Software Alternatives & Startups

Screenly VS Mainstack.co

Compare Screenly VS Mainstack.co and see what are their differences

Screenly

Screenly is the secure digital signage company, powering 10,000+ screens across 75+ countries. We build our own hardware and software, for customers from small businesses to the Fortune 500.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source Paid Free trial $17 / Monthly (Up to 5 screens)
Mainstack.co

Mainstack enables entrepreneurs with commerce and global payment solutions to showcase and get paid for their work and services, grow revenue, and manage customers - all in one place.

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Rating
0 reviews
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Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Screenly seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 3 times since March 2021.

social mentions
3 vs 0
Digital Signage popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Screenly
Mainstack.co
Website screenly.io mainstack.com
Pricing
Open source Paid Free trial $17 / Monthly (Up to 5 screens) Official pricing
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Company 2013 —
Listed in

About Screenly and Mainstack.co

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Screenly
Mainstack.co

Screenly is the secure digital signage company, built for organizations, including those in regulated industries where compliance and security are non-negotiable, that need to display and manage content on screens anywhere in the world. Founded in 2012 as a project to run signage on the Raspberry...

Read more about Screenly

No description of Mainstack.co yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Screenly 5 features
Mainstack.co 5 features
  • Ease of Use
    Screenly offers an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to manage digital signage without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Scalability
    Screenly can effectively scale from a single screen to hundreds, making it suitable for small businesses as well as large enterprises.
  • Remote Management
    The platform allows for remote content management, enabling users to update and control screens from anywhere, which is especially beneficial for organizations with multiple locations.
  • High-Quality Content
    Screenly supports full HD resolution, ensuring that content is displayed clearly and professionally, enhancing viewer engagement.
  • Scheduling
    The software allows users to schedule content in advance, making it easy to plan campaigns and content rotations.
  • All-in-One Platform
    Mainstack combines multiple business tools into a single platform, including link-in-bio pages, digital storefronts, payment processing, and booking — reducing the need for multiple subscriptions and integrations.
  • Easy Storefront & Digital Product Sales
    Users can quickly set up digital storefronts to sell products, services, courses, and digital downloads without needing technical expertise or a separate e-commerce platform.
  • Built-in Payment Processing
    Mainstack offers integrated payment solutions that support multiple currencies and payment methods, making it easy for creators and businesses to receive payments globally.
  • Creator-Focused Design
    The platform is tailored for creators, freelancers, and small businesses, offering tools like customizable link-in-bio pages, portfolio showcases, and booking features that cater specifically to their needs.
  • No-Code Setup
    Mainstack requires no coding knowledge to get started. Users can build professional-looking pages, storefronts, and booking systems using intuitive drag-and-drop or form-based interfaces.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Brand Recognition
    Compared to established competitors like Gumroad, Shopify, or Linktree, Mainstack is less well-known, which may cause potential users to hesitate due to concerns about reliability and longevity.
  • Feature Depth May Be Limited
    While Mainstack offers many tools in one place, each individual feature may lack the depth and advanced functionality found in dedicated single-purpose platforms like Calendly for bookings or Shopify for e-commerce.
  • Limited Third-Party Integrations
    Mainstack may not offer as many integrations with popular third-party tools (e.g., email marketing platforms, CRMs, analytics tools) compared to more established competitors.
  • Smaller Community & Support Resources
    As a relatively newer platform, Mainstack has a smaller user community, which means fewer tutorials, forums, and peer-generated resources available for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Scalability Concerns
    While suitable for individual creators and small businesses, Mainstack may not offer the robust infrastructure and advanced features needed by larger businesses or those experiencing rapid growth.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Screenly
Mainstack.co

Overall verdict

  • Screenly Pro is generally considered a good option for businesses looking to implement digital signage solutions. Its ease of use, scalability, and powerful features make it a strong contender in the digital signage market.

Why this product is good

  • Screenly Pro is praised for its user-friendly interface, scalable solutions for digital signage, and reliable performance. It supports a variety of media formats, is easy to deploy on multiple screens, and offers cloud-based management which makes it convenient for businesses to update and monitor content remotely. The platform also provides robust support and comes with a community and professional backing, ensuring that users have access to assistance when needed.

