A press release distribution service allows you to send a press release to a large, targeted audience of journalists, social networks, bloggers, influencers, and traditional or digital media outlets. We reviewed more than 30 of the top press release distribution services to land on the top six based on price, breadth of features, and outlets.
Top 6 Press Release Distribution Services 2020
Press Release Services | Best For |
|---|---|
(Best Overall) Affordable release writing and targeted distribution across traditional and digital region-specific outlets | |
Professional industry-specific press release writing for distribution to hand-picked journalists | |
Comprehensive, real-time reporting and analytics across channels | |
Regional, state, or local press release distribution targeted by industry | |
Distribution across premium national outlets, like CBS, ABC, and Fox | |
Best for advanced audience targeting for multimedia press releases sent by mid-sized companies | |
Last updated on 05/7/2020 | |
How We Evaluated Press Release Services
A great small business press release distribution service should allow small businesses to affordably send a release to an interested audience while employing features that allow them to stand out for a greater chance of coverage. For this reason, we reviewed press release distribution services based on the price, the number of outlets, guidance features like professional press release writing services, the ability to add multimedia assets, targeting, and reporting.
The criteria we used to evaluate the best include:
- Small business budget-friendly price
- Number of outlets
- Audience targeting capabilities and options
- Maximum press release word count
- Allowed multimedia inclusions and formats
- Press release proofreading, editing, and writing services
- Press release publishing, tracking, and analytics reporting
Based on these criteria, we selected Send2Press as the best overall press release service for small businesses. Their service stands out with affordable plans starting at $89 per release for multiple high-quality distribution channels. Their Direct-to-Editor distribution, press release writing, proofreading, and editing services ensure releases are received and valued by accredited public relations (PR) professionals.
Send2Press: Best Overall Writing & Multichannel Press Release Distribution Service
With plans starting at $29, Send2Press is a press release distribution and writing service with affordable plans for multiple high-quality distribution channels, including print, AP National, and social media. For small business owners unsure of their writing skills, they offer free proofreading and editing of all releases and writing or rewriting services starting at $89. Releases are written by accredited PR professionals or working journalists who offer multiple drafts from which to choose.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Direct-to-editor delivery in all plans | No 24/7 customer service |
Included multimedia embedding in all plans | Fewer syndication sites than some competitors |
Free proofreading in all plans | No distribution outlets for their cheapest plan |
Free social media marketing in all plans | |
24-hour distribution available in all plans, 4-hour distribution available in higher-tiered plans | |
Engagement analytics | |
Highly competitive press release writing prices | |
6,500+ print and digital outlets available | |
Print, TV, radio, digital distribution |
Send2Press Pricing & Features
Send2Press offers plans ranging from $89 to $199 per distribution. The Standard Online plan includes 200 digital outlets, social media targeting, and a 500-word press release distribution. Subsequent plans offer between 800 and 6,500 outlets (including national and regional print magazines, TV, radio, and AP national or local bureau), and up to a 1,200-word press release distribution. Standard, Regional, and Distribution plans offer targeting by industry and location.
All plans include:
- Free social media campaigns
- Analytics reports with engagement metrics
- Free proofreading and AP style verification
- Press release writing services available for $199; multiple draft versions to choose from and unlimited editing
- Press release rewriting services for $89 to $160
- 800- to 1,200-word count
- Multimedia embedding
- Either regional, industry, or social media targeting available; higher plans include all three
eReleases: Best for Industry-targeted Direct-to-Journalist Distribution
Starting at $299, eReleases is a press release writing and distribution company that stands out by offering a 1.7 million-contact media database. Their editors write and distribute a press release that targets journalists by industry, then distribute it to journalists who subscribe to receiving press releases from them, thereby ensuring no press release ends up in the spam folder. It is best for businesses needing industry-targeted distribution of a press release.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
5,000+ outlets | Pricey distribution and writing services |
Print, TV, radio, digital distribution | Image of video embedding is not free; costs $150-$200 |
700,000 journalists and 1.7 million contact database in diverse industries and locations for targeting | No free proofreading |
Multimedia attachments | Limited engagement metrics to track |
Industry and state targeting | No same-day distribution |
Press release writing services available for $300 | Outdated interface |
Fast next-day distribution | |
PR Newswire distribution in all plans |
eReleases Pricing & Features
eReleases’ press release distribution plans range from $299 to $499 per distribution. All plans offer over 5,000 syndication outlets, attached images, and next-day distribution. Depending on the plan, you get distribution for releases between 400 and 600 words, distribution to between 60 and 120 sites, and between one and three targeted lists by industry and location.
