Written by
Frederick
· Founder, RadioSiteMaker
Best Radio Broadcasting Software in 2026: 9 Internet Radio Tools Compared
Disclosure: RadioHost Studio and RadioSiteMaker are our own products; Studio is covered in its own section below and is not one of the nine tools ranked. Method: prices checked on each vendor's own page on 5 November 2026; we list where competitors are the better fit.
Broadcasting software is the engine room of your internet radio station. It takes your music library, live microphone, jingles and scheduled programming and turns them into a continuous audio stream. The right choice affects your workflow, your sound, your ability to automate, and how much time you spend fighting technical problems instead of making radio. You will also need the right equipment around it.
The quick answer — the best radio broadcasting software by use case:
| If you need… | Best pick | Price | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 automation, paid, desktop | RadioBOSS or SAM Broadcaster | RadioBOSS $199[1]–$299[2] one-time; SAM: see Spacial | Windows |
| 24/7 automation, free | RadioDJ | Free | Windows |
| Self-hosted station in a browser | AzuraCast | Free (server cost only) | Linux server |
| Hosted automation, no station PC | RadioHost Studio (ours) or SAM Cloud | $199/yr + tax; SAM Cloud Silver $330[3]/yr | Browser |
| Live DJ mixing | Mixxx (free) or Virtual DJ | Free; Virtual DJ has paid licences | Windows, Mac (Mixxx also Linux) |
| Just get audio to a stream | BUTT | Free | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Broadcast-grade studio automation | Rivendell | Free | Linux |
Most one-person internet stations end up with two tools: an automation tool for the unattended hours and a live tool (or encoder) for shows. The reviews, a comparison table and a use-case guide follow.
What Broadcasting Software Actually Does
Playout and playlist management
Good playout software manages playlists, crossfades between tracks, applies audio processing, and keeps a log of everything that plays — which you need for licensing reports.
Automation and scheduling
Automation runs playlists, rotation rules, time-specific programming and fallback content when nobody is live. The best tools let you set rules like "one jingle every four songs" or "never the same artist twice in an hour", usually through hour templates called clockwheels.
Live mixing
When a DJ goes live, the software handles the microphone alongside music, with ducking (lowering the music under the mic), crossfading and sound effects. Some tools give you a full DJ surface with decks, EQ and effects.
Encoding and streaming
The software encodes audio (typically MP3 or AAC) and sends it to a streaming server (Icecast, SHOUTcast or a hosted provider), along with metadata — artist and title — so listeners and your website can show what is playing. If you are unsure which bitrate to pick, see stream bitrate and AAC vs MP3.
The Software: Reviewed
SAM Broadcaster
Price: see Spacial (one-time licence) | Platform: Windows only
A full-featured desktop playout system: playlist automation, live broadcasting, direct encoding and streaming. Spacial also sells a hosted version, SAM Cloud: Silver is $30[4] a month with 120 listeners[5] at 128 kbps[6], 30 GB[7] and 5 additional DJs[8].
What it does well: - Mature software with a deep feature set - Built-in audio processing - Advanced rotation and scheduling rules - Integrated request system and track history - Direct streaming to SHOUTcast, Icecast and other servers - Reporting for licensing compliance
Where it falls short: - Windows only - The interface looks dated and can feel cluttered - A steeper learning curve than simpler tools
Best for: stations that want a proven all-in-one desktop solution on Windows. Alternatives are covered in our SAM Broadcaster alternatives guide.
RadioBOSS
Price: $199 Standard / $249[9] Advanced / $299 Ultimate (one-time, a year of updates included) | Platform: Windows only
The automation workhorse, designed for sophisticated scheduling and unattended operation.
What it does well: - Playlist generator with complex rotation rules - Scheduling with time blocks, hour clocks and priorities - Built-in processing and normalisation - Streams to several servers at once - Runs as a Windows service for headless operation - Good metadata handling for now-playing
Where it falls short: - Windows only - Not intuitive for beginners - The editions differ in features; check which one has what you need
Best for: stations that want programming to run without supervision, especially music formats where rotation rules matter.
RadioDJ
Price: Free | Platform: Windows only
A genuinely free, full-featured automation system, donation-supported rather than open source, built around a MySQL/MariaDB database for your library, rotations and events.
