Is Pickcel cheaper than Appspace for a 50-screen digital signage network?

Appspace does not publish per-screen pricing for its paid tiers; pricing is on request. Pickcel charges per screen per month, so a 50-screen deployment has a calculable cost before you contact sales. Request a Pickcel quote with your screen count for a direct comparison.

Does Pickcel offer the same enterprise digital signage features as Appspace?

For digital signage specifically, both platforms cover content scheduling, multi-location management, and multi-screen distribution. Pickcel holds SOC 2 Type II certification. Where Appspace goes further is outside signage: room booking, desk management, and visitor management are not part of Pickcel's platform.

Can Pickcel replace Appspace for a mid-market organisation that only needs digital signage?

Yes. For organisations whose requirement is digital signage and employee communications on screens, Pickcel covers that scope with 50+ device support, real-time updates, multi-location management, and SOC 2 Type II certification. Room booking and desk management are not available in Pickcel.

How does Pickcel's security certification compare to Appspace's?

Both platforms are ISO 27001 certified. Pickcel holds a SOC 2 Type II report, which is the standard enterprise procurement teams typically require. Appspace holds a SOC 3 Type II certificate plus ISO 27017. Organisations with a specific SOC 2 report requirement should request it directly from each vendor.

Pickcel vs Appspace: Enterprise Digital Signage, Two Different Approaches

Appspace is a unified workplace experience platform combining digital signage with room booking, desk management, visitor management, and wayfinding. Pickcel is focused digital signage and employee communications software, with per-screen pricing for networks of any size, from 10 screens to 10,000.

Book a Switch Consult

Pickcel digital signage screen showing a Stronger Teams On Every Shift workplace message

9,000+

Businesses

150,000+

Screens

70+

Countries

At a Glance

A quick look at which platform fits different needs.

Pickcel wins for

Organisations that need enterprise digital signage and employee communications with per-screen pricing and SOC 2 Type II certification
Organisations that do not need a full workplace suite

Appspace wins for

Large enterprises that need digital signage, room booking, desk management, and visitor management unified in one contract
Formal RFPs that value Gartner Workplace Experience leadership

Compare further if

Your requirement sits between the two: digital signage plus one or two workplace tools, but not the full Appspace suite
You are not sure the full Appspace suite is justified
You want to compare cost, security, and device support

Quick Summary

Two different approaches to enterprise digital signage.

Pickcel is a cloud-based digital signage and employee communications platform serving 9,000+ businesses, managing 150,000+ screens across 70+ countries, certified to SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, with per-screen/month pricing and a 14-day free trial. Appspace is a workplace experience platform combining digital signage, room booking, desk management, visitor management, and wayfinding, recognized as a Gartner Leader in 2026 for Workplace Experience Applications.

Organisations that need digital signage and employee communications without the broader workplace management suite typically find Pickcel the more cost-efficient fit; organisations requiring a unified workplace platform benefit from Appspace's broader scope.

Learn more about the key differences

Focused digital signage

Screen networks, employee communications, and per-screen pricing.

Pickcel digital signage screen showing a Safety First workplace message

Digital signageEmployee comms50+ devices

Workplace experience suite

Signage plus rooms, desks, visitors, and wayfinding in one platform.

Workplace experience tools spanning screens, rooms, and employee spaces

SignageRoomsDesksVisitors

About Appspace

What Appspace Does

Appspace is a workplace experience platform built to manage the digital and physical workplace from one system. Its digital signage module covers content scheduling, video walls, interactive kiosks, and multi-screen distribution. Alongside signage, Appspace provides room booking, desk reservation, visitor management, and wayfinding tools that give facilities and IT teams a single platform for the hybrid workplace.

An employee communications layer runs through the platform. Appspace pushes content via a mobile employee app, an intranet module, and a content distribution engine that shares content across screens, intranet, and messaging platforms from one source. AI tools for content writing, translation, and natural language search are built directly into the platform.

Appspace integrates with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, SharePoint, Slack, and a range of HR and facilities systems. It holds ISO 27001 and ISO 27017 certification, and a SOC 3 Type II certification. Gartner named Appspace a Leader in its 2026 Magic Quadrant for Workplace Experience Applications.

