12/30/2025
12/12/2025
I Ditched Spotify and Apple Music on CarPlay for These Free Apps (from howtogeek.com)
Spotify and Apple Music are great music apps that support CarPlay, but they cost money (excluding Spotify's mediocre free tier). For some, it’s worth paying that price, but that money can add up. Plus, you might not be using most of the features that you’re paying for.
If you're using Spotify or Apple Music for podcasts, audiobooks, or discovering new music, know that there are plenty of free alternatives that still work with CarPlay, so you can continue jamming without draining your wallet.
iHeart Radio
Sometimes, I want to listen to the classic radio so I don't have to think about what to play. In these cases, I go with iHeart Radio. While most cars still have FM radio, iHeart works with cellular data, so you can listen without the static noise. And like FM radio, iHeart is free.
Link: https://www.iheart.com/
You can also listen to any radio station in any city without having to be there. That way, I can keep up with my favorite station in my hometown while living 800 miles away. It's also great if you're listening to a station with commercials, as you can switch to one actively playing music. With CarPlay, iHeart Radio allows you to save your favorite stations so you can quickly navigate between them.
Aside from the traditional radio stations, iHeart also has curated playlists similar to those on Spotify. You can listen to newly released songs, a specific genre, or music from any decade with ease. I find the playlists more diverse and exciting than Spotify, making it a great alternative.
Pandora
Pandora is a name that brings nostalgia to many, as it was once the most popular music streaming app. In fact, many are surprised to learn that Pandora still exists and is refreshingly simple.
As the years went by, Spotify and Apple Music took over, while Pandora remained largely unchanged. When Spotify got rid of its radio feature, I re-downloaded Pandora to see if it was as good as I remembered. Thankfully, it was even better. As I continued to use Pandora, I found that many of the stations are, again, better than Spotify.
Link: https://www.pandora.com/
While Spotify does have artist radio, Pandora Radio does a better job of surfacing new music. For example, Pandora will learn your music taste based off your skips and likes and also give you stations based on decades, sub-genres, and moods. Pandora also hides songs you don't like, so they don't come up again.
Comparatively, Spotify's radio plays songs by the artist you select and closely related artists. There will be a lot of overlap, and likes and skips also do not help tailor the radio to suit you. If you want a sub-genre station or a station based on moods, you have to listen to a user-made playlist, which can be hit or miss.
Pandora is also still free, with limited skips—but I’ve found that I rarely need to skip, as the stations are good, rarely have repeat songs, and even include lesser-known artists. Pandora is also better than Apple Music and Spotify at listening to stand-up comedy, if that’s your thing.
For me, the best feature of Pandora is that you can change the stations with your voice. This makes it a great driving companion. After all, Spotify and Apple Music don’t support that unless you use Siri (or Spotify's AI DJ), and it isn't as well integrated as Pandora's voice control.
TuneIn
Typically, sports fans don’t use Spotify or Apple Music, as there isn’t much for them. However, if you’re ditching one of those apps anyway and want to have something they don’t offer, you should consider TuneIn.
Link: https://tunein.com/
TuneIn is essentially a live sports radio app. It might be the only reliable one that you don't have to pay for. Whether you love the MLB or the NFL, you can listen to sports anytime, anywhere. If you have a favorite team, you can also listen to their live games, as well as pregame and postgame commentary.
TuneIn also features music and podcasts. Although it doesn't have as extensive a library as other apps, you can still enjoy music while listening to sports, and it has a better radio feature than Spotify. TuneIn also features news radio, political commentary, and investigative journalism, which replaces the need for most traditional news podcasts found on Spotify and Apple.
Overcast
Many people use Spotify for listening to podcasts, as it has every major show and even provides video for some. While Spotify allows free users to listen to podcasts, it tacks on extra ads on top of the traditional podcast ads. This is why many podcast fans are switching to Overcast. Overcast launched over a decade ago, and it continues to be user-friendly and free. Many users love how, over the years, the app has just improved without taking away features or making you listen to more advertisements.
