A press release typically costs between $29 and $8,000+ total, depending on whether you write it yourself, hire a writer, or use a distribution service. Writing costs range from $0 if you write it yourself to $3,000+ for full agency work. Distribution ranges from $29 for basic plans to $8,000+ for premium national wire. Most small businesses spend $200 to $800 total.
Key Highlights:
Total press release costs range from $29 for basic self-serve options to $8,000+ for national premium wire distribution.
Writing the release yourself costs nothing; hiring a freelancer runs $150 to $500 per release.
EasyPRwire plans start at $89, one of the most cost-effective options for small businesses and startups.
Word count, geographic reach, and multimedia add-ons are the three biggest cost drivers across every service.
Most small businesses find the best return in mid-tier distribution plans priced between $89 and $499.
Most people searching "how much does a press release cost" are trying to answer one of three questions: Can I afford this? Am I being overcharged? And which service gives me the most for my money?
This guide answers all three with real pricing data, a full cost breakdown by option, and a clear explanation of every factor that affects what you pay.
What Does a Press Release Cost? (Quick Answer)
A press release costs between $29 and $8,000+ depending on how it is written and where it is distributed. There are two cost categories and most businesses pay for both.
Press Release Writing: Between $0 if you write it yourself and $3,000+ if you use a full-service PR agency.
Press Release Distribution: Between $29 for basic online distribution and $8,000+ for national wire placement on major news platforms.
Total for most small businesses: $200 to $800 for a professionally written release distributed through a mid-tier wire service.
Writing the release yourself and using an affordable distribution service keeps total PR spend under $200 while still reaching hundreds of outlets.
Press Release Cost Breakdown by Type
Most businesses combine one writing option and one distribution tier - the right mix depends on budget, target audience, and coverage goals.
Option | Price Range | What Is Included | Best For |
DIY | $0 | Your time only | Startups testing PR for the first time |
AI writing tools | $0-$50/month | AI draft requiring editing | Writers who want a fast starting point |
Freelance writers | $150-$500 | One draft, AP style, basic research | Small businesses, one-off releases |
PR agencies | $500-$3,000+ | Writing, media strategy, positioning | Brands with ongoing PR budgets |
Basic distribution | $29-$199 | Online outlets, search engines | Local news, regional announcements |
National wire distribution | $350-$8,000+ | AP News, Yahoo Finance, major outlets | National launches, financial news |
Full-service bundle | $500-$2,500 | Professional writing and distribution | Businesses wanting a single vendor |
A startup announcing a regional launch will pay far less than a public company distributing financial news nationally.
Press Release Distribution Costs
Distribution accounts for the widest price range in press release costs, from basic online syndication to guaranteed placement on AP News and Yahoo Finance.
Service | Basic Plan | Mid-Range | Premium or National |
24-7 Press Release | $29 | $189 | $389 |
EasyPRwire | $89 | $199 | $499 to $799 |
PRWeb | $99 | $249 | $399 |
EIN Presswire | $149 | $499 | $999 |
PR Newswire | $350+ | $800 to $2,000 | $2,000 to $8,000+ |
Business Wire | $475+ | $1,500+ | $2,500 to $8,700+ |
What each tier actually delivers:
Basic ($29 to $199): Online distribution to news aggregators and search engines. Good for SEO visibility and local announcements. Organic journalist pickup and targeted journalist outreach support is limited at this price point.
Mid-range ($199 to $799): Broader distribution including industry-specific media outlets, Google News indexing, and in most cases guaranteed placement on recognized platforms. This tier produces the best balance of reach and release cost for most small businesses.
Premium ($800 to $8,000+): National wire distribution with guaranteed placement on high-authority news platforms and access to extensive media contacts. Justified for major funding rounds, public company disclosures, or product launches targeting national media.
It is important to note that paid wire services at the basic tier primarily produce automated syndication across aggregator networks rather than organic journalist coverage. Mid-tier and above is where direct editorial placement begins.
PR Newswire's published rate card shows base pricing starting at $350 for a 400-word national release, increasing by approximately $105 per additional 100 words. (Source: PR Newswire Pricing, 2025)
BUT EasyPRwire covers the gap between budget and enterprise pricing, with plans starting at just $89.
See EasyPRwire pricing for the current plan breakdown.
Press Release Writing Costs
Writing costs vary by experience level and scope, from free DIY to $3,000+ for full agency work:
Writer Type | Price Range | What You Get |
DIY | $0 | Full control, no professional quality guarantee |
AI tools | $0-$50/month | Fast draft, editing required |
Entry-level freelancer | $150-$400 | Basic structure, standard AP style format |
Mid-range PR writer | $400-$800 | Strong positioning, revisions, media targeting |
Senior PR specialist | $800-$1,500 | Industry research, strategy, multiple revisions |
PR agencies | $1,000-$3,000+ | Full strategy, professional writing, oversight |
Freelance writers are the most cost-effective option for professional quality without agency overhead, with most delivering within 48 to 72 hours.
