Digital signage costs you two kinds of money: a recurring amount for the software, and one-off costs for the hardware. On top of that comes your own time for creating content. With Narrow.TV you pay a subscription per screen for the software; you arrange the screen, the Android player and mounting yourself. Below you can read what to look out for in each cost item and how to estimate a budget for your own situation.
The cost items at a glance
| Cost item | Type | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Software subscription | Recurring, per screen | Number of screens and type (digital signage or menu board), possibly Combined view |
| Screen | One-off | Size, consumer TV or professional display, brightness |
| Player | One-off, sometimes not needed | Built-in Android TV, or a separate box or stick |
| Mounting and cabling | One-off | DIY or professional installation, bracket, power and network at the location |
| Electricity and internet | Recurring | Operating hours per day, screen size, existing internet connection |
| Creating content | Time | Number of slides, your own photos and video, how often you change them |
Software: what you pay Narrow.TV
Each subscription is for 1 screen. If you have three screens, you have three subscriptions. There are separate subscriptions for a digital signage screen and for a digital menu board, and with the Combined view add-on you use two or more screens together as a video wall. What each subscription costs is shown under our prices.
For that subscription you get the online dashboard with the slide editor, ready-made templates, the weather template, the media library and the Narrow.TV Player app. Everything you can do with it is described under digital signage software.
Before you pay anything, you can try it free for 30 days with 1 screen. That way you know for sure it works on your own hardware before you spend money on extra screens.
Screen: consumer TV or professional display
The screen is usually the biggest one-off expense. The price depends on size and type. General advice:
- Consumer TV: cheaper to buy and fine for a screen that is on for a few hours a day, for example in a waiting room or canteen.
- Professional display: more expensive, but built for many operating hours a day, often brighter (important in daylight or in a shop window) and suitable for portrait mounting. Also check the warranty terms for commercial use.
Bigger is not always better. A screen viewed up close, such as at a reception desk, does not need to be as large as one that has to be readable from the other side of the room. A detailed comparison is in which screen for digital signage.
Player, mounting and the hidden costs
The Narrow.TV Player is an Android app. So you need an Android device: a TV with Android TV or Google TV, an Android tablet, or an Android TV box or stick. If your smart TV already runs Google TV or Android TV, you install the app directly on the TV and need no extra device. If your TV has a different operating system, connect an Android TV box or stick via HDMI. Fire TV, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, Windows, iOS and Chromecast are not supported; bear that in mind if you already have screens on the wall.
Hardware and installation are not included in the subscription. You can mount a screen yourself with a suitable wall bracket, or have it done by an installer of your choice. Items that are often forgotten:
- Power at the location: if there is no socket where the screen needs to hang, you will need an electrician as well.
- Internet: the screen needs a network connection to fetch new content. Wi-Fi is often enough; a network cable is more stable, but has to be run to the spot.
- Cable trunking and finishing: loose cables under a screen look messy, especially in a shop or waiting room.
- Power consumption: a screen that is on all day uses more than a TV at home. The consumption is listed in the screen's specifications.
Your own time: creating and maintaining content
The item people forget most often is time. Creating your first set of slides takes the longest, especially if you want to make your own photos or videos. Ready-made templates and the weather template get you going faster. After that, maintenance is mostly a matter of regularly replacing a slide: a new promotion, a seasonal photo or updated text.
If you do not want to spend time on design, you can hire a designer for the first set. That is an extra one-off cost, but after that you edit texts and images yourself in the dashboard. Ideas for what to show can be found in tips for digital signage content.
How to estimate your own budget
Quoting a fixed total makes little sense, because every situation is different. With these steps you can make a realistic estimate yourself:
- Count your screens. How many screens do you want, and which type: digital signage or digital menu board? If you want to use screens together as a video wall, include Combined view.
- Calculate the software. Multiply the number of screens by the price per subscription. The current amounts are listed under the prices.
- Take stock of your hardware. Do you already have TVs with Android TV or Google TV? Then there are no player costs. Otherwise, allow for an Android TV box or stick per screen.
- Look at the location. Are power and internet available? Will you mount the screen yourself or have it done?
- Plan your time. Who will create the first slides, and who will keep them up to date?
A few examples of how that works out. One waiting room screen on an existing smart TV with Android TV mainly costs the subscription and a bit of time. A takeaway with three menu boards and a promotions screen needs four subscriptions and often new screens; for that, also read how much a digital menu board costs. A shop with a two-screen video wall in the window needs two subscriptions plus Combined view, and usually bright professional displays because of the daylight.
Not sure what would work for your situation? Get in touch or try it free for 30 days on a screen you already have.
Frequently asked questions
What does digital signage cost per month?
With Narrow.TV you pay a subscription per screen. The current price is listed under prices on the home page. On top of that there are one-off costs for a screen and possibly an Android device as a player.
Do I have to pay separately for the player software?
No. The Narrow.TV Player is an app from Google Play that you install on your own Android device. The subscription per screen covers the use of the dashboard and the player.
Can I try digital signage for free first?
Yes. You can try Narrow.TV free for 30 days with 1 screen. You cannot add extra screens during the trial; after that you can.
Does Narrow.TV also supply screens or installation?
No. The subscription is for the software. The screen, the Android device and mounting are not included.