Radio App Builder: Create Your Own Radio
Station App for Android and iOS
Build a branded radio station app for Android and iOS without writing code. Connect any Shoutcast or Icecast stream, add push alerts, listener chat, and monetization, then publish to Google Play and the App Store.
How do you create a radio station app?
To create a radio station app: paste your Shoutcast or Icecast stream URL into Appy Pie’s radio app builder, describe your station, then customize the app icon, colors, and show schedule. Total time: under 15 minutes for a working preview; 30-60 minutes for a Play Store and App Store-ready build. Cost: free to try, paid plans from $16/month if you publish to app stores or add push notifications. Appy Pie builds the client listener app for your station: you bring the stream URL from Shoutcast, Icecast, Live365, Radio.co, or any HTTP audio stream. For a general no-code app, use the Android app builder; for iOS-first, use the iPhone app builder.
Create Your Own Radio Station App in 5 Steps
No code, no server setup, no App Store rejections. Publish a branded radio app in an afternoon.
Describe Your Station
Type your station name, city, and format. Appy Pie generates a starter app with branded colors, sample show schedule, and a play button ready to test.
Paste Your Stream URL
Drop in your Shoutcast, Icecast, Live365, Radio.co, or custom HTTPS stream URL. The builder auto-detects bitrate and metadata (Now Playing track title).
Customize App and Shows
Change colors, upload your logo, add DJs and show times, wire up listener chat and push notifications. Every change previews live on a virtual phone.
Preview on Your Phone
Scan the QR code to install the preview on your real Android or iPhone. Test the stream, tap through shows, trigger a push. Send a link to your DJs.
Publish to Play + App Store
One-click Google Play submission via Appy Pie’s developer account. iOS publishing uses your Apple Developer account ($99/year). Users find you by station name.
See a Radio Station App Built in Under 60 Seconds
Every Feature Your Radio Station App Needs
Live playback plus the listener experience features that turn casual visitors into loyal fans.
Live Stream Playback
Buffered playback of Shoutcast, Icecast, and HLS streams with lock-screen controls, background audio, and CarPlay/Android Auto support.
Now Playing Metadata
Real-time track title and artist display from ICY metadata. Album art fetches from MusicBrainz for known tracks.
Show Schedule + EPG
Weekly show grid with DJ names, times, and descriptions. Listeners can set favorites and get reminders before shows go on air.
Push Per-Show
Target push notifications by show, DJ, or listener segment. Send “Morning drive-time in 10 min” only to active weekday listeners.
Listener Chat + Requests
Live chat room during shows, plus a song request form DJs see in the studio. Optional moderation queue keeps things clean.
Podcast Archive
Upload show recordings as episodes. Listeners subscribe, download for offline, and get episode-drop notifications.
Monetization
In-app tipping, membership tiers with ad-free access, sponsor slots, and audio pre-roll ad insertion between shows.
Social + Deep Links
Share individual shows, DJs, or the live stream to Instagram, WhatsApp, X, and Discord with deep-link fallback to the app.
Listener Analytics
Concurrent listeners, average session length, top shows, and retention cohort tracking. Export to CSV for sponsor reports.
The AI-Powered Radio App Builder That Understands Your Station
Describe your station in one sentence and Appy Pie’s AI generates a starter app: on-brand color palette, sample show times, DJ bios, and category-appropriate features (chat for talk radio, request forms for music, tipping for community stations).
- Auto-tags shows by genre from your program name (Reggae, Blues, Talk, News)
- Suggests push notification timing based on your show schedule and target time zones
- Recommends monetization mix (tipping vs sponsor slots vs premium) by station type
- Writes App Store and Play Store descriptions from your station identity in seconds
The No-Code Radio App Builder That Skips Xcode, Java, and Server Setup
Native Android and iOS apps for your radio station without a single line of code. No Android Studio, no Xcode, no Shoutcast server configuration, no App Store rejection nightmares.
Drag-and-Drop Show Builder
Add shows, DJs, and schedules by dragging blocks. No JSON config, no CMS setup, no coding to change your Sunday lineup.
No Streaming Server Setup
Bring your existing Shoutcast, Icecast, Live365, or Radio.co stream URL. Appy Pie builds the listener app; you keep your existing setup.
Live Preview on Your Phone
Every color, show, or feature change previews instantly in the browser and via the Appy Pie preview app on your real phone.
App Store Compliance Handled
Appy Pie manages Play Store submission (Google’s audio-app policies, target API level, permissions manifest, content rating).
Native Android + iOS Builds
Real native apps (Kotlin for Android, Swift for iOS), not a wrapped website. Full background audio, lock-screen controls, CarPlay support.