What it does well: - Free with no feature gates — full automation, rotations and events - Database-driven library that handles large collections - Rotation builder and event scheduler comparable to paid tools - Plugins for requests, now-playing export and streaming - Light on resources
Where it falls short: - Windows only - Installing the database trips up beginners - Streaming needs a separate encoder plugin or companion tool - Documentation is community-driven and scattered - Slow, irregular release pace
Best for: budget-conscious stations that want real automation and don't mind a fiddly one-time setup.
Mixxx
Price: Free (open source) | Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
A free DJ application that doubles as a capable broadcasting tool, connecting directly to Icecast and SHOUTcast.
What it does well: - Free, cross-platform - Dual decks, EQ, effects and beatmatching - Direct live broadcasting - Active development - MIDI controller support
Where it falls short: - A DJ tool, not radio automation — no scheduling or rotation rules - Needs someone at the controls - No broadcast processing
Best for: live-mix shows, and anyone on Mac or Linux who needs a free live tool. Mixxx can also feed a hosted station; see broadcasting with Mixxx.
BUTT (Broadcast Using This Tool)
Price: Free (open source) | Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
BUTT does one thing: it captures audio from your sound card or microphone and streams it to an Icecast or SHOUTcast server.
What it does well: - Simple to set up - Tiny footprint - Cross-platform; MP3, Ogg Vorbis and AAC - Records locally while broadcasting - Works with any audio software
Where it falls short: - No playlists, scheduling, mixing or processing - Limited metadata support
Best for: getting any audio source to a server, and as a backup encoder. Setup for a hosted station: broadcasting with BUTT.
Virtual DJ
Price: Free for non-professional (home) use[10]; paid licences for professional use (see virtualdj.com) | Platform: Windows, Mac
A DJ performance tool that many internet radio hosts use for live mix shows.
What it does well: - Visual interface with waveforms, beat grids and deck controls - Real-time effects and sampling - Built-in broadcasting - Video mixing for visual radio
Where it falls short: - Designed for DJs, not radio automation — no scheduling or rotation - Resource-heavy compared to simpler tools
Best for: DJs who host live mix shows and want a polished visual experience.
PlayIt Live
Price: free core; Premium Module Bundle £300[11] a year or £1,199[12] lifetime (November 2026 sale price) | Platform: Windows only
Free core software, with a paid bundle for voice tracking, remote management and advanced scheduling.
What it does well: - Free core with no time limit - Clean, modern interface, easier to learn than SAM or RadioBOSS - Built-in clock and scheduling - Voice tracking and remote management in the premium bundle
Where it falls short: - Windows only - The most useful station features are in the paid bundle - Less depth than RadioBOSS for complex automation
Best for: new stations that want to start free and grow into paid features.
AzuraCast
Price: Free (open source, self-hosted) | Platform: web-based, on a Linux server
A complete self-hosted web radio suite: streaming server, web-based playout, scheduling, analytics and station management in a single Docker installation.
What it does well: - Free and open source - Streaming server, AutoDJ, scheduling and listener stats in one package - Web interface from any device - Multi-station support - Now-playing API for website integration (AzuraCast integration)
Where it falls short: - Needs a Linux server and command-line knowledge - Live shows need a separate source client - You own server maintenance, updates and backups
Best for: technically inclined operators who want full control of their infrastructure.
Rivendell
Price: Free (open source) | Platform: Linux only
Broadcast automation from the terrestrial radio world, released under the GPL: cart-based playout, traffic and music log imports, multi-machine studio setups.
What it does well: - Broadcast-grade automation — carts, logs, traffic reconciliation - Designed for always-on operation - Multi-machine architecture (playout, production and logging workstations) - Integrates with professional audio hardware
Where it falls short: - Linux only, with a technical installation - Overkill for a one-person internet station - Concepts (carts, logs) assume broadcast experience - Streaming to Icecast needs extra configuration
Best for: community and terrestrial stations simulcasting online with Linux skills on hand.
Commercial Automation Worth Pricing
Beyond the nine above, these paid systems come up when stations shop for automation:
| Product | Price | Model |
|---|---|---|
| NextKast | Pro $199[13], Broadcast $399[14] | One-time licence |
| DJB Radio | From $89/month (with $595 set-up) or $99/month (with $199 set-up)[15] | Subscription with set-up fee |
| Simian 3.0 Pro (BSI) | $1,999[16] | One-time licence |
| SAM Cloud Silver | $30/month or $330/year | Hosted |
DJB and Simian are aimed at professional and terrestrial operations; for a small internet station they are more than the job needs.
Automation Without a Station PC: RadioHost Studio
Every desktop tool above needs a computer that stays on, a backup plan for when it does not, and a separate stream host. RadioHost Studio — our product — moves the whole job into the browser, with the stream included.
