No need to beat around the bush — you want real digital signage prices, not just vague estimations. So if you see one more article saying ‘it depends’ or ‘it’s hard to give clear numbers,’ you’re going to drop-kick your computer out the window.
We’ll give it to you straight. 👏
The cost of a digital signage program (with all brand-new gear) could be around $296.09 per month on the low-end and up to $57,846.30 per year on the high-end. But if you already have most pre-existing equipment, and if you DIY almost everything to save a little cash, you’re looking at ~$2,000 per year.
Curious how we got those numbers? We explore all the details in the following guide. We also explain how to make the most of your digital signage investment with money-saving tips and additional resources for keeping costs low.
Digital signage prices at a glance
Here’s a quick table of common digital signage cost factors*:
* These totals include hardware, software, installation, media players, internet, onboarding, content creation, and ongoing maintenance for a single screen, plus extra costs like onboarding, cables, mounting hardware, and electricity. Does not account for pre-existing hardware, software, or unnecessary factors.
Now, let’s jump into each of these pricing factors:
Digital signage hardware
- Lowest: < $74.99 for INSIGNIA 24-inch
- Highest: > $6,475+ for LG UHD Signage 98IN
- Average: ~ $600 per screen
The digital signage display is arguably the most important (and expensive) piece of a businesses’ signage program. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be expensive. It mostly boils down to your specific use case.
For example, consumer digital displays like LCD screens are typically more cost effective and can run as low as $75 a pop. But if you want commercial displays or something with a larger screen, prepare to spend several thousand dollars or more.
TL;DR: the average screen falls around $600 for a high-end, high-quality, long-lasting display. But you can likely save more by being strategic with your funds, as you’ll see below.
Money-saving hacks for hardware
- Go for impact, not just cost. Remember: just because something’s cheap doesn’t mean it will save you in the long run. An ultra-cheap TV screen might save you money up front, but you might have to suffer through a time-consuming troubleshooting process, pay for costly maintenance, or need to purchase new displays every year. Compare that to a screen you only need to replace once every 10 years. That’s a pretty big price difference (and a pretty huge impact on your sanity).
- Do you actually need a fancy screen? You don’t necessarily need a TV for digital signage. For example, you might opt for company TV channels so you can embed digital content in company intranets. Another option might be screen mirroring — like pushing content from your phone or computer to a preexisting conference room TV.
- Black Friday deals, baybay! Stack up those coupons and settle in for the fall! When Black Friday (or Cyber Monday) rolls around in November, you can take advantage of massive savings and save hundreds on new digital signage screens.
Digital signage software
- Lowest: Free for third-party apps
- Highest: $45 per month for enterprise plans
- Average: $20 per screen per month
No matter how big (or small) you want your signage program to be, you’re going to need to purchase digital signage software. This includes a content management system (or CMS) like Fugo, which lets you design, customize, manage, and display content across one or more business locations.
Most digital signage software charges on a month-to-month basis, which means you typically pay per screen per month. Fugo, for example, starts at $20 per screen per month, and ranges up to $40 per screen per month for enterprise features.
Of course, there are a few types of cheap or free signage software. They’re just not necessarily robust or easy to use. And keep in mind you get what you pay for — most businesses find cheap signage software doesn’t connect well to the rest of their tech stack.
Money-saving hacks for digital signage software
- Read the fine print. Not every digital signage platform will be forthcoming about their fees. For this reason, be sure to review the terms and conditions to avoid any surprises at the end of the month. Don’t have time? Try running it through AI and asking it to find the highlights. Just keep in mind it’s not the same as a human brain. 😉
- Find ways to save where you can. Some digital signage software platforms let you pay annually instead of pay monthly, which can shave a few hundred dollars off your daily bill.
- Look for cost-saving measures. If you’re a startup or nonprofit, you may be able to request professional services at a lower price. You could also ask if there’s a bulk screens discount. Not only will it offer the best value for your dollars, but it’s often more cost-effective and budget-friendly for teams with multiple screens (like a free Enterprise Assurance package, for example).
