A strong press release can put your story in front of journalists, bloggers, and search engines. But paid distribution services charge hundreds of dollars per release. That is not practical for startups, small businesses, and solo creators.
This guide lists 80+ free press release submission sites you can use today. Each site gives you visibility without the price tag. You will find options for local news, tech launches, finance, lifestyle, and general announcements.
Quick Verdict: Free press release submission sites let you distribute news stories without paying distribution fees. Most offer basic syndication to news aggregators, search engines, and journalist databases. The best results come from combining 3-5 free platforms with a well-written, newsworthy release.
Key Takeaways
- Free press release submission sites work best when you target 3-5 platforms that match your industry and audience.
- Most free plans include basic syndication to Google News, Yahoo News, and Bing News. Some also offer journalist outreach and media targeting as paid add-ons.
- According to Cision’s PR Media Report, 71% of journalists prefer receiving press releases via email pitches matched to their beat.
- A well-structured press release with a clear headline, dateline, body, boilerplate, and media contact gets far better pickup than a promotional sales pitch.
- OpenPR, PRLog, and Newswire Today consistently rank among the most reliable free options for SEO visibility and media exposure.
Quick Comparison Table
| Site | Category | Key Feature | Backlinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenPR | General | German-based, strong SEO | Dofollow |
| PRLog | General | Free & paid tiers | Nofollow |
| Newswire Today | General | Editorial review | Nofollow |
| PR.com | General | High domain authority | Nofollow |
| EIN Presswire | General | Widely used, simple | Nofollow |
| 1888 PressRelease | General | Unlimited free posts | Nofollow |
| Free-Press-Release.com | General | Multilingual options | Nofollow |
What Is a Free Press Release Submission Site?
A free press release submission site is a platform that distributes your news announcement to journalists, news aggregators, blogs, and search engines at no cost. These sites act as a bridge between your story and the public.
Most platforms require you to create an account, paste your press release content, and submit it for review or immediate posting. Some sites use editorial review before publishing. Others post submissions instantly.
According to Statista research, the global PR industry generates over $17 billion in annual revenue. Free distribution platforms serve the long tail of that market – small businesses, nonprofits, and startups that cannot afford premium services like Cision, Business Wire, or GlobeNewswire.
Tip: Always write your press release like a news story. Lead with the most important facts. Journalists and editors reject promotional fluff instantly.
Free General Press Release Sites
These platforms accept press releases from any industry. They work well for company announcements, product launches, events, partnerships, and general news.
- OpenPR – A German-based platform with strong SEO performance. Offers dofollow backlinks in some cases.
- PRLog – One of the most popular free PR sites. Includes author profiles and distribution to search engines.
- Newswire Today – Editorial review process. Good for credibility but slower publishing times.
- PR.com – High domain authority site. Offers both free and paid distribution tiers.
- EIN Presswire – Widely used by companies of all sizes. Simple submission process.
- 1888 PressRelease – Allows unlimited free submissions. No word count limits on basic plan.
- Free-Press-Release.com – Supports multiple languages. Good for international distribution.
- ClickPress – Offers free posting with optional paid upgrades for wider reach.
- 24-7 Press Release – Free basic plan includes distribution to news aggregators.
- PRBuzz – Free submission with social media sharing integration.
- PressReleasePoint – Simple interface. Publishes releases quickly without long review.
- Newswire.com – Free option with basic distribution. Paid plans unlock journalist targeting.
- i-Newswire – Free tier available. Good for tech and business announcements.
- SBWire – Focuses on small business distribution. Free basic posting available.
- Digital Journal – News magazine platform that accepts free press release submissions.
Free Industry-Specific Press Release Sites
Targeted platforms help you reach journalists and outlets in your specific niche. Here are the best free options organized by industry.
Tech and Startup
- Startup PR – Designed specifically for early-stage startups seeking media coverage.
- TechStartups – Accepts press releases about tech products, funding rounds, and launches.
- Product Hunt – Not a traditional PR site, but launching here generates massive press attention.
- Hacker News (Y Combinator) – Community-driven tech news. Posting a launch story can drive huge traffic.
- AngelList Blog – Startup-focused platform. Announce funding or product updates here.
Finance and Business
- Benzinga – Financial news platform. Accepts company announcements and earnings.
- Seeking Alpha – Investment-focused. Press releases about publicly traded companies get traction.
- ACCESSWIRE – Business Wire alternative. Offers a free basic distribution tier.
- Financial Content – Financial news aggregation platform with PR submission options.
- Morningstar – Investment research firm. Accepts press releases from public companies.
