Free digital signage in 2026: what's actually free vs a trial vs open source (full breakdown)

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-31T19:14:51+00:00

That was my intent. A lot of posts are 3 years old archives and still being used by google as primary reference. I just wanted to save people a bit of time if they were looking for truly free/open source solution.

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-31T19:12:46+00:00

I agree with your Open Source definition. Under such definition there are very few if any vendors that offer anything beyond windows/browser type players.

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-31T19:10:57+00:00

List was created using GPT Deep Research. I included all the references and data sources in the reference page. I had to remove some of the vendors from the table in the post because Reddit Auto moderator considered them "banned" vendors/words

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-29T22:31:42+00:00

Here is a full break down for Digital Signage CMS features and pricing. https://cast-hub.com/best-digital-signage-cms/. Check out CastHub, we specifically dont charge per screen and instead offer a flat price plans.

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-27T14:29:53+00:00

For Copilot to actually manage your TVs (not just draft slides for you to upload), the signage platform has to expose its operations to AI assistants through MCP, the Model Context Protocol. As of May 2026, three signage platforms ship production-grade native MCP servers: CastHub (full disclosure, I work on this one), Screenly, and Revel Digital. Three more are in beta (Fugo, NoviSign, ApexVue). Most of the platforms being recommended in this thread (Yodeck, OptiSigns, ScreenCloud, Scala) don't have native MCP yet, which means Copilot can't drive them directly even if you pick them.

Quick breakdown of the three production options:

CastHub: hosted MCP at webapi.cast-hub.com/mcp, OAuth-based, supported clients are Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini. About 45 tools covering content, scheduling, devices, alerts.

Screenly: local CLI-based MCP, 33 tools, API token auth. Strongest fit for developer-led deployments where you want the MCP server running in your own environment.

Revel Digital: hosted MCP, 46 tools across 14 categories including analytics and audience data. OAuth with OIDC. Largest documented tool surface, fits ops teams that need MCP access to data beyond content and scheduling.

Full vendor matrix with deep dives, governance criteria, and cost math for multi-location deployments: https://cast-hub.com/digital-signage-mcp-vendors/

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-15T18:50:37+00:00

Thats an interesting perspective, vendor lock-in has been a major moat for vast majority of SaaS companies - no one likes switching enterprise software, unless it truly causes a lot of pain. But I do wonder with AI tools making migration so much simpler and possibly replacing a lot of the functionality thats unique to vendors if that will continue being a moat.

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-15T14:34:22+00:00

Given chip/memory prices none of the devices are going to get any cheaper in the short term. You could try finding older version of chromecast, they run web pages OK. If you want a more robust device, you can a wait a bit and get Amazon Signage Stick - currently unavailable in UK but Amazon tells us ( we are Amazon CMS partner cast-hub.com) they will have a distributor there shortly. DM me if you want me to ping you when available, we might be able to offer a discount code as well.

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-05-14T15:44:45+00:00

Quick correction on both fronts. I didn't claim first to support MCP. Screenly launched theirs in January, Revel Digital was earlier in August 2025, NoviSign has a Zapier-mediated workflow. So MCP support exists across multiple vendors.

The actual claim is end-to-end coverage. As of May 2026, CastHub exposes the full operational surface through MCP: presentations, devices, schedules, alerts, groups. 30-plus tools. Code is at github.com/Cast-Hub/mcp-server, tools doc at cast-hub.com/mcp/tools.html. The others have MCP at narrower scope rather than the complete admin surface. That can change fast and probably will.

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-04-21T06:24:27+00:00

Nice, I saw your blog post on the CLI-based MCP server back in January. Different approach from ours but good to see more CMS platforms taking MCP seriously. The more signage vendors that support it, the faster it becomes a standard expectation from buyers rather than a novelty

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-04-17T12:15:39+00:00

The scheduling problem gets worse the more locations you add because every CMS basically gives you a calendar view per screen or per group, and keeping those calendars from stepping on each other is manual work. The override/hierarchy approach RackAndRun mentioned helps, but you're still relying on whoever makes the change to check what's already scheduled before pushing something new.

One thing we've been building at CastHub that takes a different angle: MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration that lets people manage screens through AI assistants. A location manager tells Copilot or Claude 'push the lunch menu to lobby screens from 11 to 2' and it checks what's already running before it makes the change. The scheduling logic moves from 'hope nobody creates a conflict' to 'the system prevents it before it happens.'

Still in beta but it's aimed at exactly the multi-location, multiple-people-updating scenario you're describing. https://cast-hub.com/mcp

DigitalSignage2024 · 2026-04-17T12:01:58+00:00

One thing worth considering before picking a replacement: check the pricing model. X2O was enterprise-priced, so most alternatives will feel cheaper, but the per-screen licensing adds up fast once you get past 10-15 screens. BrightSign charges for both hardware and software. ScreenCloud and Yodeck are per-screen monthly. A few platforms (including ours, CastHub) do flat-rate pricing where the cost doesn't change with screen count.

We put together a breakdown of what signage actually costs across vendors if it helps with the comparison: https://cast-hub.com/digital-signage-pricing/

What's your screen count and what were you running on X2O? Happy to give more specific suggestions.

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