Link: https://overcast.fm/
When I re-downloaded Overcast, I was surprised at how similar and nostalgic it felt. When you download an app like Overcast, you start to see how apps like Apple Music and Spotify add a lot of unnecessary features. Personally, while driving, I prefer to keep my phone screen clutter-free and easily access podcasts when I'm safely stopped.
If you find yourself not able to ditch Spotify out of fear of missing your favorite podcast episode, consider downloading Overcast. After all, if you're paying for Spotify just for podcasts, you are overpaying. And if you're listening to podcasts for free on Spotify, you're getting unnecessary ads.
Libby
If you like audiobooks, you probably know about Libby. In fact, Libby is a great app to help you read more. It continues to add new titles and improve its interface, and the developers even resolved the app's former CarPlay issues, making it the best free audiobook app.
Link: https://libbyapp.com/interview/welcome#doYouHaveACard
For those who don’t know, Libby is essentially a free public library app where you can borrow audiobooks. This was a turnoff for some, as Spotify and Audible let you listen to audiobooks without a time limit. They also typically had more titles and no limits on how long you could access the audiobooks. However, the process is more streamlined on Libby than it used to be, making it easier than ever to listen to a free audiobook. With Libby adding more titles and improving its interface, it's worth considering.
Although I have limited time to listen to audiobooks before they need to be returned, I find myself enjoying this feature. Primarily, it helps me finish an audiobook without putting it off. I don't listen to audiobooks often, but when I do, I prefer not to pay $10 for a book. Instead, Libby offers every book I’ve wanted to listen to for free.
For CarPlay users, Spotify and Apple Music are the typical choices, but they don't have everything. Both Apple Music and Spotify are missing essential features, and they are subscription-based. This might be worth it to some, but I think you should give these free apps a try—you'll likely be pleasantly surprised.
Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/best-free-spotify-apple-music-carplay-alternatives
12/10/2025
HQ Internet Radio Directory Lists
For fans of free Internet Radio, there are lots of options available. Below is a partial list. Enjoy.
https://www.internet-radio.com/
https://www.radio.net/
https://live365.com/station/HQ-FM-a86974
https://www.hiresaudio.online/cd-quality-internet-radio/
https://rock101.com/
And below is a directory from www.tenorshare.com
The chat below lists almost all the online radio stations followed by a brief introduction for the top radio stations.
The audio recording software free download is available here. Just click the free trial button to download it to your computer.
Brief Info for Best Online Radio Stations
1. Art International Radio
AIR is one of the most smartly curated arts stations on the planet. All music, interviews, documentaries and experimental pieces are also available here.
2. WFMU
WFMU is the longest-running freeform radio station in the US. It's a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 (at 90.1 as WMFU, and at 91.9 as W219DQ) MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format.
3. SKY.FM Radio
SKY.FM Radio features a wide variety of free streaming radio channels. Find your favorites among the best of each class. It also has apps for different mobile operating system.
4. Jango
Jango offers you abundant music and songs. With it, you can listen to hundreds of genre stations or create your own with your favorite music.
5. 8 tracks
8tracks internet radio provides listeners with a huge array of user-curated playlists, taking in everything from workout music to Mad Men-themed Sixties jams. It allows you to sync it with Facebook and Google Plus.
6. Shuffler.FM
This online radio station provides you many ways to catch with the latest music trend. This useful website collates recommendations from a huge range of such sources and serves them up as a series of radio streams, organised by genre.
7. andHow.FM
This eclectic, ad-free station has been broadcasting since 1998. You will find a lot of surprises in this world-class, commercial-free, eclectic, alternative, modern, retro & indie rock radio station if you are a music fan.
8. Soundtracktoyour.com
Soundtracktoyour positions itself as the world's first free, lifestyle based music discovery and streaming service. This music streaming service allows you to listen to playlists curated by celebrities without creating an account.
9. WRUV
If you are hungry for music, WRUV will never let you down. This community–run station from the University of Vermont is a regular springer of surprises, thanks to its "free form" policy.
