CISION PR Newswire vs. RealWire

Looking for the best press release distribution service for your business? Find out whether CISION PR Newswire or RealWire is the best option. 

Discover how they measure up in this side-by-side comparison review as we look at pricing, ease of use, features, and their customer services.


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CISION PR Newswire vs. RealWire: Which is Better?

Before we dig into this review, let’s first outline which is the better overall deal.

While  CISION PR Newswire charges $ 195 for its basic package, RealWire will do it for £149  but just for a day, and it is exclusive to United Kingdom. Go with  CISION PR Newswire (the winner) to get  better outreach and choose the one that has the best distribution.

If you want the best press release distribution service visit  CISION PR Newswire

If you want a well-known, wide press release distribution network, visit CISION PR Newswire.

If you want to focus on an internet audience for your press release, visit RealWire.

Read our Best Press Release Distribution Service 2021 review to find the right press release distribution for your business’s specific needs.

What Do CISION PR Newswire and RealWire Have in Common?

By all accounts, both CISION PR Newswire and RealWire have quite a bit in common.

Here is a list of some of their commonalities:

  • Price: Both offer competitive package rates depending on the features you want to focus on. 
  • Ease of Use: CISION PR Newswire and RealWire have user-friendly sites, making it easy to distribute a press release. 
  • Features: Both companies offer additional services that makes it easy to reach out to a lot of people. These include SEO enhancements, digital distribution, and subscribing journals.
  • Customer Service: Both CISION PR Newswire and RealWire have a customer support network that can answer difficult questions and walk you through the process of distributing your press release.

Side-by-Side Comparison

CISION PR Newswire: Prices

  • State and Local – $355+
  • Regional – $475+
  • National – $835

RealWire: Prices

  • Traditional Press Release (Sendit) – £149 ($209)
  • Social Media News Release (Blogit) – £229 ($321)

CISION PR Newswire: Ease of Use

  1. Visit the CISION PR Newswire website
  2. Click on “Get Started”
  3. Fill out the signup form
  4. Select “Create My Account”

RealWire: Ease of Use

  1. Visit the RealWire website
  2. Select “Send Release” 
  3. Create an Account
  4. Click “Submit”

CISION PR Newswire Features

  • State and Local Submission of a 400-word press release to any US state, New York metropolitan area, or New Jersey plus New York City. Press release is distributed to the PR Newswire network, including more than 4,000 websites and 3,000 media outlets as well as access to 20,000+ PR Newswire for Journalists email subscribers.
  • Regional Submission of a 400-word press release to any region of the US or one of the top market lists. Press release is distributed to the PR Newswire network and the PR Newswire for Journalists subscribers.
  • National Nationwide distribution of a 400-word press release. Press release is distributed to the PR Newswire network and PR Newswire for Journalists. 

PR Newswire membership also includes 24/7 customer service support, editorial staff support, audience engagement consultations, and marketing webinars.

RealWire Features

  • Sendit Submission of one press release with an unlimited word count to over 4,500 news contacts. Businesses can also have their press releases posted on language-specific sites for an extra cost, plus SEO services.
  • Blogit Submission of one press release with an unlimited word count to over 4,500 news contacts. Press releases can include media files, and businesses can receive comments on their releases. Language-specific website postings are available for an additional cost, and businesses receive SEO services.

Customer Service

Both CISION PR Newswire and RealWire exhibited diligent customer service when we reached out to them.

CISION PR Newswire

CISION PR Newswire offers phone support and online support. 

  • To reach them by phone, call Cision Distribution at (888) 776-0942 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern time.
  • To reach them online, visit their website, select “Contact” from the header, and select “General Inquiries.” You will be prompted to fill out a contact form.

RealWire

RealWire offers phone support and email support. 

  • To reach them by phone, call them Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time) at +44 (0)1522 883640.
  • To reach them by email, visit their website and click on one of the contact options. From there, you can email them directly through their contact form.

Customer Reviews

Here are some customer reviews for CISION PR Newswire and RealWire from trustworthy third-party online review sites. 

CISION PR Newswire

Listed below are some legitimate reviews pulled from TrustRadius written by customers who have used CISION PR Newswire to help spread the news about their business:

“We receive PR Newswire and sometimes will use info from that in stories published online by my company. It is something helpful when trying to pull needed information that an entity or school will put out to get their word out. It helps us just put in info without having to track down more info. It’s well-suited when trying to push a product or idea that doesn’t need much elaboration. At times we need information and it’s just there, like a magic trick from a brilliant magic man. An area of improvement is not coming across so “PR-y.” But I guess that’s the job of the person writing it and a news person’s job to decipher it.”

“PR Newswire is a basic wire distribution service, so it’s best used for releases that you need to reach a wide audience but don’t necessarily need to hyper-target demographically. There are a number of distribution channel options, but most of them are fairly generic when compared to other more intense services such as Business Wire. However, the price of PR Newswire is also significantly lower, so for what you pay, it more than exceeds expectations.”

