Business Wire Costs (2026), Circuits, Word Counts and Add-ons

By the PR Gun Research desk. Prices verified November 1, 2026.

Business Wire costs $475 for a 400-word press release on a U.S. local circuit, according to its pricing page on November 1, 2026. That's its only published price. Three things raise the bill, and all three are quote only. They're the circuit (regional, national or international), extra words (billed in 100-word increments) and add-ons like photos, video and translation. Business Wire says you get the full cost before the release is sent, so ask for it in writing.

What is on Business Wire's price list?

Here's every cost line Business Wire's pricing page mentions, and whether it shows a number. We read the page in a browser on November 1, 2026.

So one line in eight has a price. The rest come from a sales conversation. For how this stacks up against PR Newswire, which publishes no prices at all, see Business Wire pricing compared with PR Newswire.

How does the circuit change what you pay?

A circuit is the geography your release goes to. Business Wire sells U.S. local, regional and national circuits, plus international distribution priced by market. Each U.S. circuit has a starting price. Only the local one, $475, is printed.

That's why "how much does Business Wire charge for a press release" has no single answer. A local release in one market and a national release are different products. If you need one state or one city, ask which local or regional circuit covers it and what that circuit costs. If you need the whole country, ask for the national circuit price by name.

How does word count change the price?

The $475 covers 400 words. Business Wire says "Longer releases are billed in 100-word increments." It doesn't publish what one increment costs, and it doesn't publish a word cap. Its flat-rate packages are the exception, with unlimited word count.

Most releases on Business Wire run past 400 words. In PR Gun's database of published press releases, the median Business Wire release was 597 words, across 2,784 releases published September 24 to October 18, 2026. That's 197 words past the 400 the starting price covers. Our sample spans under four weeks, so read it as a snapshot.

Here's how the math works on a long release. A 941-word national release is 541 words past 400. Billed in 100-word increments, that's five or six increments, depending on how Business Wire rounds a partial block. Its page doesn't say, so ask. Then add the national circuit price, which is also by quote.

Trimming helps. Every 100 words you cut is one less increment. Our guide on how to write a press release covers what to keep.

What do photos, video and translation add?

Business Wire prices photos, video and other multimedia per asset, and translation per language. None of those prices are published. So "how much does a Business Wire image add" is a quote question.

One visual is already in the base price. Every release includes a full-color linked logo. If a logo is all you need, you don't pay extra for it.

What does the $475 include?

Business Wire lists these with every release. It's worth checking your quote against this list, so you don't pay twice for something that's already in.

Business Wire says it distributes "through AP, AFP, and 92,000+ media points." That's its own description of its network.

Who can get a Business Wire flat-rate plan?

Business Wire offers "Ongoing Distribution" volume plans. Its page says "Flat-rate packages are available for qualifying U.S. customers." They cover a set number of U.S. releases with unlimited word count. There's no published price and no published rule for who qualifies.

If you send releases often, or your releases run long, this is the plan to ask about. Unlimited word count removes the 100-word increments, which is the line that grows fastest on long releases.

How do you get a Business Wire quote, and what should you ask?

Business Wire says "You receive the full cost before the release is sent." Use that. Send your final draft and ask for an itemized total. These questions cover every quoted line on the price list.

1. Which circuit covers my audience, and what does it cost for 400 words?
2. What does each extra 100 words cost, and is a partial block billed as a full one?
3. What does one photo add? One video?
4. What does translation cost per language?
5. Do I qualify for a flat-rate package, and how many releases does it cover?
6. Is there any account, membership or setup fee?
7. Which payment methods do you take?
8. Is the total you quote the final invoice?

Is Business Wire worth the price for a small company?

It depends on what you're buying. Here are published prices for a 400-word U.S. release from other services, checked the same day, so you can see the gap.

Startup. You need one launch release seen nationally. Business Wire national is a quote, and you'll likely be past 400 words. If budget decides, compare the fixed prices above first. More options are in Business Wire alternatives.

Small business. You need one city or one state. This is where Business Wire's $475 local circuit fits. Keep the release to 400 words and skip extra assets, and you avoid the two quoted add-on lines. Ask whether your exact circuit is priced at the $475 start.

Agency. You send many long releases. Ask about flat-rate packages, since unlimited word count takes the increment charges off the table.

Public company. You need financial tables and an editorial check. Both are on Business Wire's included list. Get the national or disclosure quote in writing before the release date.

Our Business Wire review covers reliability and fit beyond price.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Business Wire charge for a press release?

Business Wire's starting price is $475 for 400 words on a U.S. local circuit (checked November 1, 2026). Regional, national and international circuits, extra words, multimedia and translation are priced by quote.

Is Business Wire free?

No. A Business Wire release starts at $475 for 400 words on a U.S. local circuit.

What is the word count limit on Business Wire?

The $475 starting price covers 400 words. Longer releases are billed in 100-word increments, and Business Wire doesn't publish a word cap. Flat-rate packages have unlimited word count.

How much does a Business Wire image add to the cost?

Business Wire prices photos, video and multimedia per asset and doesn't publish those prices. A full-color linked logo is included in every release.

Does Business Wire have state-specific pricing?

Business Wire sells U.S. local, regional and national circuits, each with its own starting price. Only the $475 local price is published, so ask for the circuit that covers your state.

Does Business Wire have packages or flat rates?

Yes. Flat-rate packages are available for qualifying U.S. customers and cover a set number of U.S. releases with unlimited word count. The price is by quote.

Is Business Wire worth the price for a small company?

For a short release to one local market, the $475 starting price is clear. For national reach it's a quote. Published 400-word U.S. prices elsewhere include EIN Presswire Basic at $149 and eReleases Buzz Builder at $399.