What it does: media library, smart and manual playlists, clockwheels, a week schedule, voice tracking, AutoDJ, Live Studio (a browser mixer for live shows), relays, podcasts made from recordings, ad campaigns with proof-of-play, SoundExchange CSV export, and embeddable widgets.
What it costs: $25 a month or $199 a year + tax, 7-day free trial with no card. One Station plan: 500 concurrent listeners, 30,000 listening hours a month, 10 GB storage, up to 192 kbps, 5 external DJ seats and 10 Live Studio deejays.
Clockwheels are the hour templates AutoDJ follows. You lay out the slots once — music categories, station IDs, ads, voice tracks — and every hour that uses the clock plays by those rules.
The week schedule places clocks and live shows on a seven-day grid, so the station knows what to play at 3 a.m. on a Sunday without anyone awake.
Where the desktop tools still win:
- Bigger audiences or higher bitrates. Studio stops at 500 concurrent listeners and 192 kbps; desktop software streaming to a larger host does not.
- Feeding a local transmitter. Desktop playout keeps running through an internet outage.
- Deep broadcast workflows. Rivendell's traffic reconciliation and multi-machine setup are a different class.
- One-time cost. A perpetual licence such as RadioBOSS has no yearly fee after the first year's updates, if you can live without them.
You can also keep a desktop tool for live shows and use Studio for the unattended hours: it accepts live sources from tools such as Mixxx, BUTT, RadioBOSS and SAM Broadcaster. Studio's own automation platforms comparison sets it against other hosted services. Size a plan with the listening hours calculator.
Automation that runs without a station PC
Media library, clockwheels, week-ahead scheduling, voice tracking, AutoDJ and live DJ takeover, in the browser, with the stream included. $25 a month or $199 a year + tax.
How to Choose the Right Broadcasting Software for Your Station
For 24/7 automated audio broadcasting
You want dedicated radio automation software, not a DJ tool. RadioBOSS and SAM Broadcaster are the strongest paid desktop options; RadioDJ matches them for free if you can get through the database setup; AzuraCast does the job as a self-hosted web suite; RadioHost Studio or SAM Cloud do it hosted, with no PC.
For live DJ shows (DJ broadcasting software)
You want a mixing surface rather than a scheduler. Mixxx is the standout free choice; Virtual DJ is the polished alternative with video mixing. Neither automates a 24/7 log, so many DJ-led stations pair one with an automation tool for the overnight hours. Read AutoDJ vs live for how the handover works.
For the simplest possible setup
If you already play audio in another program and only need to push it to a server, BUTT does exactly that. It is also the best backup encoder to keep on hand.
For free radio broadcasting software
RadioDJ (automation), Mixxx (live mixing), AzuraCast (self-hosted suite) and BUTT (encoder) are all free and capable of running a real station. The trade is setup effort and, for AzuraCast, a Linux server. More in free radio automation software.
For Mac and Linux users
Most classic automation tools are Windows-only. On Mac: Mixxx, Virtual DJ and BUTT, plus server- or browser-based automation (AzuraCast, RadioHost Studio). On Linux: Rivendell and AzuraCast alongside Mixxx and BUTT. Running Windows in a virtual machine is a common workaround for desktop automation.
For professional and hybrid radio/TV broadcasting
Stations that come from or feed terrestrial radio or TV need software that thinks in carts, logs and traffic reconciliation: Rivendell, or commercial systems such as Simian and DJB. For visual radio or simulcast, Virtual DJ's video mixing or OBS Studio handles the picture.
Comparison Table
| Software | Price | Windows | Mac | Linux | Automation | Live Mixing | Encoding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAM Broadcaster | See Spacial | Yes | No | No | Advanced | Basic | MP3, AAC |
| RadioBOSS | $199–$299 | Yes | No | No | Advanced | Basic | MP3, AAC, Ogg |
| RadioDJ | Free | Yes | No | No | Advanced | Basic | Via plugin |
| Mixxx | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | None | Advanced | MP3, Ogg |
| BUTT | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | None | None | MP3, AAC, Ogg |
| Virtual DJ | Free for home use / paid | Yes | Yes | No | None | Advanced | MP3, AAC |
| PlayIt Live | Free + £300/yr bundle | Yes | No | No | Moderate | Basic | MP3, AAC |
| AzuraCast | Free | Via server | Via server | Yes (server) | Advanced | None | MP3, AAC, Ogg |
| Rivendell | Free | No | No | Yes | Broadcast-grade | Basic | Via config |
| RadioHost Studio (ours) | $199/yr + tax | Browser | Browser | Browser | Advanced | Browser mixer | Stream included |
How Broadcasting Software Connects to Your Website
Now-playing information
Each time your software plays a track, it sends metadata to your streaming server. Your website reads it and updates the "now playing" display. Icecast exposes it at /status-json.xsl (since Icecast 2.4.0)[17] and SHOUTcast v2 at /stats?sid=1&json=1 ; all streams: /statistics?json=1[18]; hosted platforms have their own feeds. Check what your stream exposes with the radio stream tester.
