How Much Does It Cost to Run an Online Radio Station? (2026 Breakdown)
By StreamWithQ EngineeringUpdated 6 min read
Quick answer
A small internet radio station costs about €6–15 per month for SHOUTcast hosting with AutoDJ, plus music licences if you play commercial music. A growing station with 500–2,000 listeners typically spends €13–25/month on hosting. Equipment for a basic studio costs €100–400 once.
The biggest myth about online radio is that it is expensive. Hosting is now the smallest line in most stations’ budgets. Here is what you will actually pay.
Monthly costs
| Item | Small station | Growing station | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHOUTcast hosting + AutoDJ | €5.90 (100 listeners) | €12.90–24.90 (500–2,000) | €49.90+ (5,000) |
| Extra AutoDJ storage | – | €2 per 25 GB | Included |
| Mobile apps | – | €14.90 | Included |
| Custom stream domain | – | €2 | Included |
| Music licences | Varies by country | Varies | Varies |
Prices are StreamWithQ plans excluding VAT. See all radio plans.
One-off costs
- Microphone: €50–150 (USB) or €100–300 (XLR + interface)
- Headphones: €30–100
- Computer: any modern laptop works for BUTT, Mixxx or VirtualDJ
- Branding & website: €0 with our radio website template, or a custom site from our parent agency Qbrains
Bandwidth: why listeners matter
Every listener receives their own copy of your stream. At 128 kbps, one listener uses about 57.6 MB per hour; at 320 kbps about 144 MB per hour. Fifty listeners around the clock at 128 kbps use roughly 2 TB per month. That is why hosting plans are sized by concurrent listeners – use the bandwidth calculator to estimate yours.
Example budgets
Hobby or community station – Q Start at €5.90/month, a USB mic and free software. Total: under €10/month.
Local music station – Q Plus at €12.90/month for 500 listeners at 320 kbps, plus licences.
FM station going online – Q Pro at €24.90/month with custom domain, silence detection, royalty exports and a website template, plus a branded app.
Where stations waste money
- Paying for listening-hour plans that get expensive as you grow.
- Paying extra for 320 kbps – at StreamWithQ it starts at €12.90.
- Self-hosting and losing listeners to buffering.
Ready to launch? Compare radio plans – every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
