ShoutCheap is a low-cost Shoutcast and Icecast host priced by bitrate and listener slot, with plans from $4.95/mo. CloudRadio is a flat $39/mo HLS-first platform with unlimited listeners and big storage. Different models, different tradeoffs. Here is when each wins.
ShoutCheap's entry plans cap at 25 listeners. CloudRadio's One plan starts at $39 with no listener cap.
| Feature | ShoutCheap (entry tier) | CloudRadio One · $39/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per bitrate × per listener slot | Flat $39/mo, all-in |
| Streaming protocol | Shoutcast / Icecast | HLS (64/128/256 kbps AAC) + Icecast MP3 |
| Listeners (entry tier) | 25 listeners on starter plans | Unlimited listeners |
| Bitrate | 32 to 256 kbps depending on plan | 64 / 128 / 256 kbps adaptive ladder |
| AutoDJ | Cloud AutoDJ + Live | Layered priority stack: live → schedule → rotation → fallback |
| DJ accounts | DJ accounts with their own logins | A personal login for each booked DJ, valid only during their shows |
| Storage | 1 GB base, +$5/GB (max 25 GB = $120/mo) | 750 GB |
| HTTPS stream URL | +$2.95/mo option at checkout | ✓ (included) |
| Embeddable player | Player Studio (separate tool, included) | Free player widget, 16 designs, HLS-ready |
| Stream monitoring + dead-air alerts | Auto-fallback to AutoDJ and automatic stream restarts; no documented alerting | Free monitoring every minute from 4 locations; email, Slack, Discord, or webhook alerts |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Bottom line: For a 25-listener hobby station, ShoutCheap is hard to beat at $4.95-12/mo. The math flips once your audience grows: ShoutCheap plans add cost as you bump bitrate and listener slots, while CloudRadio One stays flat at $39/mo with HLS, unlimited listeners, and 750 GB of storage.
All entry tiers cap at 25 listeners. Higher listener counts, up to 500, cost more per plan, and extra AutoDJ storage and mount points are options at checkout.
| Bitrate | Starting price (25 listeners) |
|---|---|
| 32 kbps | $4.95/mo |
| 64 kbps | $5.95/mo |
| 96 kbps | $9.95/mo |
| 128 kbps | $11.95/mo |
| 192 kbps | $17.95/mo |
| 256 kbps | $23.95/mo |
Source: shoutcheap.com, checked October 2026, USD. Higher listener counts increase the price of each tier.
ShoutCheap is genuinely cheaper for tiny audiences. The starter plan is around $5 to $12/mo for 25 listeners, though the HTTPS address is a $2.95/mo option at checkout (required for any modern embed or HTTPS website). As you climb the bitrate and listener-count ladder, the price climbs with it. At 128 kbps, 100 listeners cost $32.95/mo, 250 cost $84.95/mo, and 500 cost $290/mo.
CloudRadio One is $39/mo flat with no listener ceiling, no per-slot math, and an HLS ladder up to 256 kbps included. If you expect even a moderate audience or you don't want to think about capacity at all, the flat plan tends to win.
AutoDJ storage on ShoutCheap starts at 1 GB and scales up at $5/GB, so a 10 GB library adds $45/mo, and the maximum 25 GB pushes the monthly bill to $120 before you factor in the base stream cost. CloudRadio One includes 750 GB outright.
If you already run your own AutoDJ software (SAM, RadioDJ, mAirList), our Classic Shoutcast/Icecast hosting is $5/mo for 25 listeners at up to 320 kbps, HTTPS included, so it undercuts every ShoutCheap tier above 32 kbps and gives you a clean stream URL. Want an AutoDJ fallback that kicks in when your encoder drops, unlimited listeners, and silence monitoring? CloudRadio One at $39/mo adds all of that without replacing your workflow.
For a 25-listener hobby station at 32 or 64 kbps, yes. ShoutCheap starts at $4.95/mo. CloudRadio's classic Shoutcast/Icecast hosting is $5/mo for 25 listeners, and our AutoDJ addon adds $8/mo. CloudRadio One at $39/mo, with AutoDJ, 750 GB, and unlimited listeners, becomes competitive once your audience grows or you want HLS.
ShoutCheap's marketing focuses on Shoutcast and Icecast, not HLS. HLS is the right choice for mobile listeners on flaky networks because the player can step between bitrates as connection quality changes. CloudRadio runs a 3-tier HLS ladder on every plan.
ShoutCheap has automatic fallback to AutoDJ when a live source drops, which is great. CloudRadio adds a separate, free monitoring service that listens to any public stream every minute from 4 locations, detects dead air, and alerts you by email, Slack, Discord, or webhook if something looks off. Works on third-party streams too.
ShoutCheap charges per stream and sells extra mount points from $1/mo. CloudRadio One is single-station per plan; for multiple stations you run multiple plans, each with its own studio, monitoring, and player. The advantage is each station has its own unlimited-listener allotment.
Flat $39/month. Unlimited listeners, 750 GB storage, HLS up to 256 kbps, and free monitoring. No bitrate × slot math.