Schedule synchronisation
If your software manages a programme schedule, that schedule can be shown on your website, so listeners see what is on next and who is hosting.
Request systems
Some software (SAM Broadcaster, AzuraCast, RadioHost Studio) has a request system a website can use, letting listeners request songs from a web page.
The key takeaway
The software handles the audio; the station website handles the listener experience. RadioSiteMaker is our website product: a separate $99/year + tax subscription that reads now-playing data from Icecast, SHOUTcast, AzuraCast, Radio.co, RadioKing, Live365 and others (see integrations), with a persistent player, schedule grid, DJ profiles and podcast pages.
Official Sites and Where the Prices Come From
- SAM Broadcaster / SAM Cloud — spacial.com
- RadioBOSS — djsoft.net
- RadioDJ — radiodj.ro
- Mixxx — mixxx.org
- BUTT — danielnoethen.de/butt
- Virtual DJ — virtualdj.com
- PlayIt Live — playitsoftware.com
- AzuraCast — azuracast.com
- Rivendell — rivendellaudio.org
- NextKast, DJB Radio, Simian — nextkast.com, djbradio.com, bsiusa.com
Every cited price links to its source in the list at the end of the article. For the rest of a station's budget, see our cost to start and run a radio station breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free internet radio broadcasting software?
For live DJ mixing, Mixxx: cross-platform, full-featured and actively maintained. For simple streaming, BUTT. For a complete self-hosted station with automation, scheduling and analytics, AzuraCast, which needs a Linux server. For free Windows automation, RadioDJ.
Can I use Spotify or Apple Music as a source for my internet radio station?
No. Their terms prohibit rebroadcasting. Use your own licensed music library and secure the performance licences for your country.
Do I need different software for live shows versus automated playout?
Often, yes. A common setup is RadioBOSS or SAM Broadcaster for 24/7 playout and Mixxx or Virtual DJ for live shows; the live tool sends its output to the server during the show, then automation takes over. RadioHost Studio does both in the browser: AutoDJ for the unattended hours and Live Studio, or an external encoder, for shows.
What bitrate should I stream at?
128 kbps MP3 is a common choice: it sounds good to most listeners and works on slow connections. For music where quality matters, consider 192 kbps MP3 or AAC, which sounds better than MP3 at the same bitrate. Our Studio guides on stream bitrate and AAC vs MP3 go further.
How do I display "now playing" on my station website?
Your software sends track metadata to the streaming server; your website reads it from the server's status endpoint. A station website platform like RadioSiteMaker does this automatically for Icecast, SHOUTcast and most hosted platforms, and you can embed a player with track display anywhere using the now-playing widget.
What is the best DJ broadcasting software?
Mixxx for free — dual decks, EQ, effects, MIDI support and direct broadcasting on Windows, Mac and Linux. Virtual DJ for a more polished paid experience with video mixing. Pair either with an automation tool if you also need unattended overnight playout.
Is there broadcasting software for both radio and TV (video) broadcasting?
Yes, but it is a different category. Virtual DJ includes video mixing, and OBS Studio (free) is the standard for streaming video to an RTMP endpoint or, paired with BUTT, an audio stream. If you only broadcast audio, a dedicated radio tool is simpler.
What is the difference between broadcasting software and a streaming server?
They are two halves of one pipeline. Broadcasting software (SAM Broadcaster, RadioBOSS, Mixxx, BUTT) does playout, mixing and encoding. A streaming server (Icecast, SHOUTcast or a hosted service) receives that feed and redistributes it to listeners. AzuraCast and RadioHost Studio bundle both. See Icecast vs SHOUTcast.
What is the best audio broadcasting software for Mac?
