The best press release distribution service gets your news in front of the journalists and outlets your story suits, with targeting by region or industry and a clear report afterwards. Free routes exist, but their reach is limited. Here are ten services in no particular order, from free portals to long-running newswires, and what Google says about links in releases.
A press release service doesn't make news newsworthy. What it does is move a release onto a wire, into newsrooms and onto partner sites, and the difference between services comes down to reach, targeting and the reporting you get back.
I've listed ten services alphabetically and in no particular order, using each service's own site, re-checked today. Three have a free route, and I've said so plainly; the rest sell releases one at a time, in bundles or by subscription. Before you write the release, have a look at my notes on planning a product launch, because the timing of the news matters as much as the wire.
Release services compared
Yes in the free plan column means the service's own site offers a free way to publish or distribute a release, with limited reach. No means distribution needs a package, even where a free account lets you sign up. None of these offers a time-limited trial.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-7 Press Release | Per-release wire service | Tiered plans from regional to national | No |
| ACCESS Newswire | Wire and IR platform | A wire plus investor relations tools | No |
| EIN Presswire | Press release distribution | Release bundles targeted by country and industry | No |
| IssueWire | Press release distribution | Startups trying free distribution first | Yes |
| Newswire | Press release distribution | Packages from starter to state level | No |
| openPR | Free press release portal | Free release publishing across sectors | Yes |
| Pressat | UK press release service | UK organisations wanting a hosted newsroom | No |
| PRLog | Free press release site | Small businesses starting with free releases | Yes |
| PRWeb | Press release distribution | A well-known online release service | No |
| Send2Press | Long-running wire service | A long-established newswire | No |
Ten services for sending out your news
24-7 Press Release
Best for: Businesses that want per-release plans ranging from regional online distribution up to a national wire, choosing the reach for each story.
ACCESS Newswire
Best for: Companies that want release distribution alongside a media database and investor relations tools, from a newswire that warns against free services in its FAQ.
EIN Presswire
Best for: Teams that want packages of one, five or fifteen releases, targeted by country and industry, with Basic, Pro+ and Corporate options.
IssueWire
Best for: Startups that want to start on a free tier with limited reach, then move to wider Tier 1 or Tier 2 distribution packages when a story warrants it.
Newswire
Best for: Brands that want per-release packages from Starter and Basic up to Feature and state-level distribution, with earned media planning alongside.
openPR
Best for: Businesses that want to publish a release free of charge on an open portal that accepts and lists news from all sectors.
Pressat
Best for: UK organisations that want pay-as-you-go, bundle or subscription options with a hosted newsroom and distribution to the service's media subscribers.
PRLog
Best for: Small businesses that want free, ad-supported release submission, with Basic, Premium and Premium2 packages for wider distribution later.
PRWeb
Best for: Businesses that want an established online distribution service owned by Cision, where the free account lets you submit but distribution needs a package.
Send2Press
Best for: Companies that want a newswire running since 1983, with a report dashboard and image and video embeds included in its service packages.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
What Google Search Central says about links in releases
Google Search Central's spam policies are blunt about one habit. Its link spam policy names links with optimised anchor text in press releases distributed on other sites as an example of link spam. Separately, its site reputation abuse policy lists wire service and press release service sites as examples that aren't considered inconsistent with that policy.
What that means for you: the wires themselves aren't the problem, and a release can still do its real job of reaching journalists and readers. Keyword-stuffed links in press releases are the problem. Link to your own name or brand and the page a reader needs, and put your effort into the story rather than the anchor text.
Wire reach versus free portals
- Free portals and free tiers: your release is published and listed, but distribution is limited. Good for practice runs and small local news.
- Per-release wires: you choose the reach story by story, from regional to national.
- Bundles and subscriptions: suit teams with regular news, and some include a hosted newsroom.
- Wires with investor tools: for companies that also handle investor relations.
Seven steps before you press send
- Write the headline a journalist would use, not the one your board likes.
- Put the news, the date and the place in the first sentence.
- Add one quote that sounds like something a real person would say.
- Keep links to your brand name and the page readers need.
- Choose the region and industry targeting that fits the story.
- Check exactly what the report will show you afterwards.
- Follow up personally with the journalists you most want to reach.
Why a release lands or sinks
- It has a real hook. New, specific and relevant to the outlet's readers.
- It's easy to quote. Journalists lift clear sentences, not jargon.
- It arrives at the right time. Not buried under a bigger story the same morning.
- Someone follows up. A personal note turns a listing into a conversation.
If the story itself feels thin, my founder story prompts can help you find the human angle journalists look for.
Do you make press release distribution services? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a release service
Decide who needs to read the news before you choose a service. A local launch or a small update can start on a free route; a funding round, a national product launch or anything investors care about deserves a wire with the reach and targeting to match. Ask every service what the report shows, because a list of partner sites isn't the same as a journalist reading your story.
And write the release for people, not search engines. Google Search Central is clear that optimised anchor links in distributed releases count as link spam, so let the story carry the release.
Frequently asked questions
Is press release distribution worth it?
It can be, if the news is real and the targeting fits. A release won't create interest on its own, so pair it with personal pitches to the journalists you care about most.
Are there free press release distribution services?
Yes. Three on this list have a free route, but free distribution is limited in reach. One newswire here openly warns against free services in its FAQ.
Do links in a press release help SEO?
Google Search Central names optimised anchor text links in distributed press releases as an example of link spam, so don't rely on them. Use plain brand links that help readers.
Should I target a release by region or industry?
Target where your readers are and where the outlets covering your sector sit. Several services here let you choose reach by region or country and by industry.
What should a press release include?
A clear headline, the news in the first sentence, a quote, a short background on the company and a named contact for journalists.
Can I just send my news to journalists myself?
Yes, and for most small businesses a short personal email to the right journalist does more than a wire alone. Plenty of people use both.
