If you are budgeting for a press release in India, the honest answer is that the price depends almost entirely on which publication you want to appear in. Across the 1,268 outlets currently listed on 01Wire, a single guaranteed placement ranges from ₹748 to ₹338,000.
This guide breaks down what you actually pay, what changes the price, and how to decide where your budget goes. The figures below are taken directly from our live catalogue rather than from industry averages.
The short answer
The median placement costs ₹16,250. Half of all outlets cost less than that, half cost more. A quarter of outlets are available under ₹6,500, and the top 10 percent start at ₹64,028.
Price bands across 1,268 outlets
| Price band | Outlets available | Share of catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| Under ₹5,000 | 260 | 21% |
| ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 | 357 | 28% |
| ₹15,000 – ₹40,000 | 372 | 29% |
| ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000 | 241 | 19% |
| Over ₹1,00,000 | 38 | 3% |
What actually drives the price
1. Whether the link is dofollow or nofollow
This is the clearest pricing pattern in the catalogue. Dofollow placements carry a median price of ₹24,011 across 680 outlets, against ₹8,011 across 588 nofollow outlets. That is roughly a threefold difference, and it moves the price more than any other single factor.
2. The publication's audience and editorial standards
Reach and reputation matter, but not in the linear way buyers often assume. Of the 650 outlets where we publish a Domain Authority figure, the median is DA 52 and 76 score DA 70 or above — yet DA tracks price only loosely. Outlets in the DA 0-29 band actually carry a higher median price than those in DA 30-49, and the gap between DA 70-89 and DA 90+ is marginal. Treat authority as one signal, not a price ladder.
3. Language and region
Regional and Hindi-language outlets are typically the most affordable entry point, with several available under ₹5,000. National English-language mastheads and international titles sit at the upper end.
4. Whether the release is written for you
Every 01Wire placement includes the release being written and formatted by our editorial team, so the price you see is the price for a finished, published article rather than a distribution fee on top of copywriting costs.
How to choose where your budget goes
A common mistake is spreading a small budget across as many cheap outlets as possible. One placement on a publication your customers actually read will usually do more than fifteen on sites they have never heard of.
- Budget under ₹25,000: one strong regional or niche outlet, chosen for relevance to your sector.
- Budget ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000: one national outlet plus two or three supporting niche placements.
- Budget above ₹1,00,000: a tier-one masthead, with regional coverage underneath it.
What is not included in the price
Prices quoted are exclusive of GST. Turnaround is typically three to five working days from approval of the draft, and you receive the live article URL as soon as it publishes.
What you actually get in each price band
Price bands are only useful if you know what changes between them. Broadly:
| Band | Outlets | What it typically buys |
|---|---|---|
| Under ₹5,000 | 260 | Regional, Hindi-language and niche blogs. Often nofollow. Good for local credibility and volume. |
| ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 | 357 | Established niche publications and smaller national titles. The value sweet spot for most businesses. |
| ₹15,000 – ₹40,000 | 372 | Recognisable sector publications, frequently dofollow. Where serious SEO budgets sit. |
| ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000 | 241 | National titles and well-known international outlets. |
| Over ₹1,00,000 | 38 | Tier-one mastheads. Bought for the name, not the link. |
How this compares with agency pricing
A PR agency retainer in India typically covers strategy, media relations, drafting and ongoing outreach, and is billed monthly whether or not coverage appears. Placement pricing works differently: you pay per published article, and you know the outlet before you commit.
The two are not substitutes. An agency builds journalist relationships over time and can win earned coverage no placement fee can buy. Placement buying gives you certainty and a predictable unit cost. Businesses running a launch or a funding announcement often use placements; businesses running continuous communications usually need both.
Costs people forget to budget for
- GST. Listed prices on 01Wire are exclusive of GST, so add it when comparing quotes.
- Writing. If a provider quotes distribution only, drafting is a separate line. On 01Wire the release is written and formatted by our editorial team as part of the placement.
- Translation. Regional-language placements need the release rewritten, not machine-translated.
- Images. Some outlets expect supplied artwork at specific dimensions.
- Repetition. One announcement rarely changes anything. Budget for a sequence, not a single placement.
Budgeting across a year rather than a launch
A common pattern that works: pick one anchor placement per quarter on a recognisable outlet, and support each with two or three relevant niche or regional placements. At median pricing that is roughly ₹65,000 to ₹130,000 a year, which is usually less than a single month of agency retainer and produces a documented trail of coverage.
The alternative pattern, spending the whole budget at once on one expensive placement, produces a spike nobody remembers by the following quarter.
Frequently asked questions
Is a more expensive outlet always better?
No. Relevance beats reach. A ₹12,000 placement in a publication that covers your exact sector will usually outperform a ₹90,000 placement in a general-interest title.
Do you guarantee publication?
Yes. Every listed outlet is a guaranteed placement, and you receive the live article URL.
How quickly does it go live?
Typically three to five working days from the point you approve the draft.
Figures in this article reflect the 01Wire catalogue as of September 2026 and are updated as outlet pricing changes.