The Best 9 Sites to Listen to Public Radio Stations Online
Site Owner & Radio Enthusiast
Are you looking for the best sites to listen to public radio stations? You’re in the right place.
In today’s digital world, you don’t necessarily need to purchase your own home, portable, or car radio to stay updated with the latest news and events.
The power of the internet ensures anyone can access live streams and prerecorded radio sessions with nothing but a connection and a smartphone or computer.
The biggest challenge for most radio fans is figuring out which websites deliver the best content.
Today, we list our top 9 favorite public radio websites to help you find the content you’ve been searching for.
Let’s dive in.
The Best 9 Public Radio Sites
Notably, thousands of websites and apps allow users to listen to AM, FM, and even DAB channels wherever they are.
However, not all of these sites specialize in public radio. If you’re looking for safety alerts, up-to-date news, and similar information, these are the sites you should use.
1. Broadcastify
With thousands of live streams to access daily, Broadcastify is one of the most popular public radio stations online.
You can browse feeds based on your location using the site’s handy online map. Plus, you can check out top and trending feeds worldwide.
Broadcastify is one of the world’s largest sources of public safety, aircraft, marine, and rail radio streams, and it’s even used by emergency responders globally.
The site offers both a free service and a premium option. If you opt for the paid plan, you can create custom feed listening pages and access up to a year of archived recordings.
There’s also a handy mobile app available for Android and iOS devices if you want to take your streams with you on the move.
2. Radio.net
Radio.net is one of the most versatile streaming sites available to radio lovers.
Thanks to the site’s geographical tracking features, you can browse top stations near you or search for a specific station using the search bar.
There are more than 60,000 radio stations to choose from, including public radio streams and news stations.
Plus, you can also access a range of other types of content on Radio.net, such as podcasts, live sports reports, and more.
The website is free to use, making it an excellent choice for anyone on a budget. However, it doesn’t include access to any emergency alerts.
Like Broadcastify, Radio.net offers an Android and iOS app free of charge, so you can stay tuned wherever you are.
3. RadioReference.com
Popular among ham radio enthusiasts, RadioReference.com is a site where users can research and view thousands of user-contributed radio communications articles and topics.
You can explore and search a database of more than 224,000 identified frequencies and discuss topics with like-minded people on the site’s forum.
The website also includes access to live audio streams, where you can tune into public broadcasts, alert announcements, and other feeds worldwide.
There’s a handy search function to pinpoint feeds closest to you.
Plus, you can access dashboards with up-to-date information and news updates from radio stations all over the globe.
4. InterceptRadio
InterceptRadio advertises itself as the world’s largest radio and scanner frequency database.
On the site, you can use a dynamic map to sort through public radio frequencies in your local area, finding broadcasts wherever they are.
If you’re starting in the ham radio environment, there’s also a handy database search to source more information about transmissions, call signs, and other radio data.
The site features an Alerts page, listing some of the latest news on public broadcasts.
Plus, the site has a Live Audio section to tap into content from police scanners and other emergency content.
5. TuneIn.com
While TuneIn.com is intended more for entertainment than accessing public radio announcements, it still offers a wide range of content for local listeners.
The site provides access to a range of breaking news channels, including CNN and CNBC, so you can access updates from all kinds of companies worldwide.
Alongside news and public radio services, TuneIn also offers access to audiobooks, sports broadcasts, podcasts, and music from across the globe.
A free version of the platform is available, with access to 100,000 global radio stations and a premium option with more content.
Just keep in mind you won’t be able to access police scanners or emergency content here, just the latest news as it’s reported.
6. PublicRadioFan
PublicRadioFan is an exciting website. Although it looks outdated, it offers access to content you won’t find anywhere else on the web.
Getting started with the platform is easy; just set your time zone and use the main menu to find stations relevant to you.
There are broadcasts from a host of local radio stations all over the globe, as well as tons of options for listening to different types of content.
You can tune into podcasts, reports, breaking news stations, and entire radio networks.
Though the site can initially seem a little challenging to navigate, searching through your options with a program finder tool is simple.
7. Streema.com
Similar to TuneIn.com, Streema is an online radio database and tuner. It offers access to more than 70,000 radio stations and 10,000 television stations worldwide.
Alongside common commercial radio channels, you can also find local and public radio stations on the platform.
The site is incredibly easy to use, with the option to search for any station you want by call sign, genre, country, city, or name.
Plus, you can browse available radio stations by region, making it simple to find broadcasts relevant to you and your location.
Like many of the top radio tuner websites, Streema has an app for Android and iOS devices, which is free to download and use.
8. NPR.Org
Although NPR.org is technically a news website, it does have its own public radio channel, which you can listen to 24/7 from the website or the NPR app.
The site includes access to stored playlists to check out previous news reports from the last few days.
There’s also the option to tune into hourly news updates or listen live to current events broadcasts from anywhere in the world.
Alongside a live stream of public radio, NPR.com also offers access to a range of podcasts and channels for entertainment.
You can browse podcasts and shows based on categories like news and politics, society and culture, entertainment, science and technology, and business.
9. The Public’s Radio
The Public’s Radio is a community website sharing local stories, podcasts, productions, and radio broadcasts online.
As soon as you arrive on the website, you can listen to live radio instantly, straight from your phone or computer screen.
The Public’s Radio is the NPR member radio station network for the state of Rhode Island and the Southeastern Massachusetts region.
This means you’ll likely get relatively specific information relevant to the location on this channel.
On the plus side, the radio station is completely free to access and includes programming from various national sources.
Other Ways to Listen to Public Radio Online
If none of the public radio sites above appeal to you, there are other ways you can tune into public radio.
One option is to join a ham radio community and get tips on how to track down frequencies and broadcasts in the region you’re interested in.
You can also access scanner apps on your smartphone, which can help you to listen to police reports, as well as public radio broadcasts from emergency services departments.
The other potentially easier alternative is to search for the public radio site relevant to your city or state.
Most sites offer access to their own HD radio streams. Here are a few examples:
- Minnesota Public Radio
- Wisconsin Public Radio
- Hawaii Public Radio
- Texas Public Radio
- Iowa Public Radio
- Colorado Public Radio
Listening to Public Radio Online: FAQ
What Is Public Radio?
Public radio is a nationwide network of non-profit radio stations supported by government funds.
In the US, the Corporation often drives public radio for Public Broadcasting and some channels may be affiliated with public television stations or educational institutions.
How Can I Listen to Public Radio?
There are various ways to listen to public radio, from tuning into a specific frequency on your car or home radio to accessing a public radio website or app. Some are free options, but some apps will charge you a subscription fee.
Can I Listen to Public Radio on My Phone?
Yes, many of the websites above have their own apps available for download on iOS or Android devices.
Just make sure you know how much data you’ll use to listen to live streams before you start tuning into a channel. You can check it through our article on How Much Data Does A Radio App Use?
If you’re more of a fan of radio apps, we’ve also got a list for both Android and Apple devices with our article for the 11 Best Smartphone Radio Apps In 2023!
