Quick clarification first: "Shoutcast" is both a streaming protocol and a paid hosting service at shoutcast.com (operated by Targetspot). CloudRadio supports the Shoutcast protocol natively. So the real question is whether to host with Shoutcast.com or with us. Here is the honest comparison.
SHOUTcast (the protocol) is a proprietary streaming format originally from Nullsoft, now owned by Targetspot. The protocol details were available through Nullsoft's own free tools and documentation, so it became a de facto standard: most encoders (SAM Broadcaster, BUTT, Mixxx, RadioBOSS, RadioDJ) and player apps speak it natively.
Shoutcast.com (the hosting service) is the official paid offering from Targetspot, with directory listing on yp.shoutcast.com and mandatory Targetspot ad injection. It is the service this page compares against.
CloudRadio runs Classic Shoutcast hosting, Classic Icecast hosting, and CloudRadio One (HLS + ICY), so you can keep your existing encoder and upgrade at your own pace.
Shoutcast.com sells a single hosted plan ("Easy") plus a free self-hosted server and a custom Pro tier. CloudRadio sells two offerings: classic Shoutcast hosting from $5/mo and the all-in-one CloudRadio One at $39/mo.
|
Shoutcast.com Easy ~$4.50/mo (€50/yr) |
CloudRadio Classic from $5/mo (25 slots) |
CloudRadio One $39/mo |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Concurrent listeners | Bandwidth-capped (~3 TB/mo) | 25–1,000 slots ($0.20/slot) | Unlimited |
| Bitrate | Up to source bitrate | Up to 320 kbps | Up to 320 kbps |
| Shoutcast | ✓ | ✓ | HLS and ICY |
| HLS streaming | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (adaptive) |
| SSL / HTTPS streams | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AutoDJ + storage | ✓ (storage not specified) | Add-on: $8/mo (150 GB) | ✓ (750 GB) |
| yp.shoutcast.com directory | ✓ (auto-listed) | Via authhash (contact us) | Not supported |
| Control panel | Shoutcast Radio Manager | CloudRadio Studio | CloudRadio Studio |
| Ad injection | Mandatory (pre/mid-roll) | None | None |
Bottom line: Shoutcast.com Easy is inexpensive at ~$4.50/mo and gets you auto-listed on the yp.shoutcast.com directory, but ad injection is mandatory. Targetspot inserts pre-roll and mid-roll ads into your stream. If you want no platform ads, a modern panel, AutoDJ, and HLS, CloudRadio One at $39/mo replaces the entire stack. CloudRadio Classic sits in between for stations that need only Shoutcast hosting without forced ads.
Shoutcast.com Easy focuses on simplicity and established workflows. Some broadcasters prefer the familiar Shoutcast Radio Manager interface and appreciate the integration with Targetspot's monetization platform.
CloudRadio offers independent infrastructure and direct support from the team managing your servers. If your stream needs attention, you communicate directly with the operations team.
Shoutcast.com Easy emits SHOUTcast v1 and v2 only. No Icecast. No HLS. For desktop players this is fine. For modern web players, mobile apps, smart TVs, and CarPlay, HLS is the format that "just works" without plugins.
CloudRadio One emits HLS (adaptive bitrate AAC at 64/128/256 kbps) and an ICY/Icecast endpoint simultaneously, and accepts Icecast as the ingest source when you go live. You point your encoder at us using the Icecast protocol, and listeners get HLS or ICY depending on their player.
Shoutcast.com Easy is positioned around live broadcasting. AutoDJ is not advertised as a built-in feature, so most stations pair it with their own playout (SAM Broadcaster, RadioBOSS, RadioDJ) running on a separate machine. That works but requires you to keep that machine online 24/7.
CloudRadio One includes a full AutoDJ with 750 GB of music storage, playlist rotation rules, and scheduled programming. Your station runs 24/7 from the cloud whether your studio machine is on or not. If you prefer to run your own playout, the classic Shoutcast hosting plan gives you the endpoint without the AutoDJ.
Shoutcast.com Easy at €50/year is roughly $54 USD per year, or about $4.50/month. That is genuinely cheap for an unmetered-listener endpoint up to its ~3 TB/month bandwidth ceiling.
CloudRadio Classic Shoutcast hosting starts at $5/mo for 25 listener slots and scales at $0.20 per slot per month. For 50 listeners that is $10/mo, for 100 listeners it is $20/mo. So if your station regularly carries more than ~25 simultaneous listeners, Shoutcast.com Easy is cheaper on raw price.
CloudRadio One at $39/mo replaces that whole comparison: unlimited listeners, AutoDJ, storage, modern protocols, and an actively maintained panel. The right answer depends on whether you want a cheap endpoint or a complete radio platform.
Yes, on Classic Shoutcast hosting. Point your existing SAM Broadcaster, BUTT, Mixxx, RadioBOSS, or RadioDJ at a Classic Shoutcast server using your standard credentials and it works. CloudRadio One uses Icecast as its ingest protocol instead, so if you are moving to One you will switch your encoder to the Icecast/ICY connection settings.
Your listeners will need to update their stream URL from shoutcast.com's hostname to your new CloudRadio Shoutcast endpoint (or, on CloudRadio One, your HLS/Icecast URL). Most embedded players, mobile apps, and smart speakers let you swap the URL without losing the listener. Plan a transition window where both endpoints run in parallel.
The Shoutcast directory no longer accepts open self-submissions. Listing requires an authhash obtained through a partner arrangement with Targetspot. CloudRadio Classic supports authhash-based directory listing; contact us and we can walk you through the process. CloudRadio One does not currently support Shoutcast directory listing. For broader discovery, CloudRadio One stations can be submitted to TuneIn and other open directories.
Shoutcast Basic is the free DNAS server software you download and run on your own machine. It is not a hosted service. It is the open-source building block that hosts (including CloudRadio's classic Shoutcast plan and Shoutcast.com Easy) build their offerings on top of.
Targetspot is the programmatic audio ad network bundled into Shoutcast.com Easy hosting. Ads are mandatory on the Easy plan: Targetspot injects pre-roll and mid-roll spots and shares a portion of the revenue with you. Reviewers report inconsistent and delayed payouts, and the revenue share only becomes meaningful for stations with large audiences. CloudRadio does not insert ads into your stream. If you run your own ads, you keep 100% of the revenue.
Run Shoutcast on a modern host. Classic Shoutcast hosting from $5/mo, or jump to CloudRadio One at $39/mo for unlimited listeners, AutoDJ, and HLS.