6 Best Press Release Distribution Services 2019

Press release distribution services deliver press releases to networks of targeted media outlets seeking content to publish and give businesses a way to land press. We researched over 15 of the leading release distribution services to find the top six—including the best overall—based on cost, word count, formatting, reach, and customer service.

Top 6 Press Release Distribution Services 2019

How We Evaluated Press Release Distribution Services

People rely on press release distribution to amplify their marketing messages and reach. However, small businesses often have limited resources and don’t have extensive public relations or press release knowledge. That’s why we looked at easy-to-use press release distribution services with strong reputations, exceptional networks, and reasonable prices.

Based on the needs of small businesses, these are the criteria we used in our evaluation:

• Cost: Companies offering press release distribution services should be affordable for small to medium-sized businesses with plans available for less than $300.
• Word count: Many press release services set limits on word count, so we considered how many words are allowed in a press release and what additional words would cost. We favored services that offered enough words to include all pertinent press release information (approximately 400).
• Media outlets: We looked at the number and reputation of the media outlets each service distributes to, including blogs and news aggregators.
• Multimedia types: Some services include different types of media, such as images and embedded videos in its base price, while others charge an additional fee. We favored those that include media in the base price, but also mention those that offer it for an additional fee.
• Customer service: Support should be available should an issue arise. The best press release services provide customer service that quickly solves any problems, so we noted customer support channels for each distribution service.
• Customer reviews: For further insight into the quality of press release services and customer satisfaction, we looked at customer reviews.

Based on the criteria above, our choice for the best press release distribution service is eReleases. They offer the widest, most varied distribution for a competitive price. eReleases can get your story in the hands of qualified journalists both online and offline, and their distribution network includes high-authority companies like The Associated Press, PR Newswire network, and their own vetted network of websites and journalists.

eReleases: Best Overall Press Release Distribution Service

eReleases is the best overall press release distribution service, offering distribution to over 4,000 reputable news networks, blogs, and outlets for less than $300. It also stands out for its distribution to large and well-known media outlets. Small businesses looking for value can benefit from the wide exposure and pricing that eReleases offers.

eReleases Pricing

eReleases has three pricing plans, ranging from $299 to $499. These prices only include press release distribution. A customer may also select additional services a la carte, like immediate distribution and niche industry targeting, which cost $100 each. eReleases also offers press release writing services for an additional fee.

eReleases Tiered Features

Buzz Builder

At $299, the Buzz Builder plan includes distribution of one press release that contains 400 words or fewer to eReleases subscribers. This includes eReleases’ standard distribution list of 4,200 blogs and news sites (including Google, Yahoo, and Associated Press) and up to 75 sites that are guaranteed to post your press release. Buzz Builder also includes a service called WireWatch, which allows you to track mentions of your press release across the internet.

The Buzz Builder plan is best for businesses that want media exposure, but are working on a limited budget and want to test results of their press releases before investing in more targeting. It’s important that companies choosing the Buzz Builder plan are able to share their news concisely, as the press releases included in this plan are only 400 words long.

Newsmaker

eReleases’ Newsmaker package is priced at $399, which includes a 500-word press release and distribution of that release to the 4,200-outlet basic media network, plus 100 PR media sites, including those in the AP News Network. Additionally, users can add distribution to two industry-specific lists, curated by eReleases professionals. Finally, the Newsmaker package includes a permanent press release link for easy sharing.

Due to its expanded press release length and more targeted distribution options, Newsmaker is an ideal package for small businesses in niche industries with news likely to be covered in industry-specific publications. PR Newswire is another good choice for those looking to get local coverage in niche areas, although it is more expensive at $195 for an annual membership, plus $350 per press release.

PR Pro

The PR Pro package costs $499 and includes all of the features of the Newsmaker package, but accepts up to 600 words for your press release. In addition to a permanent live link for your press release, the PR Pro package includes basic eReleases distribution plus distribution to three industry-specific lists and posting on over 150 PR media sites. WireWatch, the press release tracking service, is also included.

eReleases’ PR Pro package is best for companies with significant marketing budgets that depend on regular news coverage in their marketing. It’s also best for those interested in promoting to both industry-specific and general news outlets, and looking to track their press release to see where it’s picked up. This can help with future targeting.

eReleases Customer Service

eReleases offers various ways to reach customer service, which include instant message or chat, email, and phone. Representatives are very responsive and able to answer basic questions in just a few minutes. If your question or issue requires some additional time, they typically deliver a response within one business day.

