Best Internet Radios

Are you looking to replace your old FM radio with something more modern? Do you want a modern radio that would allow you to access thousands of stations at your fingertips? Suppose you want to discover different musical cultures and broaden your reach with crystal clear audio every time and any time you want it. In that case, internet radio is your best shot at exploring the world without leaving the comfort of your home.

Online radios allow music streaming from unlimited internet stations. If you are new to the e-radio world, settling for one might be a herculean task, this is why we have listed the best IP radios on this list. The following radio reviews would help you narrow down that brand and model that fits like a glove into your lifestyle.

Considerations Choosing the best internet radios

Picking out an e-radio receiver is more tricky than you would think because, unlike the more common FM radio where the hardware is all you need, with internet radios, you would need to consider the connectivity of the device. The ideal radio would be one that offers you access to your favorite stations and discovers new internet stations, allows you to stream audio nonstop, and extras like Bluetooth connectivity. The following factors are for your consideration, so you are able to get the most out of this buying guide. They are:

Size

Choosing based on size is usually dependent on the individual, as people have individual preferences as regards the dimensions of their electronics or gadgets. With the options usually being either the portable radio or much bulkier ones, either type has its advantages over the other. The smaller radios would mean more mobility; it would be easy to carry around, while the larger radios are likely to feature more functions and could be housing a larger speaker. This means more fun and more value for the money spent on the radio.

Durability

It is important the radios look the part but, more importantly, works the part. The radio should offer some protection against water damage, shock and dust. Having a durable radio means you can prop it in your car for a drive, go to the beach with friends and family, listen to cool tunes playing on the internet stations without having to worry about any damage to the radio on your trip.

Connectivity and Ease of Use

Although all the radios would come with a user manual explaining how to use the device, it is crucial that your choice of radio does not require too much to set up. The radio should be ready to work out of the box with little to no installation required. The radio should feature features like an alarm clock, a sleep timer, a backlight dimmer and other wireless features like Bluetooth connectivity and wifi, so you get more out of the radio than just listening to the stations.

Alternative Signals

Internet radio is great, but there are times when you might not want to listen to internet stations and would want to listen to DAB or FM radio. At times like this, radios that only function with online access would be at a disadvantage as you would not have options. So if from time to time you are likely to long for FM and DAB radio, it is best that you choose a radio that allows you to access alternate signals.

Power

If you are the kind of person who wants to listen to music and enjoy the limits and excesses of the streaming services outdoors, you would need to purchase a radio with alternate power sources and extensive battery life. Radios that work with only one power source are limiting and could leave you stranded. The higher-end radios offer their users AA or AAA battery, rechargeable battery pack and AC/DC options.

Price

These online radios are impressive pieces of technology. The ease with which it connects you to the world gives people the impression that they are sure to put a dent in your pocket and have you reconsidering your finances. This is not true. As much as they are high-end radios that can be quite costly, there are many other models that are relatively cheaper and would seamlessly fit into any budget. On this list, we have radios for the high-end user and people who want an online radio’s benefits without needing to break the bank.

15 Best Internet Radios

1. Sangean WFR-28

SANGEAN WFR-28 is a web radio with over 15000 radio stations. You can save your most preferred stations under the “My Favorites” menu on the radio. The radio can also function as a music player; it supports WMA, MP3 and AAC+ file formats. The radio has a remote control app that can work on any iOS or Android device. With this app, you can select stations from another device. The features on this radio are easy to use, and this makes it one of the best streaming radios around. The audio quality of this radio is topnotch too.

PROS

• The LCD color display is bright and colorful and can prove really useful when you’re reading information from the radio.
• The radio can stream music directly from your Spotify app.

CONS

• The radio has Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

2. Grace Digital Encore

Grace Digital Encore is an e-radio that does not need any special app before it connects to your Wi-Fi network. With the Grace Digital Encore easy, you get direct access to over 30,000 AM/FM internet stations and podcasts. This radio’s sound quality is unmatched, as it features a digital amplifier and loud internal speaker system. The LCD color display feature helps you easily navigate through stations, and it displays every information you need. You can also connect your radio to other devices via Bluetooth. There is a remote control that comes with the radio.

PROS: The radio features a built-in Chrome cast that helps you create multiple streaming groups on compatible devices.

The radio also features an alarm clock that is sure to wake you whenever you want it to.

CONS: The buttons on the radio are not labeled.

3. Grace Digital Mondo Radio

The Grace Digital web radio is an excellently designed radio. It is designed to give users access to embedded Chromecast enabled apps like Spotify and streaming stations Amazon music, SiruxXM and other radio stations from around the world. The powerful radio can be used by anyone.

PROS

• The radio has a remote control.
• The audio speakers produce excellent sound quality.
• The radio is user friendly with easy to operate functions.
• Its Bluetooth technology allows users to connect to their smartphones or stream music to a set of headphones.

CONS

• It cannot receive FM radio station signals.
• It is very large and heavy.

