Digital Signage Software Without Per-Screen Licence Fees

Every digital signage system has two parts: the screens on the wall and the software that decides what they show. Hardware is a one-time purchase. Software is where many buildings get caught by a cost that never ends.

How per-screen licensing works

Many signage platforms charge a monthly or annual licence for each screen, for as long as the screen exists. Individually the fee looks small. Multiply it by the number of screens and the number of years the system runs, and it can exceed what the building paid for the displays.

It also creates lock-in: if the building stops paying, the screens stop working, and moving to another platform may mean replacing players or rebuilding all the content.

The alternatives

Open-source signage platforms

There are mature open-source signage systems in which the management software (often called the CMS) can be self-hosted without per-screen licence fees. Some offer optional paid hosting or support, but the core software can be used without a recurring per-screen charge. These platforms typically support scheduling, multiple screen groups, templates and remote management.

Display-integrated players

Many commercial displays include a built-in media player and basic scheduling. For simple needs, a building may not need a separate player or platform at all, though remote management is usually more limited.

Platforms with free tiers

Some commercial platforms have free tiers, often capped at a small number of screens. They can be fine for one or two screens but usually become paid as a building grows.

What "no licence fee" doesn't mean

Someone still has to:

• Host and maintain the management software
• Keep players and software updated and secure
• Monitor screens and fix problems
• Help staff with templates and scheduling

That work is real. The difference is that it's a service you can see, measure and change providers for, not a fee for permission to use your own screens.

Questions to ask

1. Is there a per-screen licence? Monthly or annual? Does it increase?
2. What happens to the screens if we stop paying?
3. Can we export our content and templates?
4. Who hosts the management software, and where?
5. Can the players be repurposed if we change platforms?

How we approach it

We set buildings up on signage software without recurring per-screen licence fees wherever the building's needs allow, and charge one transparent monthly service for monitoring, updates and support. If a building needs a specific commercial platform for a feature it requires, we say so up front and show the licence cost in the quote.

See also media players explained and the cost factors in a signage project.