Pricing uses a per-user and per-device model. A permanent free plan supports 2 users and 1 device. Paid tiers scale from 25 to 50+ users and devices; enterprise pricing is available on request.

Workplace digital screens and employee communication across an office environment

About Pickcel

What Pickcel Does

Pickcel is cloud-based digital signage software with an employee communication app built in. It works across 50+ device types and handles content scheduling, real-time updates, and multi-location playback for networks from a single screen to enterprise deployments of tens of thousands of screens.

The platform's core is digital signage: a cloud CMS, content scheduling, real-time updates, and monitoring across all connected screens. The employee communications module lets organisations push announcements, alerts, and targeted messages to screen-based audiences across locations and departments.

Pickcel is certified to SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. It serves 9,000+ businesses, managing 150,000+ screens across 70+ countries, with 99.99% uptime. Per-screen pricing means costs scale directly with your screen count. A 14-day free trial is available without a credit card.

Pickcel does not offer room booking, desk management, visitor management, or wayfinding. For organisations whose requirement is digital signage and employee communications, this focus means a faster deployment and a simpler operating model than a full workplace suite. For organisations that need those additional tools, Appspace covers broader ground.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Feature / Capability	PickcelDigital Signage & Comms	AppspaceWorkplace Experience Platform
Platform Scope
Digital signage (scheduling, playback, multi-screen)	Yes	Yes
Employee communications	Yes	Yes
Room booking and desk reservation	No	Yes
Visitor management and wayfinding	No	Yes
Employee intranet and mobile app	Yes	Yes
Deployment
Multi-location hierarchy management	Yes	Yes
50+ device types / multi-brand hardware	Yes	Partial
Security
ISO 27001 certified	Yes	Yes
SOC Type II audit	Yes	Yes
Pricing
Per-screen/month pricing model	Yes	No
Free entry option (trial or permanent)	Yes	Yes

Device support: Pickcel supports 50+ device types across manufacturers. Appspace publicly confirms 9 device brands including Cisco, BrightSign, Crestron, Samsung, LG, Sony, Elo, Poly, and Google. SOC audit: Pickcel holds a SOC 2 Type II report; Appspace holds a SOC 3 Type II certification (the public-facing version of the same audit type). See the security comparison below. Disclaimer: Pickcel is independent of Appspace and bases this comparison on publicly available information. Appspace owns its trademark. We encourage you to verify details with each vendor.

Where Each Platform Wins

Where Pickcel Wins

Pickcel is the stronger fit for organisations where digital signage and employee communications are the primary requirement, and the broader workplace experience suite is not.

Digital signage and communications only
The clearest indicator is scope. If you do not need room booking, desk management, or visitor management built into your digital signage contract, a platform that bundles those modules charges you for capabilities you will not use. Pickcel's per-screen pricing lets IT or operations teams budget precisely against the screens in their deployment. See employee communications for how screen networks fit a broader stack.
Mid-market networks of 50–500 screens
A second indicator is network size and economics. Mid-market organisations running 50 to 500 screens across multiple locations find per-screen pricing considerably more predictable than per-user bundled models that tie signage costs to headcount. Pickcel's 50+ device type support also reduces hardware lock-in: existing Samsung, LG, or BrightSign hardware continues working without a forced device change.
Enterprise security procurement
Pickcel's SOC 2 Type II certification satisfies requirements across regulated verticals including finance, healthcare, and government. The ISO 27001 certification covers the information security management system end to end.
Fast deployment
Most Pickcel customers configure and deploy their first screens within days. Larger enterprise rollouts across multiple locations typically complete within four to six weeks.

Get Started Free

No credit card required

Where Appspace Wins

Appspace makes the most sense for large enterprises that need a single platform to manage the digital and physical workplace together.

