The best digital signage software is the one that runs on the screens and players you already have, makes content easy to update, and lets you schedule it without fuss. Several offer a free screen or free plan to start. This page lists ten in no particular order, then explains how to choose for a shop, office or school.
A screen on the wall is only as good as what's on it. Most signage goes stale within a month because changing it means finding a USB stick, a ladder and the one person who knows the password. Good signage software fixes that by letting you update every screen from a browser, on a schedule.
Below are ten digital signage platforms in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from free single-screen plans to open source systems you can host yourself. Each description comes from the provider's own website, re-checked today. If your screens face the street, my piece on using signs to reach people passing by covers what makes a message work at a glance.
Signage platforms in a table
In the free plan column, Yes means the provider's own site describes a free plan, a free screen or free open source software, Trial only means a time-limited trial without an ongoing free version, and No means the site points you to a demo instead.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fugo | Digital signage software | Designing screens and dashboards in one studio | Trial only |
| NoviSign | Cloud signage CMS | Templates, widgets and AI content creation | Trial only |
| OptiSigns | Digital signage CMS | Free plan for up to three screens | Yes |
| Pickcel | Digital signage software | Signage across many different screen types | Trial only |
| Play Digital Signage | Cloud signage software | Free first screen with menu templates | Yes |
| Rise Vision | Signage and alerts platform | Signage plus emergency alerts for schools | No |
| ScreenCloud | Cloud signage software | Cloud signage with a content studio | Trial only |
| Screenly | Cloud signage platform | Managed cloud signage with monitoring | Trial only |
| Xibo | Open source signage CMS | Self-hosted or cloud signage you control | Yes |
| Yodeck | Digital signage software | Free single screen with ready templates | Yes |
Ten digital signage platforms
Fugo
Best for: Teams that want to design signage content inside the tool and show live dashboards, such as Power BI or Looker, on office and shop-floor screens.
NoviSign
Best for: Businesses and hospitality venues that want drag and drop templates, widgets and scheduling on many types of screens, with free setup help.
OptiSigns
Best for: Small businesses that want to start free on up to three screens with apps and playlists, then upgrade for more storage, users and screens.
Pickcel
Best for: Businesses and resellers running signage on a mix of Android, Windows, Samsung, LG and BrightSign players who want a white-label option.
Play Digital Signage
Best for: Cafes, shops and small venues that want to put up a first menu board or offer screen free using ready-made templates, then add screens.
Rise Vision
Best for: Schools, colleges and nonprofits that want digital signage, screen sharing and emergency alerts on the same displays.
ScreenCloud
Best for: Businesses that want cloud signage with a content studio, and like that annual plans include a device with the subscription.
Screenly
Best for: IT-minded teams that want managed cloud signage with scheduling, monitoring and security features, an open source option and optional players.
Xibo
Best for: Organisations with some technical skill that want to self-host an open source signage CMS, or use the vendor's cloud, with freedom over hardware.
Yodeck
Best for: Shops, offices and small venues that want to run one screen free using templates and apps, and only upgrade when they add more screens.
If your screens run on Chrome kiosks, read this
Schools and offices often run signage on managed ChromeOS devices, and there's a change coming. Chrome Enterprise and Education Help says Chrome Sign Builder will be removed from the Chrome Web Store at the end of ChromeOS M150, as support for Chrome apps in kiosk mode is phased out. The same page explains that URLs can't be scheduled in the Google Admin Console, so you'll need a web-based content management system to schedule what appears.
In plain terms: if your screens rely on that Chrome app, plan the move now rather than the week it stops working. When you look at the options below, check that each one has a player that runs on ChromeOS or in a browser, and that scheduling lives in its own web dashboard.
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Hardware first, software second
- Smart TVs: some brands run signage apps directly, so you may not need an extra box.
- Small media players: Android sticks, Raspberry Pi devices and dedicated players plug in behind a screen.
- Windows PCs and ChromeOS devices: common in offices and schools, and supported by many platforms.
- Bundled devices: some providers include a player with an annual plan, which saves sourcing your own.
Check the list of supported players before you fall for a dashboard. The nicest editor in the world is no good if it won't run on your screens.
Getting your first screen live
- Decide what each screen is for: menu, offers, wayfinding, staff updates or a live dashboard.
- Check which players and operating systems each shortlisted platform supports.
- Start a free plan or trial on one screen in a real spot, not on your desk.
- Build a simple playlist of three to five slides with large text you can read from across the room.
- Schedule different content for mornings, afternoons and closing time.
- Ask a customer or colleague what they noticed, then adjust.
For cafe and restaurant screens, the words matter as much as the design, and these prompts for writing menu copy will help you keep each board short and tempting.
Signage content that gets ignored
- Tiny text. If you can't read it from the door, nobody else can.
- Ten messages on one slide. Pick one and give it room.
- Out-of-date offers. Old content tells customers nobody's paying attention.
- No reason to look. Today's special or a live number beats a static logo.
Screens are one part of how restaurants are changing, and this look at digital changes in restaurants shows where they fit.
Do you make digital signage software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on digital signage software
One or two screens in a shop, cafe or reception? Start on a free screen or free plan and see whether you'll keep the content fresh. That habit matters more than any feature. Running screens across several sites, a campus or a factory floor? Prioritise remote monitoring, user permissions and support for the players you already own.
And keep the content simple. One message per slide, big type, high contrast, and no more than a few seconds of reading. If someone walking past can't take it in before they've gone by, it's too busy.
Related: the digital transformation page.
Frequently asked questions
What is digital signage software?
Software that lets you create, schedule and update content on screens from a web dashboard, instead of changing each screen by hand.
Is there free digital signage software?
Yes. Some providers describe a free plan or a free first screen, and some open source systems are free to use if you host them yourself.
Do I need a special player for digital signage?
Not always. Some smart TVs run signage apps directly. Otherwise a small media player, PC or ChromeOS device plugs into the screen.
What is happening to Chrome Sign Builder?
Google says it will be removed from the Chrome Web Store at the end of ChromeOS M150, so screens using it need a web-based signage system.
Can I schedule content for different times of day?
Yes. Scheduling is a core feature of signage software, so you can show breakfast offers in the morning and different content later.
How many slides should a signage playlist have?
Keep it short, around three to five slides, so people see the whole loop while they're nearby.