What eReleases Is Missing

eReleases does not allow the embedding of more than two images or one video in your press release. Also, while eReleases does offer immediate distribution (within one business day), it costs an additional $100. Finally, unlike PRWeb, eReleases does not allow you to schedule a specific time that your press release will be sent; you can only schedule the date.

What Users Think About eReleases

Most reviews of eReleases were positive. One user said that his ordering experience was pleasant and smooth. But, a few users complained that the website was glitchy when filling out the forms needed to start a press release order, and that pop-ups continue to appear on the website when you are placing an order. Read a complete review in our article on eReleases user reviews and pricing.

Where to Find eReleases

Visit eReleases online to learn about their affordable, broad distribution. From its site, you can easily create and distribute your press release to over 4,000 networks for under $300. Get started with 33% off.

Visit eReleases

Newswire: Best for Industry-leading Customer Service

Newswire is a press release distribution service that creates and distributes press releases starting at $149. It’s known for having the best customer service in the industry and offers services to help businesses create press releases. Newswire is best for businesses that need customized support and guidance offered by a stellar customer service team.

Newswire Pricing

Newswire offers several press release distribution plans ranging from $149 to $799, with one-time domestic distribution included. Pricing varies based on the number of distribution outlets included and the types of data and analytics reports included.

Newswire Tiered Features

Newswire Digital

The Newswire Digital plan costs $149 per press release. With this plan, a 500-word press release is distributed across more than 250 Newswire partner sites, as well as Google News. Images, videos, and documents can be embedded in the press release at no extra cost. It also includes support via live chat, phone, and a help desk.

This plan offers simple and broad media exposure, but no additional targeting for specific industries or geographic location. This makes it best for businesses just starting out with PR that want to increase their general media exposure and public visibility using press releases with images. For example, a hotel may use this plan to send a press release announcing the grand opening of its newly remodeled onsite restaurant with an image of its interior.

Newswire Digital Plus

The Newswire Digital Plus plan costs $399 per press release. It includes everything in the Newswire Digital plan plus additional distribution through Newswire’s broad network of media sites. This network includes more than 200 sites, such as Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News, BizJournals, major news outlets, and TV networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC local affiliates).

This plan offers businesses increased exposure and targeted lists for even wider distribution. These features make it a good fit for organizations looking for a high-level of media visibility and exposure—likely national brands that would benefit from coverage on networks with a broad reach.

Newswire State

The Newswire State plan costs $499 per press release. It includes everything in the Newswire Digital Plus plan, with the difference of targeting outlets by state. Unlike the Newswire Digital Plus plan, it also includes distribution with Associated Press and Newswire’s visibility report, giving users the ability to see where their press release was distributed and where it got press.

This plan is best for businesses that are in a competitive field and need to increase their visibility in a specific geographic area, such as franchise brick-and-mortar brands. Companies that benefit from using this plan will have a significant budget to support their marketing efforts and plan to consistently use media as part of the marketing strategies.

Newswire National

The Newswire National plan costs $799 per press release. It includes everything in the Newswire Digital Plus plan, but with top nationwide distribution across all 50 states and via Associated Press. It also includes the Newswire visibility reporting on top of the standard analytics reporting.

This plan is best for large businesses with a national audience, such as a large software as a service (SaaS) provider or a nationwide chain. Similar to the Newswire State plan, it best serves companies that have a significant marketing budget and depend on press coverage.

Newswire Customer Service

Customer service is where Newswire sets itself apart. They offer customer support from a chat box that is directly on the website, where customers will receive an almost instant response. They also have phone support and a help desk to submit support tickets during regular business hours; representatives often respond within minutes. If a customer has a question during non-business hours, they can expect to hear back within six to 12 hours.

Newswire Is Missing

Newswire doesn’t allow for much customization regarding the text within a press release, as it follows the industry standards on the form that you fill in to create a press release. Also, some users wondered if the quality control of press releases should be tighter, with suggestions for making releases more professional.

What Users Think About Newswire

Newswire is a highly regarded press release service. Users frequently comment on how its customer service is outstanding, with fast and helpful responses. While the majority of users are happy with the service, negative comments revolve around the design of the site and that it can be difficult for some to navigate, specifically when creating a press release. Read an in-depth review of Newswire on our Newswire reviews page.

PRWeb: Best for Professional Press Release Review & Editing

PRWeb is a press release distribution service that offers press release editing and distribution starting at $99 per press release. The fact that it includes professional editing before distribution is what makes it unique. It’s best for businesses with little to no experience writing press releases that need the added editorial assistance.

