Software · head to head
PR Newswire vs Arc Publishing

PR Newswire
Software
The global leader in press release distribution
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -

Arc Publishing
Software
The enterprise publishing platform for news organizations
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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); Arc Publishing now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
- They diverge on capability: PR Newswire covers Press release distribution, Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PR Newswire and Arc Publishing actually diverge.
| Attribute | PR Newswire | Arc Publishing |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | quote |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 1954 | 2016 |
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 PR Newswire
- Press release distribution
- Multimedia support
- Analytics & reporting
- Targeted distribution
- Regulatory disclosure
- Cision platform
- Google News
- Yahoo Finance
Only in Arc Publishing
- Modular CMS
- Content creation
- Publishing workflow
- Paywall management
- Subscription billing
- Analytics dashboard
- API framework
- Commerce integration
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PR Newswire
- Press release distributionnot Arc Publishing
- Product launchesnot Arc Publishing
- Earnings announcementsnot Arc Publishing
- Corporate newsnot Arc Publishing
- SEC filingsnot Arc Publishing
Arc Publishing
- Content management for news and digital publishersnot PR Newswire
- Subscription and paywall managementnot PR Newswire
- Video publishing alongside articlesnot PR Newswire
- Multi-site delivery for broadcast and B2B publishersnot PR Newswire
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
Arc Publishing
- Now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
- Pricing is not published
- Built for media companies, so the editorial workflow assumptions do not suit a general business site
Pricing, plan by plan
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$1475/one-time
- National distribution
- All wire services
- Multimedia options
- GlobalFree
- International distribution
- Translation services
- Global reach
Arc Publishing
On request- Enterprise$undefined/custom
- Custom CMS
- Paywall integration
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose PR Newswire if
- You need press release distribution.
- You also want multimedia support.
Choose Arc Publishing if
- You need modular cms.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want content creation.
Questions people ask
- Is PR Newswire or Arc Publishing better?
- Neither clearly leads. PR Newswire starts at On request and Arc Publishing at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PR Newswire or Arc Publishing?
- PR Newswire starts at On request and Arc Publishing at On request.
- Does PR Newswire or Arc Publishing run on more platforms?
- PR Newswire runs on Web. Arc Publishing runs on Web, Mobile.
- What is PR Newswire best used for?
- PR Newswire is most often used for press release distribution, product launches, earnings announcements, corporate news. Of those, press release distribution and product launches are not what Arc Publishing is typically brought in for.
- What can PR Newswire do that Arc Publishing cannot?
- PR Newswire covers Press release distribution, Multimedia support, Analytics & reporting, Targeted distribution. Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, Content creation, Publishing workflow, Paywall management. Both handle Web support.
