Looking for iBroadcast alternatives?
iBroadcast is a music locker service. It allows you to upload your own music collection to the service, and then stream it to your devices.
There are multiple replacements for iBroadcast out there - we've collected information on a few, including (disclaimer! 😆) our own service, Astiga.
iBroadcast
iBroadcast allows you to upload a music library to the service and then stream it to multiple devices. It has good device support, with apps for Sonos, Roku, Alexa and the ability to play through Chromecast, Android Auto, the Apple equivalents, and more.
But no music streaming service is perfect! There are a number of common complaints about iBroadcast which might make you want to search for a replacement.
Proprietary storage
iBroadcast stores your music library in its own storage backend. This means all access to it is via iBroadcast. You cannot use other tools to access the music, for example convenient backup or synchronisation tools.
Difficult tagging
Updating your library by changing tags and re-uploading can be cumbersome in iBroadcast. That’s because their control over storage means new uploads don’t replace existing ones. You must use the iBroadcast tools to re-organise your files.
Less control
As the storage is controlled entirely by iBroadcast, you have less control over it. For example, it is impossible to fully delete music from iBroadcast, although there’s a trash option. More importantly, there are no clear ways of re-downloading your library from iBroadcast.
No podcasts
Podcast listening has become an essential part of streaming services. There’s no podcasting ability in iBroadcast, so you’ll have to use a separate app/service for that.
If you've got tired of some of the limitations what are the alternatives to iBroadcast?
Comparisons of iBroadcast alternatives
What are the key differences between the different iBroadcast alternatives?
| YouTube Music | Spotify | Apple Music | Plex | iBroadcast | Astiga | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Library | Catalogue, limited uploaded | Catalogue, limited uploaded | Catalogue, uploaded | Uploaded | Uploaded | Uploaded |
| Storage location | No control | No control | No control | Self hosted | No control | Any cloud storage or self hosted |
| Offline sync | Max 10 devices, must login every 30 days. | Premium only, max 10k songs, 5 devices, login every 30 days. | Max 100k songs. | Playlists only | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Library integrity | No control of catalogue | No control of catalogue | No control of catalogue | No removals | No removals | No removals |
| Podcasts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Browsing | Recommendations and catalogue-oriented | "Discovery" and recommendation oriented | Catalogue-oriented | Library-oriented | Library-oriented | Library-oriented |
| Recommendations | Algorithmic | Algorithmic | Algorithmic | Algorithmic | None | None |
| Upload longevity | Until subscription ends | Until subscription ends | Until subscription ends | Unlimited; stored locally | Unlimited | Unlimited; stored in the cloud / locally |
| Advertisements | In the free plan | In the free plan | None | In catalogue content | None | None |
| Audio quality | Medium: 256kbps in Premium | Medium: 320kbps in Premium | High: Up to 24/192kHz | High: Up to 16/44.1kHz | In Premium: unlimited | Unlimited: Native |
| API | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Open; Subsonic |
| Company size | Big tech | Big tech | Big tech | Middle tech | Bootsrapped/indie | Bootsrapped/indie |
| Cost | $14 | $11 | $11 | Free/$4.99 | Free/$3.99 | $4.99 |
- Catalogue
- A rented music library, provided by a streaming service.
- Offline sync
- The transfer of music from a streaming service to a device for later playback with no Internet access.
- Proprietary
- Technical standards controlled by the streaming service.
- Recommendations
- The presentation of music the user may want to listen to.
- Upload
- Music files transferred from a user into a streaming service.
Comparing the streaming services
One-against-the-other, how do to the music streaming services compare? We've written these from the perspective of a music library owner, not a listener that will just consume the streaming services' rented catalogue.
iBroadcast vs. Astiga
Astiga is a similar service to iBroadcast; it is a streaming service for your own music. The main difference is where the music is sourced. With iBroadcast, you upload your music to the iBroadcast servers. With Astiga you upload your music to other cloud storage services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive and others.
iBroadcast advantages
- More device support
- Free tier
Astiga advantages
- Podcasting
- Storage flexibility
For pure ease of use and getting started, iBroadcast is probably the better bet. As it only offers storage of music on its own servers, this means it can provide a more guided and controlled user experience on first use.
Longer term, though, Astiga’s embrace of other cloud storage services gives a lot of flexibility. It means you can administer your music storage via the tools provided by the cloud storage provider, and make use of third party apps written to work with the cloud storage.
Why choose Astiga vs iBroadcast?
30,000 music lovers trust Astiga as a iBroadcast alternative for your own music library.
Astiga is a music service that puts you in full control of your music library. Choose the music you listen to and its audio quality, including lossless and HD streaming. Sync your music for offline playback to your devices, and cast your music to playback devices around your home.
What makes Astiga different to iBroadcast?
iBroadcast and Astiga are similar services. You can stream your own music library to your devices inside your home or outside.
There are also some big differences.
Choose your own player
You are not forced to use the iBroadcast app or any other software. Astiga is Subsonic compatible; you can use the official app or any Subsonic music client to play and sync your music.
Choose your storage
We don’t force you to store your music on our servers. Instead, we have connectors to all the major cloud storage providers. This means you are in control of where you store your music and can use official and third-party apps which work with those services.
Your library, your way
Astiga allows you to re-tag your music so it can be organized in different ways. iBroadcast allows this in principle, but re-uploading files sometimes doesn’t show the changes, so you’re forced to use their tools to re-organise your library.
Don't take our word for it...
The music streaming service you control
Astiga is like your own private Spotify; a music streaming service that connects your to your music, wherever you are.
Wide storage support
Astiga supports a plethora of cloud storage services, including Google Drive, OneDrive (for Business), Dropbox, Amazon S3 (and S3-compatible providers such as Wasabi or DigitalOcean Spaces), Backblaze B2, FTP(S), WebDAV (like ownCloud, Yandex, Synology) and SFTP.
Works wherever you are
Astiga works in your home and out on the road. The official Astiga app supports Android Auto, allowing you to easily use Astiga while driving, plus you can synchronise for offline access.
Your home music network
Astiga's app supports Chromecast, and you can stream to your browser. There is support for your Google Home, allowing you to easily play back your music without using your phone.
Wide file format support
Astiga supports MP3, AAC (MP4), OGG, Opus, WebM, WAV, ALAC and FLAC.
Includes podcasts
Keep up to date with your favourite podcasts by storing them with Astiga. Download for offline access and to listen on a plan, in a car...
Offline music
We don't all have high speed mobile Internet nor unlimited mobile data plans. This makes offline important. Astiga allows synchronisation to your devices for offline, local playback. Ideal when travelling!
Switching from iBroadcast?
Ready to make the move? Here are the steps you need to follow. Remember we're always here to help you make the move!
If your music library is purely in iBroadcast, you’ll need to download it using the sync tools. There’s no obvious way of downloading your library en masse, so using sync and then locating the downloaded, synced files on your device is your best bet.
Altenatively, you might have your music collection already on your computer, in which case you don’t need to do anything at all.
Once your music collection is on your computer, you can upload it to any one of the storage services that Astiga supports. Or, you can setup pCloud as part of your Astiga signup process.
While your music is uploading - sign up to Astiga:
Let's get started!Once you log in, you can connect Astiga to your music library.
On the Astiga home page, under Add storage, click your storage provider:
Enter your username and password for your storage provider, and then Astiga can begin synchronising with your music library.
You can immediately browse your music library via its files and folders, or wait for Astiga to synchronise with your library so you can explore your albums, artists, genres and more.
In the meantime, you can add podcast feeds and experiment with mobile apps to connect to Astiga.