Full workplace experience suite
If your deployment requires digital signage, room booking, desk management, visitor management, and wayfinding under one support contract, Appspace is purpose-built for that combination. Its per-user and per-device pricing model reflects the multi-module structure: you are paying for a platform that spans facilities, communications, and IT, not just screens.
Deep Microsoft 365 environments
Gartner's recognition as a 2026 Magic Quadrant Leader for Workplace Experience Applications gives Appspace significant enterprise credibility in formal RFP processes. Its Microsoft 365 integration runs deep, which matters in enterprise digital signage environments already standardised on that stack. Built-in AI capabilities for content writing and translation add value for organisations with high content volume across languages.
Growing into more workplace modules
Appspace also fits organisations planning to grow into additional workplace capabilities over time. Starting with digital signage and adding room booking or desk management later is straightforward on one platform, without a separate vendor negotiation.
Validate scope before committing
If your requirement today is digital signage only, verify whether the additional Appspace modules justify the full platform scope and pricing. Our enterprise digital signage RFP guide covers evaluation criteria worth including.

Better Together

Can Pickcel and Appspace Work Together?

For organisations that need workplace facilities tools and a dedicated, scalable signage network, the two platforms can sit side by side rather than force a single vendor for every use case.

Use Appspace for the broader workplace suite
Keep room booking, desk management, visitor management, and wayfinding on Appspace when those modules are in active use.
Use Pickcel for dedicated digital signage networks
Run screen-based employee communications on Pickcel with per-screen pricing, 50+ device support, and SOC 2 Type II certification.
Keep messaging aligned across systems
Author content centrally and distribute to each platform's relevant audience so facilities tools and screen networks stay in sync.

Workplace tools on a laptop beside a Pickcel digital signage screen showing a Welcome to the team message

One important question before evaluating either platform: Do you need room booking, desk management, and visitor management in the same contract as your screens? If the answer is no, a focused digital signage platform like Pickcel avoids paying for modules you will not use.

Want to estimate the cost impact before committing? Run the switch ROI calculator.

See Your 12-Month Switch ROI

Tell us about your current setup. We'll send a personalised estimate.

Migration Guide

Switching from Appspace to Pickcel

Moving from Appspace to Pickcel for digital signage and employee communications is a four-step process. If you are not using Appspace's room booking or desk management modules, the migration scope is limited to content, schedules, and screen configuration.

Current workplace tools connected by an arrow to a Pickcel digital signage screen showing a workplace message

01
Step 1: Export content from Appspace
Download all media assets and document your current playlists, scheduling rules, and screen group structure. This step typically takes 2-4 hours for a 50-screen deployment.
02
Step 2: Map your screen groups in Pickcel
Create your location hierarchy in Pickcel and register each screen. The multi-location management structure in Pickcel mirrors geographic groupings you likely already maintain in Appspace.
03
Step 3: Run a pilot on 10-20 screens
Choose two or three locations and operate both platforms in parallel for two weeks. This confirms content fidelity, scheduling accuracy, and any format adjustments needed.
04
Step 4: Cut over by location
Migrate one location at a time rather than all at once. Allow one to two hours of configuration per location group.

Typical total timeline for a 50-screen deployment: 3-5 weeks. Pickcel's onboarding team supports the migration at each stage.

Security and Compliance

Security Comparison

Both platforms hold ISO 27001 certification, which covers information security management systems.

Pickcel

Pickcel holds SOC 2 Type II certification, the full audit report that evaluates security controls against the Trust Service Criteria over a defined reporting period. SOC 2 Type II is the standard most enterprise procurement processes require in writing, particularly in finance, healthcare, and government sectors.

SOC 2 Type II

ISO 27001

Appspace

Appspace holds SOC 3 Type II certification. The SOC 3 uses the same audit rigour as a SOC 2 Type II examination but produces a public-facing seal rather than a detailed controls report. Appspace also holds ISO 27017 certification for cloud-specific information security, and a Cloud Security Alliance Star Level 1 self-assessment. Organisations with a specific SOC 2 Type II report requirement should request the full audit report directly from Appspace.

ISO 27001ISO 27017SOC 3 Type IICSA STAR Level 1

For most enterprise buyer scenarios, both platforms satisfy the threshold. Organisations in strictly regulated sectors that require a readable SOC 2 Type II controls report for their compliance files should note the disclosure difference.