10. CBC Music
CBC Music is Canada's free digital music service, a creative and forward-thinking operation that deserves more international recognition. You have to register to listen to its music radio output online.
11. Deezer
Deezer gives you the opportunity to enjoy more than 30 million tracks, create your own playlists, and share your favorite tracks you're your friends. With a beautifully clean interface, the online radio station offers free signup, multi million track library, option to pay monthly for ad-free and mobile listening.
12. Cambridge 105
Cambridge Radio Station, Cambridge 105, is the volunteer based, community owned Community Radio Station for the city of Cambridge. It offers a varied selection of programs, covering everything from old 78 records to local authors to roots reggae and rock.
13. Live365
Live365 is a great place to listen to thousands of internet radio stations featuring online music in every style, including hip hop, jazz, new age, rock, classical, oldies, and more.
14. Broadway World
Broadway World is a theatre resource featuring news, message boards, video previews, show information, photos and biographies.
15. Moscow FM
This friendly, Moscow–based English language station works hard to bridge that gap with an upbeat mixture of music, news and information on cultural events in the capital.
16. DFM
DFM is an independent internet, webradio based, multimedia station by international artists.
17. Ancient FM
Tired of the modern world with all its bleeps, blips and pushy commercials? Ancient FM would be a great place to go. This charming little radio station only plays music from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, which will surely give you a break from the modern world.
18. London Fields Radio
Based in a small cafe on a backstreet in Hackney, East London, this remarkable little radio station is a hive of activity, with a huge variety of shows by dozens of local residents, artists and DJs. You can come here for radio shows, events and news from east London's micro radio revolution.
19. BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a place to listen to live BBC news or catch up on the last 7 days of BBC programs.
20. iHerat Radio
iHeart Radio has the best music and talk stations for you.
21. Streema
Streema is a free online radio tuner to discover, share, and listen to radio stations with your friends. Listen to more than 70,000 radio stations and watch more than 10,000 TV stations here at the Streema directory.
22. World Radio Network
World Radio Network brings together programs from public broadcasters across the planet and weaves them into a single stream. You can taste all the international radio, where in a single spell you might hear news from the Vatican, political analysis from Seoul and sports features from Africa.
23. Yahoo! Music Radio
Yahoo! Music radio is a sub part of Yahoo.com. It serves as other internet radio service with clear channel communication.
24. Grooveshark
Grooveshark is a subsidiary of Escape Media Group and is an online music radio streaming service based in the United States. This online radio station has its own search engine, streaming service, and recommendation application.
25. Last.fm
Last.fm is a music discovery service that gives you personalised recommendations based on the music you listen to. This radio station is pretty much like Jango.
26. Slacker
Slacker allows users to create and share customized music stations. Users will be able to customize one of their programmed stations (for instance, Top hits) or start with music similar to an artist or song, and then customize that.
27. Radioio
RadioIO (pronounced "radio eye-oh") is a New York-based internet radio and streaming media service owned by RadioIO, Inc. (RAIO) started in 1998.
28. Digitally Imported
Digitally Imported is a multi-channel online internet radio service that focuses exclusively on Electronic Music and heavey metal music.
29. AccuRadio
AccuRadio is free customizable online radio with unlimited skips. Over 900 free Internet radio stations: Rock, Pop, Classical, Country, Jazz, Oldies, Broadway ...
30. Musicovery
Musicovery is an interactive and customised webradio service. Listeners rate songs, resulting in a personalized programme.[1] Reviewers have commented that unlike services that are governed by the user's choice of artist or genre, this method results in more discovery of artists to which the user might not otherwise have been exposed.
31. SHOUTcast
SHOUTcast is cross-platform proprietary software for streaming media over the Internet. The software, developed by Nullsoft, allows digital audio content primarily in MP3 or HE-AAC format, to be broadcast to and from media player software, enabling the creation of Internet radio "stations".
