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Poppulo and its Alternatives: How This Digital Signage Content Platform Works (And Others Like it!)

Digital signage is making its waves throughout businesses across the United States, but what content platform works best?

Authored by 
Christina Lundin
Christina is deeply committed to building strong, lasting relationships with clients. With several years of experience, she has a consultative approach to understand each client’s unique needs and deliver tailored solutions. As an extension of your team, Christina brings fresh ideas that drive ongoing success and long-term growth.
Reviewed by 
Kara Surrena
Kara Surrena is a seasoned executive with 20 years of experience leading teams and driving exponential growth in the SaaS software industry.
Published
Updated
A hallway with multiple digital screens on the wall

Tons of business throughout the United States are struggling with one thing—employee engagement. Getting employees’ attention with diverse content that talks about company news and events coming up just won’t do with a traditional poster board. Opting for something more eye-catching is sometimes worth the extra money—and digital signage is a top option that many managers choose. 

When it comes to digital signage, you also need a reliable content creation platform–otherwise known as a content management system (CMS)—to help create, edit, and publish anything from announcements, maps and wayfinding, or even employee spotlights to recognize employees. 

There are a wide variety of CMS platforms to choose from and Poppulo is among one of the top-rated ones, but let’s take a deep dive into the platform, its pros and cons, and other alternatives to try out for your business instead!

What is Poppulo?

Poppulo offers a wide variety of services from content to be posted on digital signage to an internal communications platform for businesses!

Poppulo is a popular CMS application that can be used alongside digital signage to improve internal communications in any business. Image courtesy of Poppulo.

Learning about the different kinds of CMS software applications can be quite intimidating if you’re not exactly sure what you’re looking for. For many businesses, something that can do everything all in one system is ideal. Poppulo does just that and more. Poppulo brings users content creation and management to a whole new level with a ton of useful tools to increase employee engagement and create a positive work environment through digital signage.

Learning More About Poppulo

Poppulo is an eye-catching CMS software application that a lot of businesses use  to create content for their customers to interact with, but it can also do the same for their staff members. It is considered an enterprise communications platform that can help large businesses, franchises, or corporations increase internal communications with staff through email, digital signage, and mobile apps. 

One of Poppulo’s key features is its omni-publishing where content can be distributed across various platforms all at once. Whether it’s through email, mobile apps, social media, or digital signage boards, these features can take the extra steps out of creating content and then going in between different applications to publish it.

Poppulo is also known for working incredibly well with digital signage as it uses a cloud-based content management system that works on creating, editing, and publishing content. This content can be used to display for customers and  for staff. Poppulo has prided themselves in bringing closer connections to these important audiences since 1996. 

What Industries Does Poppulo Best Serve?

Sometimes one content creation platform works well for one particular industry while another one does not, so it’s important to get an idea of how your industry’s needs can pair with each CMS application. 

Poppulo works well for deskless industries–meaning that they best serve managers and employees who don’t sit behind a desk all day checking their emails and are instead out and about on the floor and getting tasks done. 

Some of the industries that Poppulo best serves includes the following:

  • Manufacturing
  • Healthcare
  • Casinos and gambling
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Retail
  • Transportation
  • Higher education
  • Financial services

There are a number of reasons why these industries rely on Poppulo and its features. From being able to connect to employees who don’t use email, managing multiple digital signage screens at once, and seeing an increase of employee engagement. Poppulo has helped many businesses build to become better versions of themselves.

What Makes Poppulo Different From Other CMS Applications?

There are a few different features that make Poppulo different from many other CMS software applications, which is why many businesses prefer it. One feature that Poppulo has that others don’t is advanced targeting and personalization, and this unique tool allows users to create content to be distributed to specific audiences, such as customers, employees, different departments, roles, or even location.

Poppulo was also designed to work specifically for large enterprises so it has scalability features perfect for high-volume messaging or emails that can maintain brand awareness through reliable and controlled workflows. With its built-in data-driven insights, it can also provide real-time accurate analytics to track the audience of who is engaging with its content, and provide businesses with the ability to learn how their engagement methods are paying off. 

Since Poppulo’s main mission is to also deepen relationships between businesses and customers and draw managers and employees closer, it allows users to integrate digital signage with its content creation to help businesses increase engagement and internal communications. 