4. Ocean Digital WR-336N

Ocean digital web radios are known to be efficient and aesthetic. Each radio unit uses WiFi internet access to connect to over 28000 radio stations with 99 presets. The radio is equipped with a 10-mile range of Bluetooth connectivity. It has a powerful 2000 mAh rechargeable battery making it a strong contender for the best streaming radio for use in the kitchen or garden. It is sold with remote control and user manual.

PROS

• The digital radio is user friendly.
• This wifi internet radio has audio speakers that boast of impeccable sound quality.
• Its functions include Brightness control on the color display screen, dual alarm and sleep timer.

CONS

• The alarm clock resets without power.

5. Sungale WiFi Radio

Sungale Radio is a Wi-Fi internet radio and streaming music player. There is a headphone jack on the radio so that you can connect your headphones for endless music. You can gain instant internet access with your Wi-Fi without connecting the radio to your phone or PC. The sound quality of the radio is enhanced by a subwoofer that produces strong and clear sound. The radio also uses an Android app that has access to some online stations, making it one of the advanced web radios around. The radio also features an alarm clock with adjustable tunes.

PROS: This web radio is pre-loaded with audiobook applications.

The radio is a touch screen radio, which makes the radio easy to access.

CONS: The battery lasts for just 4 hours

6. Century Radio

The Century web radio comes with the latest audio technology. With this radio, you can enjoy music streaming, hands-free communication and voice control. This device is a powerhouse, with a high output power of 16 watts. With this Wi-Fi radio-cum-music player, you can play music, connect and control home devices, listen to the news and more. The radio also has a Bluetooth function.

PROS

• The radio features a built-in Alexa.
• The Century IP radio can form a multi-room system with about 8 I-box devices.
• The sound quality of this radio makes it one of the best radios.

CONS

• The radio is more of a music player than an FM radio.

7. Bose Wave SoundTouch Music System IV

Bose Wave Soundtouch Music System IV is a radio that can be considered the best streaming radio on the market. With this radio, you can stream countless online stations and still enjoy music with high sound quality. The radio is also a CD player and features a built-in Bluetooth function that helps you connect and access music on your Bluetooth-enabled devices. There is also a remote control that allows you to use the radio hands-free.

PROS

• The radio can connect to other wireless products in your home to provide you the best music experience.

CONS

• The CD player is not available.

8. Ocean Digital WR-23D

The Ocean Digital portable IP radio, with its clean and minimal design, can fit in wherever it’s used. The 2000 mAh li-ion battery-powered radio gives users long hours to listen to their favorite stations on the go. The radio uses a WiFi connection to receive radio station signals, and its speakers produce quality sound. The WR-23D is amongst the best internet radios in the market.

PROS

• It is equipped with an automatic power-off sleep timer and adjustable backlit LCD screen.
• Receive only Bluetooth for connection to smartphones and music devices
• The radio sports features an alarm clock.

CONS

• The radio cannot receive signals of regular FM radio stations.

9. Como Audio: Solo

The user-friendly Como audio web radio is also known as a smart speaker. It’s amongst the best internet radios for its sheer amount of technology. Users can enjoy streaming music via Bluetooth connectivity, Spotify, or tuning to internet radio stations via WiFi. The Como audio radio boasts of an elegantly finished exterior made of quality handcrafted wood. It can be used as furniture to beautify your home. 

PROS

• The radio is easy to use
• Its ergonomically styled remote control is convenient.
• The audio speakers produce excellent sound quality.
• It features an alarm clock and an LCD screen that displays artist and song information.

CONS

• It uses AC power only; hence it is not mobile.

10. Onyx EZR

The SiriusXM Onyx EZR and TIR2 Internet radio bundle give over 150 channels, including a streaming service. The Internet radio has 10 preset favorite stations. It comes with an aux-in jack, which you can connect to and play audio music from external devices. The radio is user-friendly and has great sound quality. With the Onyx EZR and TIR2 radio, you can enjoy an All Access Sirius Subscription.

PROS

• The radio also comes with Vehicle Mounting Accessories.
• The radio supports split-screen mode so that you can view your favorite channels at once.

CONS

• The radio does not come with remote control.

11. Ocean Digital Internet Radio WR-210N

Ocean Digital Internet WiFi Radio is portable and easy to use. It features a dual alarm clock LCD screen with a high color display. With this radio, you can connect to and have access to over 29,000 radio stations. It also has the Bluetooth function for wireless connections and helps you stream music from other devices, and you can also connect your headphones to the radio via the headphone jack. You can also control the radio via the remote control.

PROS

• The radio has a multi-language menu display.
• The radio uses a built-in 2000MAh li-ion battery that lasts long.

CONS

• The radio does not support Alexa.

12. Auna IR-160 Radio

Auna IR-160 web radio has unlimited access to thousands of radio stations via a wireless network. The radio also allows music streaming via a USB port. You can conveniently control the radio with remote control. The LCD color display helps you see everything on the screen at a glance. Wake up anytime you want with the alarm clock feature of this radio. You can enjoy high sound quality while streaming your music with the switchable loudness function.

