Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Shoutcast Hosting (managed)

AzuraCast is an open-source, self-hosted web radio management suite that helps you run one or more online radio stations from a web interface. It bundles streaming, automation, media management, and listener-facing pages into a Docker-based platform.

Key Features

• Multi-station management with per-station configuration, users, and permissions
• Built-in automation via Liquidsoap and DJ tools; supports playlists, scheduling, and time-based rotations
• Icecast and SHOUTcast (via Shoutcast-compatible endpoints) streaming support with mountpoints/ports
• Web-based media library with uploads, organization, and playlist assignment
• Station public pages with embedded web player, stream URLs, and basic station metadata
• Live broadcasting support for external encoders (e.g., BUTT, Mixxx) with source/DJ authentication
• Listener analytics and reports (e.g., listener counts, peak listeners, song history)
• REST API for station data/now playing integration plus webhooks for event-driven integrations
• Docker and Docker Compose-based deployment with guided installer and upgrades

Use Cases

• Running a community or campus radio station with scheduled shows and live DJ sets
• 24/7 “automated radio” for a brand, venue, or hobby project with rotating playlists
• Hosting multiple niche stations (different genres/languages) on a single server

Limitations and Considerations

• Streaming/encoding and storage needs scale with concurrent listeners and media size; large stations may require careful resource planning.
• Some advanced broadcast workflows may still require external encoder/DJ software for live shows.

AzuraCast is best suited for individuals and organizations that want an integrated, web-managed radio stack without assembling separate streaming, automation, and management components. Its Docker-first approach and mature ecosystem make it a common choice for modern self-hosted web radio deployments.