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How much does a press release cost? 2026 price table
A press release costs US$120–480 per release at PRWeb’s public tiers (you write it), US$899 or US$1,499 one-time at Press Elevate (we write it), and US$5,000–25,000+ per month for a PR agency retainer. Self-serve prices re-read from public pages on 5 Nov 2026; retainer ranges are from the guides cited below.
Updated 5 Nov 2026
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| What to compare | Press Elevate (Core $899 / Global $1,499) | Self-Serve Wire Packages | Monthly PR Agency Retainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $899 (Core) or $1,499 (Global) one-time | $120–$480 per release at PRWeb’s public tiers (other services in the table below) | $5,000–$25,000+ per month |
| Who writes the release? | We write it from your 2–3 line brief | You write and format it yourself | Agency team writes and pitches |
| Extra fees for word count or logo? | None — flat one-time price | Some charge per extra word (eReleases: US$150 per 100 words above 400, read 5 Nov 2026) | Billed under retainer or project scope |
| When you pay | Only after you approve the draft | Not checked | Monthly contract upfront |
| Distribution reach | 400+ (Core) or 500+ (Global) news & finance sites + terminals | Varies by package tier | Custom journalist outreach + wire fees extra |
| Podcast & AI search indexing | Included in Global ($1,499) | Rarely included | Separate scope |
| White-label PDF report with every link | Included (your logo for agencies) | Dashboard export | Custom agency reporting |
| Best fit | Launches, funding rounds, search/AI footprint, agency white-label | Teams with an in-house writer on a tight budget | Crisis comms, multi-month narrative, ongoing reporter pitching |
Ten other services: what their public pricing pages show
Cheapest public price, what the page says it includes, who writes the release, and whether we saw a white-label program. Facts come from each vendor’s own page.
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
| Service | Cheapest public price | What the page shows | Who writes | White-label | Source (prices re-read 5 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRWeb | US$120 per release. Public tiers US$120–480; two more tiers say “Contact Sales”. | Online distribution. Higher tiers add reach, Cision journalist lists and visibility reports. No writing listed. | Self-serve (you write) | Not seen on the page read | Source |
| EIN Presswire | US$149 per release. Pro+ US$499 for 5 releases (a limited-time offer adds 1 free). Corporate US$999 for 15 releases. | News-site distribution. Word limits 700 / 1,000 / 2,500. No writing price on the page. | Self-serve (you write) | Not seen on the page read | Source |
| Newswire.com | US$399 per release (Starter). Basic US$659, Feature US$965, State US$599. | Starter: online news placement, reach estimated by the vendor at 6–10 million monthly readers. The page says it handles “writing to distribution” but shows no writing price. | Self-serve; writing offer unclear | Not seen on the page read | Source |
| 24-7 Press Release | US$29 for Simple Post (own website only, no distribution). First distribution plan US$49. Mass Media Visibility US$479 (PR Newswire). | The US$29 plan posts on the vendor’s own site only. Writing is a separate service; price not read. | Self-serve; writing sold separately | Not seen on the page read (an “Agency Discount Program” link exists; terms not read) | Source |
| PRLog | Free (ad supported). Basic US$29, Premium US$49, Premium2 US$99. | Free plan: hosted on PRLog and search engines. PR Newswire and AP are paid add-ons. 500 words. No writing listed. | Self-serve (you write) | Not seen on the page read | Source |
| Send2Press | US$99 for U.S. Online Basic. State plans from US$129. National from US$199. | Online placement, including APNews.com and Apple News. Length fees apply above 400 or 500 words. The vendor’s own site quotes different syndication counts on different pages. Writing add-on US$199. | Self-serve, or writing add-on | Not seen on the page read | Source |
| eReleases | US$399 for Buzz Builder (400 words). Newsmaker US$499, PR Pro US$699. | PR Newswire custom national distribution, 100,000+ journalists, 2 images. Writing is US$300 extra. Extra words US$150 per 100. | Self-serve, or writing add-on | Yes: reseller program with prepaid PR Newswire credits. Reseller prices are not public. | Source |
| PR.com | US$60 / US$100 / US$300 paid packages. A free package has reduced distribution. | News sites, search engines and RSS. AP outlets appear only in the US$300 package. No writing listed. | Self-serve (you write) | Not seen on the page read | Source |
| IssueWire | US$21 for a single release (the page also shows “first PR is free”). | 4 anchor links, up to 5 images. The vendor’s “300 media outlets” applies only to its “Paid Top Tier” package; the free release gets “up to 35+ sites”. A writing page exists; price not read. | Self-serve (you write) | Not seen on the page read | Source |
| EmailWire | US$99 per release (Mass Media SEO). Major Mass Media SEO US$199. | Online news sites, RSS and social. Write-and-distribute package US$299. Writing alone US$99–199. | Self-serve, or writing add-on | Not seen on the page read | Source |
Prices re-read on 5 Nov 2026: none had changed since 2 Nov. What each page shows was read on 2 Nov. Plans and prices change. Spot an error? support@presselevate.com
When Press Elevate is the right choice
- You have a real launch, funding round, partnership or milestone and want it written and published without a monthly contract.
- You want predictable flat pricing ($899 or $1,499 one-time) with writing included and no extra fee for longer copy or logos.
- You want to see and approve the exact draft before you pay a cent.
- You run an agency and need a clean white-label PDF report carrying your logo, never ours.
When to pick another route
- Pick a monthly PR agency retainer if you need ongoing journalist pitching, crisis management, or multi-month executive positioning.
- Pick a direct regulatory wire if you are a publicly traded company filing mandatory SEC/exchange disclosures.
- What we never promise: These are paid press release placements on the news and partner sections of those sites, not articles written by their journalists. Newsrooms can see the release and may choose to cover it. We never promise that.
Source notes & public benchmarks
- PRWeb compare packages — public self-serve package examples ($120 to $480 per release depending on tier).
- Jennifer Bett Communications startup PR cost guide — public agency retainer ranges.
- Gabriel Marketing B2B tech PR pricing guide — project vs. retainer pricing models.
- Publicity For Good PR agency pricing guide — agency retainer scope context.
Order Core Coverage $899 Order Global Coverage $1,499 Test your announcement in our Readiness Checker
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Comparing one service head to head? PRWeb alternative · EIN Presswire alternative · White-label press release distribution · Are press releases worth it?