PROS

• You can store up to 99 stations on this radio.

CONS

• The radio is not so easy to program.

13. Logitech Squeezebox Boom Player

Logitech Squeezebox Boom WiFi Internet radio produces crystal clear audio with its integrated amplifier and speakers. It has a remote control and features an alarm clock that wakes you with your favorite music or radio station. With WiFi connectivity, you can access stations on the radio. The radio has a cool and classy design and will be a beautiful addition to your home or office.

PROS

• The radio supports more audio file formats than most Internet radios.
• The radio is easy to set up and use.

CONS

• Logitech squeezebox Boom radio does not come with many features.
• The radio does not come with built-in Bluetooth.

14. Galaxy Audio RM-IRD Radio

Galaxy Audio RM-IRD WiFi Internet radio grants you access to over 20,000 radio stations or podcasts via WiFi. The radio features an equalizer, alarm clock, time or date, language and works with remote control. The radio supports USB and SD cards, and you can play music via other devices via the AUX input. The connection can be made via wired or wireless Ethernet. The FM radio comes with Radio Data System.

PROS

• The radio is easy to set and has great sound quality.
• There are antennas for FM and WiFi.

CONS

• The FM tuner does not easily pick signals, even with the antenna.

15. Ocean Digital Radio WR26

Ocean Digital WR-26 WiFi Internet radio is also a Bluetooth and FM radio. You can get over 20000 stations on this radio with 99 favorite presets. The radio uses a 2000Man li-ion rechargeable battery for its operations. It also features a sleep timer, and you can control it with remote control. You can play your favorite music from your external devices via the Radio’s Bluetooth connectivity. You can also save up to 99 favorite stations on the radio.

PROS

• The rechargeable battery lasts over 8 hours.
• The radio has a telescopic antenna.
• The audio quality on this radio is high.

CONS

• The radio screen is very small, and some may find it difficult to read.

Overall Best Buy

All the radios on this list are exceptional and guaranteed to give you a lot of audio quality and functionality. Still, the one that stands out without a doubt is the Grace Digital Encore+, and this is for a host of reasons. The first thing that calls to you about this radio is the simple design, the interesting wood finish and the placement of the dials and knobs for easy access. For a radio with many features, it does not lack in the aesthetics department.

This radio is dubbed by many as the best web radio, and in the first few minutes using it, you would see why. The Grace Digital radio is your gateway to thousands of stations, and you can control the music remotely from your iPhone or Android remote control application. The radio can also serve as a power bank, features an Alarm clock, and has Chromecast built-in.

Best Budget Buy

The best budget radio is not always the cheapest on the list. In many cases, such as this one, it is about finding that one device that gives you the most value for the money spent. No other radio fits this description better than the Century Web Tuner. Even though it is not the best radio on this list, it has a number of features that make it a close contender. The build quality and the ease with which you can connect with your favorite radio station makes this an ideal pick if you have your eyes on your budget.

FAQs

What is Internet radio?

Also known as IP radio, Online radio, e-radio, web radio, net radio or streaming radio. It was first introduced in 1993 and has since then grown with the most popular services being but not limited to Sirius XM, Tunein Radio and iHeart Radio.

These radios are used to spread messages and communicate over the internet and should not be confused with podcasting, which involves downloading media instead of music streaming. The content being broadcasted is either live or pre-recorded music files and on-demand to users worldwide with access to the internet.

Web radios have some advantages over the use of traditional radios. They are as follows:

No Geographical Limitations

Traditional radio is limited by the station’s transmitting power and the broadcast spectrum available in your locale. Web radio, on the other hand, has no limit and is as vast as cyberspace itself. This means that you can access all of the world’s content on your internet ready radio.

Not Limited to Audio

Unlike traditional radio, you get more than audio as online radios can have their broadcasts accompanied by links, text, photos and other graphics. You also have access to unparalleled interactivity like chat rooms and message boards.

Dab Radio vs. Internet Radios

DAB radio stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting, and it differs from streaming radio in many ways. Although both DAB and streaming Radio allow you to listen to many radio stations, they differ in the following ways:

Mode of Operation: DAB radios allow users access and connect to their favorite stations by picking up digital signals. In contrast, Online radio does the same but using the internet instead.

The Number of Stations: Online radio is literally your portal to the world as you can listen to thousands of channels all over the world, and DAB radios, on the other hand, would not receive as many as Internet radios but would receive far more than the average FM radio depending on where you live.

Where to buy Internet Radios?

You have two options, the physical store or online stores like Amazon. Both choices having their upsides and downsides.

Shopping at your local store would mean you would get your device the very day off the shelves, but they might not have the model you want, or in some cases, might not get a detailed description for the product.

Online stores are many people’s favorite because it is easy to use; you have many devices for sale. You can compare all the products, ask for help online without needing to leave your home physically. The downside to shopping online is the wait time, as you would have to wait till the product is delivered to your doorstep.