Health and Wellness
- Health News Line – Publishes health-related press releases and news stories.
- Medical News Today – Large health platform. Accepts press releases from healthcare organizations.
- DrugWatch – Focuses on pharmaceutical and medical device announcements.
- Psychiatry Times – Mental health and psychiatry-focused news platform.
- EndocrineWeb – Covers endocrinology and related health news.
Lifestyle and Entertainment
- Broadway World – Entertainment and arts-focused press release distribution.
- All Access Music – Music industry press releases, tour announcements, and album launches.
- Rotten Tomatoes Partner – Film and TV press releases for industry professionals.
- BuzzFeed Community – User-generated content platform. Newsworthy stories can gain traction.
- E! Online Partner Platform – Celebrity and entertainment news distribution.
Real Estate
- Inman News – Leading real estate industry news outlet. Accepts press releases from professionals.
- Real Estate Weekly – Covers property, development, and commercial real estate news.
- HousingWire – Mortgage and housing industry press release platform.
- RISMedia – Real estate news and publishing. Accepts agent and brokerage announcements.
- Mansion Global – Luxury real estate news platform.
Automotive
- Automotive News – Industry-leading trade publication. Accepts OEM and supplier press releases.
- Motor Trend – Car and truck news. Press releases about new models and concepts work well.
- Car and Driver – Consumer automotive platform. Good for product launch announcements.
- Autoevolution – International automotive news site with PR submission options.
- Top Speed – Car news and reviews platform. Accepts press release submissions.
Travel and Hospitality
- TravelPulse – Travel industry news. Accepts destination, hotel, and tour operator releases.
- Hotel Management – Hospitality industry press release platform.
- Restaurant Business – Food service and restaurant industry news.
- Skift – Travel industry intelligence. Premium platform but accepts select free submissions.
- Travel Agent Central – Travel trade publication. Good for B2B travel announcements.
Free Local and Regional Press Release Sites
If your news targets a specific city, state, or region, local distribution sites often outperform national platforms for community-level coverage.
- PRLog Local Edition – PRLog offers city-specific distribution categories.
- Citybuzz – Local news platform covering major US metropolitan areas.
- – Hyperlocal news network across hundreds of US communities.
- Nextdoor Business – Community platform. Good for local business announcements.
- Local.com Press – Regional business news distribution.
- USNPL – Aggregates press releases from US newspapers and local outlets.
- Cision Local (Free Tier) – Limited free local journalist database access.
Tip: Always include a specific city and state in your headline for local distribution. “Company Launches New Service” becomes “Company Launches New Service in Austin, Texas” for better local pickup.
Free International Press Release Sites
For global audiences, these platforms distribute your release across multiple countries and languages.
- OpenPR (Germany/EU) – Strong European distribution and SEO presence.
- Free-Press-Release.com – Multilingual submission options for international audiences.
- Newswire Today (UK Edition) – UK-focused distribution with international reach.
- AsiaOne Partner Platform – Southeast Asian news distribution.
- Middle East News Agency – Regional distribution for Middle East announcements.
- PR Urgent (International) – Distributes to outlets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- European Business Press – EU-focused business news distribution.
- India PR Wire – Indian market press release distribution platform.
- Brazil PR Network – Latin American press release distribution.
- Australia Newswire – Australian and Oceania news distribution.
Free Press Release Sites with SEO Benefits
These platforms help your press release rank in search results. They offer dofollow links, syndication to high-authority news sites, or strong domain authority that passes link equity.
- OpenPR – Consistently provides dofollow backlinks. Strong domain authority in European search results.
- PRLog – Syndicates to Google News and Bing News regularly. Good for brand visibility.
- EIN Presswire – Wide syndication network. Releases often appear in Google News results.
- Digital Journal – High domain authority. Releases get indexed quickly by Google.
- 24-7 Press Release – SEO-optimized release pages. Includes social sharing buttons.
- ClickPress – Search engine optimized submission pages.
- PRBuzz – Social media syndication boosts secondary SEO signals.
How to Write a Press Release That Gets Published
Even the best distribution site will reject a poorly written release. Follow these guidelines to maximize your chances of publication and pickup.
- Write a news-style headline. Keep it under 70 characters. Include your primary keyword and the most newsworthy element.
- Add a strong dateline. Start with your city and state in all caps, followed by the date. Example: “AUSTIN, TX – March 15 -“
- Lead with the 5 Ws. Answer who, what, when, where, and why in your first paragraph. Journalists call this the inverted pyramid.
- Include a quote. Add a quote from your CEO, founder, or spokesperson. Make it sound natural, not scripted.
