LibreTime is a free, open-source radio automation platform for scheduling, playout and streaming. Explore features, hosting costs and top alternatives.
Category
Media & Audio/Video Tools
Pricing
Open Source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2017
Web AppOpen SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
LibreTime is a free, open-source radio automation platform that grew out of a 2017 community fork of Sourcefabric's Airtime project, after Sourcefabric redirected its resources to a commercial hosted product called Airtime Pro and stopped actively developing the open-source version.
Maintained entirely by volunteers and fiscally supported through Open Collective, LibreTime gives terrestrial and internet radio stations a full scheduling, library, and playout system built on Liquidsoap, PostgreSQL, and a Docker-based deployment model, released under the AGPL-3.0 license.
Key Features
LibreTime covers the core needs of a radio programming team: a drag-and-drop scheduler, a searchable and tagged audio library with waveform previews, smart blocks for rule-based dynamic playlists, and support for switching between automated playout and live or remote DJ input.
Stations can stream directly to Icecast or SHOUTcast for internet radio, republish on-air content as podcasts through RSS, and manage multiple staff accounts with role-based permissions, all accessible through a REST API for deeper integrations.
Pricing
LibreTime carries no software licensing cost of any kind; the full feature set is free to self-host under AGPL-3.0. Costs are limited to the server infrastructure a station provisions to run it.
Stations that prefer not to self-host can pay a monthly fee to third-party managed hosting providers such as Streamerr or Radio Hosting 24, who run the identical open-source software as a paid service rather than a separate licensed product.
Key Features
Automated Scheduling and Playout — Drag-and-drop calendar scheduling paired with a Liquidsoap-powered playout engine for gapless 24/7 automation.
Smart Blocks and Dynamic Playlists — Rule-based playlists that auto-fill airtime by genre, mood, or play count.
Web-Based Audio Library — Upload, tag, and search the station's audio library with waveform previews and metadata editing.
Live Show and Remote DJ Support — Switch seamlessly between scheduled automation and live or remote DJ input.
Podcast and RSS Publishing — Republish on-air shows as on-demand podcast feeds for listeners.
Icecast and SHOUTcast Streaming — Built-in integration to stream online alongside terrestrial broadcast.
REST API — Integrate LibreTime with station websites, mobile apps, and third-party tools.
Docker-Based Self-Hosting — Deploy via Docker Compose on your own infrastructure under the AGPL-3.0 license.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open source with no per-seat licensing fees
Actively maintained by a global volunteer community since 2017 with regular releases
AGPL license guarantees the code stays open even for hosted forks
Docker-based deployment is far easier than the older Airtime install process
Purpose-built for radio workflows like playlists, live shows, and overnight automation
Cons
No official managed hosting from the project itself, so non-technical stations must find a third-party host or self-host
Documentation and support rely on community forums and chat rather than dedicated customer support
Interface and UX feel dated compared to modern commercial SaaS radio platforms
Self-hosting requires ongoing server maintenance, backups, and security updates
Smaller contributor base than commercial competitors means some features and fixes move slowly
Pricing
Self-Hosted (Open Source) Free N/A
Third-Party Managed Hosting Varies by provider Monthly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LibreTime really free?
Yes, the core software is free and open source under AGPL-3.0; you only pay for the server or third-party hosting you choose to run it on.
What is the difference between LibreTime and Airtime?
LibreTime is a 2017 community fork of Sourcefabric's open-source Airtime project, continued after Sourcefabric shifted focus to its commercial Airtime Pro SaaS product.
Can LibreTime stream to Icecast or SHOUTcast?
Yes, LibreTime has built-in support for streaming to Icecast and SHOUTcast servers for internet radio.
Does LibreTime support live DJ shows as well as automation?
Yes, stations can switch between scheduled automated playout and live or remote DJ input.
What are the system requirements to self-host LibreTime?
LibreTime is deployed via Docker Compose and requires a server capable of running PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, Liquidsoap, and the web application components.
Who maintains LibreTime?
A volunteer, community-driven team maintains LibreTime, fiscally supported via Open Collective, rather than a commercial company.