Pricing
Masthead CMS is a contact-sales platform because every publisher brings a different archive, workflow model, revenue strategy, analytics requirement, and launch timeline. The right quote should reflect the operating reality, not just a seat count.
Overview
Local publishers are not buying a blank CMS install. They are planning a migration, a reader experience, a CMS workflow, analytics continuity, revenue surfaces, social distribution, newsroom training, and post-launch support. Those variables determine the scope.
The problem
A low monthly CMS price does not help if the archive migration fails, redirects are incomplete, analytics break, revenue modules need custom work, or the newsroom cannot publish efficiently after launch. Masthead CMS pricing is designed to make those needs visible early.
How it works
Scope factors
Pricing depends on the current CMS, archive size, number of sites, migration path, content model, media library, redirects, design needs, ad ops stack (GAM, Prebid, direct-sold modules), revenue modules, white-label games, obituaries and syndication tooling, newsroom analytics portlets, integrations, and support model.
Included planning
A useful sales process should leave both sides with a clear understanding of launch risk, migration work, required modules, analytics requirements, training needs, and post-launch responsibilities.
Optional modules
Publishers may need Google Ad Manager and Prebid integration, direct-sold sponsorship workflows, newsletter growth, subscription or donation paths, local utility pages, white-label Sudoku and Wordio puzzle games, obituaries and syndication tooling, Copilot formatting and vetting, AI transcripts, gated Listen narration, AI social scheduling, in-CMS analytics portlets, or multi-site operations.
Total ownership
A credible quote should reflect migration effort, training, launch QA, integrations, module expansion, and ongoing support so leadership can compare Masthead against fragile self-serve stacks on realistic terms.
Comparison
Instead of forcing publishers into prepackaged plans, the scoping conversation should identify which work is required for a successful launch.
Masthead CMS is scoped for publishers with real migration, launch, and workflow needs.
Archive and redirect complexity should be surfaced before a quote is finalized.
Single-site publishers and multi-site groups have different launch and support models.
What must ship at launch versus what can follow in later phases is clarified before you commit, so scope matches risk tolerance.
Decision points
Because the largest cost drivers are migration, implementation, modules, support, and integrations. Publishing fake tiers would create the wrong expectations for serious newsroom launches.
Yes. The scope can be shaped around launch priorities, but the team should still account for migration, analytics, and editorial continuity before launch.
Related reading
FAQ
No. Masthead CMS is not positioned as a self-serve commodity CMS. Pricing is scoped with each publisher based on migration, launch, modules, integrations, and support needs.
Your current CMS, archive size, number of sites, migration constraints, revenue tools, analytics and SEO needs, timeline, and desired modules are all useful.
Yes. Migration planning is often a key part of the scope, especially for publishers moving archives, media libraries, author data, and redirects.
In-CMS analytics and SEO portlets can be scoped into the implementation when those requirements matter to the publisher.
Yes. Groups operating multiple brands may need shared workflows, site-level flexibility, multi-site analytics, and rollout sequencing.
Contact sales
The fastest path to a useful quote is a focused conversation about your current platform, archive, launch goals, modules, analytics, and support expectations.