Digital signage with a Raspberry Pi: affordable, energy-efficient and reliable

A Raspberry Pi is a computer the size of a credit card. It's cheap, uses little power and fits easily behind a screen. No wonder many tech-savvy business owners and IT professionals want to use it for digital signage. But is a Raspberry Pi suitable for playing content on your screens all day long? In this article you'll learn what's possible, what to watch out for and when a different player is the smarter choice.

What is a Raspberry Pi?

The Raspberry Pi is a small single-board computer developed by the UK-based Raspberry Pi Foundation. It was originally intended for education, but these days it's used everywhere, from home automation to industrial applications. You connect it to a screen via HDMI, give it power and an internet connection, and it works as a full-fledged mini PC.

For digital signage, the Raspberry Pi 5 is the most interesting option. It has two micro-HDMI outputs, can play 4K video and is considerably faster than earlier models. The Raspberry Pi 4 is still perfectly usable for images, text and Full HD video, too.

Benefits of digital signage with a Raspberry Pi

• Affordable: a Raspberry Pi with a power supply, case and storage is often cheaper than a PC or many professional media players.
• Energy-efficient: while playing content, a Raspberry Pi usually uses only a few watts. That makes a real difference compared to a PC that's on all day.
• Compact: it fits behind almost any screen and can be mounted out of sight.
• Quiet: with no fan or just a small one, it makes hardly any noise, which is handy in offices and waiting rooms.
• Flexible: with a PoE add-on, you can power it through the network cable, so you only need one cable.

Drawbacks and pitfalls

A Raspberry Pi isn't a ready-made product. That comes with a few risks you should know about up front.

• You have to install and configure it yourself. That takes some technical knowledge.
• Cheap memory cards can fail over time, especially if the power suddenly cuts out.
• Without proper cooling, it can slow down in warm conditions.
• There's no manufacturer's warranty on the whole setup like there is with a ready-made player. If something goes wrong, it's up to you to fix it.
• If you have a lot of screens, you need to be able to manage them all remotely. With a patchwork of scripts, that quickly gets messy.

How to make a Raspberry Pi reliable for digital signage

If you go with a Raspberry Pi, a few choices make the difference between a player that runs for years and one that acts up every month.

• Use the official power supply. For the Raspberry Pi 5, that's the 27-watt USB-C power supply. A power supply that's too weak, or power from the TV's USB port, causes hard-to-trace glitches.
• Choose quality storage: a memory card from a reliable brand that's designed for continuous use, or an SSD.
• Provide cooling with a case that has a heatsink or the official active cooler.
• Use a wired network connection instead of Wi-Fi wherever possible.
• Choose digital signage software that stores content locally, so the screen keeps running if the internet briefly drops out.
• Manage everything centrally. Software with an online management portal saves you from having to visit every screen.

Digital signage software on a Raspberry Pi

The hardware is only half the story. You also need software to create content, schedule it and send it to your screens. There are open-source projects you can use to do it yourself, but they often require a lot of maintenance. A SaaS solution takes that work off your hands: you manage all your screens from one environment in your browser.

Stremo supports the Raspberry Pi as a compact, energy-efficient player. You manage it from Stremo just like any other screen: create content with the Slide Builder, schedule it with playlists and schedules, and organize your screens into groups by location. If the connection drops, the screen simply keeps playing the locally stored content and syncs automatically as soon as the internet is back.

Raspberry Pi or another player?

A Raspberry Pi is a good choice if you're technically savvy, want to pick your own hardware or already have Raspberry Pis on hand. But there are also alternatives that take less work.

• Smart TV with app: on a compatible Samsung Tizen or Android TV, you can install the Stremo app directly, with no extra hardware.
• Existing Chromecast or Apple TV: the app also runs on a Chromecast with Google TV or an Apple TV at no extra cost.
• Stremo Player: a ready-made player that you plug into the HDMI port, for a one-time $99, or $139 with ethernet.
• Windows PC or mini PC: handy if you already have a PC next to the screen.

So don't just compare the purchase price; also consider the time you spend on installation and maintenance. With one or two screens, that's manageable. With dozens of screens across multiple locations, a player that works right out of the box often matters more. Also read how to choose a digital signage system and whether you can use your existing TV.

Frequently asked questions

Which Raspberry Pi is best for digital signage?

The Raspberry Pi 5 is the best fit, especially if you want to play high-resolution videos. For simple slides, a Raspberry Pi 4 will do the job as well.

How much power does a Raspberry Pi use?

When playing content, usually just a few watts. Even if it's on day and night, that adds up to about $10 in electricity over a whole year.

Can I manage a Raspberry Pi remotely?

Yes, if you use digital signage software with an online management portal. Then you can update content without having to be at the screen.

Getting started

A Raspberry Pi is an affordable and energy-efficient foundation for digital signage, provided you set it up properly. With Stremo, you manage it just as easily as any other screen. Rather not deal with hardware? Then the Stremo Player or the app on your smart TV is a good alternative. Try Stremo free for 14 days, no credit card required.