Radiocast Sites vs WordPress
WordPress can run almost any website, and radio themes such as Pro.Radio or plugins such as Radio Station add a player and a schedule. In exchange, you own the setup: hosting, updates, plugins and security are yours to look after.
Feature comparison
- Price
- Radiocast Sites$19.99/mo for Radiocast MAX, which includes Sites, Hosting, AirChain and Reporter
- WordPressHosting from $9/mo (WordPress.com Personal) plus a radio theme (Pro.Radio: $98 one-time, $69/yr for updates after year one); stream hosting is extra
- Stream hosting
- Radiocast SitesIncluded: stream, AutoDJ and station panel
- WordPressNot included; you need a separate radio host
- Live player
- Radiocast SitesBuilt in, keeps playing while listeners move between pages, with lock-screen controls
- WordPressProvided by a radio theme or plugin (Pro.Radio has a non-stop player)
- Now playing & recently played
- Radiocast SitesAutomatic, straight from your station, plus a weekly trending tracks chart
- WordPressDepends on your theme or plugin and your stream server
- Schedule & DJs
- Radiocast SitesSynced from your station, or edited by hand (or both)
- WordPressEntered in the theme or plugin
- Requests, talkback, comments & chat
- Radiocast SitesBuilt in: song requests, voice talkback, contact form, comments and live chat with moderation
- WordPressDepends on which plugins you install and maintain
- Staff accounts
- Radiocast SitesListener and staff accounts, roles you design, audit log and IP bans
- WordPressWordPress user roles
- Custom domain
- Radiocast SitesFree yourstation.radiosite.net address, plus your own domain with automatic HTTPS
- WordPressYes, through your host
- Designs
- Radiocast Sites12 complete radio designs, recolored to your brand
- WordPressThousands of themes; radio themes include prebuilt demos
| Feature | Radiocast Sites | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99/mo for Radiocast MAX, which includes Sites, Hosting, AirChain and Reporter | Hosting from $9/mo (WordPress.com Personal) plus a radio theme (Pro.Radio: $98 one-time, $69/yr for updates after year one); stream hosting is extra |
| Stream hosting | Included: stream, AutoDJ and station panel | Not included; you need a separate radio host |
| Live player | Built in, keeps playing while listeners move between pages, with lock-screen controls | Provided by a radio theme or plugin (Pro.Radio has a non-stop player) |
| Now playing & recently played | Automatic, straight from your station, plus a weekly trending tracks chart | Depends on your theme or plugin and your stream server |
| Schedule & DJs | Synced from your station, or edited by hand (or both) | Entered in the theme or plugin |
| Requests, talkback, comments & chat | Built in: song requests, voice talkback, contact form, comments and live chat with moderation | Depends on which plugins you install and maintain |
| Staff accounts | Listener and staff accounts, roles you design, audit log and IP bans | WordPress user roles |
| Custom domain | Free yourstation.radiosite.net address, plus your own domain with automatic HTTPS | Yes, through your host |
| Designs | 12 complete radio designs, recolored to your brand | Thousands of themes; radio themes include prebuilt demos |
Where Radiocast Sites is stronger
- Nothing to install, update or secure: no plugin conflicts, no hacked sites.
- Your schedule and DJs come from your station instead of being entered twice.
- Comments, live chat, listener accounts and staff roles work together out of the box.
- One plan covers stream hosting, audio processing and the website.
Where WordPress is stronger
- Unlimited flexibility and a huge plugin ecosystem.
- You can move your site to any host and edit the code.
- Works with any stream server, including Icecast, Shoutcast and AzuraCast.
Which should you choose?
Choose WordPress if you have someone technical to maintain it and need things no hosted builder offers.
Choose Radiocast Sites if you want your stream, sound and website in one place: a radio website that keeps itself up to date from your station, included with Radiocast MAX at $19.99/mo.
Questions
Is WordPress free?
The software is free, but you pay for hosting, a domain and usually a premium radio theme, and you spend time on updates and security.
Can I keep my WordPress blog?
Radiocast Sites has its own news section. You can also keep WordPress on a subdomain and link to it from your menu.