Software · head to head
Cision vs PR Newswire
PR Newswire
Software
The global leader in press release distribution
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- They diverge on capability: Cision covers Media monitoring, PR Newswire covers Press release distribution.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cision and PR Newswire actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cision | PR Newswire |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | usage-based |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web |
| Founded | 1867 | 1954 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Cision
- Media monitoring
- PR Newswire distribution
- Media database
- Influencer identification
- Salesforce
- Google Analytics
- Slack
- Microsoft 365
Only in PR Newswire
- Press release distribution
- Multimedia support
- Targeted distribution
- Regulatory disclosure
- Cision platform
- Google News
- Yahoo Finance
- Bloomberg
Both cover
- Analytics & reporting
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cision
- Press release distribution
- Media monitoringnot PR Newswire
- PR measurementnot PR Newswire
- Media outreachnot PR Newswire
- Crisis communicationsnot PR Newswire
PR Newswire
- Press release distribution
- Product launchesnot Cision
- Earnings announcementsnot Cision
- Corporate newsnot Cision
- SEC filingsnot Cision
Both are used for press release distribution, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cision
Nothing recorded yet. See the Cision review.
PR Newswire
- PR Newswire is structured as an annual membership organization with a separate fee, on top of per-release distribution charges (archived pricing page, 8 September 2021)
- Single state-level press release distribution starts at $355 USD for only a 400-word release, with pricing rising per additional word or wider circuit (archived pricing page, 8 September 2021)
- Top Markets distribution, a wider circuit than a single state, starts at $650 USD for a 400-word release, and a four-release Top Markets bundle is $3,095 USD (archived pricing page, 8 September 2021)
Pricing, plan by plan
Cision
On request- Cision Communications CloudFree
- Media monitoring
- Media database
- PR analytics
- EnterpriseFree
- Full platform access
- PR Newswire distribution
- Custom integrations
PR Newswire
On request- US1 - State$575/one-time
- State distribution
- Online posting
- Basic analytics
- US2 - Regional$825/one-time
- Regional distribution
- AP inclusion
- Enhanced analytics
- US3 - National$1475/one-time
- National distribution
- All wire services
- Multimedia options
- GlobalFree
- International distribution
- Translation services
- Global reach
Which should you pick?
Choose Cision if
- You need media monitoring.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want pr newswire distribution.
Choose PR Newswire if
- You need press release distribution.
- You also want multimedia support.
Questions people ask
- Is Cision or PR Newswire better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cision starts at On request and PR Newswire at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cision or PR Newswire?
- Cision starts at On request and PR Newswire at On request.
- Does Cision or PR Newswire run on more platforms?
- Cision runs on Web, Ios, Android. PR Newswire runs on Web.
- What is Cision best used for?
- Cision is most often used for press release distribution, media monitoring, pr measurement, media outreach. Of those, media monitoring and pr measurement are not what PR Newswire is typically brought in for.
- What can Cision do that PR Newswire cannot?
- Cision covers Media monitoring, PR Newswire distribution, Media database, Influencer identification. PR Newswire covers Press release distribution, Multimedia support, Targeted distribution, Regulatory disclosure. Both handle Analytics & reporting, Web support.