Icecast
Free, open-source streaming media server for running internet radio stations.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 3
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
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About Icecast
Icecast is a free streaming server from the Xiph.Org Foundation, the group behind the Ogg, Vorbis and Opus formats. You run it on your own server, point a source client such as a DJ app or automation tool at it, and it relays the audio to listeners. It supports Ogg Vorbis, Opus, WebM and MP3 streams, which covers both modern open codecs and the formats most players expect. People use it for public internet radio stations, private jukeboxes, event streams and as the streaming engine inside other tools such as AzuraCast. Icecast is released under the GPL version 2 and costs nothing; official binaries exist for Windows, while Linux and Unix users usually install it from their distribution's packages. It is a server only: there's no built-in web station manager, playlist scheduler or ad system, so you either configure it by hand through XML files or pair it with other software.
Best for: Technical broadcasters who want a free, standards-based stream server they control.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and open source under the GPL
- Supports Opus, Vorbis, WebM and MP3 streams
- Widely packaged on Linux and used inside other radio suites
Why people leave
- No built-in playlist scheduling or station dashboard
- Configured through XML files, which takes some technical skill
- No built-in monetisation or music licensing
Top Icecast alternatives
See all 3- 1
AzuraCast66.5Wraps Icecast with a web dashboard, AutoDJ and playlists so you don't have to edit config files.
- 2
SHOUTcast62.6Offers hosted plans and ad monetisation if you'd rather not run your own server.
- 3
Live36559.6Fully hosted stations with music licensing handled, for broadcasters who don't want servers at all.
Why people left Icecast
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Reviews
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Icecast: common questions
Is Icecast free?
Yes. Icecast is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Icecast open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at xiph/Icecast-Server. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Icecast run on?
Icecast is available for Windows, Linux and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to Icecast?
The highest-ranked Icecast alternatives right now are AzuraCast, SHOUTcast and Live365. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.