage solutions out there.
1. Luna Screens
Luna Screens is a high-quality, reliable, cloud-based digital signage system that can transform any screen into a powerful digital sign. You can create, upload, and schedule content and manage screens remotely from a central dashboard easily accessible from a desktop or mobile App.
You don’t have to be tech savvy to use Luna Screens. It is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even if your team comprises people without a technical background.
Luna Screens solution is designed to help you with your promotions from start to finish. For example, if you don't have content yet for your digital signs, you can easily use our customisable content templates and edit them to suit your bar, restaurant, salon, gym, or any business you are running.
Do you have multiple screens? No problem.
Luna Screens makes it easy to manage multiple screens independently, and each can show different content simultaneously.
Bring your device of choice; Luna Screens supports multiple operating systems, web browsers, Android, Google TV, Amazon FireTV, etc.
Features
Screen previews
Powerful scheduling
Customisable templates
Remote content management
Media editor
Pricing
Luna Screen offers the most cost-effective digital signage solution for any business with no hidden costs or trial periods that surprise you when you renew. Here is the pricing plan:
Free plan: $0/screen/mo
Paid plan: $7.99/screen/mo
Enterprise: Contact Luna for a more tailored solution to your needs.
Get started with Luna Screen for a dynamic digital signage solution.
2. OptiSigns
OptiSigns is a top-rated Digital Signage software that lets you turn any TV into digital signage screens. You can create, design, and schedule content and manage screens remotely from a central dashboard that is easily accessible from a desktop or mobile App.
OptiSigns integrates with 100+ apps, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Google Slides, and serves over 6,000+ companies in the United States and worldwide.
Features
Content scheduling
Multi-user access
Remote content management
Screen grouping
Media editor,
Asset management integration
Network reporting
Pricing
Standard plan: $10.00/screen/mo
Pro plan: $12.50/screen/mo
Pro-Plus plan: $15/screen/mo
Engage plan: $30/screen/mo
Enterprise plan: $45/screen/mo
3. Yodeck
Yodeck is a cloud-based digital signage platform that enables users to create digital signs swiftly to engage customers.
You can upload, schedule, or make changes to your content easily. Simply log into the platform, manage your screens, and display your digital signs from anywhere using mobile devices.
You don’t need to go to each screen, whether you run just one screen or thousands.
Features
Automatic player updates
Multi-screen support
Content management
Content scheduling
Remote display management
Visual editor
Customisable templates
Inbuilt media library
Data security
Pricing
Yodeck has a free version for single-screen usage. But if you need more, Yodeck offers three pricing tiers that scale as your business grows.
Standard plan: $7.99/screen/mo
Pro plan: $9.99/screen/mo
Enterprise plan: $12.99/screen/mo
4. Zeetaminds
Zeetaminds is a cost-effective, robust, and feature-rich digital signage software that efficiently manages thousands of digital signage displays.
Designed explicitly for DOOH, retail, and hospitals, Zeetaminds provides both cloud-based and on-premise software.
Features
Customisable templates
Multi-user access
POP reporting
Live TV integration
Auto update
Digital Menu Boards
XML/RSS
Visual editor
Pricing
A 15-day extendable to 30-day free trial is available with unlimited Displays
Business plan: $10/display (up to 50 displays)
Enterprise plan: Contact for pricing (above 50 displays)
5. REACH
REACH makes digital signage simple. With custom layouts built to match your brands, the team at REACH will help you determine your communication needs and train their users to create and publish their content.
Features
Calendar management
Campaign scheduling
Customisable branding
Multi-language
Multi-location
Multi-screen support
Customisable templates
Data security
Pricing
A 30-day free trial is available
Reach offers one basic plan at $29.99/mo
6. Play Digital Signage
Play Digital is an easy-to-use yet powerful cloud-based digital signage solution that lets businesses easily create engaging digital signage.
Even if you don’t have your own visuals or animations ready, Play Digital will provide you access to several royalty-free libraries in the cloud editor.
This is just another benefit that Play Digital Signage offers users to make creating your project as simple as possible.
Features
Drag-and-drop editor
Alerts & notifications
Auto update
Content scheduling
Customisable templates
Data security
Digital menu boards
Pricing
Offers up to 10 free trial screens with no credit card required
$18/screen/mo (The more screens and the longer payment plan, the lower the price)
7. Raydiant
Raydiant is a plug-and-play hardware and cloud-based, intuitive, enterprise-ready platform empowering organisations of all shapes and sizes to build solid, long-lasting relationships with their workers and customers by creating memorable, interactive experiences.
Users can create, manage, and scale experiences across 1 or 100,000 locations anytime, anywhere.
With an array of options, including plug-and-play digital signage, interactive kiosk solutions, video conference-enabled Virtual Agent and more, thousands of organisations can transform their spaces with Raydiant.
With its AI-driven features and centralised control, Raydiant can easily manage your digital signage displays and content.
Features
Automatic player updates
Inbuilt media library
Remote display management
Content scheduling
Multi-screen support
Video Editor
Pricing:
$59/mo (price can vary based on your business need)
8. truDigital
truDigital signage is a cloud-based platform that helps companies create, manage, and distribute electronic content to networks of digital displays that are centrally managed and controlled for targeted information, entertainment, merchandising, and advertising.
They have a fabulous display feature where users can keep some widgets stationary and rotate other media files simultaneously.
However, their complex software makes it hard for first-time users to enjoy these functionalities.
Features
Remotely content management
Content scheduling
Multi-user access
Media formats
Media editor
Hardware
Screen grouping
Asset management integration
Network reporting
Pricing:
Pricing starts at $29/screen/mo
9. Spectrio
Spectrio is a customer engagement platform that enables businesses to transform their locations into exciting destinations for customers and employees through interactive digital signage, Interactive Kiosks, Wi-Fi Marketing, Overhead Music, and more.
Using Spectrios solutions, businesses can directly connect their brand’s message to their customers.
Features
Customisable Templates
Access Controls/Permissions
Auto Update
Digital Menu Boards
XML/RSS
Visual Editor
Playlist Management
Layout & Design
Pricing
Contact Spectrio to get an accurate price for your specific business needs
You may also like: 11 Cutting-Edge Digital Signage Software Solutions for 2024 and Beyond.
Takeaway: Choose the best cost-effective digital signage solution for your business
We have presented the 9 best digital signage software yet cost-effective solutions in the software marketplace. Each solution has unique features and strengths to help you create, upload, and share digital promotional content on any screen.
However, Luna Screens stands out when it comes to cost-effectiveness, scalability, setup and ease of use capabilities, customer support, responsiveness, and customisation features.
With Luna Screens, you can seamlessly create, upload, and share content across multiple screens worldwide. Even if you lack the content to use, Luna Screens provides you with predesigned templates that you can easily edit to suit your business.
Ready to get started with the best digital signage software and turn any screen into a marketing asset?