PR Newswire Pricing
PR Newswire (owned by Cision) does not publish a public rate card, so pricing is built from a quote: an annual membership fee, a base price per release, a word-count meter and add-ons for images, logos, industry targeting and circuits. Below is what third-party guides report, how it compares with us, and when the wire is the right call.
How PR Newswire pricing works
There is no checkout page with a price on it. PR Newswire sells distribution through quotes, and reporters, agencies and trade associations regularly publish their own rate cards, so the structure is well known even when the numbers aren't:
- Membership. An annual account fee before you distribute anything.
- Base distribution. A per-release price for a national circuit, typically capped around 400 words.
- Word-count overages. Every block of words beyond the cap is charged again — the fee most first-time buyers miss.
- Add-ons. Images, logos, video, industry targeting lists, additional regional or state circuits, and reporting upgrades.
Because it's quote-based, two companies can pay different prices for the same release, and any figure you read is an estimate rather than a rate you're guaranteed.
What third-party guides report
The published estimates disagree with each other, which is itself the point:
| Source | Membership | 400-word national release | Word overage | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reporter Outreach, working from Cision's 2024 rate card | $305 per year | $1,020 | ≈$325 per additional 100 words | $490 |
| Presswire | $195 per year | $805 | $245 per 100 words | $325 |
Both are secondhand: PR Newswire's own site carries no rate card, and a public pricing page is not part of the product. Treat every number here as an estimate of the band, not a quote, and ask for a written quote in your own name before budgeting.
For scale, Presswire's breakdown of a 900-word national release lands near $3,000 once the base, word overages, an image and a logo are added to membership.
What a release really totals
| Scenario | Costs to expect | Typical third-party estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 400-word national release, no image | Membership (first year) + base | ~$1,000 to $1,400 |
| 600-word national release + one image | Membership + base + 2 word overages + image | ~$1,800 to $2,500 |
| 900-word national release + image + logo | Membership + base + 5 word overages + assets | ~$3,000 and up |
Estimates use the two published breakdowns above and will not match your quote. Add industry targeting, a second language or an international circuit and the total climbs again.
BrandInTheNews vs. PR Newswire
| PR Newswire | BrandInTheNews | |
|---|---|---|
| How you buy | Quote, often after an account setup or sales call | Fixed price, order online |
| Membership | Annual membership before you send | None — no subscriptions |
| Entry price | Reported from ~$805 for a 400-word national release, plus membership | $195 Starter (50 news sites) |
| Word-count fees | Charged per block above the cap | No word-count fees |
| Writing included | Extra | Yes — our editors write it |
| Revisions | Extra or negotiated | Unlimited |
| Images and logos | Charged separately | No separate asset fees |
| Reporting | Available, sometimes as an upgrade | Live-link report on every package |
| Reach | Wire syndication to national media and terminals | Publication across our network of news sites, up to 400+ |
| Google News | Included | Included on every package |
| Time to publish | Same day or scheduled, once booked | Within 5 business days of approval |
Our packages in full: Starter $195 (50 news sites), Growth $265 (100), Authority $595 (250+), Ultimate $795 (400+). Every package includes distribution, writing by our editors, unlimited revisions, Google News inclusion, an "As seen on" badge and a live-link report; Growth and up add AI citation recommendations. Optional Yahoo Finance or MSN placements are $885 each. If you only need the numbers, the press release cost guide on our Learn hub has the wider market picture.
When PR Newswire is the better choice
- Regulated disclosure. Public companies filing material news under Reg FD, or any announcement that has to hit the wire as a matter of compliance.
- Investor and analyst reach. Terminals, portfolio managers and financial desks follow the major wires.
- Global circuits. When the story genuinely needs distribution in dozens of countries and languages.
- Earnings, M&A and capital markets news where the wire record itself matters.
If your news is a launch, an opening, a hire, an award or a partnership aimed at customers, local media and search visibility, you're paying wire prices for reach you don't use — that's the case our packages are built for. See the GlobeNewswire comparison for the other major wire, or start an order.
Our editors write your press release, publish it across our network of news sites, and send you a report with every live link. One-time price, live within 5 business days.
Start My Order — From $195 See pricing »FAQ
Is PR Newswire free?
No. There is no free tier — you pay a membership fee, then a per-release price, plus word-count overages and add-ons. Free press release posting exists, but it's a different product with far less reach.
How much does PR Newswire cost for one release?
Published third-party estimates put a 400-word national release at roughly $805–$1,020 plus an annual membership of $195–$305. The only firm number is the one in your quote.
Does PR Newswire charge by word count?
Yes — reports describe a base word allowance (around 400 words) and a fee for each block above it. Longer releases get expensive quickly.
Can I buy a single PR Newswire release without membership?
Resellers such as eReleases publish flat per-release prices that include PR Newswire distribution, which is one route around the membership fee. We compare that option in the eReleases alternative guide.