All plans include:
- PR Newswire distribution
- 700,000 journalist and 1.7 million-contact database to target
- Minimum 400-word count
- Syndication to over 5,000 websites, databases, online services, TV, radio, trade publications, and subscribing journalists
- One to three targeting lists by industry and state
- Analytics reporting
- Option to attach two images
- Next-day distribution
- Guaranteed exposure on 60 to 120 sites
PRWeb: Best for Advanced Press Release Analytics & Reporting
PRWeb is a press release distribution service that stands out by offering comprehensive analytics and reporting of where your press releases are published. Reports are offered in real-time and by email. They help you prove the impact of your press release and its value to your business. As such, PRWeb is best for businesses on tightly controlled budgets that need to ensure their press release investment helps them meet business goals.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Reasonable pricing for small business budgets | Limited syndication outlets (1,200) compared to eReleases |
Permanent placement on PRWeb and PRNewswire | No regional targeting |
Industry & SEO targeting | No proofreading in basic plan |
Proofreading and editorial feedback in higher-tiered plans | Multimedia embedding only in higher-tiered plans |
Advanced real-time analytics reporting | Four-hour distribution costs $99, whereas some competitors include this for free |
Multimedia attachments and video embedding available | No press release writing services offered |
Included SEO tagging |
PRWeb Pricing & Features
PRWeb’s small business distribution plans range from $99 to $389. Basic and Standard plans offer permanent placement on PRWeb and PR Newswire’s industry-focused public relations (PR_ feeds, search engine optimization (SEO) tagging to reach the right audience, and the ability to attach multimedia assets to your release. Higher-tiered plans further offer up to two industry lists for targeting, proofreading, and editorial feedback, 1,200-site syndication, and video and image embedding.
All plans include:
- Unlimited press release word counts
- Placement on PRWeb and PR Newswire industry feeds
- Search engine optimization (SEO) tagging
- Real-time analytics reporting with advanced metrics tracking such as potential audience size, press release views, search visibility, multimedia engagement, click-through rates, traffic sources, and social media shares
- Multimedia attachments
Newswire: Best for Geographic Targeting by Industry
Starting at $149 per press release, Newswire is a press release distribution and writing service provider that stands out by allowing you to easily and extensively target your press release by state, region, or nation. You can also target your press release by industry. As such, it is best for businesses needing to reach a specified industry within a set location.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Targeting by industry, state, and nation | No proofreading or editing available in basic plan |
Included 2-tiered editing (by both an editor and senior editor) in all but basic plan | Pricey compared to small business press release distribution competitors |
Analytics reporting in all plans | Limited outlets compared to some competitors |
Multimedia embedding included in all plans | |
2,650+ outlets available in all but basic plan | |
State and national print, radio, TV, social media, and digital outlets available | |
Free social media campaigns | |
Press release writing services available for an additional fee and a 72-hour turnaround |
Newswire Pricing & Features
Newswire offers small business press release distribution plans ranging from $149 to $799 per press release. Their most basic Newswire Digital plan offers distribution to 250 daily media outlets, one industry list for targeting, analytics reporting, and multimedia embedding. Advanced plans offer over 2,650 outlets, state and social media distribution, two-tiered editorial process, and additional analytics reports.
