What does digital signage really cost?
Digital signage sounds like a major project. For a business with one to three screens it is not. The cost breaks down into four parts.
1. The screen
Indoors, an ordinary TV is often enough as long as it does not run for more than a few hours a day. Professional displays are built for continuous operation, bright shop windows or portrait mounting. They cost more but last longer in continuous use and are brighter. Many businesses already have a screen that can be reused.
2. The player
Something has to play the content. Either an Amazon Signage Stick in the HDMI port or a screen with the player built in, such as the lumafy Screen. A separate mini PC is rarely necessary for small businesses.
3. The software
This is where the biggest differences lie. Some providers charge per screen, some by feature, some charge setup fees. With lumafy, lite costs €18 and Pro €24 per screen per month, excluding VAT. That includes all templates, hosting on servers in Germany, updates, support and screen monitoring.
4. Upkeep
The item most people forget. If every change needs a designer or an agency, the screen becomes expensive or out of date. With ready-made templates that you fill in like a form, upkeep takes a few minutes a week.
An example
A café with one screen above the counter: an existing TV, a stick, lumafy lite. Running costs: €18 a month excluding VAT, plus the one-off purchase of the stick. The team maintains the menu themselves.
What to look for when comparing
- Is the price per screen or per piece of content?
- Is there a setup fee or minimum term?
- Where is the data stored, and is there a data processing agreement?
- Who helps when the screen stays black?
You can find all lumafy prices and features on the pricing page.