Radio Broadcasting Software (2026): Free & Paid Compared

Which radio broadcasting software should I use at home?

For live talk shows, butt is the best free radio broadcasting software — a tiny, reliable encoder for Windows, macOS and Linux. For music shows with jingles and scenes, use OBS Studio; for live DJ sets, Mixxx; for a 24/7 unattended station, RadioDJ on Windows or AzuraCast on a machine you leave on. Paid suites such as SAM Broadcaster PRO and RadioBOSS are worth it only when you need commercial ad rotation and reporting.

Free tools listed: 9
Typical bitrate: 128 kbps AAC/MP3, 44.1 kHz stereo
Upload needed: About 0.15 Mbps for 128 kbps
Protocols accepted: RTMP, SRT, WHIP (WebRTC)
Cheapest paid suite: RadioBOSS licence tiers
Works on: Windows, macOS, Linux

Pick by what you broadcast

Talk show or live mic

butt

Smallest, fastest way to get a clean voice broadcast on air.

Music show with jingles

OBS Studio

Scenes and hotkeys let you fire jingles and switch sources mid-show.

Live DJ set

Mixxx

Real decks, beatmatching and controller support, broadcasting built in.

24/7 unattended station

RadioDJ or FFmpeg

Rotation scheduling on Windows, or a scripted playout loop on any machine.

Guest call-in from a phone

Browser (WHIP)

Nothing to install and latency low enough for real conversation.

Comparison at a glance

Free and paid radio broadcasting software compared by cost, platform, protocols and best use
Software	Cost	Platforms	Output	Best for
butt (Broadcast Using This Tool) Daniel Nöthen	Free / donation	Windows, macOS, Linux	RTMP, Icecast, Shoutcast	Talk shows and simple live mic broadcasts
OBS Studio OBS Project	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	RTMP, SRT	Anyone who wants scenes, jingles and video-capable shows
Mixxx Mixxx Development Team	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	RTMP, Icecast, Shoutcast	DJ sets mixed live with decks and controllers
Ladiocast Yosinaka Kotori	Free	macOS	RTMP, Icecast, Shoutcast	Mac hosts who want a simple four-input mixer
FFmpeg FFmpeg team	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	RTMP, SRT, RTSP	Unattended relays, 24/7 file playout and scripting
Browser (WHIP / WebRTC) Any modern browser	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS	WHIP	Quick talk segments, guest call-ins and phone broadcasts
Streamlabs Desktop Streamlabs	Free tier	Windows, macOS	RTMP	Hosts who want themed overlays out of the box
RadioDJ RadioDJ	Free	Windows	Icecast, Shoutcast, RTMP via encoder plugin	Full 24/7 automation on a Windows PC
AzuraCast AzuraCast	Free	Linux, Windows via Docker	Icecast, Shoutcast, SRT, HLS	Running your own station server at home or on a VPS
SAM Broadcaster PRO Spacial	Paid	Windows	Icecast, Shoutcast	Long-running commercial stations on Windows
RadioBOSS DJSoft	Free + paid tiers	Windows	Icecast, Shoutcast, RTMP	Automation with a gentler learning curve than SAM
Rocket Broadcaster Rocket Broadcaster	Free + paid tiers	Windows	Icecast, Shoutcast, RTMP	Broadcasting whatever is already playing on your PC

Free broadcasting software

Nothing to pay, and enough for the vast majority of home stations.

butt (Broadcast Using This Tool)

Daniel Nöthen

Free / donation

The classic lightweight radio encoder. One small window, pick your input, press play and you are on air. Version 1.2 and newer add RTMP, which is what our ingest accepts.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Open source (GPL), donation-supported
Output: RTMP, Icecast, Shoutcast
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Tiny download and almost no CPU use
Records your show locally while you broadcast
Reconnects on its own after a dropout

Trade-offs

No playlist automation — you supply the audio
Icecast-only builds cannot publish to Wowzaradio

Official download

OBS Studio

OBS Project

Free

The most widely used live encoder on the planet. Audio-only stations use a static cover-art scene and route a mic plus music player into the mixer.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Open source, no paid tier
Output: RTMP, SRT
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Scenes, hotkeys, filters, noise suppression and a real mixer
Huge plugin ecosystem and endless tutorials
Handles both audio-only and video broadcasts