All plans include:
- 500-word press release distribution
- 250 daily-media outlets
- Targeting by industry
- Engagement analytics
- Reports of where your press release was published
- Multimedia attachments
- Video embedding
PR Distribution: Best for Premium National Outlet Distribution
PR Distribution is a press release writing and distribution provider that stands out by allowing you to publish your press release on many premium national outlets. These include all major search engines as well as ABC, CBS, Fox, and their affiliates. As such, it is best for small businesses looking for an affordable way to publish a press release on a national scale.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Small-business friendly plan pricing | Very limited number of outlets compared to competitors |
Advanced national, local, regional and industry-specific targeting in all plans; can select up to five industries to target even in basic plan | |
Very affordable press release writing services | |
Social media distribution for all press releases | |
Multimedia embedding included in all plans | |
Comprehensive analytics | |
Distribution to premium national outlets like Fox, CW, ABC and affiliates | |
24/7 support | |
Permanent press release hosting on PR Distribution |
PR Distribution Pricing & Features
PR Distribution plans range from $99 to $399 per distribution. Their Premium plan (most basic press release distribution plan) offers 25 guaranteed press release placements (including search engines like Google and Bing, as well as TV and radio news outlets). Advanced plans offer 50 to 75 additional placements, a release SEO audit, a two-tiered editorial process, and analytics reports you can download.
All plans offer:
- Unlimited press release word counts
- National, regional, local, and industry targeting
- The option to target up to five industries per press release distribution
- A minimum of 25 traditional and digital outlets
- Analytics reports
- Press release social media distribution
- Attached and embedded multimedia
- Ability to add press release writing services for $79
PR Newswire: Best Advanced Targeting for Mid-sized Brands
PR Newswire is a press release distribution service that stands out with advanced press release targeting. Businesses can target their press release based on location (state, local, city, nation), audience demographics (gender, ethnicity, age), or industry. As such, it is best for mid-sized businesses that know their audiences well and wish to hyper-target them on a local or national level.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Hyper-targeting by location (city, region, or over 170 countries), audience demographics (age, gender, ethnicity) and interests (religion or lifestyle), and industry | Expensive plans start at $350 |
Custom, self-serve analytics reports that cover detailed metrics like audience demographics, engagement metrics, and return on investment | $195 annual membership fee required on top of plan pricing |
Distribution to over 4,000 websites, 3,000 media outlets, 550 news content systems, and 125-200 release-only media site publishing | No press release writing or editing services available |
Premium outlets, including Reader’s Digest, Newsweek, CNBC, and industry-specific outlets like Reuters Health, and TechCrunch | A hefty $325 fee to include a video, image, or audio with your release distribution |
Press release hosting on PRNewswire.com | |
Exclusive audience before journalist community with 20,000+ visitors per day | |
Social media sharing on industry-specific handles like @PRNhealth and @PRNtech |
PR Newswire Pricing & Features
PR Newswire plans range from $350 to $805 per distribution, with an additional $195 required annual membership fee. Their Basic State & Local plan offers 1,000 outlets; local, audience and industry targeting; and 125 release-only media site publishing. Their Regional & Top Markets and National plans also offer regional and national targeting, respectively; 1,300 to 5,800 outlets; and 200 to 250 release-only media site publishing.
All plans include:
- 400-word press release distribution
- Audience and industry targeting
- A custom analytics dashboard with in-depth metrics
- An exclusive publishing community for journalists with 20,000 views per day
- Premium outlets
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does it cost to issue a press release?
You can issue a press release for free using a free press release distribution service. However, some services can cost as much as $1,000. The price you pay depends on the goals you have for it, how you target it, and what you include in it. For example, many press release distribution services charge more to target a press release nationally than locally. Some also charge more to embed videos or images into your release. Still, you could also simply email your press release to individual journalists of your choice for free.
