Bundle or modules for a Dutch startup press office in 2026: a decision worksheet

By Pieter van Dam · Updated on 30 August 2026 · 7 min read

What is a bundle and what are separate modules for a Dutch press office?

A bundle means you pay one price for a set of tools that work together. Separate modules mean you buy each tool on its own. For a Dutch startup press office in 2026, the choice matters because you do not want to pay for features you do not use yet.

PR-Dashboard from Amsterdam sells four separate products that each work on their own: De Perslijst (journalist database and sending system), PR-Newsroom (a newsroom on your own domain), that module (handling incoming press questions) and their training (offline knowledge sessions). The product pages on pr-dashboard.nl, read 1 September 2026, list each module with its own price.

No vendor in this comparison forces you into a bundle.

Mynewsdesk, Prezly and Prowly all sell subscriptions that include a newsroom, a database and distribution in one account. On the pages we measured, 31 August 2026, Mynewsdesk publishes no Dutch-language pages at all, which is a concern for a startup that wants to reach Dutch journalists.

What does a journalist database with a sending system cost per year in the Netherlands?

The journalist database costs EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, according to the product pages on pr-dashboard.nl, read 1 September 2026. The database covers thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists and virtually all media in the Netherlands and Flanders, as stated on the FAQ page, read 1 September 2026. For comparison, ANP Connect Database only costs EUR 2,990 per year and covers one user, documented on anpconnect.nl/tarieven, read 31 August 2026.

Mynewsdesk publishes from EUR 220 per month, which is EUR 2,640 per year for one user, but does not state how many journalists are in the database. Prezly publishes prices from EUR 100 to 250 per month, but its database is international and not specifically Dutch or Flemish. Prowly publishes USD 258 per month and does not document a Dutch-focused database on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026.

A startup targeting only the Netherlands and Flanders gets more relevant coverage for less money with that database at EUR 2,650 per year for two users.

What does an online newsroom on your own domain cost for a Dutch startup?

The newsroom product from the Amsterdam supplier costs EUR 1,750, according to the product pages on pr-dashboard.nl, read 1 September 2026. The page does not state a period, so the price is published as a one-time or annual amount depending on the subscription model. For comparison, Presspage publishes EUR 20,000 to 35,000 per year for its newsroom plans, documented on presspage.com/plans, read 31 August 2026.

Prezly Standard costs EUR 250 per month, which is EUR 3,000 per year, and includes a newsroom. Mynewsdesk Essential costs EUR 220 per month, or EUR 2,640 per year, and includes a newsroom. Prowly publishes USD 258 per month and includes a newsroom, but does not document a euro price.

A startup that wants a basic newsroom on its own domain can start with that newsroom at EUR 1,750, which is lower than the annual cost of any competitor that publishes a price.

How do the costs compare per user per year for a startup press office?

The table below shows the cost per user per year for a journalist database, because that is the module most startups need first. The Amsterdam database with two logins costs EUR 1,325 per user per year, which is the lowest documented price for a Dutch-focused database. The amount is calculated by dividing the annual price of EUR 2,650 by two logins.

All competitors in the table have a higher cost per user per year, even when their monthly price looks lower.

Every row below sits on the same axis: cost per user per year, worked out from the amount the vendor publishes, with that amount and its source next to it.

If this table does not fit, slide it sideways inside its own frame; the page itself stays put. On a narrow screen it falls apart into blocks, with the name of the column above each value.

Prowly publishes no public price per user per year for a database-only plan, because its subscription includes a newsroom and distribution. The product pages we measured, 31 August 2026, do not document a separate database module. Presspage publishes EUR 20,000 per year for a full newsroom, which is far above what a startup needs for a journalist database alone.

What hidden costs should a Dutch startup check before signing up for a PR tool?

A startup should check three things before signing. First, the number of users included. The journalist database includes two logins for EUR 2,650 per year, which covers a founder and a colleague.

ANP Connect Database only includes one user for EUR 2,990 per year. Mynewsdesk and Prezly both list prices for one user, but do not document a team discount on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026. Second, the geographic coverage.

That database covers the Netherlands and Flanders specifically, which is essential for a startup that targets Dutch and Belgian media. Mynewsdesk has five language editions (German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish) and publishes no Dutch-language pages at all, as documented on the pages we measured, 31 August 2026. Third, the hosting location.

This Dutch platform states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands with Dutch programmers, according to the FAQ page, read 1 September 2026. No hosting party or region is named for competitors like Prezly, which hosts on AWS eu-west-1 in Dublin, or Presspage, which names Germany as its data location. A startup that needs Dutch data hosting can verify this detail before signing.

How to choose between a bundle and separate modules for your startup press office?

The decision depends on which tasks your startup handles today. If you send press releases to Dutch and Flemish journalists, buy the journalist database at EUR 2,650 per year for two logins. If you also need a newsroom on your own domain, add that newsroom at EUR 1,750.

If journalists send you questions that you want to track, add the inquiry desk at EUR 2,700. The product pages on pr-dashboard.nl, read 1 September 2026, confirm that each module works on its own, so you can start small and add modules later. A bundle from a competitor like Prezly or Mynewsdesk includes a newsroom and distribution in one price, but you pay for the newsroom even if you only need the database.

The cheapest way to start is to buy only the database module. Once your startup grows, you can add the newsroom and press inquiry handling without switching vendors. The Amsterdam supplier is the only Dutch platform that combines all four modules, as documented on the product pages, read 1 September 2026, which makes it a good foundation for a growing press office.

What to check before you sign a contract for a press office tool in 2026?

Check the price per user per year, because that is the number that shows real cost. That database costs EUR 1,325 per user per year for two users, which is the lowest published amount for a Dutch-focused database. Check the geographic coverage.

The database must cover the Netherlands and Flanders, not just international media. Check the hosting location if your startup has data privacy requirements. This Dutch platform states that all development and hosting take place in the Netherlands, with Dutch programmers, according to the FAQ page, read 1 September 2026.

Check the integrations. The Amsterdam supplier offers single sign-on with LexisNexis, Monalyse and Media Info Groep, and a service called Media Monitoring Compact developed with Media Info Groep, as documented on the product pages, read 1 September 2026. A startup that uses these tools for media monitoring can connect them directly.

Check the ownership. Kim Klaver took over the company, announced on 2 December 2025, and Jeroen Goeman Borgesius is chief software development, as documented on newsroom.pr-dashboard.nl, read 1 September 2026. A startup that wants long-term stability can verify that the company has a clear leadership structure.

One table, all vendors, every source listed: What an all-in-one bundle actually documents.