11 Best Digital Screen Software [Features & Pricing]
Particularly in cities, we see digital screen software in use everywhere we go: in train stations, restaurants, and doctors' offices.
These digital screens display schedules, menus, and other important information.
If you're looking to create your own digital displays using your smart TV, then you'll need a digital screen platform to make it happen.
Keep reading for more information on this type of software and the best tools available.
What is digital screen software?
Digital screen software turns TV screens and kiosk tablets into live displays with announcements, service menus, schedules, and other information important for a business, venue, or event.
This technology is more commonly called digital signage software, though the term "signage" is industry lingo, and many people aren't familiar with it, hence why they call it digital screen software instead.
What are the use cases for digital screen software?
Here are some of the most common ways that digital screen tech is used by B2C and B2B businesses.
- Restaurant and cafe menus
- Breakroom announcements and inspiration
- Warehouse announcements, schedules, or processes
- Health testing next-up announcements
- Health clinics news and public safety information
- Spa and nail salon menus, special promotion announcements
- Museum and gallery announcements and general information
- Live aggregated photos for conferences, weddings, or other events
- Announcements, schedules, and site maps for events
- Train, flight, or public transportation schedules
- Church events and other announcements
What kind of hardware is required?
Most businesses will simply need to purchase a subscription to a digital screen software platform and then use that in combination with a smart TV. The digital screen software might work with just the TV's web browser, or might require you to have a Roku or Amazon Fire TV Stick, so be sure to check the hardware requirements in our list below.
If you want to enable offline play, then you might need to purchase hardware directly from the software vendor.
1. Juuno
Juuno is a digital screen software that offers a playlist-inspired curation process. Meaning, you can create different content playlists and schedule them throughout the week. A restaurant might have a lunch menu and a dinner menu, for example, while an office breakroom might have a variety of company information to cycle through during the week.
Software features:
- Can display static images such as JPGs, PDFs, and slideshows
- Can aggregate content from social media, news sites, etc.
- Pulls in designs from Canva
- Daily schedules and pre-scheduled playlists
- Media player for audio and video
- Social media integrations
Required hardware:
The only hardware you need is the screen you intend to use. This must be a device with a web browser. The vast majority of smart TVs manufactured in the past several years have a browser. Plus, you can also use a tablet if you'd rather install a smaller screen on the wall or in a kiosk, for instance.
Pricing:
Juuno costs just $20 per screen per month.
2. DoPublicity
DoPublicity is most commonly used by small restaurants, cafes, and bars because of its menu templates and low cost. It's not a good fit for aggregating content and it doesn't offer content playlists, so you should only choose it if you have just a few static displays.
Software features:
- Digital menu templates
- Accepts all common file formats
- Works without internet access
Required hardware:
DoPublicity will ship you their required media player as part of your purchase. You'll use the media player in combination with your smart TV for offline functionality.
Pricing:
For DoPublicity, you'll pay a one-time fee of $299. Keep in mind that the platform and its style are outdated, so it's only a fit for very small businesses on a budget.
3. Rise Vision
With Rise Vision, you get digital screen software, templates to make designing displays easier, and several integrations, including Instagram and Canva. The platform and pricing are designed for schools and universities in need of digital displays in their classrooms.
Software features:
- Templates for school and classroom announcements
- Weather widget
- Social media integrations
- School-specific content recommendations delivered weekly
Required hardware:
You won't need any special hardware. You can use Rise Vision with a web browser on your smart TV or with Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Pricing:
$999 per year per school, with unlimited usage within the school.
4. Spectrio
Spectrio is a more robust solution with digital display content management features that are a great fit for health clinics, airports, and retail stores. The platform extends outside of the realm of digital screen technology with overhead music, scent marketing, and interactive kiosks.
Software features:
- Content management
- Social media integrations
- RSS news feeds
- TV shows playing side-by-side with branded content
Required hardware:
You will need to purchase Spectrio's hardware at an additional cost.
Pricing:
For their digital signage solution, you'll pay $99 per month for the first screen and $30 per month for each additional screen. Their many other products are available at separate additional fees.
5. OptiSigns
OptiSigns is a good digtal screen platform for enterprise companies managing hundreds or even thousands of screens. The software offers enterprise-ready features, including single sign-on, a monitoring dashboard, and downtime alerts.
