Android digital signage that works the way your screens do

It is the use of Android-powered devices - like smart TVs, tablets, or media players - to display digital content such as menus, dashboards, ads, or announcements. With the right software, these devices can be used to schedule and manage screen content remotely, turning everyday Android hardware into signage players.

Android is flexible, widely available, and generally more cost-effective than dedicated signage platforms. It works across a wide range of devices, from HDMI sticks to pro-grade displays, giving you more hardware choice than something like BrightSign or webOS, which are tied to specific manufacturers.

However, Android devices are not purpose-built for signage - so they do not typically come with built-in tools like remote provisioning or kiosk mode. That is where the software layer matters. Fugo supports kiosk mode on Android, locking screens into signage playback & preventing tampering without needing an external MDM. For teams managing larger fleets, tools like Esper can fill in the infrastructure layer.

For most use cases, Android offers better cost-efficiency and simpler setup. Windows gives you more customization, but tends to be heavier to maintain. Unless you have a Windows-specific application or legacy dependency, Android is usually the more practical choice for signage.

Raspberry Pi is a viable low-cost option, especially for Linux-based signage setups. But Android players usually offer better video playback performance, easier app support via the Play Store, and more out-of-the-box signage compatibility. If you are not comfortable configuring Linux environments, Android is often the more straightforward choice.

Yes, as long as it runs Android TV and supports the Google Play Store. You can install signage software like Fugo directly on the TV without external hardware. Just keep in mind that some smart TVs have limited system resources and may not be ideal for heavy, always-on usage.

If your Android TV does not support the Play Store, you can sideload the Fugo Player by installing the APK directly (learn how here). We provide the APK for cases like this, but keep in mind that sideloaded setups may come with trade-offs—like limited system permissions or no access to auto-updates.

For more stable, long-term deployments, we usually recommend using an external Android signage player (like a Google TV Streamer or Android box) that supports the Play Store natively.

There's a wide range of Android digital signage TVs & players to choose from, depending on your budget and setup needs. Some of the most commonly used devices include:

• Google TV Stick (Chromecast with Google TV) – A compact, entry-level streaming stick that's easy to deploy for basic signage setups.
• MECOOL Android TV boxes – Budget friendly media players that support 4K and work well for small to mid-size networks.
• Nvidia Shield TV Pro – A higher-performance Android TV box suited for more demanding content, including multiple zones and 4K playback.
• Sony BRAVIA BZ Series – Professional grade displays with Android built in, certified for 24/7 signage use and remote monitoring.
• Philips D-Line & P-Line displays – Commercial displays running Android, designed specifically for signage and available in a wide range of sizes and brightness levels.
• Hisense commercial Android TVs – Often used in retail and hospitality environments, with reliable performance and support for Android TV or AOSP depending on the model.

If you're unsure what to choose, look for devices running Android 10 or later with at least 2 GB of RAM and access to the Google Play Store. For large or long-term deployments, commercial displays with Android SoC are usually more reliable than consumer TVs.

Yes - each screen needs its own device running your preferred signage app. In most cases, that means one Android player per display. You can manage all of them centrally from your CMS, but each needs its own hardware connection.

At minimum, you'll need:

• A screen (smart TV, tablet, commercial display, or monitor)
• An Android device that meets basic requirements
• Signage software like Fugo
• Optionally, you may want mounts, cabling, network access, or device management tools like Esper for larger rollouts.

Esper is an Android-based MDM (mobile device management) platform. It helps you provision, lock down, and monitor your signage devices at the OS level. Think of it as the tool for securing and deploying your hardware - while Fugo handles the content side.

Fugo supports a wide range of content types, from basic media files to dynamic, live data sources. You can upload videos, images, PDFs, and web links - or build your own layouts from scratch using Fugo custom slide builder, the Design Studio. It works like Canva, but for screens - letting you combine media, text, animation, and live content in a drag-and-drop interface.

You can also display:

• Dashboards from Salesforce, Power BI, Tableau, and other web-based BI tools
• Embeddable HTML widgets (e.g. stock tickers, forms, weather embeds, internal tools) - Learn More
• Live video streams, including YouTube livestreams and IPTV stream URLs
• Apps from the Fugo App Store - like Google Sheets, Walls.io, or news feeds
• Gamified feeds powered by integrations with tools like SalesScreen and OneUpSales, to celebrate wins and display real-time sales performance - Learn More

Layouts can be multi-zone (e.g. a video playing next to a scrolling dashboard) and scheduled by screen, time, or location.

Fugo offers a 14-day free trial of the full platform, with no credit card required. You can test it on any compatible Android smart TV via the Google Play Store.

After the trial, you will need a paid plan to continue using most features - but we do offer one free screen with a watermark for ongoing use if you are just experimenting or running a simple display.

Each digital signage platform has its strengths, catering to different needs and budgets. Here's a breakdown:

Yodeck is one of the most budget-friendly options on the market, making it appealing for small businesses or teams just getting started. It's good for basic playback and simple scheduling, but may feel limiting if you need more complex features like real-time dashboards or dynamic content integrations. That's where Fugo starts to pull ahead.

OptiSigns offers a wide range of templates & supports various content types, including some dashboard tools. It's a solid mid-tier option, but can feel like a generalist - versatile, but less opinionated. If you're looking for deep integration with tools like Salesforce or Power BI, or you want a signage workflow tied directly into internal ops, Fugo is often a better fit.

ScreenCloud has gone the route of building its own signage operating system - ScreenCloudO - and packaging it with its own player. It's a polished, enterprise-grade solution, but also one of the pricier options on the market. Several of its more advanced dashboard features sit behind higher-tier plans, which can make scaling more expensive.

Fugo is designed for teams who use signage to surface real-time business data - think KPIs, dashboards, or live metrics. It's especially well-suited to internal communications. Fugo's Design Studio gives you full control to create multi-zone layouts, embed apps, and connect directly to platforms like Salesforce, Power BI, and Tableau. It also supports kiosk mode, and integrates with Android MDM tools like Esper for secure, scalable deployment without locking you into proprietary hardware or OS.