How much does a press release cost in 2026?
A press release costs anywhere from about $100 on budget distribution services to $850–$1,150 or more for a 400-word US national release on the largest traditional wires, before add-ons, according to third-party estimates. PR agencies charge more, often $1,000+ per release including writing. What decides the price is the distribution network, the word count, add-ons like images, and whether writing is included.
Updated · Citable
Price ranges by type of service
| Service type | Typical price per release | What you usually get |
|---|---|---|
| Largest US national wires (PR Newswire, Business Wire) | Reported ~$850–$1,150 for 400 words national, plus add-ons | Broad media and newsroom distribution, financial disclosure options, brand recognition |
| Mid-tier national wires (e.g. GlobeNewswire, Accesswire) | From ~$350 base; ~$700–$1,200 typical with extras | National distribution with fewer add-ons |
| Budget wires and distribution services | ~$100 to ~$500 | Syndication to online news sites; network quality varies widely |
| PR agencies | $1,000+ per release, or retainers | Writing, strategy, journalist pitching, distribution billed on top |
| Freelance writers | $100–$500 for writing only | A written release; distribution not included |
Service by service, with each one's published plans: press release services compared.
What drives the price
- Network. National vs regional vs targeted industry lists; which named outlets are included.
- Word count. Many wires price a base length (often 400 words) and charge per additional 100 words.
- Multimedia. Logos, images and video often cost extra on traditional wires.
- Membership and setup fees. Some wires charge an annual membership.
- Targeting and translation. Additional regions, languages or industry lists.
- Writing and editing. Included by some services, extra or unavailable at others.
- Reporting. A placement report with live links and potential reach is standard at some services, extra at others.
What you should get for the money
Whatever you pay, ask before buying:
- Which named outlets does the release run on, and is that guaranteed or "possible"?
- What is the potential reach, and where does the number come from?
- Will I get a report with every live URL?
- What happens if it is rejected or does not go live?
- How many links can I include, and are copies indexed?
- Are there extra fees for words, images or my logo?
Our checklist: how to choose a press release distribution service.
What Citable costs
Citable's press release is $599, paid once: distribution to 500+ news sites, TV and radio, including the Associated Press, USA Today, Benzinga, Barchart, StreetInsider and The Globe and Mail, with 220M+ potential reach as counted by the wire's report. It includes AI-assisted writing and edits until you submit, every live link on your order page, and the distribution report. An image and the premium outlets carry no add-on fees. If no labeled press release is live on a site in the package within 48 hours of submitting, or the wire's editorial review turns it down, you get a full refund. See pricing.
Is a paid press release worth it?
It depends on what you need. If you need journalists to write about you, a release alone rarely does it; personal pitching does. If you need your brand on many indexed news pages, credible outlet names to show, and a source search engines and AI assistants can find, distribution delivers that directly. See do press releases help SEO? and press releases and AI citations.
Questions people ask
Why do some services charge $50 and others $1,000?
Mostly the network: which sites run the release, how selective they are, and whether named major outlets are included. Cheap services often syndicate to small sites only.
Can I distribute a press release for free?
You can post it on your site and free press release sites, and email it to journalists. Free sites have little reach and are rarely indexed well.
Do I pay per release or per month?
Wires usually charge per release; agencies often charge monthly retainers.