| You’ve probably been there: You’re putting together a press release to share your company’s latest news–maybe it’s an exciting event or a game-changing new product launch. You distribute it far and wide, expecting it to be picked up by several newspapers, but all you hear are crickets. |
So, what went wrong?
Maybe your release didn’t reach your intended audience or was overshadowed by more pressing news stories. It could also be that it wasn’t tailored to specific media outlets or journalistic beats.
Whatever went wrong, there’s one easy fix for making the most out of your press release distribution: setting your goals and choosing the right distribution service to help you achieve them. This is your one-way ticket to increasing your media coverage and boosting your brand credibility in the process.
In this article, we’ll get into the basics of PR distribution, explain the difference between wire services and all-in-one platforms, and reveal the 7 best press release distribution services you should be using in 2025.
What is press release distribution
Let’s start by setting the record straight on press release distribution. It’s the process of getting your story in front of the right people–media outlets, journalists, and online audiences–who can help amplify what you’ve got to say. Depending on whether your goal is to generate broad publicity or target a niche audience, you can choose between different providers to distribute your release, from free tools and traditional wire services to purpose-built, all-in-one PR platforms.
The dreaded decision: wire services or all-in-one PR platforms
When deciding how best to distribute your release, you’re faced with two main options: wire services or all-in-one PR platforms. Here’s what sets them apart:
The benefits of choosing a PR platform
Wire services have one main selling point: minimal effort. Once you’ve drafted your release and sent it off, your job is essentially done–no strategizing or follow-ups required. However, this convenience often comes at a price…
73% of journalists found fewer than a quarter of the press release pitches in their inbox to be relevant. That’s because wire services distribute your press release to many media outlets, promising the result of a broad reach. However, more often than not, you end up paying for output instead of outcome, spending a lot only to end up 25 pages deep on an irrelevant Yahoo article–a bummer, to say the least. But that's not all. You also lose the opportunity to build valuable relations with journalists–which should be the key focus of any PR pro's job description (after all, your job is public relations, right?)–and hurt your own SEO efforts by helping newswires rank for your story rather than your own website.
All-in-one PR platforms, on the other hand, require you to be more involved in the setup and distribution process. But this extra effort pays off, as these tools are key to your success, helping you amplify your story, build stronger relationships with the media, and scale your PR strategy when the time comes. You can achieve six things when choosing an all-in-one PR platform as your press release distribution service.
Control you narrative
Wire services, in distributing your release on your behalf, will always add an extra layer to your communications. This could result in a muddled, inconsistent brand narrative. PR platforms, on the other hand, put you in charge of how your story is told and shared. They let you tailor your message to specific audiences, while features like templates or drag-and-drop editors allow you to implement the right tone, details, and focus that resonates with the people you’re trying to reach. In the end, you're left with an amplified story that stays true to your brand messaging.
Target with precision
No one likes receiving a flood of generic, impersonal emails that have nothing to do with your work–and journalists are no different. Unsurprisingly, 72% say that press releases tailored to their audience make their jobs easier.
So, if you want to make sure your press release doesn’t collect dust in journalists’ inboxes, precise targeting is essential. Purpose-built PR platforms offer media databases that let you quickly identify the right journalists for your story and tailor your messaging to match. What’s the outcome? You hand the journalist a story they’re actually interested in, and you get the coverage you need to reach your audience–a win-win.
Stay GDPR-compliant
Choosing an all-in-one provider means you’ll never risk another data slip-up. With GDPR-compliant media databases, you can confidently reach out to journalists to distribute your release, knowing they’ve given their consent.
Track engagement
Press releases aren’t standalone efforts; they’re a key part of your larger PR strategy. Using a single platform for all daily tasks lets you track engagement metrics across topics, helping you make informed, data-driven decisions. For example, if your PR solution detects a sudden surge in media inquiries about a recent regulatory change affecting your company, it may indicate the need to issue a statement – rather than allowing any speculation to gain traction.
| Resource Alert Want to anticipate issues before they come knocking? Explore how to create a best-in-class issue management plan with these 3 essential software features. |
Build better relationships with journalists
Every email exchanged with a journalist is a potential future media opportunity. All-in-one platforms help you personalize outreach, target the right journalists, and track who’s worth following up with. This increases the chance of your release being picked up and helps you build a reliable network of journalists who trust your judgment and value your pitches.
Stay cost-effective
Who said acing your PR efforts had to break the bank? An all-in-one PR software offers a cost-effective solution by bundling essential tools–like media relations, newsroom management, press release distribution, and analytic insights–into a single pricing plan. Unlike wire services, where you usually pay per release, these platforms support your PR operations as a whole, maximizing your return on investment and earned exposure by creating efficient processes for your entire workflow.