Internet connection
- Lowest: $139.11 per month for DSL internet
- Highest: $1,794.31 per month for Ethernet
- Average: $359.67 per month
Pretty self-explanatory, but it’s worth repeating: if you want signage that can access the internet, you’re going to need some sort of internet connection (think WiFi, DSL, or Ethernet).
The price of an internet connection varies wildly depending on your location and ISP service. That said, you can generally expect somewhere around $360 per month for a commercial building, and around $140 or less for a residential building.
🤫 Sidenote: Depending on your setup, you can also set up digital signage that doesn’t require WiFi. We’ll explain how to do this in the section below.
Money-saving hacks for internet connection
- Set up signage that doesn’t require WiFi. That way, you can run everything from a local area without ponying up cash for an expensive internet connection. Learn more about displaying digital signage without an internet connection.
- Call and negotiate your pricing and bandwidth. Some internet service providers offer flexible deals that dramatically lower the price of your monthly internet service.
- Only pay for what you need. No, this isn’t a Liberty Mutual ad. But if you think about the type of internet connection you need, you can rightsize your plan and save money for the long haul. Need more intensive playback for things like menus or TV dashboards? An ethernet connection might serve you well. Just need a little signage for a one-off event? Your mobile hotspot might do the trick (and save you literally hundreds of dollars).
😎 Pro Tip: Three in five companies experience unplanned digital signage downtime due to technical issues — the biggest being network connectivity. So don’t skimp too much on getting a high-quality provider. Your customers will appreciate being able to see what's on screen.
Media Players
- Lowest: $19.99 for Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Highest: $744.99 for BrightSign XD1035
- Average: $260 per player
You don’t necessarily need a digital signage player, especially if you already have a smart TV. But if you’re looking to boost reliability, play specific content, or sync across multiple business locations, you’re going to want an external device to help manage everything easier.
The good news is, these players don’t have to be expensive. You’re looking at a couple of bucks for a cheap consumer-grade item. Professional-grade players typically range around $260 to $500, including if you opt for one of Fugo’s media players.
🤫 Sidenote: While an Amazon Fire TV stick is definitely the cheapest media player, it’s not necessarily the longest-lasting device (or really the best tool for the job). We’d recommend something more professional like the Amazon Signage Stick
Money-saving hacks for media players
- Use one media player for multiple TVs. Some digital media players only link to a single screen. Thankfully, this is the exception rather than the rule. Digital signage companies like Fugo offer multi-input media players that allow you to run anywhere from two to three screens from the same device. Learn more about How to Set Up a Multi-Screen Digital Signage Network.
- Consider DIY. Are you handy with tech? You might try creating a digital signage player on your own. We have a guide to the Raspberry Pi 5 that explains practically everything you should know about using it as a low-cost player. And oh yeah: prices for the RPi 5 start somewhere between $50 and $143.
- Do you actually need a player? Survey says: not always. If you have a low budget, a single location, and fairly limited content (i.e., no videos) you might be able to save some money by using your built-it TV OS.
Installation
- Lowest: Free (DIY)
- Highest: $592 per screen
- Average: $255 per screen
One in three companies say it takes 30 to 90 days to fully implement and install their digital signage solutions. It’s a critical piece of the digital signage puzzle, because if you don’t get it right, it might cost quite a bit to resolve the situation (improper mounts, anyone?).
Yes, of course, you can always attempt this on your own. But not all digital signage is DIY — and in some cases, you might need professionals to avoid damaging a more significant investment. Professional installation ranges in cost from around $200 to almost $600 depending on the screen type and signage in question.
Money-saving hacks for digital signage installation
- Install the signage yourself. This makes sense if you’re using consumer-grade TVs or already have someone on staff who can help with the technical particulars.
- Ask local installers. If installing new signage screens is outside your wheelhouse, it might make sense to connect with local professionals. You could also get in contact with your digital signage software provider and ask for recommendations (and possible discounts) for certain businesses.
