Screenbird runs on the Amazon Signage Stick, Fire TV (Fire OS), Google TV, Raspberry Pi, Windows and, through the built-in browser, recent Samsung and LG TVs. The main player options in 2026 also include BrightSign. The table below shows which platforms state support for each player.
How to choose a player
Screenbird's media player guide lists the checks that matter before buying: reliability for all-day use, resolution that matches the display, screen on and off scheduling, network type, remote management, offline playback and total cost. A screen only shows what it receives, so something has to download, store and schedule the content. That can be a separate player, the TV itself if it has an app store or browser, or a PC or Mac.
Which CMS platforms support which player
| Platform | Amazon Signage Stick | Fire TV (Fire OS) | Android / Google TV | Raspberry Pi | Windows PC | Samsung | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenbird | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | Yes, in the TV browser | Yes, in the TV browser |
| EasySignage | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Kitcast | yes | yes | yes | n/a | n/a | yes | yes |
| Mvix | yes | n/a | yes | yes | n/a | yes | n/a |
| Navori | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | yes | yes | yes |
| NoviSign | yes | n/a | yes | n/a | yes | yes | yes |
| OptiSigns | yes | Listed; support being ended | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Rise Vision | yes | Not listed; Signage Stick recommended | yes | yes | yes | n/a | yes |
| Samsung VXT | n/a | n/a | yes | n/a | yes | yes | n/a |
| ScreenCloud | yes | Fire OS TVs and tablets | yes | n/a | yes | yes | yes |
| Screenly | yes | yes | yes | yes | Via browser | yes | Consumer TVs via browser |
| Signagelive (by Navori) | yes | no | n/a | n/a | yes | yes | yes |
| Xibo | yes | n/a | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Yodeck | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Ticks hide differences. On Samsung and LG, vendors mean different things: native apps on commercial displays, browsers on consumer TVs, or both. EasySignage's FAQ says Samsung and LG smart TVs are not supported while its signage displays are, and lists Tizen OS 4.0 or higher. Xibo's official FAQ says its player does not run on a Raspberry Pi. Signagelive's help center lists Amazon FireOS as no longer supported and states that the Chromecast is not a supported player.
Practical characteristics of each player
| Player | Signage fit | Remote management | Notes | Published price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Signage Stick | Purpose-built for signage; auto-launches the CMS in kiosk mode (Amazon) | Mobile app, Signage Manager and Remote Management API (Amazon) | Quad-core, 4K, Wi-Fi 6E; caches content and keeps playing offline; wired network needs a USB Ethernet adapter; CMS subscription is separate | USD 99.99 in the US, one time (Amazon signage site, undated; Screenbird's guide states the same as of October 2026) |
| Fire TV Stick (Fire OS) | Consumer streaming device; Amazon says Fire OS 8 devices need manual changes to auto-launch | Amazon says consumer streaming devices need a remote or app at the display | n/a | No dated official price in the sources read |
| Google TV players | Chromecast with Google TV (with remote) and Google TV Streamer work with Screenbird; the older cast-only Chromecast does not (Screenbird guide) | n/a | Screenbird calls the Google TV Streamer the alternative when you need a wired network | n/a |
| Raspberry Pi | Do-it-yourself: Screenbird has a player for the Pi 4 (1080p) and Pi 5 (4K) on Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit with desktop; Pi 5 has dual 4Kp60 HDMI output (Raspberry Pi) | n/a | Raspberry Pi recommends a 5V/5A USB-C power supply; boards are sold unit only. Xibo does not run on a Pi | Board prices changed several times in 2026 and are not quoted here |