Recommended for

    Screenly Pro is highly recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, and enterprises looking for a cost-effective and scalable digital signage solution. It’s particularly beneficial for users who need to manage multiple displays across different locations remotely and want a straightforward setup with minimized hardware limitations.

Overall verdict

  • Mainstack is a solid all-in-one platform for creators, freelancers, and digital entrepreneurs in Africa (and beyond) who want to sell digital products, accept payments, and manage their online presence without needing separate tools for each function.

Why this product is good

  • Combines multiple tools (storefront, invoicing, payment links, link-in-bio) into a single dashboard, reducing the need for multiple subscriptions
  • Built with African creators and businesses in mind, supporting local payment methods and currencies which many global platforms lack
  • Simple, user-friendly interface that doesn't require technical or design skills to set up a professional-looking store or page
  • Supports selling digital products, services, and even physical goods with integrated payment collection
  • Offers analytics and customer management features to help creators track sales and grow their audience
  • Relatively low fees compared to piecing together multiple Western-centric SaaS tools that may not support local payments well

Recommended for

  • African creators, coaches, and freelancers looking to monetize digital products or services
  • Solopreneurs who want an easy way to accept payments locally and internationally without complex setup
  • Content creators needing a simple link-in-bio and storefront solution combined
  • Small business owners who want to send invoices and collect payments in one place
  • Individuals just starting out online who don't want to invest in multiple separate platforms (e.g., Shopify + Stripe + Linktree)

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Screenly 2 videos + Add
Mainstack.co 0 videos + Add

Getting Started with Screenly

More videos

  • - How to show a weather forecast on a TV with Screenly

No Mainstack.co videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Screenly
Mainstack.co
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Screenly and Mainstack.co.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Screenly's answer

  • NASA
  • Amazon
  • Canonical
  • Bupa
  • Lowe's
  • Capital One

What makes your product unique?

Screenly's answer

Screenly is a highly secure and reliable digital signage platform. It is trusted by top organizations like NASA and Amazon, powers over 10,000 screens globally, and is SOC 2 compliant. By building its own hardware and software, Screenly ensures total end-to-end control over safety and performance.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Screenly's answer

You should choose Screenly because it builds both its own hardware and software, giving you complete control over your screens' security and reliability. It offers award-winning cybersecurity, strict SOC 2 compliance, and is trusted by major companies and small businesses alike. Plus, it is highly flexible, allowing you to use Screenly's dedicated media players or display content on any device you already own using a web browser.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Screenly's answer

Screenly’s primary audience consists of organizations and businesses of all sizes—from small companies to Fortune 500 enterprises—that need to manage content on screens globally. It is specifically built for teams in highly regulated, security-conscious industries where strict data protection and compliance are non-negotiable.

What's the story behind your product?

Screenly's answer

Screenly started in 2012 as a simple project created by co-founder Viktor Petersson to run digital signage on the Raspberry Pi. That project evolved into Anthias, which became one of the most popular free and open-source digital signage projects on GitHub. Recognizing the need for a highly secure, enterprise-grade solution, the project grew into a fully managed commercial platform, leading to the official establishment of Screenly, Inc. in 2013. Today, the company differentiates itself by building both its own hardware and software, growing from its open-source roots into a global platform that powers over 10,000 screens.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Screenly's answer

Screenly is built using its own custom operating system, ScreenlyOS, which runs on its dedicated media players, alongside "Screenly Anywhere" which can display content on any device with a modern web browser. The company's open-source version, Anthias, is designed to run on Raspberry Pi hardware and PCs. Under the hood, the platform's infrastructure relies on advanced cloud technologies like Docker and Kubernetes, which the company's CEO utilized as an early adopter to build a highly secure and scalable system.

User comments

Share your experience with using Screenly and Mainstack.co. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Screenly 3 mentions
Mainstack.co 0 mentions

Tracking Mainstack.co since Nov 2024.

Alternatives to Screenly and Mainstack.co

When comparing Screenly and Mainstack.co, you can also consider the following products.