Tilecast
Tilecast is a free, open-source, self-hosted system for managing digital signage screens and scheduled content.
What Tilecast is
Tilecast is a free, open-source, self-hosted system for managing digital signage screens and scheduled content. Its browser-based Studio handles screens, content, and schedules. Users can build playlists and multi-zone layouts with images, video, websites, widgets, and live data, and schedule content for individual screens or groups. Displays can also be temporarily taken over. Reusable data sources include calendars, feeds, weather, JSON, and CSV. Team publishing and review workflows are included, along with an API, webhooks, integration tokens, and Prometheus-compatible metrics. The server runs on hardware its owner controls, stores content and settings in PostgreSQL, and is set up with Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2. Tilecast is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and does not rely on a paid cloud service. Players are described for Android TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Linux, and Windows; the Windows player is in preview preparation. Each player must be able to reach the server, and Tilecast does not bridge isolated networks.
Good
- Free, open-source, and self-hosted.
- Supports playlists and multi-zone layouts.
- Includes team publishing and review workflows.
- Offers an API, webhooks, and integration tokens.
- Offline playback is available.
Watch out
- Setup specifies Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2.
- Every player must be able to reach the server.
- Windows Player is described as in preview preparation.
- Does not bridge isolated networks.
Who it suits
Tilecast suits teams that want to manage scheduled signage across screens using hardware they control. It is aimed at users comfortable with self-hosting and Docker setup.
Verdict
Tilecast brings screen scheduling, varied content, and team workflows to a self-hosted signage system. It gives owners control over the server hardware, but players need network access to it.
Plans and prices
From Tilecast's own pricing page, checked 12 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Tilecast | Free | Open-source, self-hosted; no subscription required; run on your own hardware |
The facts
Each one read from Tilecast's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API access
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2001
- Content
- Users can build playlists and multi-zone layouts from images, video, websites, widgets, and live data.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Content types
- images,videos,text,shapes,websites,YouTube,widgets,playlists,and structured data sourceschecked 21 Sep 2001
- Data sources
- Reusable Data Sources include calendars, feeds, weather, JSON, and CSV.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Deployment
- The server runs on hardware the user controls, and the setup guide specifies Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Integrations
- It provides an API, webhooks, integration tokens, and Prometheus-compatible metrics.checked 12 Oct 2001
- License and cloud
- Tilecast is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and does not depend on a paid cloud service.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Network limit
- Each Player must be able to reach the server, and Tilecast does not bridge networks or work around network isolation.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Offline playback
- Players cache content so they can keep playing if the network or server is temporarily unavailable.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- Tilecast is a self-hosted digital signage system for managing screens and scheduled content.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Scheduling
- Content can be scheduled for individual screens or groups, and displays can be temporarily taken over.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Security and control
- The server stores content and settings in PostgreSQL, while the owner controls the hardware where it runs.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Studio
- Tilecast Studio is a browser app for managing screens, content, and schedules.checked 12 Oct 2001
- User roles
- advancedchecked 21 Sep 2001
Where it runs
- Player platforms
- The repository describes players for Android TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Linux, and Windows; the Windows player supports Windows 10 and 11 on x64 and ARM64.checked 12 Oct 2001
- Windows status
- The documentation homepage describes the Windows Player as a preview in preparation.checked 12 Oct 2001
The company
- Team features
- Tilecast includes publishing and review workflows for teams.checked 12 Oct 2001
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