Pricing

Pricing comparison

Pickcel

Per-screen pricing

Pickcel charges per-screen pricing per month. Costs scale directly with your screen count, with no per-user seat charge layered on top. A 14-day free trial is available without a credit card.

Costs scale directly with your screen count
No per-user seat charge layered on top
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Current plans listed on the pricing page

Appspace

Per-user and per-device pricing

Appspace offers a permanent free plan covering 2 users and 1 device. Paid tiers charge separately for user seats and device licenses. Multi-module deployments carry both device and user costs. Enterprise and high-volume pricing is available on request from Appspace sales.

Permanent free plan: 2 users and 1 device
Express: 25 users and 25 devices
Enterprise: starts at 50 users and 50 devices
Enterprise and high-volume pricing on request

For a direct cost comparison on a specific screen count, request pricing from both vendors with a defined screen number, site count, and user count. The two pricing models produce very different totals depending on how large your user base is relative to your screen count.

Try Pickcel free for 14 days

Organisations evaluating Appspace for digital signage who want a per-screen pricing alternative with SOC 2 Type II certification and 50+ device support can try Pickcel free for 14 days.

No credit card required

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Appspace is a workplace experience platform covering digital signage, room booking, desk management, visitor management, and wayfinding. Pickcel focuses on digital signage and employee communications. If you need digital signage and communications only, Pickcel delivers that scope with per-screen pricing. If you need the full workplace suite, Appspace covers more ground.

Pickcel vs Staffbase comparison

For organisations comparing Pickcel to Staffbase for employee communications.

Guide

Enterprise digital signage procurement checklist

Feature evaluation guide for enterprise buyers in active vendor selection.

Comparison

Best employee communication software: 7 tools compared

Broader comparison of employee communication tools.

Industry

Enterprise digital signage

Pickcel's capabilities for large enterprise deployments.

Pickcel vs Appspace: Enterprise Digital Signage, Two Different Approaches

Two different approaches to enterprise digital signage.

Learn more about the key differences

What Appspace Does

Pricing uses a per-user and per-device model. A permanent free plan supports 2 users and 1 device. Paid tiers scale from 25 to 50+ users and devices; enterprise pricing is available on request.

What Pickcel Does

Feature / Capability	PickcelDigital Signage & Comms	AppspaceWorkplace Experience Platform
Platform Scope
Digital signage (scheduling, playback, multi-screen)	Yes	Yes
Employee communications	Yes	Yes
Room booking and desk reservation	No	Yes
Visitor management and wayfinding	No	Yes
Employee intranet and mobile app	Yes	Yes
Deployment
Multi-location hierarchy management	Yes	Yes
50+ device types / multi-brand hardware	Yes	Partial
Security
ISO 27001 certified	Yes	Yes
SOC Type II audit	Yes	Yes
Pricing
Per-screen/month pricing model	Yes	No
Free entry option (trial or permanent)	Yes	Yes

Feature / Capability

PickcelDigital Signage & Comms

AppspaceWorkplace Experience Platform

Platform Scope

Digital signage (scheduling, playback, multi-screen)

Yes

Employee communications

Yes

Room booking and desk reservation

Yes

Visitor management and wayfinding

Yes

Employee intranet and mobile app

Yes

Deployment

Multi-location hierarchy management

Yes

50+ device types / multi-brand hardware

Yes

Partial

Security

ISO 27001 certified

Yes

SOC Type II audit

Yes

Pricing

Per-screen/month pricing model

Yes

Free entry option (trial or permanent)

Yes

Can Pickcel and Appspace Work Together?

For organisations that need workplace facilities tools and a dedicated, scalable signage network, the two platforms can sit side by side rather than force a single vendor for every use case.

Use Appspace for the broader workplace suite

Keep room booking, desk management, visitor management, and wayfinding on Appspace when those modules are in active use.

Use Pickcel for dedicated digital signage networks

Run screen-based employee communications on Pickcel with per-screen pricing, 50+ device support, and SOC 2 Type II certification.

Keep messaging aligned across systems

Author content centrally and distribute to each platform's relevant audience so facilities tools and screen networks stay in sync.

Pickcel vs Appspace: Enterprise Digital Signage, Two Different Approaches

9,000+

150,000+

70+