Update Without Republishing
Change show schedules, DJs, colors, or push messages any time. Listeners see updates instantly, no App Store re-submission needed.
Works with Any Radio Stream Provider
Paste your stream URL from any provider. Appy Pie handles the client-side playback, metadata, and buffering.
Types of Radio Stations You Can Launch
Every type of internet radio, packaged as a native mobile app your listeners can install.
Made For Independent Broadcasters, Networks & Podcasters
Community Broadcasters
Local nonprofit and volunteer stations who want a listener app without server headaches. Keep your existing Icecast stream, get a branded app in a day.
Music Network Owners
Running 2-10 stations with themed streams (Jazz, Reggae, Alt-Rock). Ship one app with a station picker and per-station push notifications.
Podcast Networks
Turn your podcast archive into a listener app with live stream fallback, episode chat, and premium subscriber tiers, all in a native mobile package.
Churches with Sermon Streams
Sunday sermons plus a 24/7 worship music stream, sermon archive, and push alerts for prayer meetings, in one app for your congregation.
Sports Talk Hosts
Independent sports talk shows and networks. Live game commentary, post-show chat, per-team push notifications, and Patreon-style tipping.
College and University Radio
Campus stations who need something more polished than the university IT department can deliver. Custom colors, DJ profiles, semester schedule editor.
Appy Pie vs Other Radio App Builders
Honest comparison. Nobex is the specialist, Airtime Pro bundles hosting, Live365 includes music licensing. Pick what fits.
| Feature | Appy Pie | Nobex Partners | Airtime Pro | Live365 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Android + iOS app | Yes | Yes | Web-only + PWA | Directory app only |
| Bring your own Shoutcast/Icecast | Yes | Yes | Included (their server) | Included (their server) |
| No-code drag-and-drop editor | Yes | Setup wizard only | Web CMS | Config panel |
| Push notifications | Yes, per-show | Yes | Add-on | Not included |
| Music licensing bundled | No (BYO) | No | No | Yes, US royalties |
| Streaming server hosted | No (BYO) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Listener chat + requests | Yes | Requests only | Add-on | Directory chat |
| In-app tipping and monetization | Yes | No | Sponsor ads only | Ad revenue share |
| Publish to Play Store + App Store | Guided | Managed | DIY | Directory listing |
| Starting price | $16/mo | Custom quote | $15/mo | $19/mo |
Ship Your Radio App to Google Play and the App Store
Appy Pie handles the platform-specific compliance so your DJs can focus on shows, not app policy documents.
Guided Play Store Submission
Appy Pie submits under your developer account (or ours for the Basic plan). We handle audio-app policies, target API 34, foreground service permissions, and content ratings.
- Signed AAB build (Play Store required since Aug 2021)
- Content rating auto-generated for audio streaming
- Data safety form pre-filled based on your features
- App preview video from your Now Playing screens
iOS Publishing with TestFlight
Requires your own Apple Developer account ($99/year). Appy Pie generates the IPA, provisioning profile, and TestFlight build, then walks you through App Store Connect submission.
- TestFlight beta to your DJs before public launch
- Background audio and lock-screen playback pre-configured
- CarPlay support enabled by default
- App Store review notes template for audio-streaming apps
Radio Stations That Launched Apps with Appy Pie
Three independent broadcasters who moved from browser-only streams to native mobile apps.
Reykjavik Jazz Collective
“Our old browser stream lost listeners the moment they locked their phone. The app kept playback going and doubled our morning drive-time audience.”
Bristol Indie FM
“Push notifications for our friday-night live sets tripled tune-in rate. Listener chat during shows turned casual fans into a real community.”
Cape Town Talk Radio
“We added in-app tipping in the second month. It now pays for a full-time producer. Our listeners genuinely want to support the shows they love.”
Broadcaster-Grade Tools Built In
Everything a serious station needs, without stitching together six separate SaaS tools.
Podcast Archive
Auto-record shows to episode archive with per-episode chapters and offline download.
Schedule + EPG
Drag-drop weekly schedule with time-zone-aware push. Listeners see shows in their local time.
Listener Tipping
Stripe-powered tips with per-DJ recipient split. One-tap $2, $5, $10, or custom amounts.
Push Per Show
Segment listeners by show, DJ, or time zone. Automated reminders 10 minutes before airtime.
Shoutout Wall
Listeners submit shoutouts DJs read on air. Optional pre-moderation for family-friendly stations.
Discord Bridge
Mirror the in-app chat to a Discord channel so your community shows up wherever they hang out.