The 7 best press release distribution services to have on your radar in 2025
Now that you have the context, let’s get into why you clicked on this blog post in the first place: the 7 best press release distribution services you need to be aware of:
Purpose-built PR platforms
1. Muck Rack
G2 rating: 4.6/5
Features: Media Database, Contact/Campaign Management, Media Distribution, Monitoring, Impact Measurement, Keyword Targeting, Dashboards
Muck Rack is a PR distribution software that integrates a media database, pitching tools, monitoring, and reporting into a single platform. Founded in 2009, Muck Rack is one of the oldest PR management platforms, helping organizations of all sizes manage their PR activities and track the impact of their coverage.
While you can access a sizeable media database, Muck Rack’s downside is its expensive price point–typically around $10,000 per year–and lack of other crucial solutions needed to support your PR and corporate comms work like a newsroom or crisis communication features.
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Starter | Custom | Provides access to a media database, basic pitching tools, and media monitoring suitable for small teams or solo PR professionals. |
| Standard | Custom | Adds advanced collaboration features, enhanced reporting capabilities, and tools for managing larger-scale PR efforts. |
| Premier | Custom | Includes enterprise-level customization options, expanded functionality, and support for complex PR operations. |
2. Prezly
G2 rating: 4.3/5
Features: Contact/Campaign Management, Newsroom, Media Distribution, PR Planner, Social Media Services, Monitoring, Impact Measurement
Prezly is a CRM software for PR professionals, helping teams with their contact management, engagement tracking, email campaigns and performance monitoring.
Though it’s often praised for its newsroom functionality and user-friendliness, Prezly doesn’t currently offer a database of journalists and other media professionals, making it challenging to find the right people to reach out to and target your releases.
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Core | $90 (Per user/month, billed annually) | Includes one site, up to 10,000 contacts, unlimited stories and campaigns, custom domain, analytics, and localization. |
| Premium | $140 (Per user/month, billed annually) | Offers all Core features plus 5 sites, up to 20,000 contacts, white-label sites, user permissions, and categories. |
| Enterprise | Custom (Per user/month, billed annually) | Provides all Premium features with custom limits, custom site layout, 99% uptime SLA, 24/7 support, and live training. |
3. Presspage
G2 rating: 4.6/5
Features: Newsroom, Team Collaboration, Distribution, Social Sharing, Analytics, Press Release Creation, Multimedia, AI-powered Content Assistant, Scheduled Publishing, Crisis Communication Hub, Unlimited Email Campaigns, Customizable Email Templates, Global Media Database, Media Inquiries, CRM, Unlimited Distribution Lists
Presspage can do more than get your story out there–it can help you manage all your daily PR tasks.
With Presspage, there’s no more wasting time (or burning bridges) by sending irrelevant pitches to annoyed journalists. Unlike traditional newswires, the platform’s precision targeting features and media database of over one million vetted contacts allow you to reach media professionals who actually care about your story. Plus, everything is GDPR compliant, so you can focus your efforts on writing a killer pitch while staying clear of any data grey zones.
With features like real-time analytics, an integrated newsroom, and custom media lists, Presspage helps you manage all your PR efforts in one place, giving you the clarity and control to craft a strategy that works–not just for one release but for your entire PR. An entirely integrated workflow also saves you time on repetitive, manual tasks. Any individual changes you make will sync across your entire content and campaign offering, while you can automatically create newsletters based on press releases.
Finally, if you're looking to combine hosting your own brand newsroom with the benefits of wire service distribution, Presspage has recently launched an integration with GlobeNewswire. This makes hassle-free distribution possible, while keeping content and brand image unified across your own platform.
While Presspage is great for larger companies and their enterprise-level needs, smaller organizations or freelancers may want to explore other options, especially if they only distribute the occasional release.
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Professional (up to 3 users) | Custom | Includes distribution features like email campaigns for up to 1000 recipients per month, a drag-and-drop campaign editor, global scheduling, email campaign analytics–in addition to unlimited newsroom publishing. |
| Enterprise (up to 10 users) | Custom | Offers all professional features, including unlimited email campaigns and customizable email templates, as well as advanced inquiry, CRM and newsroom features. |
4. Prowly
G2 rating: 4.2/5
Features: Media Database, Contact/Campaign Management, Newsroom, Media Distribution, Social Media Services, Impact Measurement, Distribution, Analytics, Contact List, Press Release Creation, Multimedia Functionalities
Prowly is a PR & distribution software for teams, agencies, and solo professionals who want to streamline their press release creation, distribution, and media outreach. Well-known for its extensive media database, it also offers content newsrooms and media monitoring features to stay on top of brand reputation.