- Use the TVs you already own. If you already have a TV in the lobby or even a conference room TV, you don’t need to worry about installation at all — just compatibility with your digital signage software.
Digital signage content creation
- Lowest: Free (DIY)
- Highest: $40,000 per year (on-staff graphic designer)
- Average: $12 per month
It’s pretty self-explanatory, but it must be said: you need someone to create the content you put on screen. This can be DIY from Canva, created in your signage software’s design app, or offloaded to a graphic designer (who might be a Fiverr freelancer for $5 an hour or an on-staff team member charging $25 an hour).
If your business has a lot of graphic design needs, it might not be a problem to delegate signage creation to your team. But if you’re a small and growing business working on a fairly tight budget, you might feel more comfortable with your software’s built-in design studio.
Money-saving hacks for content creation
- Use pre-made templates that are low-cost or free. Instead of creating content via graphic designers and videographers, you can use cost-effective alternatives that anyone on your team can use. Fugo’s Design Studio, for example, offers literally hundreds of free signage templates so you can create eye-catching visuals without exorbitant labor costs.
- Let your customers do the work. User-generated content (or UGC) is increasingly popular these days. For example, you might create a social media wall, take screenshots of testimonials, or use pictures sent to you by customers that are easily stored in your Google Drive.
- Let AI do the work. Fugs is rolling out an AI Beta Program that helps customers build AI-powered content and automation sequences for digital signage. If you sign up to test it out, you’ll be the first to gain access to brand-new features, including trigger-based automation, prompt-to-slide AI flows, integration builders, and more.
Maintenance costs
- Lowest: Free (DIY)
- Highest: $2,000 per screen per year
- Average: 10% to 15% of total hardware investment
As much as 20% of your digital signage installation costs will be spent on annual maintenance and software updates. So if you’re spending $1,000 on a digital signage system, prepare to shell out an extra $200 per year for one-off services or other software maintenance tasks,
You can, of course, skip regular maintenance altogether — but keep in mind it’s about maintaining quality over time. Ignoring regular maintenance could potentially shorten the life of your hardware, damage performance, create signage security risks, and possibly lead to time-consuming downtime in the future.
Average maintenance costs for digital signage can swing anywhere from $200 to $500 or more. Of course, keep in mind this depends on the size of your screen(s) — which means things like specialty displays may require speciality support (aka, extra costs).
Not sure what kinds of hands-on maintenance your digital displays might need? We wrote a guide to digital signage maintenance so you can see exactly what it takes to maintain your investment.
Money-saving hacks for digital signage maintenance
- DIY (basic) ongoing maintenance. You might be surprised just how far you can stretch your budget with a little bit of elbow grease and a good ol’ fashioned YouTube video. Wiping down screens, checking for fraying, and regularly updating your TV’s OS could help extend its lifespan and keep more money in your pocket.
- Don’t skimp on digital signage security. Seriously. If security is currently a blind spot, you might want to ask your signage provider about their security measures, like SOC2 certifications, GDPR compliance, and/or secure AWS hosting.
- Know when to delegate. Sure, you could try to fix your outdoor digital signage, but one false move might cost you a cool $1,000 bill. It might be wiser (and cheaper) to delegate complex maintenance tasks so you don’t need to worry about inadvertently causing more damage.
The hidden costs of digital signage programs
So we’ve talked about the obvious costs so far. But what about the little things that might not be so top of mind?
Good news: we gathered up a few additional signage costs below so you have a better idea of the nickels and dimes.
- Software onboarding: If you have a big team, you might need to pay for onboarding. And if you have to pay for onboarding, well, prepare for some relatively expensive fees. Some software providers offer free onboarding at certain tiers, while others require you to pay per person unless you’re at a specific size or tier. Estimated cost: ~$4,800 or lower depending on business size.
- Cables: Depending on your digital signage setup, you might need to purchase adapter cables, extra long HDMI cables, and other tools for long-range digital signage. Estimated cost: $30 to $100 depending on the type and length of cable.
