How to Get a Mobile App for Your Radio Station (2026 Guide)

Your most loyal listeners don't want to open a browser, type your URL, and hunt for the play button every time they want to tune in. They want a tap on their home screen. A dedicated radio station mobile app gives them exactly that — your logo on their phone, instant live playback, and a direct line to your station that no algorithm can bury.

This guide covers why an app matters, what a good one should include, and the simplest way to get a professional iOS and Android app built for your station without hiring a developer or learning to code.

If you're still deciding between an app and a mobile-friendly website, start with our companion guide on the radio station mobile app vs. website trade-offs, then come back here when you're ready to build.

Why your radio station needs its own app

A mobile app isn't a vanity project. For a station competing with podcasts, playlists, and every other audio option on a listener's phone, it's a retention tool.

• One-tap listening. No URL, no search — your icon sits on the home screen next to Spotify and YouTube.
• Background playback. Listeners keep your stream going while they use other apps, lock their phone, or drive.
• You own the relationship. Unlike social media, an app audience can't be throttled by a platform's feed changes.
• Credibility. "Search for us on the App Store" signals that your station is the real deal.

For community and independent stations especially, an app turns casual web visitors into daily listeners.

What a great radio station app includes

Not all station apps are equal. A good one feels purpose-built, not like a website crammed into a phone frame. At a minimum it should offer:

• Reliable live stream playback with your station's logo, colors, and app icon.
• Now-playing info — the current track title, artist, and artwork where your stream provides it.
• Background audio and lock-screen controls so listening survives a screen lock or app switch.
• Quick links to your schedule, podcasts, social profiles, and contact details.
• A clean, fast experience on both iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play).

Anything beyond that — listener call-ins, song requests, loyalty features — is a nice bonus, but the essentials above are what actually keep people listening.

Build it yourself vs. done-for-you

You have three realistic options:

1. DIY app builders. Generic platforms exist, but they charge ongoing monthly fees, look templated, and rarely handle radio-specific needs like stream metadata and background audio well.
2. Hire a freelance developer. Custom work runs into the thousands of dollars per platform, plus maintenance — overkill for most stations.
3. A done-for-you radio app service. You provide your stream and branding; a specialist builds, configures, and submits the app for you. This is the sweet spot for independent stations: professional result, no code, predictable one-time cost.

That third option is what we offer.

Get a custom radio app built for $99 per platform

We build branded mobile apps specifically for radio stations. The pricing is simple: $99 (+ tax) per platform, as a one-time fee. iOS and Android are priced separately, so you can launch on one platform or both.

Here's exactly what's included with each app we build:

• A branded native app with your station's logo, colors, app icon, and splash screen
• Live stream playback with now-playing title, artist, and artwork (where your stream supplies it)
• Background playback plus lock-screen and control-center controls
• Quick links to your schedule, podcasts, social profiles, and contact page
• Full store listing setup — description, screenshots, and assets — and submission to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
• A one-time build with no recurring RadioSiteMaker fee

A quick honest note on store accounts: publishing requires a developer account that you own — Apple's is $99/year and Google's is a one-time $25. These are paid directly to Apple and Google (not to us), and we'll walk you through setting them up. We keep your accounts in your name so you always control your apps.

How the process works

1. Get in touch at hello@radiositemaker.com and tell us your station name, stream URL, and which platforms you want.
2. Send your branding — logo and brand colors. If you don't have polished assets, we can help.
3. We build and configure the app, wire up your live stream and now-playing metadata, and prepare the store listing.
4. You review a test build and request any tweaks.
5. We submit to the App Store and/or Google Play and guide you through approval.

Most stations go from first email to a submitted app in a matter of days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a radio station mobile app cost?

Our build fee is $99 (+ tax) per platform as a one-time charge. iOS and Android are separate, so a station launching on both platforms pays $99 for each. There's no recurring RadioSiteMaker fee. The only ongoing cost is the app-store developer account you own (Apple $99/year, Google a one-time $25), paid directly to the stores.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. You provide your stream URL and branding, and we build, configure, and submit the app for you. The process is fully done-for-you.

Can listeners keep the stream playing in the background?

Yes. Every app we build supports background playback and lock-screen controls, so listening continues when the phone is locked or the listener switches apps.

Will the app show what's currently playing?

Yes, where your stream provides that data. We display the current track title, artist, and artwork so listeners always see what's on air.

Should I get an app or just a mobile-friendly website?

Both have a place. A website is essential and reaches everyone instantly; an app deepens loyalty with your most dedicated listeners through one-tap access and instant playback. Read our full breakdown in radio station mobile app vs. website.

Can I launch on just one platform?

Absolutely. Many stations start with the platform most of their audience uses and add the second later. Each platform is priced independently at $99 (+ tax).