While users praise Prowly for its budget-friendly pricing, a frequent critique is that the media database isn’t regularly updated or made relevant for diverse industries. Companies with enterprise-level needs also likely won't find what they're looking for in Prowly's feature overview, due to its mid-market focus.
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Basic Annual | $258 (Per month, billed annually) | Offers PR distribution software tools like a media database, email pitching, online monitoring, creation of press releases with AI assistance and sending up to 1,000 emails monthly, suitable for up to 2 users. |
| Pro Annual | $416 (Per month, billed annually) | Includes all Basic features plus follow-up sequences, social media listening, access to PR reports, onboarding support and the ability to send up to 3,000 emails monthly, accommodating up to 3 users. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Provides all pro features, in addition to media intelligence tools, such as broadcast and print monitoring, extended media monitoring history, and dedicated customer support with customizable user limits. |
Wire Services
5. Cision PR Newswire
G2 rating: 3.9/5
Features: Distribution, Contact Lists, Social Sharing, Analytics, Press Release Creation, Multimedia, Newsrooms, SEO
Cision-owned PR Newswire is one of the most recognized wire services, known for its extensive network of media outlets and email subscribers. It’s a powerful PR distribution tool for reaching broad audiences and expanding your message across various channels, including social media.
However, while this broad reach is a key advantage, PR Newswire can be expensive, as you pay per distribution area. It also lacks the ability to target specific segments, so this option is only a good fit for releases that announce major news. Finally, despite its large feature offering, Cision is frequently criticized for these being poorly integrated due to an acquisition of different companies, leading to a clunky user experience and data-synching issues across the platform.
| Distribution Area | Annual Membership | Price per release (400 words) | Additional 100 Words | Multimedia Inclusions | Logo |
| State & Local | $195 | $350 | $140 | $325 | $495 |
| Regional (Top Markets) | $195 | $575 | $165 | $325 | $495 |
| National | $195 | $805 | $245 | $325 | $495 |
| Good to know: This pricing breakdown may be subject to change–for updated pricing, reach out to PR Newswire’s sales team. |
6. ACCESS Newswire
G2 rating: 4.3/5
Features: Distribution, Contact Lists, Social Sharing, Analytics, Press Release Creation, Multimedia, Newsrooms, SEO, Contact Management, Scheduling Tools, Multimedia Distribution
ACCESS Newswire helps organizations amplify their brand stories with a range of communication services like pitching, monitoring, investor relations, and compliance. An extensive distribution network also ensures a wide reach.
However, the platform has some limitations, including a lack of detailed data insights and restricted options for targeting.
Subscription
| Plan | Price | Features |
| ACCESS PR Budget | $649.00 (Per month) | Includes unlimited media database searches, 500 downloads, 500 media pitch credits, and 1 press release distribution. |
| ACCESS PR National | $849.00 (Per month) | Adds 750 downloads and 750 media pitch credits, along with all features from the Budget Plan. |
| ACCESS PR Premium | $1195.00 (Per month) | Offers 1000 downloads, 1000 media pitch credits, and all features from the National Plan for higher-volume PR needs. |
Non-Subscription
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Budget | $415 (Per release) | Includes distribution to major news outlets, TV stations, newsrooms, and online publications. |
| National | $775 (Per release) | Adds broker terminal and trading platform coverage, along with access to Associated Press. |
| US Premium | $1095 (Per release) | Expands coverage to targeted outlets, Business Insider, AP mobile, and specialty circuits. |
7. Business Wire
G2 rating: 4.1/5
Features: Distribution, Contact List, Analytics
Business Wire, another traditional wire service, sets itself apart from PR Newswire with its focus on targeted distribution. It offers location and industry-specific targeting, making it a better option if you want to reach specific audiences rather than a broad, general group.
However, some users have noted that the coverage results don’t always justify the price, while additional charges are often applied for multi-channel distribution.
| Plan | Price | Features |
| Core | $2,595 (Per 5 releases) | Provides local media reach, 24/7 editorial support, NewsTrak analytics, and multimedia formatting. |
| Advanced | $3,495 (Per 5 releases) | Expands to regional circuits with all Core features, including reach across multiple states and enhanced targeting. |
| Premium | $4,495 (Per 5 releases) | Offers national media reach with all Advanced features, plus broad distribution to key U.S. outlets. |
The Takeaway: One platform for your entire PR strategy
Wire services have long been the standard for press release distribution. However, PR professionals who care about building valuable relations with journalists and creating resilient, long-term reputations in the process should make way for a new player.
All-in-one PR platforms like Presspage integrate press release distribution with your entire PR workflow, helping you secure coverage from the right journalists, unlock future media opportunities, and enhance your brand's credibility.
