Free digital signage software almost never means free for every screen. Hosted free plans cap the number of screens, usually at one to three, and open source routes are free only on certain players or if you run your own server. Count your screens, note the hardware you already own, then pick the tool that runs on it.
Count your screens before you read anything else. With free signage software, the number of screens you want to run decides more than any feature list, because most free plans stop at one, two or three, and the step past that is where the free part ends.
The second thing to check is the screen itself. A smart TV, a Raspberry Pi, an Android box and a Windows PC all need different players, and some free routes only work on one of them.
How many screens each free signage plan runs
Hosted plans cap the screen count or tie it to a condition. Here's how the five hosted options compare, with free-plan limits as of Nov 2026.
- One screen. Yodeck's free plan covers one screen; its template library, layout editor, kiosk app and scheduling are listed on the next plan, and some media types are limited. info-beamer gives one free device on Raspberry Pi hardware only, which the vendor calls a limited offer for new accounts, and stored images and videos are billed by usage, so uploads aren't free even with a free device. Play Digital Signage gives one free screen on a condition: you publish a review of the service within a set period, or the screen is removed.
- Two screens. PiSignage is free for two player licences; a third screen needs a yearly licence, and you buy and set up the Raspberry Pi or Android TV player hardware yourself.
- Three screens. DigitalSignage.com's free edition covers up to three screens, with 1GB of cloud storage that video-heavy playlists fill fast, and it handles JPG and PNG images and MP4 video only, with basic components and static text.
Free signage you run on your own server or player
The open source routes drop the screen caps but hand you the running of it. Self-hosting means someone installs the software on a server or device you own, keeps it updated and backs it up.
Xibo's free open source player is the Windows one; its Android, LG webOS and Samsung Tizen players are perpetual licences you buy, self-hosting its CMS needs a web server, a database server and regular backups, and its cloud-hosted route is a trial rather than a free plan. Anthias, from the team behind Screenly, runs on a Raspberry Pi 2 to 5 or an x86 PC that you supply, with no cloud account or vendor support, and content stays on your own network, so managing screens at several sites is up to you. Concerto has no hosted plan on its page, so you deploy and run the server yourself; its newest version is shown as release candidate builds, so check which release you're installing.
These suit organisations with an IT person, schools and tinkerers. If nobody on your team has run a server before, a hosted free plan with a screen cap is the easier start.
The eight signage tools, in no particular order
Anthias
Best for: Tinkerers and small venues with a spare Raspberry Pi or PC who want screens with no subscriptions, cloud account or per-screen fees, per the vendor.
Concerto
Best for: Schools, campuses and community groups whose screens show content submitted by members and approved by a moderator, or pulled in from web feeds.
DigitalSignage.com
Best for: Small businesses wanting a browser design editor, weather and RSS widgets and remote screen control across a few screens on many device types.
info-beamer
Best for: Technical owners running Raspberry Pi screens who want remote device management and a custom player OS with automatic security updates, by the vendor's claim.
PiSignage
Best for: Shops and offices with Raspberry Pi or Android TV players who want playlists, split layouts, tickers and RSS feeds that keep playing offline.
Play Digital Signage
Best for: Single-screen owners using one of many supported screen types who want free templates, a phone app for updates and live human support.
Xibo
Best for: Organisations with an IT person who want a full signage CMS on their own server, driving Windows screens through the open source player.
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Yodeck
Best for: Owners starting with one screen in a reception or shop window who want cloud playlists with unlimited file storage and users, per the vendor.
Signage tools and their free screens in one table
| Tool | How free works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Anthias | Open source, self-hosted | Scheduling images, video and web pages on a Pi |
| Concerto | Open source, self-hosted | Campus and community screens fed by moderated submissions |
| DigitalSignage.com | Hosted, three free screens | A browser editor with a free player on most devices |
| info-beamer | Raspberry Pi only, one free device | One Pi screen managed remotely from the cloud |
| PiSignage | Pi and Android TV, two free screens | Playlists that keep playing when the internet drops |
| Play Digital Signage | Hosted, one free screen with a condition | One screen on almost any hardware, with live support |
| Xibo | Open source CMS, self-hosted | A self-hosted signage CMS driving Windows players |
| Yodeck | Hosted, one free screen | A single screen with plenty of storage and users |
Plain advice before you buy a single screen
If you've got one screen in a reception, waiting room or shop window, a hosted free plan with a one-screen cap is the quickest way to start, and you'll know within a week whether signage earns its place. If you plan to grow to a handful of screens, check what the step past the free cap involves before you build dozens of playlists you'd have to rebuild elsewhere.
If you've got spare Raspberry Pis and someone who enjoys setting them up, an open source player gives you screens with no cap. And if your screens need to be touch-friendly for customers to use, our guide to kiosk software for self-service screens covers that job, while our wider list of digital signage software for growing businesses includes tools without a free plan.
Screens and hardware checklist
- Write down every screen you'll use and what drives it: smart TV, Raspberry Pi, Android box or PC.
- Check the free player runs on that exact hardware before you design anything.
- Decide who updates content and from where, office, phone or home.
- Test what happens when the internet drops; some players keep playing stored files and some go blank.
- Count your media: video fills small free storage fast.
- Plan screen placement, power and a secure mount before launch day.
Do you make digital signage software with a free plan? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run digital signage on a smart TV for free?
Sometimes. It depends on whether the free plan offers a player for your TV's system. Many free routes need a separate player such as a Raspberry Pi, an Android box or a Windows PC plugged into the TV.
What hardware do I need for free digital signage?
A screen, a player device and an internet connection for updates. The player can be a Raspberry Pi, an Android box, a PC or a supported smart TV, depending on the software.
Is open source digital signage free to run?
The software can be free to use, but you'll supply the hardware, host any server it needs and handle updates and backups. That takes time and some technical skill.
Will my signage keep working if the internet goes down?
Some players store files on the device so content keeps playing offline. Others need a connection to load content, so test it before you rely on a screen in a busy spot.
Can I show live content like weather or news feeds?
Several tools here support weather widgets, RSS feeds or web pages. Check that the widget you want is on the free plan, as some are listed on higher plans.
How do I update screens in different locations?
Hosted tools let you update every screen from a browser or phone. Self-hosted tools can do the same if your server is reachable from each site, which needs some network setup.