- Mounting hardware: If you plan to put TV screens up on the wall, be prepared to shell out extra for the appropriate mounting technology. You might choose a traditional flat wall or tilt wall mount, or go for gold with an outdoor display, a ceiling mount, or even the hardware for video walls. But speaking of video walls…
- Video walls: So you want eye-catching visuals on a dedicated video wall. Cool! Just be advised more screens will probably cost extra. The cost increases if you want speciality features like touchscreen displays, social media wall integrations, and regular maintenance. Estimated cost: ~$20,000 for a 10 x 10 wall, plus mounting, installation, and speccing.
- Touch screens: Are they more expensive than other screens? Yes. Will they require special maintenance and hygiene prep? Almost certainly. Be sure to budget accordingly for more expensive touchscreen hardware, plus any additional setup or tools to get going (like specialty kiosks or signage software for dynamic flows). Estimated cost: ~$300 per screen.
- Electricity: Let’s assume your digital sign is a 1,000-nit 43” LCD screen that runs at 200 watts. If you run it 16 hours per day at $0.12 per kilowatt hour, you’ll end up paying $140 a year just to keep the lights on. TL;DR: if you’re running a business with five of the same digital signage screens, you’ll pay roughly $700 per year in added electricity costs. Estimated cost: $140 per screen per year.
😎 Pro Tip: Switching your digital signage screens off during non-peak hours (aka, the middle of the night or whenever your business isn’t open) can save 40% of your display’s total energy costs. In this example, that’s a savings of $56 per screen per year.
Start your digital signage program for $0 with Fugo
When it’s all said and done, digital signage isn’t always cheap. But that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive — or out of reach for growing small brands.
If done practically, thoughtfully, and with a cost-effective partner, it’s possible to build a digital signage system with positive ROI in the first 12 months of installation.
That’s one of our major goals here at Fugo: to help businesses communicate via cost-effective digital signage. We’ve made it easy to get started with user-friendly software and a $0 trial so you can confirm it’s a fit without putting added stress on your wallet.
First, sign up for a 14-day free trial. Then, start designing eye-catching visuals in our Design Studio. You’re free to connect all digital signs you currently own. And since we don’t require major credit cards up front (or any payment information for that matter) you don’t need to commit until you’re good and ready.
Sign up today for a 14-day trial and get started with Fugo 100% for free.
Frequently asked questions about digital signage prices
Q: How much does digital signage cost?
Digital signage costs range from around $296.09 per month to $57,846.30 per year depending on your setup, management, and features. The fewer screens you have, the less money you’ll have to pay. Keep in mind custom solutions with advanced features like premium dashboards may require more money or add-on costs up-front.
Q: Why is digital signage so expensive?
Digital signage setups require multiple screens, players, and cables to work properly. This means they can quickly get expensive unless you’re planning around the tech.
That said, the cost of deploying and maintaining a hundred-node digital signage network has actually decreased by 50% in the past 20 years. It’s now possible to get started with digital signage for as low as $20 per screen per month.
Learn more about how to build cheap digital signage with a cost-effective program.
Q: Is digital signage worth it?
Yes, digital signage is worth it, because it usually provides a positive return on investment (ROI) within nine to 18 months. It can increase sales by up to 50% (in some industries), boost employee engagement by 25%, and increase repeat customers in stores by up to 33%.
Q: How much does signage cost for an event?
On the high end, you’ll pay around $200 for a TV screen, $30 for cabling, $20 for digital signage software (for one screen), and around $300 for a digital media player. This comes out to a total of about $600 for one screen, plus $20 to $250 extra for more screens if needed.
On the low end, you might use a cheap digital media player like a Google TV Streamer (around ~$100), a pre-owned TV (free), and a free or low-cost production system like Google Slides.
The price drops significantly if you’re not using high-performance technology. Just know the quality might suffer if you’re not investing in digital signage-specific tools.
