Zeno.FM was the go-to free internet radio platform for years. It paused free signups in January 2025 and now sells paid plans starting at $35/mo. At that point, the comparison with CloudRadio gets serious. Here is an honest, current breakdown.
The closest apples-to-apples comparison is CloudRadio One ($39/mo) vs Zeno.FM Starter ($35/mo). $4 of difference is not the real story; what you get for the money is.
| CloudRadio One · $39/mo | Zeno.FM Starter · $35/mo | |
|---|---|---|
| Concurrent listeners | Unlimited | 5,000 |
| Listening hours / month | Unlimited | 400,000 |
| Stream quality | 256 kbps AAC (HLS) | 128 kbps |
| Media storage | 750 GB (~180,000+ tracks) | 500 fallback tracks (no GB storage) |
| Automation & scheduling | Full automation, scheduling, live takeover, and fallback | 500-track fallback only (scheduling requires Prime at $60/mo) |
| Advertisements | None | Monetization or Ad-Free Streaming |
Bottom line: At nearly the same price, CloudRadio One is stronger on stream quality, storage, and automation. Zeno Starter is lighter on features, but it adds built-in monetization and Zeno distribution.
Zeno.FM paused free signups in January 2025. Existing pre-2025 free accounts are grandfathered, with Zeno-inserted audio ads in the stream. New users get a 7-day trial on the Starter tier.
| Plan | Price | Stations | Concurrent | Hours/mo | Bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $35/mo | 1 | 5,000 | 400,000 | 128 kbps |
| Prime | $60/mo | 3 | 25,000 | 1,000,000 | 192 kbps |
| Premier | $280/mo | 5 | Unlimited | 2,500,000 | 320 kbps |
Pricing as of early 2026. Branded mobile app is a $59/mo add-on with a $500 setup fee. Check zeno.fm/pricing for the latest.
Zeno.FM offers built-in monetization through Ads.Zeno, letting stations insert pre-roll and mid-roll ads served by Zeno's network. This generates revenue automatically, though Zeno takes a cut of ad revenue.
CloudRadio does not offer built-in advertising. You keep 100% of any revenue you generate independently (sponsorships, listener donations, your own ads). This is better for established stations with their own sponsorship deals, but means new stations have to find monetization themselves.
Zeno's strongest argument is discovery. Your station is auto-listed in the Zeno Radio mobile app and the TuneIn directory, which can drive real listener acquisition for a new station with zero marketing effort.
CloudRadio doesn't run its own directory, but we make it easy to submit to major directories manually: TuneIn, Radio.net, Streema, MyTuner, and 14+ more. We provide submission tracking, pre-filled forms, and API integrations so your station metadata stays current across directories. For a station that already has marketing channels (a website, a community, social audiences), this control and independence matters more than automatic discovery.
Zeno.FM holds ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC licenses, but only for plays that happen via zeno.fm and the Zeno mobile app. Streams played from your own website, embedded player, or third-party aggregator are not covered by Zeno's blanket license. Those still require your own licensing.
CloudRadio does not bundle any royalty licensing. You handle music rights yourself, regardless of where the stream is played.
Not for new users. Zeno paused free signups in January 2025. Accounts created before that date are grandfathered onto the free tier, with Zeno-inserted audio ads in the stream. New broadcasters get a 7-day trial on the $35/mo Starter plan.
Yes. Download your audio files from Zeno and re-upload them to CloudRadio. The harder part is the stream URL: every existing link to `stream.zeno.fm/...` will need to be updated. Plan a transition window where both run in parallel and update your player widgets, smart-speaker links, and TuneIn entry.
CloudRadio does not auto-list to TuneIn the way Zeno does. You can submit your stream to TuneIn directly using your CloudRadio Icecast URL. TuneIn accepts third-party streams. The submission is manual but a one-time effort.
$39/month, flat. Unlimited listeners, 750 GB storage, HLS streaming, and free stream monitoring on any HTTPS stream.