Screenly Anthias Portable - Free
This means you can upload files, arrange playlists, and set schedules without ever connecting a keyboard or mouse to the signage player. It’s portable management for a portable display.
| Feature | Anthias (Free) | Screenly (Paid) | |---|---|---| | Price | Free, open‑source | Subscription‑based | | Multi‑screen management | Manual, per device | Centralized cloud dashboard | | Offline capability | Yes | Yes | | Professional support | Community forums only | Enterprise support available | | Ideal for | Hobbyists, small deployments, portable setups | Large fleets, professional installations |
The heart of any Anthias system is a Raspberry Pi. Anthias works on all major Raspberry Pi models, including the Pi 2, Pi 3, Pi 4, and the latest Pi 5, as well as the Pi Zero and older Pi 1 models. For the best balance of price, performance, and portability, the Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB or 4GB) is an excellent choice. If you need maximum processing power for high‑resolution video or complex web pages, the Raspberry Pi 5 is now fully supported by Anthias.
. The goal was to clear up confusion between the free, self-managed software and the paid, cloud-based commercial product. They chose the name "Anthias" (a type of brightly colored fish) to keep the project's identity distinct while maintaining its open-source roots. Why it’s the "Solid" Portable Choice
// reset auto-rotate timer on manual interaction (but not if auto rotate triggers reset timer) if (!fromAuto) resetAutoRotate(); screenly anthias portable
Elias pulled his laptop close. He knew the theory of Anthias—the open-source digital signage project, the way it managed content effortlessly. But this hardware felt different. It felt cinematic.
, creating the first-ever digital signage tool for the platform.
Use a high-end 16GB or 32GB card with fast read/write speeds to prevent file corruption. 2. The Portable Display
.slide-content position: relative; z-index: 2; text-align: center; max-width: 800px; color: white; text-shadow: 0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.5); backdrop-filter: blur(2px); This means you can upload files, arrange playlists,
Set specific times and dates for content to play.
What is your primary ? (e.g., trade shows, retail pop-ups, internal office communication)
If you already have Raspberry Pi OS Lite installed and want more customization options, you can run a single command to install Anthias.
/* bottom info bar: like anthias asset info */ .info-bar background: #080b10; padding: 0.7rem 2rem; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 0.7rem; color: #8f95a3; border-top: 1px solid #191e26; font-family: monospace; Anthias works on all major Raspberry Pi models,
.status-badge display: flex; gap: 15px; font-size: 0.8rem; background: #1e2129; padding: 6px 14px; border-radius: 40px; align-items: center;
Safety reminders, project milestones, and daily task lists can be displayed on a portable screen that moves as the work progresses. The rugged nature of Raspberry Pi hardware (especially when enclosed in a protective case) makes it suitable for semi‑outdoor environments.
.slide-title font-size: 3.2rem; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: -0.02em; margin-bottom: 1rem; background: linear-gradient(to right, #ffffff, #c0e0ff); background-clip: text; -webkit-background-clip: text; color: transparent;
Large, uncompressed video files will drain your battery faster and may cause stuttering. Encode your videos to H.264 MP4 format at 1080p resolution for the best balance of quality and performance.
The project is not static. After a period of slower development, Anthias is with a major release (v2026.05.0) and a clear roadmap. Recent and upcoming improvements focus on a faster, more responsive user interface, smoother hardware-accelerated video playback, built-in portrait/landscape rotation, and effortless upgrades that preserve all your settings. This renewed focus is great news for the community, promising an even more robust and user-friendly platform in the future.