Digital signage just got a whole lot more accessible. If you’ve been holding off on deploying digital signs because of cost or complex hardware, we have great news. Screenly is excited to announce the release of the Screenly Android App, a game-changer that turns virtually any Android device into a digital signage player. This means you can launch professional, eye-catching displays for your business without investing in specialized hardware – all with a simple app download.
Turn any Android device into a digital signage player
With the new Screenly Android App, any Android-powered device can become a dynamic digital sign. Whether it’s an Android smart TV in your lobby, a budget-friendly Android HDMI stick, or a spare Android tablet, you can now repurpose it to showcase your content. The app is readily available on the Google Play Store, so getting started is as easy as installing any other app. Once installed, the Screenly Android App brings the full power of Screenly’s digital signage platform to your device – no separate media player box required. In other words, your existing hardware can do the job of expensive dedicated signage players, lowering the cost of entry for high-quality digital signage.
This flexibility is especially useful for business owners concerned about cost. Instead of purchasing new equipment, you can use devices you already own or inexpensive Android devices to pilot your signage project. For example, that TV in your waiting area or the tablet sitting idle on your desk can now display menus, promotions, schedules, or social media feeds through Screenly. By leveraging Android devices, Screenly is effectively putting professional digital signage within reach for businesses of all sizes and budgets.
Simple setup - download, pair, and display in minutes
We know that busy business operators and managers don’t have time for complicated tech deployments. The Screenly Android App keeps things simple and user-friendly, so you can go from download to displaying content in just a few minutes. Here’s all it takes to get your digital sign up and running:
Download the app: Find the Screenly Android App on the Google Play Store and install it on your Android device (TV, tablet, or even an Android TV stick).
Pair with your Screenly account: Launch the app, and it will display a unique pairing code on the screen. Log in to your online Screenly account (or create a free account if you’re new) and enter that code to link the device to your Screenly dashboard.
Upload and schedule content: Once your Android screen is paired, you can use Screenly’s web-based dashboard to upload images, videos, or web page content and schedule playlists for that screen. After you publish, your content will immediately display on the Android device.
That’s it! In three simple steps, your Android device transforms into a remotely-managed digital sign. No special technical skills are required – if you can install an app and use a web browser, you can handle Screenly’s setup. The pairing process is secure and quick, and you can manage one or multiple screens from your Screenly online account. This ease of setup means you can roll out new screens to different locations rapidly, without any onsite server or complex configuration. It’s an ideal solution for small businesses and lean teams that need to get signage running without a hitch.
No hardware to buy - lowering the barrier to entry
One of the biggest hurdles in starting with digital signage has always been the extra hardware – the dedicated media player boxes that drive content to your screens. Many business owners worry about the upfront cost of buying a player for each screen (not to mention the effort of installing and maintaining them). The Screenly Android App eliminates that hurdle entirely. By using the smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs you already have (or affordable devices you can easily obtain), you don’t need to purchase separate Screenly hardware to deploy your first screens.
For a business on a tight budget, this dramatically lowers the barrier to entry. You can start with a single Android device as a pilot, see the benefits of digital signage in real time, and add more screens as needed – all without significant hardware expenses. Even for larger organizations, the ability to convert existing displays into Screenly-powered signage means faster expansion and less strain on your IT budget. Essentially, if you have an Android device and a screen, you have a digital signage solution. This opens the door for creative uses too: imagine a retail store repurposing an Android tablet as an interactive product showcase, or a café using an Android TV to display daily specials and social media updates. The possibilities are endless now that cost and hardware procurement are no longer roadblocks.
Hardware players still have you covered
What if your deployment is mission-critical – say, a network of screens that must run 24/7 in a high-traffic environment, or a setup where you require maximum control over the hardware? Screenly’s dedicated hardware players, the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max, are still available and ideal for exactly these scenarios. While the new Screenly Android App makes digital signage easier and more accessible, we recognize that some situations call for the specialized reliability and performance that purpose-built devices provide.
The Screenly Player (our Raspberry Pi-based device) and the Screenly Player Max (a more powerful Intel-based device) are designed for maximum reliability, security, and control. They come with features like robust offline playback, hardened operating systems, and enterprise-grade manageability that ensure your content keeps playing smoothly even under demanding conditions. Large enterprises or critical installations – for example, a hospital’s emergency information displays or a nationwide retail signage network – often prefer dedicated players to guarantee consistency and uptime. These devices are optimized for Screenly and can handle intensive content (like high-resolution videos or heavy dashboard integrations) with ease.
In short, Screenly now offers two paths: a hardware-free approach with the Screenly Android App (and Screenly Anywhere) and a traditional approach with dedicated hardware players. You’re free to choose the mix that fits your needs. If you’re just starting out or running a small deployment, the Screenly Android App might be all you need. If you’re rolling out hundreds of screens or have zero tolerance for downtime, the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max give you that extra peace of mind. Importantly, both types of screens can be managed side by side in your Screenly account – whether it’s an Android device or a dedicated Screenly digital signageplayer, all your screens appear on the same dashboard for easy control. This brings us to Screenly’s broader philosophy of being hardware-agnostic.
Part of Screenly’s hardware-agnostic philosophy
The launch of the Screenly Android App is part of Screenly’s larger move toward hardware-agnostic digital signage. Our mission is to let you run digital signs on any hardware that makes sense for you. Earlier, we introduced Screenly Anywhere, which allows you to use any modern web browser as a digital signage player. With Screenly Anywhere, you simply open a secure Screenly URL in a browser on a device (like a PC, Mac, or even a smart TV’s built-in browser) and that browser tab becomes your signage screen. This was a big step in removing hardware constraints – no box to plug in, no waiting for shipments – you could turn a screen on and have content up in minutes using just a browser.
The Screenly Android App takes that hardware-agnostic approach one step further by tapping into the vast Android ecosystem. Between browser-based playback and our Android app, Screenly gives you unprecedented flexibility in how you deploy your screens. You can mix and match: for instance, use Screenly Anywhere on office computers, use the Android App on TVs in your conference rooms, and use a couple of Screenly Player Max devices for your most critical customer-facing displays – all managed together seamlessly. Everything reports to the same Screenly cloud platform, so scheduling content is uniform across all device types.
For business owners, this flexibility means you’re never locked into a single type of hardware. Start with what you have, expand with what’s convenient, and know that Screenly’s platform will support you as you grow. This hardware-agnostic strategy is all about removing barriers and giving you choices. Our goal is to make digital signage as easy and adaptable as possible, whether you’re a small shop or a large enterprise. The Screenly Android App and Screenly Anywhere are just the latest examples of how we’re continually lowering costs and simplifying deployments for our users.
Start your 30-day free trial
Ready to turn your Android device into a digital sign? Download the Screenly Android App today and start your free 30-day trial with Screenly.
