Where Can I Submit a Press Release for Free?

Good news: you can share a press release without paying a newswire a cent. Less good news: most "free press release sites" won't get you the coverage you're dreaming about.

Here's the real map of free options, ranked from most to least useful.

1. Pitch journalists directly (the best free option)

This is the one nobody thinks of as "distribution," but it's the most powerful thing you can do for $0.

Find the reporter who covers your beat at a local outlet — the Calgary Herald, CBC Calgary, CTV News Calgary, Global News Calgary, LiveWire Calgary, Avenue Calgary — and send them a short, personal email with your release pasted in (not attached).

It costs time, not money. And one well-matched pitch beats a thousand free listings. Learn how in How to Find and Pitch Journalists for Your Press Release, and build your target list with How to Create a Media List for Your Press Release.

2. Your own website newsroom

Every business should have a news or press page. Post your release there first. Why?

• It's indexed by Google and becomes a permanent, linkable record
• Journalists who Google you will find it
• You control the formatting, images and links

Add a short "Media Contact" box with a real name, email and phone number.

3. Community and industry channels

Free and often overlooked:

• Chamber and association newsletters — groups like the Calgary Chamber often share member news
• Industry associations in your sector, which frequently run member spotlights
• Business improvement areas — the BIA for Inglewood, Kensington or 17th Avenue may feature local openings and events
• Community event calendars for anything with a date attached

These won't reach millions, but they reach the right thousands.

4. Social media and LinkedIn

Turn your release into a LinkedIn post, a carousel, or a short video. Tag partners, quote your spokesperson, and link back to the full release on your site. It's not media coverage, but it amplifies the news to people who already know you.

5. Free press release sites

Yes, they exist, and some newswires offer a free basic tier. What you typically get:

• A listing on their site
• Possibly some search indexing
• Very limited reach to real newsrooms

Use them as a bonus, not a strategy. Be wary of any free site that looks spammy — a link from a low-quality site does nothing for your credibility and won't impress a journalist.

What free distribution can't do

Free channels rarely put your news in front of editors who make coverage decisions. Paid wires don't guarantee that either, honestly. We break down when paying is worth it in Is Paying for Press Release Distribution Worth It?

The pattern is simple: distribution gets you published; pitching gets you covered. Free pitching beats paid blasting for most small businesses.

A free distribution plan you can run this week

1. Publish the release on your website newsroom (Day 1)
2. Email five hand-picked local reporters individually (Day 1–2)
3. Send it to your chamber, association and BIA contacts (Day 2)
4. Post a LinkedIn version and tag partners (Day 2)
5. Follow up once with each reporter (Day 4–5)

Total cost: $0 and a few focused hours.

For more ways to stretch a $0 budget

We've got a whole playbook on getting picked up without paying for distribution in How to Get a Press Release Picked Up Without Paying for Distribution.

---

Short on time but big on news? Blastily handles the writing, the pitching and the placement so your announcement actually lands. Start your Blast at blastily.com.