Trade-offs

More setup than a dedicated radio encoder
Uses more CPU than butt or Ladiocast

Official download

Mixxx

Mixxx Development Team

Free

A full four-deck DJ application with beatmatching, key detection, crates and controller mapping, plus a built-in live broadcasting panel.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Open source (GPL)
Output: RTMP, Icecast, Shoutcast
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Real DJ workflow with hardware controller support
Broadcasts straight from the mixer, no second app
Automatic metadata so listeners see the current track

Trade-offs

Overkill for talk radio
Beatgrid prep takes time on a large library

Official download

Ladiocast

Yosinaka Kotori

Free

A compact Mac mixer that takes four inputs, sums them and pushes one stream out. Pairs well with BlackHole for capturing system audio.

Platforms: macOS
Price: Free on the Mac App Store
Output: RTMP, Icecast, Shoutcast
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Very light on resources
Four inputs with independent faders
No licence cost

Trade-offs

Mac only
No automation or playlist scheduling

Official download

FFmpeg

FFmpeg team

Free

A command-line workhorse. One line publishes a file, a folder or another stream to your ingest and keeps going until you stop it.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Open source
Output: RTMP, SRT, RTSP
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Runs headless on any old PC or VPS
Relays an existing stream with no re-encoding fuss
Scriptable for scheduled shows

Trade-offs

No interface at all
Mistakes are silent until you read the log

Official download

Browser (WHIP / WebRTC)

Any modern browser

Free

Your station's WHIP endpoint accepts a publish straight from a browser tab, with sub-second latency and no software to configure.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS
Price: Nothing to install
Output: WHIP
Wowzaradio ingest: WHIP

Strengths

Zero install
Lowest latency option
Works from a laptop or phone

Trade-offs

No mixing or automation
Depends on a steady connection

Official download

Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs

Free tier

An OBS-derived app with a friendlier setup flow, ready-made themes and alerts. Custom Ingest mode points it at Wowzaradio.

Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: Free; Ultra subscription for extras
Output: RTMP
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Guided setup
Overlay and alert library
Familiar to streamers

Trade-offs

Heavier than OBS
Best features sit behind the subscription

Official download

RadioDJ

Free

A genuine automation system: rotations, clocks, jingles, sweepers, ad scheduling and track history, backed by a database.

Platforms: Windows
Price: Free for personal and commercial use, requires MySQL/MariaDB
Output: Icecast, Shoutcast, RTMP via encoder plugin
Wowzaradio ingest: Via FFmpeg relay

Strengths

Proper rotation and daypart scheduling
Ad and jingle rules like a commercial playout system
No licence fee

Trade-offs

Windows only and needs a database installed
Icecast output needs an RTMP-capable encoder in front for our ingest

Official download

AzuraCast

Free

A complete self-hosted radio platform: web uploads, playlists, live DJ handover, listener stats and public pages.

Platforms: Linux, Windows via Docker
Price: Open source, self-hosted (Docker)
Output: Icecast, Shoutcast, SRT, HLS
Wowzaradio ingest: Via FFmpeg relay

Strengths

All-in-one station server
Web based, manage it from anywhere
Active development

Trade-offs

Needs Docker and a machine that stays on
You own the updates, backups and bandwidth bill

Official download

Paid and mixed-tier software

Worth the licence when you schedule advertising or need vendor support.

SAM Broadcaster PRO

Spacial

Paid

The best known paid playout suite: clocks, crossfade rules, voice tracking, ad rotation and reporting.

Platforms: Windows
Price: One-off licence, roughly $299
Output: Icecast, Shoutcast
Wowzaradio ingest: Via FFmpeg relay

Strengths

Mature automation and reporting
Voice tracking and clock editor
Vendor support

Trade-offs

Expensive next to free alternatives
Windows only, and its Icecast output needs an RTMP bridge for our ingest

Official download

RadioBOSS

DJSoft

Free + paid tiers

Playlist automation with scheduling, crossfades, jingle rules and internet-radio output, aimed at small stations and venues.

