Digital Signage Redundancy: Avoiding Double Charges for Fallback Players – Q&A

Digital Signage Redundancy: Avoiding Double Charges for Fallback Players – Q&A

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:

  • Software licensing (each screen requires CMS access)

  • Server resources (extra bandwidth & processing for additional connections)

  • 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

  • Lifetime licenses (no recurring fees)

  • Hardware-based redundancy (no extra charge for fallback setups)

  • Remote management & failover support

2. GrowthZilla Studio

  • One-time payment model (no per-screen fees)

  • Unlimited displays after purchase

3. Yodeck

  • Free hardware player with annual subscriptions

  • 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)

  • HDMI priority switching (main player → internal backup)

  • Free fallback sources (Google Slides, local media)

Option 2: Self-Hosted Solutions

  • Open-source platforms (Screenly OSE, Xibo)

  • No per-screen fees, but requires IT maintenance

Option 3: Negotiate with Providers

  • Ask if they offer redundancy discounts (e.g., pay only for active screens)

  • Some may allow failover players at reduced rates


Q: What’s the best budget-friendly redundancy setup?

A:

  1. Primary: Cloud-based player (Rise Vision, Yodeck)

  2. Fallback: Internal display player (Samsung Tizen, BrightSign)

  3. 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.