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News · head to head

Cision vs PR Newswire

Cision logo

Cision

News

The complete PR and earned media platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PR Newswire logo

PR Newswire

News

The global leader in press release distribution

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cision no transparent pricing published for media monitoring and PR tools; 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)
  • They diverge on capability: Cision covers Media monitoring, PR Newswire covers Press release distribution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cision and PR Newswire actually diverge.

Attributes where Cision and PR Newswire differ
AttributeCisionPR Newswire
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded18671954

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).

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

  • No transparent pricing published for media monitoring and PR tools

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.
Cision review

Choose PR Newswire if

  • You need press release distribution.
  • You also want multimedia support.
PR Newswire review

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.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cision: How much does Cision cost?

Cision does not publish standard pricing on its website. The company offers media monitoring, journalist outreach, and social listening tools through CisionOne platform with pricing based on media monitoring scope, number of keywords, and service level. Contact sales for quotes.

Source
Cision: What services does Cision offer?

Cision offers media monitoring, instant insights and reporting, journalist outreach, social listening and management, professional services, and CisionOne AI. All services are part of the CisionOne unified platform.

Source
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