Best Radio Automation Software (2026): 10 Playout Tools

Every station has the same problem in the small hours: someone has to be on air, and it isn't going to be a volunteer. Radio automation is what fills those hours, and on small stations it's often running most of the week.

This list covers free, open source and professional playout software. If you're thinking about an online show rather than a full station, my guide on how to start a podcast may be the simpler route, and for live video alongside audio, here's my roundup of live streaming software.

Radio automation software compared

Here's what each tool is, what it's good for and whether its own site names a free plan, a trial or neither. The list is alphabetical and in no particular order.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
AzuraCast	Web radio	Self-hosted internet stations	Yes
Jazler	Playout	Small stations wanting simple playout	Trial only
mAirList	Playout and scheduling	Small and medium stations	Trial only
Myriad	Pro playout	UK community and commercial stations	Trial only
NextKast	All-in-one automation	Internet stations growing to FM	No
PlayoutONE	Playout	Stations wanting playout plus web tools	Trial only
RadioBOSS	Automation and streaming	Stations and in-store audio	No
RadioDJ	Free playout	Volunteer-run stations	Yes
Rivendell	Open source automation	Linux-based broadcast automation	Yes
StationPlaylist	Live and automation	Live presenters plus overnight automation	Trial only

Playout and automation tools for radio stations

AzuraCast

Best for: Online stations happy to run their own server, who want streaming, scheduling and a web dashboard in one install.

Jazler

Best for: Small FM and online stations that want reliable automated playlists, jingles and ads without a big engineering team.

mAirList

Best for: Community and regional stations wanting playout, scheduling and logging from a tool built for exactly their size.

Myriad

Best for: Stations that want professional playout with scheduling and voice tracking, and a free trial to test it on air first.

NextKast

Best for: Online stations that might move to FM later and want automation, scheduling and streaming in one package.

PlayoutONE

Best for: Stations that want playout from the same company that can also run their website, apps and streaming.

RadioBOSS

Best for: Small stations, shops and restaurants that want scheduled programming with ads, rotations and crossfades.

RadioDJ

Best for: Student and volunteer-run stations that need dependable automation and can manage their own setup and support.

Rivendell

Best for: Technical teams comfortable with Linux who want full broadcast automation with no licence keys to manage.

StationPlaylist

Best for: Broadcasters mixing live presenters in the day with automation overnight, who want both in one familiar setup.

What automation should handle

• Playout: music, jingles, ads and voice tracks in the right order, with clean transitions.
• Scheduling: music rotation rules so the same songs don't repeat too often.
• Voice tracking: presenters recording links in advance that drop between songs.
• Logging: a record of what went out and when, for advertisers and your licence.
• Streaming: sending the output to listeners online as well as, or instead of, a transmitter.

Licences shape what you can buy

The Federal Communications Commission says low power FM stations are available to noncommercial educational entities, not individuals or commercial operations, and may operate at between 1 watt and 100 watts. If you're planning a US community station, that's the licence route to read first.

In the UK, community radio is licensed by Ofcom, and internet-only stations still need music licences. Whatever route you take, choose automation that keeps clear logs, because licences and music reporting both depend on knowing exactly what you played.

Self-hosted, desktop or cloud?

Desktop playout runs on a studio computer and keeps working if the internet drops, which is why many FM stations prefer it. Cloud playout lets presenters work from home and removes the studio PC as a single point of failure, but it depends on your connection.

Self-hosted web radio sits in between: you run it on your own server and stream online. It suits internet stations with someone technical on the team, and it's the hardest to support if that person leaves.

Setting up automation for overnight shows

1. Build music categories and rotation rules before loading thousands of songs.
2. Record station IDs, jingles and a few evergreen voice links.
3. Set fixed events, like the news or ad breaks, at the right times.
4. Run a full overnight test while someone listens and notes any dead air.
5. Check the logs the next morning and fix any gaps before you go live.

Music licences and reporting

Automation software plays the music, but it doesn't license it. Wherever you broadcast, you'll usually need licences that cover the songs you play, and the organisations that collect for songwriters and performers often ask for reports of what went out. Good automation can export those play logs, which saves hours of copying titles into spreadsheets.

Before you choose a tool, check the format your licensing body wants and whether the software can produce it. It's a dull question to ask on a demo, and it's the one that'll save your station manager a weekend every quarter.

Do you make radio automation software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My advice for small radio stations

If you're an internet or volunteer station, start with a free or open source tool and make sure two people know how it works. If you're licensed for FM or DAB and sell ads, choose professional playout with support you can phone when it fails at the weekend.

Either way, test your automation overnight before you trust it. Dead air in the middle of the night is far easier to fix in a test than in front of listeners.

Frequently asked questions

What is radio automation software?

It's software that plays music, jingles, ads and pre-recorded links on a schedule, so a station can stay on air without a presenter in the studio.

Is there free radio automation software?

Yes. Several tools here are free or open source, which suits volunteer and internet stations. Professional playout usually comes with licences and support.

Do I need a licence for an internet radio station?

You don't need a broadcast licence to stream online, but you do need music licences for the songs you play. Check the rules in each country you broadcast to.

What is voice tracking?

Voice tracking lets a presenter record the links between songs in advance. The automation drops them in at the right moments, so the show sounds live.

Can radio automation run in the cloud?

Some tools run in the cloud or in a browser, which helps remote presenters. Desktop playout keeps working if the internet drops, which is why many FM stations prefer it.