Platforms: Windows
Price: Free trial; Standard and Advanced licences
Output: Icecast, Shoutcast, RTMP
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Straightforward interface
RTMP output available
Good scheduling for the price

Trade-offs

Windows only
Full features need a paid licence

Official download

Rocket Broadcaster

Free + paid tiers

Captures system audio and pushes it out, so anything you play locally goes to air without rerouting devices.

Platforms: Windows
Price: Free version; Pro licence for higher bitrates and codecs
Output: Icecast, Shoutcast, RTMP
Wowzaradio ingest: RTMP

Strengths

Captures desktop audio cleanly
Simple single-window setup
RTMP in the paid tier

Trade-offs

Windows only
Free tier limits codecs and bitrate

Official download

RTMP, SRT or WHIP?

RTMP: The default. Supported by nearly every encoder, stable over normal broadband, and the easiest to set up. Start here.
SRT: Best on shaky connections — mobile tethering, venue Wi-Fi, remote outside broadcasts. It recovers lost packets instead of dropping audio.
WHIP (WebRTC): Publishes straight from a browser tab with sub-second latency. Ideal for guest call-ins and quick talk segments.
Icecast / Shoutcast: Not accepted directly by our ingest. Switch the tool to its RTMP mode, or run FFmpeg alongside it to relay the stream.

Settings that work first time

Audio codec: AAC (AAC-LC) or MP3
Bitrate: 128 kbps, or 192 kbps for music-first stations
Sample rate: 44,100 Hz
Channels: Stereo
Keyframe interval: 2 seconds (video encoders only)
Upload headroom: At least twice your bitrate in spare upstream bandwidth

Connect it to your station

1Open your Station Console and go to the Live Source tab.
2Copy the RTMP, SRT or WHIP URL plus your stream key — treat the key like a password.
3In your encoder set the service to Custom, then paste the URL and key.
4Press Start Streaming and watch Stream Health for a green publisher.
5Stop the encoder and your 24/7 rotation takes back over automatically.

Live Source setup guide Start a station

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free radio broadcasting software for a home PC?

For live talk, butt is the best free choice — it is tiny, stable and reconnects on its own. For music shows with jingles and scenes, OBS Studio is free and more capable. For live DJ sets, Mixxx is free and includes broadcasting. All three run on Windows, macOS and Linux and work with Wowzaradio over RTMP.

Do I need to pay for broadcasting software?

No. Free tools cover almost every home setup: butt, OBS Studio, Mixxx, Ladiocast and FFmpeg cost nothing. Paid suites such as SAM Broadcaster PRO or RadioBOSS add commercial-grade automation, ad rotation and reporting, which matter mostly if you run scheduled advertising.

Which protocol should I use — RTMP, SRT or WHIP?

Use RTMP unless you have a reason not to: nearly every encoder supports it. Choose SRT when your connection loses packets, such as mobile or venue Wi-Fi. Choose WHIP when you want sub-second latency straight from a browser tab.

Can I use Icecast or Shoutcast software with Wowzaradio?

Our ingest is publish-only over RTMP, SRT and WHIP, so an Icecast-only build cannot connect directly. Many tools have an RTMP mode — butt 1.2+, Mixxx, RadioBOSS and Rocket Broadcaster Pro. Where a tool is Icecast-only, run FFmpeg alongside it to relay the stream to RTMP.

What encoder settings should I use?

AAC or MP3 at 128 kbps, 44,100 Hz, stereo suits most stations; music-first stations often use 192 kbps. Keep at least twice your bitrate in spare upload bandwidth, and set a 2-second keyframe interval on video encoders.

Can I broadcast from my home computer without leaving it on all day?

Yes. Broadcast live from your PC when you are on air, and let your Wowzaradio 24/7 rotation cover the rest. When your encoder disconnects, the station falls back to your scheduled playlist automatically and hands control back when you reconnect.

How much upload speed do I need?

A 128 kbps audio stream needs roughly 0.15 Mbps of steady upload, so any modern broadband connection is enough. Problems come from congestion rather than raw speed — avoid large uploads and cloud backups while you are on air.

Prices and platform support change; check each vendor's own download page before buying. Wowzaradio is not affiliated with these projects — we list them because our listeners' hosts use them daily.