Top 13 Signage Apps & How to Choose The Right Software

A signage app lets you put any type of content you want on your smart TV, from menus to event promotions. You can set up content playlists so that your menus or slideshows will automatically change according to your pre-set schedule.

Maybe you want to set up a special brunch menu that only plays on Sundays.

Or maybe you want to have Employee Appreciation Mondays, where you feature employees' fun facts and quotes.

Whatever your plan for content, you can do it with a signage app.

In this guide, we cover the top apps to try plus we show you how to choose the right one for your business or organization.

What's in this guide:

What is a signage app?
Signage app content ideas and widgets
How to choose the right signage app
Top 13 signage apps
Frequently asked questions about signage apps

What is a signage app?

A signage app allows you to continuously play content on a smart TV, tablet, or other device. The top use cases for signage apps are restaurant menus, school announcement boards, workplace news, and office updates. While most signage apps are web-based and can be used on any smart TV, there are native signage apps that work for specific brands, such as Apple TVs or Samsung TVs.

Signage app content ideas and widgets

The success of your signage app comes down to your content. In an office setting, you might want to have workplace announcements and clocks with times for all of your important geographical areas. A brewery, on the other hand, might feature their menu alongside a slideshow of upcoming live music events.

Here are some ideas for the type of content you can add to your signage app:

Weather
Clock
RSS feed (to pull in blog content)
Social media feed
Featured employees
News and announcements
Workplace procedures
Menu
Service options

How to choose the right signage app

All signage apps allow you to manage content centrally on your computer and launch it on any smart TV screen you want.

To help you choose the right platform, look for these key elements:

Wifi requirements - If your Wifi works 99% of the time, you can opt for browser-based signage, which is easier to use, more affordable, and doesn't require special hardware. If your Wifi is unreliable, you'll need special hardware for offline playback.
Device compatibility - Make sure the signage app will work on the type of smart TVs you have. Browser-based digital signage works on any smart TV with a web browser (which nearly all smart TVs have). Hardware-based digital signage will only be compatible with certain devices, so check with the software company's sales team.
Integrations - Check that the platform integrates with the content apps and widgets that matter most to you. For example, if you want to showcase user-generated content, you might want an Instagram integration.
Cost - The cost should be low enough to where you feel like you'll get much more out of it than what you're investing.
Ease of use - If you don't have an IT team on staff, make sure to choose something that is simple for nontechnical people to use.

Top 13 signage apps

Now that you know what to look for, let's explore your options. We've included a variety of signage apps to cover all use cases and business types.

1. Juuno

Juuno is an easy-to-use, browser-based signage app that works on any device.

Top features:

Works for any smart TV
Content playlists and schedules
Canva integration (for thousands of free design templates)
Social media integrations
RSS feed for pulling in blogs and news
Multimedia content

Pricing:

At $20 per screen per month, Juuno is a super affordable option.

2. EZ Plus

If you have an Apple TV, you'll enjoy this free signage app.

Top features:

Designed specifically for Apple TVs
Allows you to display Google slides
Supports PDFs and image files
Offers content schedules

Pricing:

The EZ Signs app is completely free for use. You can contact them for custom services if you need help with deployment or design.

3. OptiSigns

OptiSigns is another affordable signage app that works across industries and use cases. Keep in mind that they recommend that you use an Amazon Fire TV or Amazon Fire Stick for best results.

Top features:

100+ content templates
Data mapping
Offline play
Images, slides, and videos

Pricing:

The ProPlus plan costs $15 per month and unlocks most features, include security logging and single sign on.

4. DigitalMenu.TV

Like the name suggests, DigitalMenu.TV is a signage app dedicated to the restaurant industry. While they do have plenty of templates, the styles are a bit outdated.

Top features:

Design studio specifically for menus
Automated content scheduling
Plugins for adding weather and RSS to your signage app

Pricing:

Subscriptions are offered with custom pricing, so get in touch with their sales team for a quote.

5. DoPublicity

DoPublicity is another signage app designed exclusively for the food service industry. If you want to join their advertiser network and earn revenue by displaying ads on your menus, then consider choosing DoPublicity.