- Keep it to 400-600 words. Most free sites accept releases up to 800 words. Shorter is almost always better.
- Add a boilerplate. End with a 2-3 sentence “About Us” section describing your company.
- Include media contact info. Name, email, and phone number for a real person who can answer journalist questions.
Warning: Do not submit press releases with excessive capitalization, exclamation points, or promotional language. Editorial teams reject these instantly. Write like a journalist, not a marketer.
Common Myths vs Facts
Many misconceptions surround free press release distribution. Here are the most common myths and the facts behind them.
Myth 1: Free Sites Do Not Get Any Traffic
Fact: Free sites like OpenPR, PRLog, and EIN Presswire receive millions of monthly visitors. According to SimilarWeb data, PRLog alone receives over 2 million visits per month. Your release may not go viral, but it will get indexed and found by search engines.
Myth 2: You Need a Paid Service for Google News
Fact: Google News accepts content from free distribution sites. The key factor is newsworthiness, not how much you paid. Google’s guidelines state that content must meet editorial standards regardless of distribution method.
Myth 3: Press Releases Are Dead
Fact: Press releases remain a core PR tool. According to Cision and Muck Rack research, 73% of journalists say press releases are still useful for verifying facts and finding story leads.
Myth 4: One Submission Is Enough
Fact: Submitting to a single site limits your reach. Distributing across 3-5 complementary platforms increases your chances of pickup by journalists and news aggregators. Each site has its own audience and syndication network.
Pro Tips for Maximum Distribution
- Submit during business hours. Releases posted between 9 AM and 2 PM Eastern Time get the most journalist attention.
- Add multimedia. Include images, logos, or infographics. Releases with media attachments get 30% more engagement according to PR Newswire data.
- Repurpose your release. Turn it into a blog post, social media thread, or email newsletter for additional reach.
- Track your results. Use UTM parameters on links in your press release to measure traffic from each platform.
- Build a journalist list separately. Free sites provide distribution, but direct email outreach to targeted journalists multiplies your results.
- Follow up once. If a journalist picks up your release, send one follow-up email with additional information. Do not spam.
Resources and Tools
- Google News Publisher Center – Register your site for Google News inclusion. Visit Site
- AP Stylebook – The standard writing style for press releases and news writing. Visit Site
- Hemingway Editor – Free tool to check readability and simplify your writing. Visit Site
- Canva – Create press release images, logos, and infographics for media attachments. Visit Site
- Muck Rack – Journalist database for direct outreach alongside your press release distribution. Visit Site
- Google Alerts – Monitor when your press release gets picked up by news outlets. Visit Site
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free press release submission sites worth it?
Yes, free press release submission sites are worth it for small businesses, startups, and nonprofits. They provide basic syndication to search engines and news aggregators without the cost of premium services. The key is choosing 3-5 quality platforms and writing a newsworthy release.
Do free press release sites provide backlinks?
Some free sites provide dofollow backlinks while others use nofollow. OpenPR is known for offering dofollow links in certain cases. Most sites like PRLog and EIN Presswire use nofollow links. The SEO value comes from brand mentions and syndication rather than direct link equity.
How long does it take for a press release to appear on Google News?
Press releases typically appear on Google News within 24-72 hours of publication. Sites with strong domain authority like Digital Journal and EIN Presswire often get indexed faster. Google’s algorithm prioritizes newsworthy content from trusted sources.
Can I submit the same press release to multiple free sites?
Yes, you can submit the same press release to multiple platforms. Most free sites do not require exclusive distribution. However, avoid submitting identical content to dozens of low-quality sites, as Google may flag duplicate content. Focus on 3-5 reputable platforms for best results.
What makes a press release newsworthy?
A newsworthy press release covers something timely, relevant, and impactful. Product launches, partnerships, funding announcements, hiring milestones, and community initiatives all qualify. According to Muck Rack surveys, 68% of journalists say they prefer releases that include data, statistics, or original research.
Do I need a media contact for my press release?
Yes, always include a media contact with a real name, email address, and phone number. Journalists need to verify information and request interviews. A missing media contact reduces your credibility and lowers the chances of pickup. Use a dedicated press@ or media@ email address for consistency.
Final Thoughts
Free press release submission sites give you a no-cost way to get your news in front of journalists, search engines, and potential customers. The best approach combines 3-5 targeted platforms with a well-written, newsworthy release. Focus on quality over quantity, follow AP style guidelines, and track your results to improve each submission. Start with OpenPR, PRLog, and EIN Presswire as your core distribution trio, then expand to niche and local sites as needed.
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