What is the difference between electronic signage and digital signage?

They sound similar but serve different levels of function. Here’s a plain, practical comparison.

Electronic signage (basic):

• Often refers to simple LED dot-matrix or segmented displays (think basic train station tickers or simple numeric displays).

• Shows fixed or limited text/numbers (arrival times, temperature, simple messages).

• Usually proprietary hardware and limited interfaces — not app-based.

• Low cost, low flexibility, minimal integration, low brightness control.

• Good where only basic, repetitive information is needed (simple time/price displays or numeric counters).

Digital signage (advanced):

• Uses full-screen LCD/LED/OLED displays or LED walls capable of video, images, and complex layouts.

• Runs software (an OS or media player) and supports apps, widgets (weather, YouTube), live feeds, and interactive elements.

• Can be networked — update content remotely via a CMS, schedule playlists, and monitor screen health.

• Supports integrations (POS, sensors, cameras), multi-zone layouts, and analytics.

• Ideal for marketing, wayfinding, interactive kiosks, and any scenario demanding rich visuals or real-time updates.

When to choose which:

• Choose electronic signage if your need is extremely simple, cost-sensitive, and static (e.g., numeric counters).

• Choose digital signage if you need flexibility, rich content, remote updates, and integrations.

In short: electronic signage = basic, cheap, fixed. Digital signage = powerful, flexible, networked. Most modern deployments use digital signage because of the ability to change content and measure results.