Tilecast

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hostedWebWindows

What Tilecast is

Tilecast is a self-hosted digital signage system for managing screens and scheduled content. Its browser-based Tilecast Studio lets users manage screens, content and schedules. Playlists and multi-zone layouts can combine images, video, websites, widgets and live data, while supported content also includes text, shapes, YouTube and structured data sources. Schedules can target individual screens or groups, and a display can be temporarily taken over. Reusable data sources include calendars, feeds, weather, JSON and CSV. Teams get publishing and review workflows, and integrations can use an API, webhooks and integration tokens; Tilecast also provides Prometheus-compatible metrics. The server runs on hardware controlled by its owner and stores content and settings in PostgreSQL. Setup specifies Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2. The software is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and does not depend on a paid cloud service. Player options are described for Android TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Linux and Windows, with Windows support described as a preview in preparation. The free plan is open source and self-hosted, with no subscription required.

Who it suits

Tilecast suits organizations or individuals who want to run digital signage on hardware they control and schedule varied content across screens. Its team workflows and reusable live data sources may fit teams coordinating content for individual displays or groups.

What it does well

Free, open-source software under AGPL-3.0.
Schedules content for individual screens or groups.
Combines playlists and multi-zone layouts with varied content.
Includes publishing and review workflows for teams.
Provides an API, webhooks and integration tokens.

What to know first

Players must be able to reach the server.
It does not bridge networks or work around network isolation.
The Windows player is described as a preview in preparation.

Limits

The free plan requires self-hosting on your own hardware. Each player must be able to reach the server, and Tilecast does not bridge networks or work around network isolation.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Tilecast	Open-source, self-hosted; no subscription required; run on your own hardware	Free

As github.com lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Tilecast GitHub page.
Prepare hardware you control for the server.
Install Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2 as specified in the setup guide.
Run the server and manage screens, content and schedules in the browser-based Tilecast Studio.
Use a player that can reach the server; player options are described for Android TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Linux and Windows.

Verdict

Choose Tilecast if you want a self-hosted signage system with screen scheduling, team review workflows and varied content sources, without a paid cloud service. Look elsewhere if your players cannot reach the server across your network setup or you need a Windows player beyond its preview status.

Questions

How much does Tilecast cost?

The Tilecast plan is free. It is open source, self-hosted and requires no subscription.

What license does Tilecast use?

Tilecast is licensed under AGPL-3.0.

What platforms have players described?

Players are described for Android TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Linux and Windows. The Windows player is described as a preview in preparation.

What content can Tilecast handle?

It supports images, videos, text, shapes, websites, YouTube, widgets, playlists and structured data sources.

What is needed to set up the server?

The setup guide specifies Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2. The server runs on hardware controlled by its owner.

Does Tilecast require a paid cloud service?

No. Tilecast does not depend on a paid cloud service.

Facts from Tilecast's own pages

API access: Yes · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
Content: Users can build playlists and multi-zone layouts from images, video, websites, widgets, and live data. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Content types: images,videos,text,shapes,websites,YouTube,widgets,playlists,and structured data sources · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
Data sources: Reusable Data Sources include calendars, feeds, weather, JSON, and CSV. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Deployment: The server runs on hardware the user controls, and the setup guide specifies Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Integrations: It provides an API, webhooks, integration tokens, and Prometheus-compatible metrics. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
License and cloud: Tilecast is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and does not depend on a paid cloud service. · tilecast.org, 12 Oct 2026
Network limit: Each Player must be able to reach the server, and Tilecast does not bridge networks or work around network isolation. · tilecast.org, 12 Oct 2026
Offline playback: Players cache content so they can keep playing if the network or server is temporarily unavailable. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
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. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Purpose: Tilecast is a self-hosted digital signage system for managing screens and scheduled content. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Scheduling: Content can be scheduled for individual screens or groups, and displays can be temporarily taken over. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Security and control: The server stores content and settings in PostgreSQL, while the owner controls the hardware where it runs. · tilecast.org, 12 Oct 2026
Studio: Tilecast Studio is a browser app for managing screens, content, and schedules. · tilecast.org, 12 Oct 2026
Team features: Tilecast includes publishing and review workflows for teams. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
User roles: advanced · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
Windows status: The documentation homepage describes the Windows Player as a preview in preparation. · tilecast.org, 12 Oct 2026

Where Tilecast stands on Freedom251

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