Managed Icecast Hosting
Get a powerful, flexible Icecast server, pre-installed and ready to stream. Our plans include a powerful AutoDJ control panel, SSL, and expert 24/7 support.
What is Icecast?
Icecast (specifically Icecast-kh) is a powerful, open-source streaming server. It’s renowned for its flexibility, stability, and support for multiple audio formats.
It’s the powerful “engine” that runs your station, capable of handling multiple broadcast “mount points” and formats like MP3, AAC, and Ogg. We pair this flexible engine with a user-friendly “dashboard”—a control panel like CentovaCast, AzuraCast, or Everestpanel—to give you a complete, easy-to-manage broadcasting solution.
Icecast vs. SHOUTcast: The Good News
This is the most common question in radio, and the answer is simple.
- Icecast: A powerful, flexible open-source server. Great for multiple formats (like Ogg) and multiple “mount points” (streams) from one server.
- SHOUTcast: The classic, rock-solid standard. Great for MP3 streaming and wide compatibility.
The Best Part: You don’t have to choose. All of our radio hosting plans come with both Icecast and SHOUTcast. You can select which server you want to use with one click in your control panel.
Key Icecast Hosting Features
How Our Icecast Hosting Works
We make it simple. You don’t need to be a server admin to use the industry’s most flexible tools.
All of our radio hosting plans are fully configured to run Icecast instantly. Just choose the plan that fits your listener and storage needs, and you’ll be on-air in minutes.
Get Your Icecast Stream Live
Choose your plan, and our system will deploy your SHOUTcast-ready server instantly.
Icecast Hosting FAQ
Q: Which is better: Icecast vs SHOUTcast?
A: Both are fantastic servers. Icecast is the preferred choice for flexibility, as it easily supports multiple audio formats (MP3, AAC, Ogg) and multiple “mount points” (streams) from one server. SHOUTcast is the long-time industry standard, famous for its rock-solid stability. The best part is that all our radio plans include both, so you can choose the one you prefer.
Q: What is an “Icecast mount point”?
A: A mount point is a unique stream on your server. This is a key feature of Icecast. It allows you to run multiple, separate broadcasts from a single server. For example, you could have one mount point for your 128k MP3 stream and a second, separate mount point for a 64k AAC stream for mobile listeners.
Q: Does Icecast have an AutoDJ?
A: Icecast itself is just the server “engine.” The AutoDJ (which keeps your station on-air 24/7) is a feature of the control panel we provide, such as CentovaCast, AzuraCast, or Everestpanel with Icecast hosting. Our system fully integrates the control panel’s AutoDJ to work perfectly with your Icecast server.
Q: Is Icecast free? Why do I need hosting?
A: Yes, the Icecast software is free and open-source. But it’s just a piece of software. It requires a 24/7 server, a high-speed connection, and expert knowledge to install, secure, and configure. Our “managed hosting” service bundles everything: the optimized server, the pre-installed Icecast & SHOUTcast, the control panel, the AutoSSL, and 24/7 expert support.