The classic Windows automation tools (SAM Broadcaster, RadioBOSS, RadioDJ, PlayIt Live) do not run natively on macOS. The practical Mac options are Mixxx and Virtual DJ for live mixing, BUTT for encoding, and AzuraCast or RadioHost Studio for automation in the browser.
Sources and verification
Competitor prices and limits change often. Each figure above was checked on the date shown against the vendor's own page. Prices exclude tax unless stated.
- DJSoft.Net · Standard: RadioBOSS Standard licence — $199 (one-time). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Perpetual licence incl. one year of updates and support; renewal subscription available after year one.
- DJSoft.Net · Ultimate: RadioBOSS Ultimate licence — $299 (one-time). Source, checked 2026-11-05
- Spacial (SAM Broadcaster Cloud) · Silver: Silver annual price — $330 (annual). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Annual billing advertised as '1 month FREE!'.
- Spacial (SAM Broadcaster Cloud) · Silver: Silver monthly price — $30 (monthly). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Page: 'All prices are TAX exclusive due to the difference in TAX in different countries'.
- Spacial (SAM Broadcaster Cloud) · Silver: Silver listeners — 120 listeners. Source, checked 2026-11-05
- Spacial (SAM Broadcaster Cloud) · Silver: Silver bitrate (listener cap basis) — 128 kbps. Source, checked 2026-11-05
- Spacial (SAM Broadcaster Cloud) · Silver: Silver storage — 30 GB. Source, checked 2026-11-05
- Spacial (SAM Broadcaster Cloud) · Silver: Silver DJ accounts — 5 additional DJs. Source, checked 2026-11-05. Wording is 'Additional DJs'. Also: 1 Station, 2 External Relays.
- DJSoft.Net · Advanced: RadioBOSS Advanced licence — $249 (one-time). Source, checked 2026-11-05
- VirtualDJ · Free: Free for non-professional (home) use — Free for non-professional (home) use. Source, checked 2026-11-05. FAQ on the same page: 'it is free for home use'. Buy page lists paid Home and Pro licences; Pro 'Can be used in public or paid gigs'.
- PlayIt Software · Annual: Premium Module Bundle annual — £300 (annual). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Monthly option £50/month. PlayIt Live core is free; bundle = Voice Tracking + Remote Management + Advanced Scheduling.
- PlayIt Software · Lifetime: Premium Module Bundle lifetime — £1,199 (one-time). Source, checked 2026-11-05. November 2026 sale price; implied regular price £1,499 (1,199 + 300 saving).
- NextKast · Pro: NextKast Pro licence — $199 (one-time). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Includes 12 months email support/updates; 2 activations for 1 station.
- NextKast · Broadcast: NextKast Broadcast licence — $399 (one-time). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Higher tiers also listed: OnAir LPFM/Online $1000, and $3000; monthly option 'starting at $49 a month'.
- DJB Radio · Subscription: DJB Radio subscription monthly price — From $89/month (with $595 set-up) or $99/month (with $199 set-up) (monthly). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Same page also says 'DJB Radio Subscription starts at $595.00 initial set-up cost then just $89/month*'. Bundle: 1 On-Air + 1 Production w/ Music Scheduler + 1 iVT + Courier, 24/7/365 emergency support, 2 hrs setup.
- Broadcast Software International (BSI) · Pro: Simian 3.0 Pro licence — $1,999 (one-time). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Options: Gateway (remote VT) +$299; Multi-instance +$499; upgrade from 2.3 -$1,000; from Lite -$499. Production companion $249 (simian-3-0-production page).
- Icecast (Xiph.org) · n/a: JSON status endpoint — /status-json.xsl (since Icecast 2.4.0). Source, checked 2026-11-05. Icecast docs warn the HTML status page is not an API; JSON/XSLT/raw XML preferred.
- SHOUTcast · n/a: Stats JSON endpoint — /stats?sid=1&json=1 ; all streams: /statistics?json=1. Source, checked 2026-11-05. Source is a mirror of the official DNAS docs ('Last Updated 16 March 2015'); help.shoutcast.com returned 403 and wiki.shoutcast.com did not respond today.
Automation that runs without a station PC
Media library, clockwheels, week-ahead scheduling, voice tracking, AutoDJ and live DJ takeover, in the browser, with the stream included. $25 a month or $199 a year + tax.
Founder of RadioSiteMaker. Passionate about making professional radio station websites accessible to every broadcaster. Builds and runs the RadioSiteMaker website platform and RadioHost Studio, the browser-based 24/7 automation suite, and writes these guides from that day-to-day work with independent stations.
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