Use these numbers as dated vendor examples and budgeting prompts, not as market averages or promises of coverage, SEO, backlinks, AI citations, revenue, or timeline results.
Bottom line
Use this benchmark as a budgeting worksheet, not as a promise that any PR spend will produce coverage, rankings, backlinks, AI citations, revenue, or a fixed publication timeline.
Vendor-stated distribution examples
PRWeb package examples captured by public GET on 2026-06-06 listed Basic at $120, Standard at $245, Advanced at $360, and Premium at $480 per news release.
The same PRWeb source described distribution features including industry and regional news feeds, an online syndication network, and Cision journalist lists.
Retainers are a different budget line
- Agency retainers are different from per-release distribution packages because they usually cover an ongoing scope of strategy, outreach, positioning, and account work.
- Jennifer Bett Communications described startup PR retainer examples from $5,000 to $25,000 per month depending on stage, goals, and agency type.
- Its stage examples included $3,000 to $7,000 per month for pre-seed to seed, $7,500 to $15,000 per month for Series A, and $15,000 to $30,000 or more per month for Series B and beyond.
Pricing models and project work
- Gabriel Marketing Group described common B2B tech PR pricing models as monthly retainers, hourly billing, and project-based fees, with retainers described as the most common model.
- Gabriel Marketing Group described project-based B2B PR engagements tied to launches, funding announcements, rebrands, or major events as often requiring $10,000 to $15,000 for two to three months, with more complex efforts ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 or more.
- Publicity For Good described ongoing PR agency retainers as commonly $3,000 to $20,000 per month and project-based campaigns as commonly $5,000 to $50,000.
Hidden-cost checklist
Publicity For Good also warned that distribution fees, monitoring and analytics tools, content production, and related expenses can sit outside a retainer or project fee.
Before comparing quotes, separate one-time wire or distribution costs from retained PR counsel, creative production, monitoring, reporting, and executive time.
Questions to ask
Ask whether the quote includes distribution, monitoring, reporting, revisions, campaign management, and any pass-through technology or wire fees.
Treat fixed-placement promises as a red flag because Publicity For Good states that reputable agencies do not guarantee specific media placements because they cannot control editorial decisions.
Safe-use disclaimer
These examples are not Press Elevate prices, package terms, legal advice, or a guarantee that any vendor, agency, journalist, search engine, or AI platform will produce a particular result.