How to choose digital signage software: 12 questions to ask

Most digital signage software looks the same on a feature page: upload, playlists, schedules, “any screen”. The differences show up later, on a busy Saturday when the Wi-Fi drops, or when a colleague needs to change the menu and can’t find the button.

These twelve questions help you see the difference before you commit. We’ve added how Rivowall answers each one, so you can compare.

Playback and reliability

1. What happens when the internet drops?

The most important question, and the one demos skip. Ask whether the player downloads everything in advance and keeps playing offline, or loads content live.

Rivowall: offline-first. The player downloads and checks every file before a new playlist starts, and keeps playing the last complete version when the connection drops. More in offline playback.

2. Which devices does the player run on?

Some products need their own hardware. Others run on screens and devices you may already have.

Rivowall: the player runs as a web app in a modern browser, with a native app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and a kiosk setup for a Mac connected to a screen. Portrait and landscape both work.

3. Can you see whether a screen is actually playing?

You want to know which screens are online and have received the latest content, without walking past them.

Rivowall: the dashboard shows which screens have confirmed the newest version, and reports show availability over time.

Daily use

4. Can a non-technical colleague update content?

Ask for a trial and let the person who’ll actually do it try changing a price.

5. Can you schedule by day and time?

Breakfast, lunch and evening; weekdays and weekends; campaigns with an end date. See dayparting.

Rivowall: yes, with standard, campaign and urgent-message priorities, and end dates per item.

6. Which content types and sources are supported?

Images and video are standard. Check for PDFs, presentations, calendars, weather and news, so you don’t have to retype information.

Rivowall: images, video, PDF, Google Slides, Google Calendar, weather, RSS and social media widgets.

7. Can visitors interact with the screen?

QR codes turn a passive screen into something people use: a review link, a booking page, a photo upload.

Rivowall: a QR code can sit on top of any playlist and link to a web page or a moderated photo wall.

Teams and control

8. Can you control who publishes what?

With more than one person involved you’ll want roles and, ideally, approval before content goes live.

Rivowall: organisations, locations and roles, with an approval step: content makers submit, an owner approves.

9. Does it scale from one location to several?

Start with one screen, but check that grouping screens by location and publishing centrally is possible when you grow.

10. How is access secured?

Ask about two-factor authentication and what happens if a player device is lost.

Rivowall: two-factor authentication for accounts, and every screen has its own token that can be revoked remotely.

Money

11. What does it cost, all-in?

Compare per screen, per month, and check which features are only in higher tiers. Look for set-up fees and minimum contract lengths. A full cost picture is in how much digital signage costs.

Rivowall: €9 per screen per month or €90 per year, every feature included, volume pricing from 25 screens. See pricing.

12. Can you try it properly, without a card?

A demo shows the happy path. A trial on your own screen and network shows the truth.

Rivowall: 14-day free trial, no credit card needed.

What to test in your trial

Connect a screen in the actual spot it will hang.
Publish a playlist with images and one video.
Schedule two dayparts and check that the switch happens.
Turn off the Wi-Fi, restart the player and check it keeps playing.
Let a colleague change one item without your help.

If a product passes all five, it’ll probably survive your busiest day.

Start your free 14-day trial, or ask us anything.