E Display vs OptiSigns: Digital Signage Software Compared
This is our own comparison, so read it that way. Our pricing and hardware terms are published on this site, and every OptiSigns line tells you what to verify on their site rather than quoting a number that may already be stale.
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The short answer
E Display and OptiSigns are both cloud digital signage platforms with per-screen pricing, browser-based editing and remote device management. The practical differences are hardware and hands-on service: E Display is $8 per screen per month, quarterly or yearly, with no long-term contract. and includes a free media player with each new yearly licence, with support and installation from offices in the Chicago area and Calgary.
Who this suits
- Teams that outgrew a self-serve tier and now want one flat per-screen rate
- Buyers who would rather have the player shipped with the licence than bought separately
- Projects where an app is needed on every screen, not only on the top tier
- Operators who want a named contact instead of a ticket queue
E Display vs OptiSigns at a glance
| Criterion | E Display | OptiSigns |
|---|---|---|
| Software pricing | $8 per screen per month, quarterly or yearly, no feature tiers. | Tiered per-screen plans, where features such as advanced scheduling and data apps sit on higher tiers. Check their pricing page for current rates. |
| Media player | Media player free with each new yearly licence, $50 on quarterly. Free US and Canada shipping. | Players and licence bundles are sold separately or through resellers. Confirm on their site. |
| Supported devices | Android TV, Chrome OS, Windows and Raspberry Pi. | Android, Chrome OS, Windows, Fire TV and Raspberry Pi devices. Confirm current list on their site. |
| Templates and apps | Hundreds of free templates and 60+ built-in apps. | Large app and integration catalogue, with some apps reserved for higher plan tiers. |
| Offline playback | Yes, local cache with automatic resync. | Local caching is supported on their player builds. Confirm behaviour per device type on their site. |
| Contract | Quarterly or yearly, cancel anytime. | Monthly or annual billing per screen, with annual discounts. Check upgrade and downgrade rules mid-term. |
| Support and install | Direct support from Chicago-area and Calgary offices, installation across North America. | Online support with paid support upgrades on higher tiers. Check their current plan pages. |
| Track record | 17+ years, 1,500+ companies, 5,000+ screens. | Fast-growing self-serve vendor with a large online customer base. |
Vendor terms change without notice. Verify current details here: OptiSigns pricing (vendor site)
What OptiSigns is built for
OptiSigns is a self-serve platform with tiered per-screen plans and a large app library, sold mostly online.
If you want to sign up with a card, run a couple of screens, and never speak to anyone, a self-serve platform like OptiSigns is a comfortable place to be. Their app catalogue is broad and their onboarding is fully online.
Where E Display is the better pick
Once a project passes a handful of screens the questions change: who ships the player, who mounts the screens, and who answers at noon when a menu board goes dark. E Display is a flat $8 per screen per month with no tier jumps, a free media player on each new yearly licence, and support and installation from our Chicago-area and Calgary offices.
Software is also the smallest line in a signage budget. A display, a player, mounting and content design usually cost more than the subscription in year one, so a free player and included templates change the total more than a dollar of monthly rate does.
Tier jumps versus one flat rate
The cost question with a tiered platform is rarely the entry price. It is which tier holds the one feature you need. A data feed, a longer schedule or a specific integration can push every screen in the estate up a level, so a 20-screen site pays the higher rate 20 times over.
E Display avoids that shape entirely: $8 per screen per month, quarterly or yearly, with templates, 60+ built-in apps and scheduling included at that price. Your rate changes when your screen count changes, not when your feature list does.
Migrating from OptiSigns
Most OptiSigns estates move across in an afternoon per location. Export your media library, rebuild playlists and schedules in our editor, then pair the new players screen by screen so the old ones keep playing until you are ready to swap.
If you use app-driven zones such as weather, RSS or spreadsheet feeds, tell us which ones during scoping and we will map them to the equivalent built-in apps before you cancel anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is E Display cheaper than OptiSigns?+
E Display is a flat $8 per screen per month on quarterly or yearly billing with no feature tiers, and new yearly licences include a free media player per screen. OptiSigns prices per screen in tiers, so the answer depends on which tier gives you the features you need. Compare total first-year cost including the player, not the monthly line alone.
Will I lose apps or integrations if I move from OptiSigns?+
In most cases no. E Display ships 60+ built-in apps covering weather, news, social, spreadsheets, web pages and data feeds, and they are available on every licence rather than gated by tier. Send us your current app list and we will confirm coverage before you switch.
Can I keep the players I already bought for OptiSigns?+
Often yes. If they are Android, Chrome OS, Windows or Raspberry Pi devices they can usually be re-provisioned for E Display, and we will tell you honestly if a device is too old to be worth keeping.
Is E Display a good OptiSigns alternative?+
It is worth comparing if you want flat per-screen pricing, a media player included with new yearly licences, hundreds of free templates, and North American phone support with installation help. If your project is a single screen with no support needs, most platforms including OptiSigns will do the job.
Other comparisons
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Cheapest signage with a free player
The honest first-year math per screen, including the display, mounting and content design, not just the subscription line.
E Display vs ScreenCloud
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E Display vs Rise Vision
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Want to test it on a real screen?
We set up trial accounts manually so your own content and schedule are loaded before you decide.