Publishing software compared: what matters
This page helps publishers choose publishing software and an editorial system. It lists the points on which vendors can be measured and says openly what Adpressa can and cannot do.
What publishing software should cover
Publishing software does not only replace the editorial system. It keeps editorial, print, web portal, ads, subscriptions and invoices together in one content base. The more of this sits in one system, the less gets copied.
- Editorial and approvalArticles with versions, approval by people, checks before publication.
- Layout and page makeupPages for the print edition and a print-ready output for the printer.
- Ad managementCustomers, price lists, orders and space in the issue, plus the invoice.
- Subscription management and paymentSubscriptions with tariffs, address book, direct debit and matching of payments.
- Web portal and ePaperThe publisher's website, reader access and the ePaper per issue.
- NewsletterIssues from published articles, with consent and unsubscribing.
- Interfaces and data exportAccess for other systems and an export of your data.
Questions to ask every vendor
A comparison of publishing software works best with the same questions to every vendor. The answers should be available in writing.
- Where is our data stored?Ask whether each publisher has a separate workspace and who has access.
- How do we get out again?Ask for a full export that you trigger yourself, and for the deletion policy.
- How long does the contract run?Ask about the term, renewal and notice period.
- What is not included?Ask about limits, third-party licenses and connections that still need to be checked.
- How does the AI work?Ask whether it only suggests, who decides and where costs and calls can be looked up.
Complete system or separate programs
Some publishers combine an editorial system, a layout program, an ad management tool, a subscription management tool and a web CMS. That can work, but it requires handovers between the programs.
A complete system does not have these handovers, but it ties more tasks to one vendor. Check how open the interfaces are and what a switch would cost.
- Media breaksEvery handover is a point where texts are retyped or versions mixed up.
- Master dataCustomers, subscribers and advertisers should appear once, not in three lists.
- ApprovalDoes the same approval apply to print, portal and newsletter, or is the decision made three times?
- ExitAn export and open formats keep you able to act.
How Adpressa meets these points
Adpressa is a complete system for publishers with a print edition and a website. The following points belong to the base price, and modules and add-ons come on top for special tasks.
- EditorialArticles with versions, approval by people with the four-eyes rule, checking suite with house style and spelling.
- Print editionIssue plan with page budget, layout on screen, typesetting as PDF/X-4 and ePaper per issue.
- AdsOrders with space in the issue, classified ads with payment in the portal, invoices and e-invoices on the order.
- Subscriptions and paymentSubscriptions with tariffs, an address book with duplicate checking, SEPA direct debit as a file, camt.053 account statement and export in DATEV format.
- Web portal and newsletterWeb portal from a template per publisher with paywall and reader accounts, newsletter with consent check.
- DataA separate workspace per publisher, separated at database level, with full export and deletion policy.
- Contract12-month term, billed monthly, renewal for 12 months, termination with three months' notice before the end of the term.
What Adpressa does not cover
An honest decision guide also names the limits. These points are not included in Adpressa or still need to be checked.
- Not a layout application for every single pagePages are built from templates, in a column grid and with style templates. Anyone who designs every page freely takes over the articles as ICML.
- Printing and mailingYou receive the PDF/X-4 and the address file; the printer and the lettershop remain your partners.
- Legal textsYou supply the imprint, terms and privacy policy of your portal.
- Typesetting software licenseThe license for production use is still open, and until then every page carries the watermark of the trial version.
- Connection to the print control systemIt is missing because the manufacturers' formats are not available. The printer receives the PDF/X-4.
- Wholesaler reporting formats and circulation reportFixed wholesaler formats are not built in, and a procedure for circulation reporting is not built.
How to proceed with your selection
Define which processes your publishing house handles in several programs today, and have every vendor show you these processes. With Adpressa this happens in the demo, with your questions and without sales slides.
If you are coming from a legacy system, check the import. Adpressa takes over articles and subscribers from WordPress, CSV and Excel, checked first and then imported.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between publishing software and an editorial system?
An editorial system manages articles, checks and approval. Publishing software goes further and includes the print edition, web portal, ad management, subscription management and invoices. Adpressa is both in one system.
What should I look for when comparing publishing software?
Look at what is included, where your data is stored, how you export it, how long the contract runs and what the system cannot do. Also have the vendor show you who decides when AI is involved.
How long is the contract with Adpressa?
The term is 12 months with monthly billing, after which it renews by 12 months. Notice is three months before the end of the term.
What can Adpressa not do as publishing software?
Adpressa is not a layout program for every single page, does not supply finished legal texts for your portal and has no connection to the press control system. Fixed wholesaler reporting formats and a circulation report are also missing.
How can data from a legacy system be moved into new publishing software?
Adpressa imports articles and subscribers from WordPress, CSV and Excel with a check before execution. If you wish, FHC+P as operator and IT service provider takes over the move from the legacy system.