32. Stitcher Radio
If you want to get the freshest episodes of your favorite podcasts and shows in internet radio Stitcher Radio may be perfect solution for you. They streamed directly to your iPad or smart phones. No need to download anything.
33. Rhapsody
With infinite skips and no ads, Rhapsody is a wonderful internet radio station that lets you stream music online, download songs and listen offline, and play personalized radio stations.
34. AOL Radio
AOL Radio features 200+ free music stations including pop, hip-hop, R&B, country, classical, electronic/dance, indie, jazz, oldies and rock.
35. Double J
Double J makes it super easy to enjoy listening music online, on your TV, or on digital radio. This radio station brings you a big and various mixes of the best new music from Australia and other countries.
36. Radio Paradise
Radio Paradise is a special blend of styles and genres of the best selected music. You'll hear modern and classic rock, world music, even a bit of classical and jazz.
37. Eyepartner
As a leader in the Video Software industry, EyePartner provides not only live audio Streaming Software, but also Broadcasting, IPTV Solutions and other Corporate Video Solutions.
38. Groovera
Groovera (Groovera New Modern Radio) is an independent, multi-channel, commercial-free, and listener-supported Internet-only radio station dedicated to "chill-out music". Specifically, Groovera featured mixes of downtempo, future lounge, nu-jazz (aka. "future jazz"), ambient pop, trip hop, psybient and neo-soul, as well as other related and contributing genres.
39. Goom Radio
Goom Radio is a mobile Internet radio service. The Goom Radio Factory allows online broadcasters to create custom online radio brands.
40. The Scope (radio)
The Scope at Ryerson is an internet radio station owned and operated by Radio Ryerson Incorporated at Ryerson University in Toronto. It's a great place for Hip hop and politics.
41. WXB102
WXB102 (formerly under the call sign and frequency DWXB-FM at 102.7 MHz, a frequency now used by Star FM) is a former Metro Manila FM radio station and current Internet radio station that plays New Wave, punk rock, synthpop, electronic music, dance-punk, post-punk, classic alternative rock and more from the UK, US, Philippines and the rest of the world.
42. Kube Radio
Broadcasting 24/7 during term time, KUBE Radio offers a comprehensive schedule of shows including a range of music, discussion and sports.
43. Penwith Radio
Penwith Community Radio is a voluntary community radio station based in Penzance, Cornwall, England. It contains a combination of local news, weather, music and talk.
44. Soma FM
Based in a converted warehouse in San Francisco, Soma FM is funded by its listeners and therefore maintains a completely ad-free schedule. It broadcasts over 20 wonderfully varied channels, covering everything from folk to ambient music inspired by the Nasa space program.
45. P2
P2 is a classical, folk and world music networks. It's an intelligent, beautifully scheduled affair – and is the finest alternative to Radio 3 that I've come upon.
46. Irish Pub Radio
This rather lovely little station was set up to cater for the thousands of Irish pubs scattered around the world, allowing them to connect and stream a rolling playlist of well-known music from the emerald isle.
47. Audiobook Radio
Audiobook Radio offers a rich and often brilliantly read selection of material – from Annie Proulx short stories to full Shakespeare plays and poems by Dylan Thomas and Oscar Wilde.
48. LifeJive Radio
LifeJive Radio is an online radio community of various radio stations broadcasting all over the world. The stations range from classical rock to European chill and soft music.
49. Radio23
Radio23.org is a non-commercial, freeform radio station dedicated to providing an international artistic platform for innovative and creative home broadcasters.
50. Afterhours.FM
Afterhours.FM (AH or Afterhours) is an Internet radio broadcaster that plays trance and progressive dance music shows from DJs around the world. Afterhours.FM specializes in electronic dance music and provides live broadcasts from electronic music events worldwide.
Source: https://www.tenorshare.com/streaming-audio/top-50-internet-radio-stations.html
We'll add new radio stations to this list if we discover new ones. Click to listen to the online radios from the best internet radio stations. Or you can bookmark this page so that you can find the radio station any time you like.