PRWeb Pricing

PRWeb offers four different packages that range in price from $99 and go up to $389. The higher-priced plans offer distribution to a greater number of media outlets, websites, and blogs, along with the option to target media outlets in specific industries. All plans include professional editing from PRWeb staff.

PRWeb Tiered Features

Basic

The Basic plan is PRWeb’s lowest cost plan at $99 per press release. It’s unique in that it includes features such as unlimited words, permanent placement on PRWeb, and multimedia attachments. What makes it such a good value is that it also includes a professional editing service, which can help ensure press releases are error-free. Under this plan, press releases are distributed 48 hours after being submitted.

This plan is best for businesses with press releases that are not on a short deadline—such as companies promoting a future event or product release months in advance—given its two-day turnaround time before being distributed. It’s also good for those on a limited budget looking for a low-cost way to easily distribute their press release.

Standard

The Standard plan costs $189 per press release. It includes everything from the Basic plan, such as professional editing services, unlimited words, and permanent placement on PRWeb, plus the ability to include a call-out, or quote, within your press release and additional media exposure over its syndicated network.

Since the Standard plan offers expanded media exposure and distribution but not industry targeting, it is best for businesses that want to increase their public visibility, but also need to test the results across a large audience. It’s also best for those looking to distribute content that includes multimedia support materials, as these attachments are included in the price.

Advanced

The Advanced plan costs $289 per press release. It includes everything from the Standard plan plus the ability to include hyperlinks, distribution to a specific list of industry-curated journalists and bloggers, and 24-hour turnaround time.

The Advanced plan offers both wider and more targeted distribution than the Standard Plan, which makes it the best fit for companies looking to drive clicks to their site via press coverage in a target area. It’s also a good choice for those who need quick distribution, such as those who are behind schedule and have a time-sensitive press release.

Premium

The Premium plan costs $389 per press release. It includes everything from the Advanced plan plus additional exposure and distribution of your press release to new social media audiences through Cision-sourced, industry-specific Twitter feeds. It also gives users access to up to two journalist email lists, so your press releases can go directly to the inboxes of PRWeb-curated journalists.

PRWeb’s Premium Plan is best for organizations that have large competitors and could benefit from using media coverage as a consistent part of their targeted marketing strategies. Perhaps more importantly, the Premium plan is designed for companies that have time-sensitive news and announcements that need to distribute quickly over both media outlets and social media outlets.

PRWeb Customer Service

PRWeb’s customer service is sometimes hard to reach. If you call, you will spend, on average, around 10 minutes on hold before talking to anyone. Though they have a chat box on their website, each time we attempted to use it, it canceled the chat because no customer service agents were available. Email is the best way to communicate with them and, on average, it takes about an hour to get a response via email.

What PRWeb Is Missing

PRWeb is a full-service press release creation and distribution platform, but it’s missing the ability to send press releases without having to create an account or wait for the editorial review. This can be frustrating to those who are on a tight deadline and need a very fast turnaround time.

What Users Think About PRWeb

Some users have found PRWeb to be helpful, but many of the reviews complain of long wait times for editorial reviews, not being given notice that their releases were put on hold, or discovering their releases were not sent after paying for the service. Some users have also said that it is difficult to get a refund when deadlines were missed due to editorial delays. You can read more about what users think by visiting our PRWeb reviews page.

Send2Press: Best for Reaching Local & Statewide Media Outlets

Send2Press offers both press release writing and distribution services starting at $99 per press release. Its distribution packages stand apart from the others on this list by allowing users to target specific locations instead of only national or industry-specific news sites. Send2Press is best for geographic-focused organizations that want to reach local or regional media outlets.

Send2Press Pricing

Send2Press offers several plans that target local and regional areas, starting at $99 and going up to $199 per press release. The differences between the plans are based on word counts and the size of the distribution lists.

Send2Press Tiered Features

State

Send2Press’ State plan costs $99 to send your press release directly to editors of newspapers, television stations, and radio news networks in the state you choose through email distribution. This plan also includes syndication on more than 100 websites, like Google News and Bing News. This plan includes distribution inside one U.S. state.

Unlike PRWeb and eReleases, if you only want to reach one state with your press release, you can do this with Send2Press on their most inexpensive plan. This makes it ideal for companies with locally focused, geo-centric marketing campaigns, or physical locations in a specific state.

Industry

The Industry plan costs $149 per press release. It includes all the features listed in the State plan, but also includes distribution to media in a specific region. The regional boundaries vary but are generally determined by population. This distribution plan additionally includes syndication on more than 200 media outlets like AP News and Apple News.

