Freqcast review
A free, open-source Android radio player with stream verification and timeshift.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Freqcast is a free, open-source internet radio player for Android listeners who want to find stations and manage playback in one app. It searches by station name, genre, country, or nearby location through Radio Browser, and it can also discover and verify playable streams from station websites. Found stations can be saved in a local library. The app supports HTTP/HTTPS and HLS streams and is aimed at individual listeners rather than teams or organizations.
Playback features make Freqcast more than a station directory: it supports background playback with automatic reconnect, live ICY metadata, and timeshift for compatible streams. A sleep timer and wake-up alarms cover listening schedules, while a home-screen widget and Android Auto support make playback easier to access. Station lists can be imported and exported in JSON, OPML, M3U, and PLS formats. Radio Browser and Gemini and other AI assistants are listed as integrations; AI features are noted. These capabilities suit listeners who want control over discovery and portable station lists, though timeshift is conditional on stream compatibility.
There is no paid tier: Freqcast is free, and its open-source distribution is via an APK on the project's GitHub releases. That route requires Android 10 or later and does not offer a Play Store listing. The platform scope is strictly Android, with no CarPlay support. Choose Freqcast if stream verification, timeshift, and configurable radio listening matter more than store-based installation or cross-platform access. Listeners who need an iOS app or CarPlay should choose another option.
Freqcast pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Finds and verifies playable streams from station websites
- Background playback reconnects automatically; timeshift works with compatible streams
- Supports Android Auto, live metadata, alarms, and playlist import/export
- Where it doesn't
- Requires Android 10 or later
- Distributed as an APK from GitHub releases, with no Play Store listing
- Android-only; CarPlay is not supported
Freqcast fact sheet, pricing and score →
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