Business Wire Pricing (2026): $475 Starting Price and What Raises It
Business Wire publishes one price: $475 for a 400-word release with U.S. domestic local distribution. More words, wider circuits, multimedia and translation cost more, and those come as a quote.
Ongoing plans: built with its team for regular senders; no published price.
Cheaper published prices: PRWeb from $120, EIN Presswire from $149, Newswire.com from $399.
Read on businesswire.com/pricing on 7 October 2026.
Business Wire is one of the few large wires that puts a number on its pricing page. That number is a floor: it covers a short release sent to one local U.S. market. Everything above it is priced by Business Wire's team for your release, so this page covers what the floor includes, what raises it, and what to compare it with.
The published starting price
Business Wire's pricing page offers two routes. One-time distribution starts at $475, described as the "Starting price for 400 words, U.S. domestic local distribution". Ongoing distribution is a plan built with its team around your release cadence, with no price listed.
The page lists what every release includes:
- 400 words with unlimited hyperlinks
- Secure submission and distribution
- Full-color, linked logo
- Rich-text formatting and financial tables
- Detailed analytics reports
- 24/7 customer service support
- Expert editorial review
- Customized callout text
- Social media sharing tools
What raises the price
Business Wire's own answer to "How does Business Wire price press releases?" is that pricing "is based on several factors, including word count, geographic circuit, and any enhancements such as multimedia or translation." Its FAQ adds that it offers "targeted circuits based on geography, industry, and audience type, including media, investors, and trade publications."
So the four levers are:
- Word count. The $475 covers 400 words. Ask what each block above that costs.
- Circuit. Local U.S. is the floor. State, national, industry and international circuits are quoted.
- Multimedia. Photos and video are listed as enhancements, priced on top.
- Translation. Also an enhancement for non-English distribution.
Business Wire does not publish the price of any of these. The page says its team will make sure "you understand the full cost before your release is distributed", so ask for the full figure in writing.
Questions to ask before you accept a quote
- What does each block of words above 400 cost?
- Which circuit is quoted, and what would one step narrower or wider cost?
- What does each photo or video add?
- Is translation included for any non-English circuit?
- Are links in syndicated copies followed? If backlinks matter, ask before paying. When we checked 855 syndicated copies of one EIN Presswire release, 424 of the 426 that loaded told search engines not to follow the link (see our EIN Presswire review). We have not measured Business Wire's copies.
- If you send regularly, what does an ongoing plan cost per release, and for how long does it commit you?
Is Business Wire worth the price?
Business Wire describes itself as "Press Release Distribution & Regulatory Disclosure Experts", with 60+ years in business, 13K+ releases distributed each month and 160+ countries reached (its figures, checked 7 October 2026). It is a sensible buy if you:
- Send earnings releases or other disclosures to investors
- Need distribution across several countries or languages
- Have stakeholders who expect a large commercial wire
It is probably not worth it if you:
- Mostly want backlinks
- Want coverage written by journalists rather than a release republished
- Send one small announcement and a $120 to $245 PRWeb tier would put it on the record
Cheaper alternatives
| Service | Published starting price (7 October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| GlobeNewswire | Not published; sold through Notified | Companies wanting a large wire alongside Notified's IR tools |
| PR Newswire | Not published; sales quote | Cision-owned enterprise wire |
| Newswire.com | From $399 | Mid-priced distribution with a published price |
| PRWeb | From $120/release; syndication from $245 | SMB self-serve announcements |
| EIN Presswire | From $149/release | Cheapest broad distribution |
| MentionAgent | $99/mo flat | Outreach to relevant blogs instead of a wire |
For the wider field, see Business Wire alternatives.
A founder wants a "wire-shaped" launch announcement with every price known up front and no sales call. Which fits?
Right. PRWeb publishes every tier, from $120 to $480, so the full price is known before you buy.
Business Wire publishes only its $475 local starting price; a national circuit is quoted. PR Newswire publishes no prices at all. PRWeb lists every tier.
Want coverage, not just distribution?
MentionAgent finds relevant blogs, looks up the right contact, writes the pitch, and follows up. From $99/mo per sending inbox, no per-link fees.
Start Getting Mentioned On AutopilotRelated
Frequently asked questions
How much does Business Wire cost?
Business Wire's published starting price is $475 for a 400-word release with U.S. domestic local distribution (checked 7 October 2026). Longer releases, wider circuits, multimedia and translation cost more and are quoted by its team.
What is included in Business Wire's $475 starting price?
Per its pricing page: 400 words with unlimited hyperlinks, secure submission and distribution, a full-color linked logo, rich-text formatting and financial tables, detailed analytics reports, 24/7 customer service, expert editorial review, customized callout text and social media sharing tools, sent to U.S. domestic local distribution.
What makes a Business Wire release cost more?
Business Wire says pricing is based on word count, geographic circuit, and enhancements such as multimedia or translation. It offers circuits by geography, industry and audience type, including media, investors and trade publications. It does not publish the prices of these.
Does Business Wire have plans for companies that send releases regularly?
Its pricing page offers ongoing distribution, a plan built with its team around your release cadence and audiences. No price is published for it, so ask for the per-release cost and the length of the commitment.
What is cheaper than Business Wire?
Wires with lower published prices: PRWeb from $120 per release (syndication from its $245 tier), EIN Presswire from $149 ($66.60 each in a 15-pack) and Newswire.com from $399. GlobeNewswire and PR Newswire publish no prices. For coverage rather than distribution, MentionAgent runs outreach to relevant blogs from $99 a month.
Who owns Business Wire?
Berkshire Hathaway lists Business Wire among its subsidiary companies on berkshirehathaway.com.