6 Best Press Release Distribution Services 2020

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

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^[1]: Best Overall Writing & Multichannel Press Release Distribution Service

With plans starting at $29, Send2Press is a press release distribution^[2] 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.

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^[3]: Best for Industry-targeted Direct-to-Journalist Distribution

Starting at $299, eReleases is a press release writing^[4] 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.

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^[5]: 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.

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^[6]: 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.

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^[7]: 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.

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^[8]: 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.