| Windows mini-PC | Listed by twelve of the fourteen software platforms in the table above, one of them through a browser | n/a | Xibo announced a Linux player for x86-64 PCs on 2026-10-01; Yodeck lists a rebuilt Windows player with 4K and interactivity (InfoComm 2026) | Rise Vision's player guide (2026-06-03) lists a Celeron NUC with Windows 11 IoT Enterprise at USD 550 and the Linux version at USD 500 |
| BrightSign | Dedicated signage players running BrightSignOS: Series 6 (HD6, XD6; 4K at 60 Hz, PoE+) and Series 5 (XT5, LS5, AU5; 8K video) | BrightSign Control is free with every player running BrightSignOS 8; Control Plus is a paid fleet-management tier | Own hardware ecosystem; BrightSign's docs list its players as the player requirement, and a separate storage device (microSD, USB or M.2) is needed. BrightSign cites 200+ certified CMS partners | Players: contact sales (brightsign.biz). Author Plus cloud content: USD 139 per player per year after a 30-day trial (BrightSign docs, 2026-10-25) |
| Samsung and LG TV browser | Screenbird runs in the built-in browser on Samsung Tizen TVs from 2018 and LG webOS 4.0 or higher; for screens that run all day Screenbird recommends a small stick | n/a | Xibo offers native webOS and Tizen players, which are commercial perpetual licences on self-hosted setups | No extra hardware for a TV you already own |
Where each option fits
The Amazon Signage Stick is the option that several vendors recommend for all-day screens: Screenbird calls it hardware built for 24/7 signage and Rise Vision recommends it instead of Fire Sticks. See the Amazon Signage Stick setup guide for the steps, and the Fire TV Stick migration guide for why plain Fire TV Sticks are losing support.
Raspberry Pi and Windows mini-PCs suit teams that want to manage their own hardware. In the table, Windows PCs and Android or Google TV devices are each listed by twelve of the fourteen software platforms, and Raspberry Pi by seven; Xibo states that its player does not run on a Pi.
BrightSign is a separate hardware ecosystem with its own control and authoring software, plus a program of third-party CMS partners.
Built-in TV browsers avoid buying a player. Screenbird's Samsung and LG pages describe the browser route, and Screenbird recommends a small stick for screens that run all day.
What is the best media player for digital signage?
For all-day screens, Screenbird, Rise Vision and OptiSigns each point to the Amazon Signage Stick, which Amazon lists at USD 99.99 in the US. The right choice still depends on your CMS and on hardware you already own.
Can I use a Raspberry Pi for digital signage?
Yes. Screenbird has a player for the Pi 4 and Pi 5, and seven of the fourteen platforms in the table list Raspberry Pi. Xibo's official FAQ says its player does not run on a Raspberry Pi, so check your CMS first.
Do I need a media player if my TV is a smart TV?
Not always. Screenbird runs in the built-in browser of Samsung Tizen TVs from 2018 and LG webOS 4.0 or higher TVs, and Screenbird recommends a small stick for screens that run all day.
Is BrightSign required for a CMS to work?
No. BrightSign is its own hardware ecosystem, and many CMS platforms in the table list BrightSign players among others. Using BrightSign's own software requires BrightSign players.
Which Fire TV Sticks should I avoid for signage?
Avoid the Vega OS models: Fire TV Stick 4K Select, Fire TV Stick HD (2nd gen, 2026) and Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd gen, 2026). They run Amazon's Vega OS, which does not run regular Android apps. OptiSigns also states that Vega OS devices will not run its app.
Sources: Amazon Signage: Signage Stick overview · Amazon Signage: Stick versus Fire TV Stick blog (2025-10-12) · Amazon Signage: support FAQ · BrightSign home page · BrightSign digital signage products · BrightSign Author documentation · BrightSign Control documentation · Raspberry Pi 5 product page · Rise Vision player guide (2026-06-03) · Rise Vision pricing · Xibo player app · Xibo: Raspberry Pi FAQ · EasySignage player page · Yodeck players · ScreenCloud download page · Screenly digital signage players · Kitcast · Mvix third-party players · NoviSign players · Signagelive client versions · Samsung VXT pricing and compatible hardware · Navori · OptiSigns supported hardware