The Pros and Cons of Poppulo: What Makes it Worth Trying or Why You Should Steer Clear of it

Poppulo is an extremely popular CMS platform that many businesses benefit from, but even it can have issues!

Many people enjoy Poppulo and the features that it offers, but it’s important to know everything about it before jumping into the platform. Image courtesy of Poppulo

Poppulo is no doubt one of the most popular CMS platforms available to create content and boost engagement with staff and even customers–but even the best have their flaws. It’s important to see what the hype is surrounding Poppulo with its pros, but also learn what cons it also has to decide if it’s the right interface for you.

Pro: Seamless Communication Between All Staff

The best features of Poppulo and why many people are drawn to it is because of its ability to connect staff and managers better through internal communication. Since this is the most important issue that many businesses want to improve on, Poppulo helps with  seamless communication tactics–such as multichannel communication. Even if a staff member doesn’t have email, they can still remain in the loop through their mobile device, apps, digital signage, and even Microsoft 365 integrations. 

Con: Pricing Details Are Not Made Public

One of the most important pieces of information to know about any CMS platform is its price. Many of these software applications offer monthly payments depending on the features you need. For Poppulo, there is no starting price given–instead, those interested are advised to reach out to Poppulo where they offer custom pricing that is tailored to each business’s size and what they are looking to get out of the application. Those who want to inquire about Poppulo are given a demo and a price point that is deemed suitable for their business’s needs. 

Pro: Uses Multi-Channel Integration With AI-Personalization

To make content creation just a little bit easier on those working on it, Poppulo has a unique way of using AI as a personalization tool and much more. AI can be used to automate routine tasks, personalize communications in content creation, messaging, suggest headlines, and even to analyze how employees interact with content. It also features seamless integration with popular apps such as Slack, Microsoft 365, Workday, SAP, Oracle, and even social media platforms. 

Con: Limited Customization For Content Creation

Content creation is all about being–well, creative–and Poppulo can actually hinder users from doing so. While Poppulo is a content creation application to be used for digital signage, it actually has a limited amount of templates and customization options to truly make content tailored to each business’s brand. Many users find the templates restricting, which hinders overall design of content. There are limited email builder features that some users also have an issue with. 

Poppulo Alternatives: Other Options Right At Your Fingertips

While Poppulo has its many key features, there are other CMS applications that businesses can turn to!

There are many alternatives to using Poppulo  that provide easier interfaces and more content customization. 

Trying to find a good CMS software application that can provide what businesses need for content creation and boosting employee engagement is crucial. While Poppulo is an incredible CMS platform that provides tons of unique AI-personalization and multi-channel communications, it’s important to see what your other options are before committing to it.

Let’s check out some other alternatives to Poppulo that provide easier interfaces, better content creation, and even more affordable prices!

1. Shift

Among the many CMS software applications out there, Shift is among the best of the best. This is simply due to their mission to deepen the manager and employee relationship through diverse and dynamic content. Shift can help to create content that staff can engage and even interact with, highlight employees who deserve recognition for their actions and hard work, and boost productivity. Compared to Poppulo, Shift offers an easier interface that is perfect for users new to content creation with tons of pre-made templates to choose from. It also has remote management capabilities to create, modify, or publish content from any kind of device, at any time, and to any digital signage screen. 

2. Workvivo

If businesses are looking for a way to create content and make sure that it's immersive enough to boost employee engagement, then Workvivo is a great option to choose. Workvivo was acquired by Zoom in 2023 and it combines employee experience with a unique social media-type interface. Workvivo aims to boost employee engagement through staff recognition by sending “kudos” to ones that do a job well done, integrates Zoom into its platform for easy communication, and it pairs well with digital signage using its built-in Workvivo TV feature to display unique content. 

3. Staffbase

Want to boost engagement and internal communications with deskless or frontline staff? Staffbase can be a great CMS option to choose from as it is an employee communication platform offering multi-channel publishing for intranets, email, and even digital signage. Users can create content and have it distributed to multiple channels or apps with a non-technical interface that is perfect for beginners. It is highly known for its Staffbase email, which is a unique way to address company news, updates, or announce events with drag-and-drop design tools to create newsletters all employees will engage with. 

