Airtime pro review: What Is Airtime Pro?

Cloud radio platform is at the heart of modern radio broadcasting — this guide covers everything you need to know.

Airtime Pro is the commercial, cloud-hosted version of LibreTime/Airtime — a well-established open-source radio automation system originally developed by Sourcefabric. Where the free open-source version requires you to host and maintain your own server, Airtime Pro is fully managed in the cloud.

It is particularly popular with community radio stations, college radio, and non-profit broadcasters who are familiar with the open-source Airtime interface and want a hosted version without the server administration overhead.

Key Features

• Browser-based interface — access your station dashboard from any browser
• Visual calendar scheduler — build your programme schedule week by week with a drag-and-drop calendar
• AutoDJ — automated playback with smart shuffle between scheduled shows
• Live broadcast input — connect desktop broadcasting software (like BUTT or Mixxx) to go live over the stream
• Podcast publishing — record and publish shows as podcast episodes
• Cloud music library — upload tracks and manage your library from the dashboard
• Multiple show hosts — invite DJs with their own login to manage their shows
• Listener statistics — basic analytics on listener numbers and peak times
• Shoutcast and Icecast compatible — standard stream formats supported

Plans & Pricing

Airtime Pro is generally positioned as a more affordable alternative to Radio.co, making it popular with community stations and non-profits. Plans are tiered by concurrent listeners and storage.

Discounts are typically available for registered non-profit organisations. Annual billing reduces the effective monthly cost. A free trial period is generally offered for new accounts.

⚠️ Pricing is based on information available as of mid-2025 and may have changed. Always verify current plans and pricing directly on the provider’s website before making a decision.

Royalties

Like most cloud radio platforms, Airtime Pro does not cover royalty payments. You are responsible for licensing your broadcasts through the appropriate body in your territory.

Pros

• Familiar interface for anyone who has used open-source Airtime
• Strong calendar-based scheduling — well suited to structured programme grids
• More affordable than Radio.co or SAM Cloud at comparable listener counts
• Good for stations with multiple shows and multiple hosts
• No server administration — fully managed hosting
• Live input support means you can use your preferred desktop software for live shows

Cons

• Interface feels less modern than Radio.co
• Royalties not covered
• Smaller development team than some competitors — updates can be slower
• Less polished analytics than premium alternatives
• Storage limits can be tight on entry plans for large music libraries

Who Is Airtime Pro Best For?

• Community radio stations and non-profits that need proper scheduling on a limited budget
• Stations with complex programme grids and multiple hosts
• Broadcasters already familiar with open-source Airtime or LibreTime
• Operations that want cloud hosting but prefer to use their own desktop software for live shows

Who Should Look Elsewhere?

• Stations that need royalties managed — consider Live365
• Operations wanting the most polished interface available — consider Radio.co
• Hobbyists who just need basic stream hosting — a simple Shoutcast/Icecast host will cost less

Bottom Line

Airtime Pro is a solid, dependable cloud radio platform at a fair price. It is not the flashiest option, but it delivers what community and structured-format stations need most — reliable scheduling, multi-host access, and managed infrastructure. If your budget does not stretch to Radio.co but you need more than basic stream hosting, Airtime Pro hits the sweet spot.

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Detailed Comparison with Competitors

Airtime Pro competes directly with platforms like Radio.co and SAM Cloud, each offering unique benefits. For instance, Radio.co provides an extremely polished interface with advanced analytics tools but at a higher cost than Airtime Pro. Conversely, SAM Cloud offers robust professional-grade features for larger stations but comes with a steeper price tag.

Compared to these rivals, Airtime Pro strikes a balance between affordability and functionality. It is particularly appealing to community radio stations or non-profits on tighter budgets due to its more accessible pricing tiers while still providing essential automation tools like scheduling, multi-host access, and live input support.

Technical Specifications and Integration

Airtime Pro supports both Shoutcast and Icecast streaming protocols, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of encoders and players. The platform’s browser-based interface simplifies management for station administrators without requiring technical expertise in server administration.

The integration capabilities extend beyond basic stream hosting to include podcast publishing features, allowing stations to easily distribute their content on major platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify. DJs can upload tracks and manage their show schedules directly from the cloud dashboard, enhancing collaboration among team members.

Royalty Management Solutions for Airtime Pro

Since Airtime Pro does not include royalty management, stations must secure licenses through appropriate bodies in their region. For instance, US-based broadcasters might use SoundExchange for performance rights licensing and pay royalties accordingly.

To streamline this process, third-party services like TuneRegistry or Radio.co’s built-in royalty management can be integrated into Airtime Pro workflows. While these solutions add an extra layer of complexity and cost, they are crucial for compliance with broadcasting regulations and protecting station operations from legal issues related to music licensing.