EasyPRwire also offers press release writing services. Costs vary based on project scope, the distribution package selected, and the target media outlets. Because writing and distribution are handled through the same platform, the combined PR spend is typically far lower than coordinating a freelance writer alongside a separate wire service.
Contact the team directly for a writing quote tailored to your announcement type.
What Affects the Price of a Press Release?
Four factors drive press release pricing: geographic reach, word count, multimedia add-ons, and turnaround time.
Step 1: Set your Geographic scope first
Local distribution costs a fraction of national targeting, geographic reach is the single largest cost driver in press release pricing.
Step 2: Keep word count within the base limit
Most distribution services base pricing on a standard word count of 400 to 600 words. Releases exceeding that threshold typically incur additional fees. PR Newswire, for example, charges extra for every 100 words beyond 400. Keeping releases concise controls wire service fees at every tier.
Conversely, platforms like EasyPRwire offer generous flat-rate word limits across their plans, ensuring you don't get hit with surprise fees just for telling your full story.
Step 3: Decide on Multimedia before checkout
Adding images, videos, or infographics increases cost at most major wire services. Multimedia add-ons can add $100 to $500 per release depending on the platform. For high-visibility product launches, that additional investment usually returns higher engagement and longer average reading time.
PR Newswire's published add-on pricing shows image embeds starting at $195 and video placement starting at $345 per release. (Source: PR Newswire Rate Card, 2025)
To counteract this, modern services like EasyPRwire often include multimedia embedding as a standard feature in their base packages, allowing you to drive higher engagement without the extra costs.
Step 4: Schedule ahead to avoid rush fees
Same-day or expedited distribution costs more across most services. Scheduling a release a few days out avoids rush fees that some platforms charge for priority placement.
EasyPRwire bypasses this friction by offering rapid, standard processing times across all accounts without hidden scheduling penalties.
Is a Press Release Worth the Cost?
Yes, a press release is worth the cost for most small businesses, particularly at mid-tier distribution pricing between $89 and $499, where a single journalist pickup or authoritative backlink typically returns more value than the distribution fee.
Businesses that distribute press releases through indexed wire services report a 1 to 3 percent average improvement in site conversions when campaigns are tracked against referral traffic benchmarks. (Source: Cision State of the Media Report, 2024)
A single release generating coverage on a high-authority news platform can produce thousands of dollars in earned media value, far exceeding the initial distribution cost.
The return depends on writing quality and distribution credibility: both determine whether a release generates lasting SEO value and referral traffic.
The same distribution reach that costs $350 to $2,000 on PR Newswire is available at just $89 to $499 through small-business-focused services like EasyPRwire.
A single journalist pickup or authoritative backlink typically covers the distribution cost many times over.
The full context of how distribution affects value becomes clearer when you understand how the press release distribution process works from draft to media pickup.
Put This Into Practice
PR budget should not be the reason your announcement goes unpublished. EasyPRwire gives you distribution that reaches the right audience at a price that fits a small business budget.
Key Takeaways
A press release costs $29 to $8,000+ depending on distribution tier and writing option.
Most small businesses spend $200 to $800 total for a professionally written and distributed release.
Geographic reach, word count, and multimedia add-ons are the three biggest cost drivers.
Freelance writers charge $150 to $500 per release for professional quality writing.
PR Newswire starts at $350 while EasyPRwire starts at $89, delivering comparable reach at significantly lower press release cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to send a press release?
Sending a press release costs between $29 and $8,000+ depending on the service and reach required. Basic online distribution starts at $29 for regional syndication. National wire placement runs $2,000 to $8,000 per release. Most small businesses find the best value at mid-tier pricing between $89 and $499 - the range where services like EasyPRwire deliver placement across 200+ outlets with real-time tracking.
How much does a press release cost at PR Newswire?
PR Newswire charges between $350 and $8,000+ per release depending on word count, geographic targeting, and multimedia add-ons. A basic 400-word national release starts at $350, with each additional 100 words adding approximately $105. For most small businesses, that pricing delivers more reach than the story requires - EasyPRwire covers comparable distribution starting at $89.
Can I distribute a press release for free?
Yes. Some basic press release submission platforms offer free distribution with limited reach. Free options typically provide placement on a small network of aggregator sites with no guaranteed placement or direct journalist visibility.
How much should I pay a freelancer to write a press release?
Most experienced freelance writers charge between $150 and $500 per press release. Entry-level writers on Upwork or Fiverr run $50 to $150, though AP style quality varies significantly at that price. For a release targeting journalists, budgeting $200 to $400 for a writer with direct PR experience is the right range and pairing that with a mid-tier distribution service keeps total costs under $800.
Is EasyPRwire cheaper than PR Newswire?
Yes. EasyPRwire plans start at $89 per release versus PR Newswire's starting price of $350+. For national distribution, EasyPRwire's premium plans run $499 to $799 compared to PR Newswire's $2,000 to $8,000+. Both services provide placement on major news platforms. For small businesses that do not need enterprise-scale reach, EasyPRwire delivers comparable distribution quality at a fraction of the distribution fee.
