Q: Do all digital signage providers charge extra for redundant fallback players?
A: Many providers charge per screen, meaning adding a backup player for redundancy could double your costs (e.g., 3 screens + 3 backups = 6 paid licenses). However, some vendors offer more flexible pricing models.
Q: Why do most providers charge per screen, even for redundancy?
A: Most SaaS-based digital signage platforms license by screen due to:
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Software licensing (each screen requires CMS access)
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Server resources (extra bandwidth & processing for additional connections)
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Support & maintenance costs
While this makes sense for active screens, charging for passive fallback players can feel unfair.
Q: Are there any providers that don’t charge extra for redundancy?
A: Yes! Some alternatives with fairer pricing:
1. Mvix
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Lifetime licenses (no recurring fees)
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Hardware-based redundancy (no extra charge for fallback setups)
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Remote management & failover support
2. GrowthZilla Studio
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One-time payment model (no per-screen fees)
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Unlimited displays after purchase
3. Yodeck
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Free hardware player with annual subscriptions
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Potentially negotiable redundancy pricing (contact support)
Q: How can I set up redundancy without paying double?
A: Try these workarounds:
Option 1: Use Built-in Display Failover (Like Your Samsung Setup)
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HDMI priority switching (main player → internal backup)
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Free fallback sources (Google Slides, local media)
Option 2: Self-Hosted Solutions
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Open-source platforms (Screenly OSE, Xibo)
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No per-screen fees, but requires IT maintenance
Option 3: Negotiate with Providers
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Ask if they offer redundancy discounts (e.g., pay only for active screens)
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Some may allow failover players at reduced rates
Q: What’s the best budget-friendly redundancy setup?
A:
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Primary: Cloud-based player (Rise Vision, Yodeck)
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Fallback: Internal display player (Samsung Tizen, BrightSign)
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Emergency backup: USB/local storage slideshow
This avoids paying for duplicate licenses while keeping content running if the main system fails.
Final Tip:
Before committing to a provider, ask about redundancy policies—some may offer custom solutions to avoid double billing.