Ad-Slot Mid-Roll
Insert sponsor audio between shows or during breaks. Track per-sponsor plays for reporting.
Analytics + CSV Export
Concurrent listeners, session length, top shows, retention cohorts. Export for sponsor reports.
What Appy Pie’s Radio App Builder Does NOT Do
Real capability boundaries. If you need any of these, use a specialist tool alongside Appy Pie.
We Do Not Host Your Stream
You bring your own Shoutcast, Icecast, Live365, or Radio.co server URL. Appy Pie builds the client app only.
No Music Licensing Bundled
You handle royalties yourself (SoundExchange, PPL, GEMA, ASCAP/BMI). Live365 bundles US royalties; if that matters, use them for the stream and Appy Pie for the app.
No DRM-Protected Streams
Standard HTTP audio streams only (MP3, AAC, HLS). If your provider requires DRM playback, we cannot decrypt it.
No In-App Broadcasting from Phone
The app is for listeners, not for DJs to broadcast from. Continue using your existing studio setup (BUTT, Nautel, Rocket Broadcaster).
No Adaptive Bitrate Encoding
Playback quality is whatever your stream provider serves. If you need adaptive bitrate, configure it on your Icecast or CDN side.
Free Plan Excludes Store Publishing
Play Store and App Store submission requires a paid plan ($16/month+). You can build, preview, and iterate free indefinitely.
What Radio Broadcasters Say About Appy Pie
“I built our station app in an afternoon after two years of quotes from mobile agencies. Same features, one-tenth the cost.”
“Push per-show is the killer feature. Our Sunday morning gospel show pulls twice the listeners it did before we launched the app.”
“Wish they hosted the Icecast stream too, but the app itself is solid. We use Radio.co for the stream and it plugs in cleanly.”
Ready to Put Your Radio Station in Every Listener’s Pocket?
Free to start, no credit card needed. Preview your radio app on your phone in minutes, publish to Google Play and the App Store when you are ready.
Build My Radio App FreeRadio App Builder Questions Answered
Do I need a Shoutcast or Icecast server to use Appy Pie’s radio app builder?
Yes. Appy Pie builds the client-side listener app, not the streaming server. You need an existing stream URL from Shoutcast, Icecast, Live365, Radio.co, StreamGuys, or any provider that gives you an MP3/AAC/HLS URL. If you do not have a stream yet, most providers offer plans from $10-30/month.
Can I create a radio station app for free?
Yes. You can build, customize, and preview your radio app on your phone for free with no credit card required. Publishing to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store requires a paid plan starting at $16/month, which also unlocks push notifications, listener analytics, and monetization features.
How long does it take to build a radio station app?
Most broadcasters have a working preview in under 15 minutes and a Play Store-ready build in 30-60 minutes. Case studies show a typical build-to-launch timeline of 14-21 days including Play Store review and iOS App Store review times.
Does Appy Pie handle music licensing and royalties?
No. Music licensing is your responsibility (SoundExchange in the US, PPL/PRS in the UK, GEMA in Germany, etc.). If you want licensing bundled, use Live365 for your stream and Appy Pie for the app; the two combine cleanly.
Can I publish to both Google Play and the Apple App Store?
Yes. Google Play submission is guided end-to-end by Appy Pie (paid plans). Apple App Store requires your own Apple Developer account at $99/year; Appy Pie generates the IPA and walks you through App Store Connect submission.
Does the app support background playback and CarPlay?
Yes. Full background audio with lock-screen controls, media notifications, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay support are enabled by default. Listeners can tune in on the drive to work without keeping the app in the foreground.
Can I monetize my radio app?
Yes. Built-in options include listener tipping (Stripe), premium subscription tiers with ad-free listening, mid-roll sponsor audio between shows, and banner ad slots. Case studies show independent stations earning $2K-4K/month in listener tips alone.
What happens if my stream URL changes?
Update the stream URL in the Appy Pie dashboard and all listeners get the new URL instantly, no App Store re-submission needed. Same applies to show schedule, DJ names, colors, and push messaging.
Can listeners chat and request songs in the app?
Yes. Live listener chat during shows, a moderated song request queue DJs see in the studio, and an optional shoutout wall where DJs can read listener messages on air are all included.
Is the app native or a wrapped website?
Native. Real Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS builds, not a WebView wrapper. This is what makes background audio, lock-screen controls, CarPlay, and Android Auto work reliably.
Building Appy Pie since 2016 to help 10M+ users across 190 countries create native apps without code. Radio App Builder is designed for broadcasters who own their listener relationship.