How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- iHeartRadio is the best free radio app for US listeners, with live AM and FM stations, podcasts and custom stations in one app.
- TuneIn Radio offers the widest global station range, with live sports, news and podcasts, plus a Premium tier for extra content.
- Radio Garden is the most fun way to discover global stations, with a map-based interface that lets you spin to any city.
- Simple Radio, myTuner Radio and Audials Play suit listeners who want a large station list with a simple, fast interface.
- Most free radio apps stream over data, not true FM, so check data use and offline options if you listen away from Wi-Fi.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 iHeartRadio | US live radio and podcasts | See website | Yes |
 TuneIn Radio | Global stations and sports | See website | Yes |
 Radio Garden | Discovering global stations | See website | Yes |
 Simple Radio | Simple, fast listening | See website | Yes |
 myTuner Radio | International station browsing | See website | Yes |
 Audials Play | Large library and recording | See website | Yes |
 Audacy | Sports, news and US stations | See website | Yes |
 BBC Sounds | BBC live radio and on-demand | See website | Yes |
 radio.net | Search-driven global stations | See website | Yes |
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The best free radio apps
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
iHeartRadio is the default free radio app for US listeners. It streams live AM and FM stations from across the country, alongside podcasts, custom music stations and curated playlists. That mix means you can switch from a local morning show to a podcast or a music station without leaving the app, and it works well on phones, in cars and on smart speakers.
The free tier includes ads, and listeners outside the US will find its station range thinner than TuneIn or Radio Garden. Paid tiers add features such as unlimited skips and on-demand replay, but the free version already covers live radio well. For US live radio, iHeartRadio is the first app to try.
What we like- Large US live station network
- Podcasts and custom stations in one app
- Works on phone, car and smart speakers
Watch out for- Free tier includes ads
- International station range is weaker than TuneIn
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
TuneIn Radio offers one of the largest station libraries in this list, with live radio from many countries, plus news, sports and podcasts. Sports fans get live play-by-play coverage in Premium, while free users still get a wide range of live stations and podcasts. Integration with Alexa, Google Assistant and car systems makes it easy to listen at home, in the car or on a smart speaker.
The free tier includes ads, and some sports and music features sit behind Premium, which costs around $9.99 per month in published listings. TuneIn is also broader than it is deep for US local stations, where iHeartRadio may feel more focused. For global listening and sports, TuneIn is the strongest choice.
What we like- Very large global station library
- Live sports, news and podcasts
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Watch out for- Free tier includes ads
- Premium features are needed for full sports and ad-free music
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Radio Garden turns radio discovery into exploration. You spin a globe, tap a city and listen to live stations from that place, from Tokyo to London to a small town you have never visited. That map interface makes it the most enjoyable way to find new stations, and it is free to use with ads in some versions.
Radio Garden is a discovery tool first, not a full radio platform. It lacks the search filters, podcasts and sports coverage of TuneIn, and it does not offer the US local focus of iHeartRadio. For listeners who enjoy finding stations by place, it is a delightful addition to a main radio app.
What we like- Map-based global discovery
- Easy to explore stations by city
- Simple, free listening
Watch out for- Fewer search and filter tools than TuneIn
- No podcast or sports extras
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Simple Radio, by Streema, does what its name promises: it lets you find a station and start listening with minimal taps. Its station list is large, covering many countries and genres, and the interface stays out of the way. That simplicity suits listeners who want radio, not a music platform with playlists, podcasts and social features.
Simple Radio lacks the podcast, sports and custom station depth of iHeartRadio and TuneIn, and ad-free listening needs a Premium plan. For a listener who wants a fast, no-fuss radio app for daily listening, Simple Radio is a strong, lightweight choice.
What we like- Very simple interface
- Large station list
- Fast to start listening
Watch out for- Fewer extra features than TuneIn or iHeartRadio
- Premium needed for ad-free listening
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
myTuner Radio organises stations by country, then state or region, then city, which feels like a traditional radio directory. That structure helps international listeners and expats who want to find a station from home, or explore stations in a specific place. With tens of thousands of stations across many countries, it covers a wide range of languages and genres.
The traditional browsing style is less visual than Radio Garden, and some features need a Premium plan. myTuner also lacks the podcast and sports extras of TuneIn. For international listening with a clear, location-based layout, myTuner is a reliable choice.
What we like- Browse by country, state and city
- Large international library
- Sleep timer and cross-platform support
Watch out for- Interface is more traditional than Radio Garden
- Premium needed for some features
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Audials Play offers a very large station library, with browsing by genre, country and language, plus a recording feature that sets it apart. Recorded programmes can be played offline, which helps listeners who want to catch a show later without using data. That recording option is useful for news, talk and music programmes that air at inconvenient times.
The interface can feel busy compared with Simple Radio, since Audials packs many features into one app. Recording rules also vary, so check local rules for recorded content. For listeners who want the largest library plus offline playback of recorded shows, Audials Play is a strong free option.