“PR Newswire is well suited for organizations with a significant public relations budget that want to quickly disseminate a news release over the wire to a specific targeted group of recipients. It’s probably not a suitable solution for smaller companies or “boutique” public relations agency unless the distribution cost is to be directly passed on to the client because it is quite expensive.”

RealWire

There are no reviews for RealWire on any verified review platforms like Trustpilot, Chamber of Commerce, or SiteJabber. The only customer reviews were posted on RealWire’s website:

“RealWire have always been at the forefront of the press release distribution industry, having been the first European SMNR provider, inventing PRFilter and coming up with the Inconvenient PR truth campaign that lead to the CIPRs ‘Media Spamming Charter’. With that in mind, we ate one chocolate that felt like we have a partner that matches our standards and ambitions.”

“Over the last three years I have come to rely on the team at RealWire not only for the consistent high level of service but also for the speed with which they deliver it. With every release I receive a rapid confirmation from someone and if there is ever an issue it is resolved quickly. This gives me the assurance that the eventual hiccups that arise never delay an important announcement.”

Which Press Release Service Should You Choose?

CISION PR Newswire and RealWire both have extensive distribution networks. If you are focused on distributing your press release in the United Kingdom, then RealWire is the obvious choice. Yet, in our opinion, CISION PR Newswire’s ability to target specific areas is a distinct advantage that makes them the best press release distribution company.

However, if you’re still unsure of which is best for your particular needs, let’s look at some scenarios that might help you decide.

Choose CISION PR Newswire if:

You don’t mind contacting CISION PR Newswire to create your customized distribution. 

Choose RealWire if:

You are distributing globally and want a more social media-focused press release distribution service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do both CISION PR Newswire and RealWire offer writing services?

Neither CISION PR Newswire nor RealWire includes writing services in their packages. Both services advise clients to find a freelancer to help construct their release if they are not comfortable doing it themselves.

Who charges more for its basic package CISION PR Newswire or RealWire?

CISION PR Newswire charges significantly more for their services, but you receive a larger distribution network. 

Do both CISION PR Newswire and RealWire allow online submissions?

Both services offer online submissions to make it convenient for their clients to submit and pay for their press releases.

Does CISION PR Newswire or RealWire have the more expensive higher-end package?

Both offer high-end packages; however, CISION PR Newswire has the more expensive packages. RealWire packages are generally more affordable.

Do both CISION PR Newswire and RealWire allow you to submit pictures for your press release?

CISION PR Newswire allows pictures to be added to the press release. RealWire similarly allows pictures to be added to the press release as well as other multimedia recordings like videos. 

What is the best press release distribution service?

The best press release distribution service depends on your goals. A reputable company will provide you with a press release service that provides superior writing and distribution capabilities. A company that can provide excellent customer support and that can customize its services to meet your individual needs is also an excellent choice.

What is a press release distribution service?

A press release distribution service can send out your news releases to several different media sources. They specialize in putting together customized news releases, and the news distribution company will take care of mailing, faxing, and even printing your materials so that you don’t have to worry about them. 

A PR distribution service will usually charge more than you would pay to have a professional write your release, but you end up saving money in the long run because a reputable service will mail your materials for less than you would pay a professional business to do the same thing.

How do I distribute a press release for free?

Many people ask this question and want to know how to distribute a press release for free, especially if they have just developed a new product. In order to distribute a press release for free, you write the press release and distribute it yourself. Be aware, however, that this free method may cost you more in time than it is worth.

Are press releases worth it?

Press releases are a great way to get the word out about your product and business. Whether it is worth it depends on your unique business needs. It is best to put together a marketing strategy that incorporates a press release plan. 

How do you distribute a press release locally?

Begin by writing a press release for your local audience. Once you have done this, reach out to local news outlets to discuss getting your news published. The better written your press release, the better your chances of getting it broadcasted locally.

Why do companies issue press releases?

Why issue a press release? You might think that a simple press release is all that you need to do in order to get the word out about your new product or service. However, that’s not the case. 

If you want to ensure that your press release is picked up and distributed, you need to make sure that you follow a number of important steps to ensure that your press release has the best chance of success. 

Any company that wishes to issue a press release should follow these steps:

  1. Write a great press release.
  2. Reach out to media outlets that your customers are connected with.
  3. Ensure your press release gets published.

Are press releases outdated?

Since press releases are still used routinely and are a major component of online marketing, it is fair to assume that they are still important and relevant today. 

How do I make my press release stand out?

In our experience, press releases are written, distributed, and edited with the same attention to detail as any other magazine or newspaper story. 

In addition to this attention to detail, a successful press release must generate attention and stand out. The best way to accomplish this is to study other press releases and determine how you can make yours unique. Find inspiration from those who were successful before you.

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