What are the pros & cons of using a press release distribution service?
Press release distribution services are great for dispersing your press release to sometimes thousands of outlets at a time. Many offer the ability to target your press release by industry and location, helping to ensure you reach your intended audience on a large scale. Finally, if you are a small business owner with little press release writing experience, many offer added benefits to help you, like press release writing, editing, proofing, and consultation services.
However, it is still a good idea to target journalists outside of a press release distribution service as well. When you do, you can tap into networks and relationships you have already cultivated with journalists and so increase the likelihood your press release will be distributed before targeted audiences. Then, once journalists have used your story, you can continue to cultivate that relationship for a mutually beneficial relationship going forward.
How do I send a press release?
You can either send a press release manually or via a press release distribution service. To send one manually, simply use a tool like Hunter.io to locate the contact information of the journalist you’d like to send your press release to for consideration in their publications. Then, craft an email that tells the journalist that you are sending a press release for their review, when you would like the story covered, and why it would be valuable to their audiences.
Another way to send a press release manually is to visit the site of the outlet to which you’d like to submit your press release. Use the footer or header menus to search for a link to the website’s contact us or submission pages. Follow the instructions to submit your press release.
Lastly, you can distribute your press release via a press release distribution service. Simply choose a distribution service, then choose your plan. Follow the prompts to upload your press release and its multimedia, then choose how you want to target it (by state or industry, for example), what add-ons you would like (e.g., social media blasts), when you want your press release distributed, and your contact and payment information.
Bottom Line
A press release distribution service offers small businesses a means to disseminate a press release before a targeted audience of bloggers, influencers, journalists, and traditional and digital outlets. The purpose is to get media coverage to spread awareness about their news announcement among a large, interested audience. We evaluated more than 30 distribution services to land on the top six based on price, outlets, quality of distribution, and breadth of features.
Based on our evaluation, we deem Send2Press the top small business press release distribution service. It offers the ability to send a targeted press release for just $89 and ensure your release has the greatest chance of media coverage via multimedia attachments, professional writing services, and social promotion. Then, you can track performance to glean best-practice insights for future releases. Click here to get started with Send2Press.
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I am publishing my book on Amazon and am looking for a means to get the message in my book out.
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Amanda Norman
Hi Nick,
Congrats on making it to the publishing stage for your book! We have a couple a great articles that I think will help lead you in the right direction. This article on How to Write a Book Press Release has great information, including templates, for writing book press releases.
Also, here is our article on How to Sell Books on Amazon Kindle Direct that can provide some good insight into advertising and publishing with Amazon and it’s services.
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Mandy, Moderator
russell schaeffler
I have a question about word count. If you send a prewritten press release why are you charged by word? Is it more work to send a 300 word press release compared to an 800 word release? This is a leftover pricing system from the teletype days when releases had to be typed out by the newswires before distribution, today with prewritten press releases being sent over the internet it just doesn’t make sense. It is no different than sending an email, no matter how long or how many images that email contains with high-speed internet it comes out the same.
Amanda Norman
Hi Russell,
Thanks for visiting the site and sharing your thoughts!
Mandy, Moderator
Jordan Fowler
Actually, our case studies are showing press releases, if stacked properly, can still heavily influence SEO. We’ve run several controlled studies and seen results on both on-page rankings and Map Pack rankings/GMB exposure. We are an analytical marketing agency who are a bit obsessed with performing reputable case studies. Initially, we thought PR SEO was all hype. We proved ourselves wrong.
Laura Handrick
Thanks Jordan for sharing your insights!
Craig vanAntwerp
Good Day Sir!,
Do you have or know of a service that can return a search of one word occurring in news outlets around the world? For instance, I want to know of any news yesterday that had “Coinbase” in it. It would be the reverse of what you do I believe. And for financial advantage.
Thank you, Craig
Gavin Graham
Hi Craig, my first step would be to create a Google alert to track newly posted news.