What we like- Very large station library
- Recording for offline playback
- Genre and country browsing
Watch out for- Interface can feel busy
- Recording features need checking for local rules
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Audacy streams live US radio stations with a focus on sports, news and talk, alongside music and podcasts. Sports fans get coverage from major US leagues through partner stations, while news listeners get live local and national stations. The app is free on phone and web, with a simple station and podcast layout.
Audacy is US-focused, so global listeners will find TuneIn or Radio Garden broader. Ads are part of the free tier, as with most free radio apps. For US sports and news radio, Audacy is a strong complement to iHeartRadio, especially for local sports talk.
What we like- Strong US sports and news stations
- Music and podcasts
- Free on phone and web
Watch out for- US-focused, with less global range
- Ads in the free tier
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
BBC Sounds is the home for BBC live radio and on-demand programmes, including news, documentaries, drama, comedy and music. It offers live BBC stations plus a large on-demand library, with podcasts and curated music mixes. For listeners who value BBC journalism and programming, it is unmatched in quality and depth.
BBC Sounds is not a global station directory like TuneIn, and some content is limited outside the UK. It also does not cover US local AM and FM stations. For BBC listeners, it is essential, and it pairs well with a global app such as TuneIn for other stations.
What we like- Live BBC radio stations
- On-demand BBC programmes, podcasts and music
- High-quality news and documentaries
Watch out for- BBC-focused, not a global station directory
- Some content is UK-limited
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
radio.net offers a search-driven way to find global stations, with filters for genre, country and language. You can search for a specific type of station, such as jazz from Tokyo or news from Mumbai, and start listening quickly. That search strength suits listeners who know what they want, rather than browsing a map or a directory.
radio.net lacks the podcast depth of iHeartRadio and the sports coverage of TuneIn, and some features need a paid plan. Its core strength is finding a station fast. For listeners who want a clean, search-first global radio app, radio.net is a practical choice.
What we like- Strong search and genre filters
- Large global station list
- Simple web and app listening
Watch out for- Fewer podcast and sports extras than TuneIn
- Premium needed for some features
How we chose
We compared pricing pages, product documentation and public reviews on G2, Capterra, Reddit and app stores, and we checked vendor homepages where the browser service allowed. We favoured apps with real live radio, not just music streaming, and we included US, global, sports, news and discovery needs. Pricing was taken from vendor pages and recent public summaries, with See website used where paid tiers vary by platform or region. We weighed station range, free tier quality, device support and ease of finding a station, since those factors decide daily listening.
How to pick a free radio app
Free radio apps differ more in station range and extras than in price, since most are free with ads. Choose by the stations you actually listen to, not by the largest total station count.
Start with your home stations
If you listen mainly to US local stations, start with iHeartRadio or Audacy. If you listen to stations from other countries, start with TuneIn, myTuner Radio or radio.net. If you enjoy discovery, add Radio Garden as a second app.
Check data, cars and speakers
Most radio apps stream over Wi-Fi or mobile data, not true FM, so data use matters on mobile. Check CarPlay, Android Auto and smart speaker support if you listen in the car or at home, and check offline options if you listen away from Wi-Fi.
Decide whether ads matter
Free tiers include ads in most apps, while paid tiers remove ads and add features such as sports coverage or on-demand replay. Try the free tier first, and pay only if ads interrupt the kind of listening you do most, such as live sports or long talk shows.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free radio app?
iHeartRadio is best for US live radio, while TuneIn Radio is best for global stations and sports. Radio Garden is best for discovering stations by city, and Simple Radio is best for fast, simple listening.
Are free radio apps really free?
Yes, the apps in this list are free to download and listen to, with ads in the free tier. Paid tiers remove ads and add features, but live radio listening itself is free. Data charges from your mobile plan still apply when streaming away from Wi-Fi.
Can a radio app play true FM radio?
Most phones do not have an active FM chip, so most radio apps stream stations over the internet instead of receiving FM signals directly. That means you need Wi-Fi or mobile data to listen, and offline listening usually requires recorded content, where offered.
What is the best radio app for sports?
TuneIn Radio offers the widest sports coverage, with live play-by-play in Premium, while Audacy offers strong US sports talk and local sports stations for free. iHeartRadio also covers US sports stations, especially for local teams.
Do radio apps work in the car?
Yes. Most apps in this list support CarPlay, Android Auto or Bluetooth car audio, and some support smart speakers. Check car support for your chosen app before a long drive, and download or set favourites in advance.
Can I listen to radio from other countries?
Yes. TuneIn, Radio Garden, myTuner Radio, Audials Play and radio.net all offer stations from many countries. Search by country, city or genre to find stations, and check language filters if you want stations in a specific language.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.iheart.com
- https://tunein.com
- https://radio.garden
- https://www.streema.com
- https://mytuner-radio.com
- https://audials.com
- https://www.audacy.com
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
- https://www.radio.net
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.