PiSignage alternatives in 2026: when you need more than Raspberry Pi
PiSignage is one of the cheapest platforms in the category, about $1.67 per screen per month on an annual license with 2 screens free, but it runs on Raspberry Pi only. People look for alternatives when they add Android sticks, Windows PCs, Chrome OS devices or smart TVs. Mixed-hardware options: DigitalSignage.com (Raspberry Pi plus Windows, Mac, Android, Chrome OS and iPad; first 3 screens free forever, then $3 per screen), Yodeck ($8 to $16, its own Pi player plus Android and Windows), OptiSigns ($10 to $30). Staying on Pi and open source: Anthias (free, one Pi at a time) or self-hosted Xibo.
The alternatives, side by side (2026, verified prices)
| Platform | Entry rate (2026) | Free tier | Players | On-premise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalSignage.com | $3 per screen per month (mediaCLOUD Plus+) | First 3 screens free forever, ad-free, 1 GB storage | Windows, Mac, Android and Android TV, Chrome OS, Raspberry Pi, iPad, any browser | $895 one-time mediaSERVER |
| Yodeck | $8 per screen per month (Basic) | 1 screen, only while the account has exactly 1 screen; new accounts since March 2, 2026 get a 30-day trial of up to 5 screens instead | Yodeck's own Raspberry Pi player plus Android, Windows and smart-TV apps (see Yodeck's player list) | not published |
| OptiSigns | $10 per screen per month (Standard) | 3 screens, with OptiSigns branding on screen | Android, Fire TV, Windows, Chrome OS, Raspberry Pi and smart-TV apps (see OptiSigns' player list) | not published |
| Anthias (Screenly OSE) | $0 self-hosted (open source) | No cap, one Raspberry Pi each | Raspberry Pi | yes, runs on each Pi |
| Xibo | $0 self-hosted (open source); Xibo Cloud is paid | No cap, self-hosted | Windows and Linux players free; Android, webOS and Tizen players licensed | yes, the product is self-hosted |
Sources: each vendor's published pricing page, verified September 2026, in the State of Digital Signage Pricing 2026 dataset.
The yearly bill at 10, 50 and 100 screens
| Screens | DigitalSignage.com ($3) | Yodeck ($8) | OptiSigns ($10) | Anthias (Screenly OSE) | Xibo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $360 / year | $960 / year | $1,200 / year | $0 + your server / year | $0 + your server / year |
| 50 | $1,800 / year | $4,800 / year | $6,000 / year | $0 + your server / year | $0 + your server / year |
| 100 | $3,600 / year | $9,600 / year | $12,000 / year | $0 + your server / year | $0 + your server / year |
Software only, entry plan, list price, 12 months. DigitalSignage.com's first 3 screens are free, so the 10-screen row counts 7 paid screens ($252); the table shows the full-rate figure for a like-for-like comparison.
How to choose
- Decide whether you need hosting (most do) or want to run a server; that splits the list into cloud platforms and open source.
- Multiply next year's screen count by the per-screen rate of the plan with the features you need.
- Check the players against the hardware you own; a $30 to $60 Android stick or a Raspberry Pi makes any HDMI screen work with most platforms.
- Run the free tier of two finalists on a real screen for a week before migrating content.
Try it on your own screens, free
DigitalSignage.com, which publishes this guide, runs a permanent free plan: the first 3 screens are free forever (no credit card, no ads, no time limit), then from $3 per screen per month with volume pricing via a public calculator. The free SignPlayer runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and Android TV, Chrome OS, Raspberry Pi, iPad or any browser. Start free · 2026 pricing · 10-vendor pricing dataset
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to PiSignage?
For mixed hardware: DigitalSignage.com (Raspberry Pi, Windows, Mac, Android, Chrome OS, iPad; 3 screens free forever, then $3 per screen), Yodeck ($8 to $16) and OptiSigns ($10 to $30). For Raspberry Pi only and open source: Anthias (free) or self-hosted Xibo.
How much does PiSignage cost?
About $1.67 per screen per month as the monthly equivalent of its annual license, with 2 screens free, on Raspberry Pi players only, and a self-hosted server option. That is roughly $1,000 a year for 50 screens; DigitalSignage.com is about $1,800 for the same 50 screens on any hardware.
PiSignage or Anthias for Raspberry Pi signage?
Anthias is free and open source but manages one Pi at a time with no central cloud; PiSignage adds a central server and scheduling for about $1.67 per screen per month. For a handful of Pis Anthias is enough; for a fleet, PiSignage or a hosted platform such as DigitalSignage.com that also runs on Raspberry Pi.
This guide is maintained by MediaSignage Inc., the operator of DigitalSignage.com, which is one of the vendors compared. Every competitor figure is the vendor's own published rate, verified September 2026, with a source link in the pricing dataset; if a number is out of date, the dataset page carries a correction form.