Since this plan offers wider distribution within a region, such as the combined region of New York and New Jersey as opposed to state-based distribution, it is best for medium-sized businesses that have expanded their reach into multiple states. It’s also best for businesses that need to cater their marketing to regional audiences, such as grocery stores in multistate areas of the U.S.

National

The National plan costs $199 per press release. It includes everything from the Industry plan, plus distribution to 6,000 national news sites and a push to the editors at AP News, both locally and nationally. This plan also includes a social media promotion package, valued at $49, which will share your news on top social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, with three to five hashtags you choose.

The National plan is best for organizations that have large marketing and public relations budgets, have the ability to service customers from around the country, and want to promote their company in both industry-specific outlets and social media outlets. The National Plan is often the final upgrade for smaller companies that have grown to include a nationwide customer base.

Send2Press Customer Service

Send2Press offers quality customer service via phone or email. While phone support offers near-immediate assistance, there is a lag time of about one day to receive a response for email support, and they do not offer support via live chat. Those looking for a press release service with very high-quality support should try Newswire.

What Send2Press Is Missing

One thing that Send2Press is missing is the ability to simply add more media outlets to your distribution by paying an additional fee. Instead of a quick add-on, you have to go through the entire purchase process again.

What Users Think About Send2Press

Most users are happy with the service and results produced by Send2Press. Some users who have experienced other services, like PR Newswire and PRWeb, claim to have gotten better service and better results with Send2Press. Read more about what users think in our article on Send2Press user reviews.

PR Distribution: Best for Guaranteed Press

PR Distribution is a press release distribution company that offers feature-rich distribution starting at $99 per press release. What sets it apart is that every plan guarantees media placement across at least 35 outlets. It’s best for businesses that have a newsworthy release and want assurance that they’ll get media placement.

PR Distribution Pricing

PR Distribution offers several packages, starting at $99 and going up to $299. The cost for each plan is based on the number of guaranteed media placements a press release receives and the number of outlets it is distributed to.

PR Distribution Tiered Features

Premium

The Premium plan costs $99 per press release. It offers distribution to national media outlets that include Google and Yahoo News. It doesn’t include top-tier news outlets, but your press release will be sent to over 250 media outlets and is guaranteed to get a minimum of 35 placements.

The Premium plan gives a user basic media exposure, which makes it the best for businesses that want to increase brand visibility but have a small or limited budget. Given the lack of a word limit, it’s also ideal for businesses that have more complex, involved, or nuanced news to share in their press releases.

Premium Pro

The Premium Pro plan costs $199 per press release. It includes all the elements of the Premium plan with the addition of distribution to their premium network of top-tier media outlets, such as ABC and Fox. It also guarantees placement in at least 100 media outlets, giving press releases a good deal of visibility.

The Premium Pro plan not only offers more distribution than the Premium plan, but also distribution across major outlets. This makes it a better choice for companies that would benefit from major media and news coverage, such as those with nationwide reach or those that touch multiple industries.

Premium Concierge

The Premium Concierge plan costs $399 per press release and includes everything in the Premium Pro plan, plus a social media blast and a guarantee of at least 200 media placements. It also includes specific media contacts that are hand-selected by the team at PR Distribution for personal outreach; unlike eReleases, the team will not just give you the contacts, but will reach out to five targeted journalists for you.

The Premium Concierge package is a good fit for companies that utilize strong and consistent media coverage in their marketing and maintain large marketing and PR budgets. It’s also ideal for those that are interested in having the ability to search for and send their press releases to specific journalists as a way to build direct relationships with various outlets.

PR Distribution Customer Service

PR Distribution allows you to email or call them to get questions answered or issues resolved. They don’t have a chat that is available on their website, like Newswire or eReleases. They take about three hours to respond to emails, and the hold time for phone calls is between three and five minutes.

What PR Distribution Is Missing

PR Distribution is missing the ability to get support through the chat box on their website, so it takes a bit longer to get questions answered than it does with eReleases or Newswire. It also doesn’t offer editorial guidance like PRWeb. Finally, unlike Send2Press and eReleases, PR Distribution doesn’t offer a press release creation form that helps you correctly format your press release; it is just a text form with free-style formatting.

What Users Think About PR Distribution

PR Distribution is a highly rated press release distribution service. Users frequently comment that they are happy with how user-friendly the platform is and that they get good results with it. Negative reviewers noted that they would like more customization capabilities and educational resources in lower-level plans. Learn more on our PRDistribution.com reviews page.