Top features:

Menu templates
Ability to earn money by displaying ads
Media player for offline play

Pricing:

You'll pay a one-time fee of $299 for lifetime access.

6. Scala

Scala is an enterprise-grade solution that is best suited towards large corporations and school districts. You'll need to purchase their media player, which will guarantee optimal performance, uptime, and offline play.

Top features:

Signage app templates
Content design studio
Content playlists and scheduling
Uptime alerts
Security logs

Pricing:

Scala only offers custom pricing, so get in touch with them for a quote.

7. OnSign TV

OnSign TV offers enterprise-grade features at a more affordable cost than most enterprise solutions.

Top features:

Animated content transitions
Drag and drop content designer
Template library
Custom font support
Multilanguage support

Pricing:

You'll pay $19.99 per screen per month for the Professional plan and $29.99 per screen per month for the Enterprise plan.

8. NoviSign

With their different pricing plans, NoviSign can work well for both small businesses and large enterprises. This signage app also allows you to create interactive touchscreen kiosks.

Top features:

Social media integrations
Weather and clock widgets
Drag and drop content design studio
Touchscreen kiosks for wayfinding, polls, and information (doesn't work for placing orders)

Pricing:

The Business Plus plan costs $29 per screen per month, while the Premium plan costs $49 per screen per month and gives you advanced reports and monitoring.

9. ScreenCloud

With pricing plans and features for both small businesses and enterprises, ScreenCloud is a solid option. This signage app is designed for office use cases, not restaurants.

Top features:

Digital employee announcement boards
Office check-ins
Signage app integrations for weather, RSS, and more
Social media widgets

Pricing:

ScreenCloud charges $20 per screen per month for the Core plan and $30 per screen per month for the Pro plan. They also offer enterprise plans with SSO and advanced security features.

10. SnapComms

SnapComms offers a signage app inside of its employee communication platform, which offers additional ways to stay in touch.

Top features:

Desktop alerts
Video alerts
Custom screensavers, wall papers, and lock screens
Employee newsletters
Employee app
App newsfeed
Emergency phone alerts

Pricing:

SnapComms' pricing is based on employees. You'll pay $9 per employee per year on the Inform plan and $14 per employee per year on the Engage plan.

11. SkyKit

SkyKit offers integrations that make it a great fit for offices that want to showcase live data dashboards to their corporate teams. SkyKit also offers office management features.

Top features:

Data dashboards
Corporate device management
Employee clock-ins
Visitor check-ins
Meeting room management
Floating desk management

Pricing:

Only custom pricing is available, so get in touch with sales for a quote.

12. truDigital

With truDigital, you get an enterprise-grade signage app and media player for reliable offline play.

Top features:

Custom design services
Data dashboards
Social media integrations

Pricing:

Self-serve subscriptions aren't available. You'll need to get in touch with sales for a custom quote.

13. Rise Vision

Rise Vision is an affordable option for schools and universities because of its unlimited, per-school pricing structure.

Top features:

Design templates
RSS feed integration
Weather and clock plugins
Support for Google and PowerPoint slides

Pricing:

You'll pay $999 per school per year, and you have unlimited use within each school.

Frequently asked questions about signage apps

Get answers to common FAQs about digital signage applications.

Does digital signage work on any smart TV?

Typically, yes. If your signage app works from the smart TV's web browser, then you can use it on any brand of smart TV. However, if the signage app is a native app, then you'll need to make sure to download an app that works with your specific device.

Do I need special hardware to use a signage app?

For the most part, no. If you're using a signage app that works in a web browser, all you need is a subscription to the software and a smart TV. But if you want offline play, you'll need to purchase a signage app that comes with media player hardware.

How much do signage apps cost?

Enterprise solutions that include offline play, uptime alerts, and security audits can cost thousands of dollars per year (or per month). But for simple signage apps, most small businesses can expect to pay around $20 - 40 per screen per month.

Looking for a simple, low cost signage app? Check out Juuno.