Digital signage vs. printed posters: cost, effort, and impact compared
A practical comparison of screens vs. print for business communication. When does digital make sense, and what does it actually cost?
Printed posters have been the default for decades. They're familiar, they don't need Wi-Fi, and they don't crash. But they also can't update, can't animate, and cost money every time you change them. Here's how digital screens compare.
Cost
A printed A1 poster costs €5–15 per print. Change it weekly, that's €250–750/year per location. A 43-inch TV costs €200–300 once and lasts years. The software to drive it — like Screens by thosekids.studio — starts free. After the first few months, digital is cheaper.
Time to update
Print: design, send to printer, wait, pick up, drive to location, replace. Total: hours to days. Digital: open browser, edit text, save. Total: seconds. This is the real advantage — not the money, but the speed.
Visual impact
Screens are brighter, more dynamic, and draw more attention than paper. Studies show digital signage captures 400% more views than static displays. People look at screens — it's instinctive.
When print still wins
Print works when you need something permanent and offline — a framed mission statement, a decorative piece, or signage in a location with no power. For everything that changes — menus, schedules, promotions, announcements — digital wins.
The hybrid approach
Many businesses use both: printed branding that rarely changes, plus digital screens for content that updates regularly. The screens handle the dynamic work; print handles the permanent decor.