PublishPress vs StoryChief
PublishPress
Professional editorial, permission, and workflow management tools for WordPress content teams and digital publishers.
Publishers using it: 2 · incl. The 19th
StoryChief
A centralized platform to plan, create, and distribute content across multiple channels with AI-driven optimization.
Publishers using it: 2 · incl. Roularta Media Group
Last verified Oct 19, 2026
At a glance
- PublishPress scores 3.8/5 and StoryChief scores 3.1/5 in Benchmark Grid's independent editorial calendar software benchmark, both assessed on the same 10 criteria.
- The widest gaps are performance tracking (PublishPress 1.2, StoryChief 4.0) and multi-channel planning (PublishPress 2.8, StoryChief 4.7); they are within 0.3 on 4 of 10 criteria.
- Both are built for small and mid-market publishers.
- On total cost of ownership PublishPress scores 4.7 and StoryChief 4.0 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- In our tracking 2 publishers use PublishPress and 2 use StoryChief.
- Scores last verified 19 Oct 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
PublishPress is stronger on permissions & security (4.6 vs 3.3).
StoryChief is stronger on performance tracking (4.0 vs 1.2), multi-channel planning (4.7 vs 2.8) and collaboration (4.0 vs 3.2).
Which one fits
Choose PublishPress if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight permissions & security, editorial workflow & approvals and custom fields & templates heavily — PublishPress leads on those in this benchmark.
Choose StoryChief if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight performance tracking, multi-channel planning and collaboration heavily — StoryChief leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to PublishPress and StoryChief in this benchmark, listed A to Z.
- 4.0AsanaAI-powered work management platform orchestrating complex editorial workflows and multi-channel content campaignsRead review
- 3.0Monday.comA versatile AI-powered Work OS for centralizing editorial workflows and cross-team project managementRead review
- 3.5MultiCollabGoogle Docs-style real-time collaboration and editorial commenting directly within the WordPress block editorRead review
- 2.9TrelloA visual project management tool that helps teams organize tasks, collaborate on projects, and boost productivity.Read review
All 12 scored tools are in Best Editorial Calendar Software.
Who uses them
Publishers we have detected running each tool, from ads.txt, site code and published case studies. Agencies, brands and vendors are excluded.
PublishPress · 2
StoryChief · 2
Head to head
| Criterion | PublishPress | StoryChief |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial workflow & approvals14% of capability | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| Planning & scheduling views14% of capability | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| CMS & publishing integrations12% of capability | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Collaboration12% of capability | 3.2 | 4.0 |
| Custom fields & templates10% of capability | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Multi-channel planning10% of capability | 2.8 | 4.7 |
| Performance tracking8% of capability | 1.2 | 4.0 |
| Usability8% of capability | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Implementation & support6% of capability | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Permissions & security6% of capability | 4.6 | 3.3 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 3.5 | 1.5 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 4.7 | 4.0 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | PublishPress | StoryChief |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Entry cost | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| Implementation cost | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Ongoing cost | 4.8 | 3.5 |
PublishPress pricing
Business $149/year (1 site); Agency $299/year (5 sites); Unlimited $499/year.
StoryChief pricing
Free trial available; Starter $59/month billed yearly ($69 monthly), Growth $279/month, Scale $449/month and Agency $81/month per workspace (yearly prices); Enterprise from EUR 1,000+/month.
What users say
PublishPress
2 positive · 5 neutral · 4 negative
StoryChief
5 positive · 3 neutral · 1 negative
Mentions we could not tie to a real user, and those flagged as promotional, are excluded. Sentiment is opinion, and is independent of the verified publisher adoptions above.
PublishPress scores 3.8 and StoryChief scores 3.1 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Editorial Calendar Software benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/publishpress/storychief, verified Oct 19, 2026)
Common questions
How do PublishPress and StoryChief differ?
PublishPress is stronger on permissions & security (4.6 vs 3.3). StoryChief is stronger on performance tracking (4.0 vs 1.2), multi-channel planning (4.7 vs 2.8) and collaboration (4.0 vs 3.2). Neither is better in the abstract — which one suits you depends on which of those dimensions carries the most weight in your operation.
Which is cheaper, PublishPress or StoryChief?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — PublishPress scores 4.7/5 and StoryChief scores 4.0/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed against its category's published criteria (10 in this benchmark), which make up Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher fit (40%) and Total cost of ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or positions.
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Both tools are scored in Best Editorial Calendar Software. See alternatives to PublishPress or alternatives to StoryChief.
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Where to next
Related comparisons
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