PR Newswire: Best for Industry & Geographic Targeting

PR Newswire is a longstanding press release distribution service with a vast database of contacts. It stands out for its ability to target journalists and outlets by industry, geographic area, or topic. It has an annual membership fee of $195, plus $350 or more per press release. It’s best for businesses looking to target journalists in specific industries and/or regions.

PR Newswire Tiered Features

State & Local

The State and Local package from PR Newswire offers distribution by industry, geography, or topic area. Unlike Send2Press, PR Newswire allows you to choose a specific city or state, and doesn’t restrict you to regions of the country defined arbitrarily. This plan doesn’t offer free images, like Newswire and eReleases do, however. If you would like to add an image, video, or audio, it will cost an additional $325.

Given that the PR Newswire State and Local plan offers targeted distribution for a specific geographic area, it is best for companies whose marketing campaigns are city or state-specific. For example, a business hosting a local event would benefit from the ability to target a specific location.

Regional & Top Markets

The Regional and Top Markets plan is similar to the State and Local plan, but has a slightly wider distribution; press releases can be sent to up to 13 states instead of just one. Unlike Newswire and PRWeb, this PRNewswire plan does not include images or video options. If you would like to add an image, video, or audio file to your press release, it will cost an additional $325. This plan does offer a permanent link to your press release on PR Newswire’s website.

Due to its regional focus, this plan is best for organizations looking to target by industry and location. This allows businesses to have more control over where their press release is distributed and picked up. For example, this could be ideal for a franchise food-service business that focuses on customers in a handful of contiguous states.

National

The National plan provides the most comprehensive distribution by sending your press release to over 4,500 websites, newsrooms, and blogs across the U.S. These sites will include Yahoo! News, MarketWatch, and Bloomberg News. This plan also includes a premium report that will let you know what websites have picked up your press release and give you direct links for published articles.

The National package from PR Newswire is best for companies that depend on consistent and national news coverage to drive their marketing results within a specific industry. It’s also good for large nationwide companies such as online-based services, e.g., software as a service (SaaS) platforms with big budgets that are available to users regardless of their location.

PR Newswire Customer Service

PR Newswire has good customer service with phone, online chat, and email support. Hold time on phone calls is usually less than a minute, while chats are answered almost immediately during business hours and within three hours if a user sends a message outside of regular business hours. All communication via email receives a response within 24 hours.

PR Newswire Is Missing

PR Newswire is missing the ability to add at least one image or embed any video into your press release as part of their distribution packages. PR Newswire also doesn’t allow you to send a press release without being a member. What’s more, you must sign up for membership and order press release distribution at separate times, making it more time-consuming and pricier to send a press release with PR Newswire than with Newswire or eReleases.

What Users Think About PR Newswire

Most people who have used PR Newswire don’t like that the platform for creating and sending press releases is difficult to use. Users found that the need to create a profile, sign up for a membership, then sign up to send a press release separately to be tedious. Users also mention that they don’t like that many of the 4,500 sites that press releases are distributed to are small microsites that don’t offer much exposure. Learn more on our PR Newswire reviews page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do press releases provide SEO value?

Like many things online, this answer isn’t simple. Most of the “news wire” sites, which are sites that only publish press releases on them, publish them with “no-follow links,” which make those links ineffective for search engine optimization (SEO). However, press releases still improve brand awareness, generate traffic to your website, can be searchable if published on your website with well-chosen keywords, and can gain shares on social media. In short, they provide an indirect SEO benefit.

How much does press release distribution cost?

Distributing press releases typically costs anywhere from $49 for a basic press release to over $1,000, depending on what company or service you choose to distribute your release, how long your press release is, and what media outlets you want to get the release. This price does not include actually writing your press release—only distributing to news and media outlets.

What should be included in a press release?

Press releases should include a headline, lead, and body paragraphs, a boilerplate, and contact information. This makes it easy for journalists to quickly gather your press release content and reach out for more information. To learn more, read our article on how to write a press release in 10 steps plus a free template.

Bottom Line: Best Press Release Service

Press release distribution services send out press releases to media outlets and journalists with the goal of securing media coverage. To help businesses find the best ones available, we reviewed dozens of options to land on the six best based on price, word count, formatting, and customer support.

At the top of our list is eReleases, an affordable and well-rounded option for companies looking to share news directly with journalists and on industry-specific websites. Their vetted media network and intuitive interface makes it an industry leader and a go-to for many small and medium-sized businesses. Get 10% off today.

Visit eReleases