4. ScreenCloud

Many industries throughout the United States are deskless, with employees on the floor not checking emails all day to get up-to-date with the latest company news or communications. ScreenCloud takes content creation to a whole new level while also providing a centralized hub for all staff to stay up to date on all company news without having an email account. ScreenCloud can help create content to be displayed on digital signage–plus they offer a unique tool called ScreenCloud Engage that can help staff to get to know each other better by uploading photos, captions, and celebrate employee or company achievements. 

5. Appspace

Cloud-based platforms are some of the most popular when it comes to creating content to organize, edit, and display on digital signage. Appspace is one such platform and it works by integrating with some other popular applications that many other businesses use on a daily basis, such as Microsoft Teams, Office 365, and Slack. It has AI assistance that can help assist in content creation specifically for your digital signage screen to further engage staff and boost productivity. 

Poppulo and Other CMS Software Applications Can Help to Boost Employee Engagement and More

Creating a healthy and positive workplace environment is crucial for all businesses and it's important to ensure that staff are seen, heard, and recognized for all of their hard work. Creating immersive content that engages and boosts company morale is crucial for many businesses and with the right CMS software application–whether it’s Poppulo or another incredible option–can help to achieve your goals. 

Consider Shift as your go-to CMS platform to help boost engagement, or look into Poppulo and its other alternatives!

Authored by 
Christina Lundin
Christina is deeply committed to building strong, lasting relationships with clients. With several years of experience, she has a consultative approach to understand each client’s unique needs and deliver tailored solutions. As an extension of your team, Christina brings fresh ideas that drive ongoing success and long-term growth.
Read More
Reviewed by 
Kara Surrena
Kara Surrena is a seasoned executive with 20 years of experience leading teams and driving exponential growth in the SaaS software industry.
Read More
Published
Updated
Trusted by industry-leading enterprises
An Invaluable Tool
"At Wingstop, we're always looking for innovative ways to meet our Team Members where they are. The integration between Schoox and Shift has truly elevated how we engage our restaurant teams. By embedding our Flavor Lab LMS into the Shift platform, we've made it easier than ever to spotlight training completions, share key updates, and celebrate performance—right in the flow of their day. Training is now more visible, more accessible, and even a bit competitive—and that's exactly the kind of energy that drives results at Wingstop."
Izzy Martinez

Manager, Operations Integration
Wingstop Corporate

Easy to use!
“We have been using QR campaigns to gether submissions from employees... so we can showcase what's going on at each facility. This has dramatically increased our company-wide culture & communication. The platform is easy to use with branded templates that allow quick announcements. We're really happy with [Shift] - nothing but positive feedback from facilities too!"
Spencer Trefzger

Director of Marketing Avamere Living

Foster a friendly, competitive environment
“The affordability of [Shift®] is incredible, and the sky is the limit for the effect it’s having on our culture... I feel really confident our work environment improves for our team members when they feel as though they’re being highlighted and appreciated. You can hear it as you walk through one of our stores. There’s somebody being wished a ‘Happy Birthday,’ or somebody saying, ‘I didn’t know that about you.’”
Jason Zieman

Owner/Operator

An Invaluable Tool
“Since we began using the Shift platform, we’ve seen a significant boost in team engagement across all our locations. The ability to connect with our teams through contests, goal-setting, and localized opportunities has been truly impactful. What stands out even more are the personal engagement features—like shoutouts and the ever-popular pet photo posts—which have created a fun, inclusive environment that keeps our team coming back to the platform. These features have helped build a strong sense of community and excitement around our internal communications. Shift has become an invaluable tool for enhancing our team culture, and we’re thrilled with the positive response from our staff. It’s more than just a platform—it’s become a part of our daily routine.’”
Sara Kokx

Senior Manager of Training and Development, Patton Wings, Buffalo Wild Wings

More effective suggestive sellers
"[Shift] enables our cashiers to be more effective ‘suggestive sellers,’ with sales leaderboards on our back-of-house TVs. Our cashiers naturally want to be at the top of the leaderboard to be recognized and rewarded, which results in them selling more than they typically would.”
Russ Lo Bello, COO

Burger King Franchisee, COO Phoenix Organization

It's a very powerful tool
"It's a very powerful tool. It can work either for a single restaurant owner or for a multi-unit owner and also for a restaurant group... I see it as a more modern, contemporary tool to communicate with your employees. Our Gen Z and Millenial employees especially love to interact with our [Shift platform]."
Jose Vazquez Barquet, VP

Subway

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