Software features:
- Images, videos, and documents
- Design tool and templates
- Offline play
- Background music
- Advanced user roles, permissions, and content locks
Required hardware:
You do not need to purchase additional hardware to use OptiSigns. It will work on any Android, Amazon, Windows, or ChromeOS device. There is also support for most Roku and Apple TV devices.
Pricing:
The Pro Plus plan costs $15 per screen per month and unlocks most features. Custom enterprise plans are available for additional security, support, and services.
6. Atmosphere TV
Like the name suggests, Atmosphere TV is a solution for entertainment. You can play soundless TV from family-friendly networks in your business locations. They also offer a digital signage solution so that you can play your own advertisements during commercial breaks in television programs. This is a great fit for bars, retail stores, dentists' offices, etc.
Software features:
- Play TV shows with or without audio
- Display your own ads to commercial breaks
- Pay for advertising in their network of locations
Required hardware:
You must use the devices that Atmosphere TV will ship to you as part of your purchase. They provide the TV devices and remotes.
Pricing:
Atmosphere TV doesn't publish their pricing online, so contact them for a custom quote.
7. Signagelive
Signagelive is an enterprise-ready platform with high costs to prove it. It offers granular user permissions and user approvals so that you can be sure that every piece of content that goes out to a digital display is on-brand.
Software features:
- Content playlists
- Layout editor
- Prescheduling
- Content approvals
- Advanced user roles
Required hardware:
You don't need to purchase additional hardware, as Signagelive will work with TV manufactured by Samsung, BrightSign, Chrome, Amazon Fire, and many other popular brands.
Pricing:
The Essential plan includes 10 standard licenses and costs $6,300 per year, while the Enterprise plan includes 50 standard licenses and costs $18,000 per year.
8. Raydiant
Raydiant offers digital screen software at a mid-tier cost. The company also separately sells technology for self-service kiosks, content management, employee engagement, and customer analytics. If you'd like to consolidate your digital experience tech stack, this could be a good fit for you.
Software features:
- Content management
- Works for large, high res screens
- Customizable templates
Required hardware:
You will need to purchase their ScreenRay device, which you can plug into your TV and connect to WiFi, ethernet, or LTE.
Pricing:
You'll pay $59 per month on their basic plan. You can also get in touch for a custom quote for their enterprise plan, which includes user permissions and enterprise-grade security.
9. Userful
Userful is a very robust platform for managing digital screens. It offers enterprise-class infrastructure management and content creation. They offer different plans and features based on how mission-critical the content deployment is.
Software features:
- Role-based access controls
- Supervisor dashboard
- Automated failover to ensure constant uptime
- Source switcher and preset switcher
- Browser-based
- Diagnostic alerts and monitoring
Required hardware:
Userful customers are encouraged to purchase the right hardware, as it is an on-premise solution, so be sure to talk with their support about your unique requirements.
Pricing:
As an enterprise platform, Userful doesn't publicly release their pricing, so you'll have to ask for a custom quote.
10. truDigital
truDigital offers digital screen software and design services for companies who need help creating attractive noticeboards or menus. If you plan on creating complex displays with many different widgets, their integrations will be of good use.
Software features:
- Content management
- Design templates
- Integrations with 300+ apps, including Twitter, RSS, Adobe PDF, and Calm
- Custom design services are available for purchase
Required hardware:
You'll need to purchase their truDigital sign player (starting at $249). It connects to the back of your smart TV. A smart TV with Google Chrome as the browser is recommended.
Pricing:
To get access to all of their integrations, you'll need to sign up for their Silver plan at $39 per screen per month.
11. NoviSign
NoviSign offers solutions for both digital signage and interactive kiosks. They also have created their own signage player app that doesn't require hardware.
Software features:
- Content widgets
- Design templates
- Design editor
- Monitoring and reporting dashboard
Required hardware:
If you download the NoviSign signage player for Chrome, Android, or Windows, then you won't need any special hardware.
Pricing:
You'll pay $26 per screen per month on the Business Plus plan and $44 per screen per month on the Premium plan.
The right digital screen software depends on your needs and your budget. Most businesses are looking for a solution that is simple, attractive, and affordable.
Looking for digital screen software that's easy to use, affordable, and works beautifully? Check out Juuno.