📻 13 Best WordPress themes for radio stations 2026 (free and premium)

Radio hasn't died, it just moved to the internet. And if you're launching an online radio station, you don't need a website just to "check a box", you need it as a full-fledged platform: with a player that doesn't cut out when navigating between pages, a program schedule, and show archives.

But piecing all of that together with plugins is a path to conflicts and slowdowns. The smarter move is to pick a theme where the radio functionality is already baked into the core. We've selected 13 such themes, free and premium, that let you launch a station in an evening.

💡 Quick overview:

• Pick a theme from the list below that fits your budget and scenario: free Astra and Radio Station to get started, Onair2 and SONIK for professional broadcasting
• Install the theme on your site and import demo content with one click, all 13 themes support quick demo import
• Replace the demo stream with your radio URL (Icecast or Shoutcast) and set up the program schedule using the theme's calendar
• Publish your first episodes, and if needed, add donations or WooCommerce for monetization

Before choosing, here's a quick reference table covering the five most popular options.

1. Onair2

Onair2 is one of the most well-thought-out themes for radio stations on ThemeForest. Its key feature: a popup player that keeps playing even when a visitor navigates to another page. You don't lose a listener during navigation.

The player supports MP3 streams, episodes from SoundCloud, YouTube, and MixCloud. A built-in chart system lets you compile top tracks based on listener voting. An events calendar with a countdown to airtime.

• Pros: non-interrupting player, 11 custom post types, 7 sidebar widgets
• Cons: no free version, overkill for small projects
• Price: $199 (ThemeForest, regular license)
• Download: 🔗 Onair2 on ThemeForest

2. Astra

Astra is a multipurpose theme with over 100 demo templates, including a ready-made layout for radio and podcasts. In practice: you install the free version from the WordPress.org directory, import the radio template, and you already have a site structure.

The template includes a section for episodes, host profiles, and integration with Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The theme plays well with WooCommerce, so you can sell merch or access to archives without extra plugins.

• Pros: free version with a radio template, compatible with Elementor and Gutenberg, lightweight
• Cons: radio functionality isn't "native," some capabilities are added via plugins
• Price: Free on WordPress.org; Astra Pro from $59/yr
• Download: 🔗 Astra on WordPress.org | 🔗 Astra Pro

3. Divi

Divi by Elegant Themes is a visual builder and theme rolled into one. The gallery of 100+ ready-made layouts includes a pack for radio and podcasts: episode pages, a player, host profiles.

Divi Builder lets you drag and drop modules and change the design without code. Filters, hover effects, and animations, everything is configured with a mouse. If your radio station grows into a full network, the license covers unlimited sites.

• Pros: visual no-code builder, unlimited sites per license, huge layout library
• Cons: above-average price, switching themes requires reconfiguring content (Divi shortcodes)
• Price: from $89/yr; lifetime, $249
• Download: 🔗 Divi on Elegant Themes

4. Audioman

Audioman, a free theme from the WordPress.org catalog, built for musicians, bands, and radio stations. The centerpiece of any of its three demos (dark free, dark Pro, and light Pro) is a full-width audio player.

Beyond the player, there is a playlist section, a featured slider, an upcoming events block, and testimonials. The theme is updated consistently; the latest version, 2.4.2, was released in May 2026.

• Pros: fully free base version, three demo options, responsive layout
• Minuses: some features (advanced playlist, extra widgets) are Pro-only
• Price: Free on WordPress.org; Pro, $59.99
• Download: 🔗 Audioman on WordPress.org

5. SONIK

SONIK stands out from the competition with twelve custom post types: radio shows, events, podcasts, team, galleries, and so on. The Now On Air widget shows the current broadcast right on the homepage, so the listener immediately knows what is on air.

For monetization, there is WooCommerce integration: selling tracks, merch, and event tickets. The radio stream runs via MP3 as well as through SoundCloud and YouTube.

• Pros: 12 custom post types, Top 10 charts, shortcode to insert the player anywhere
• Cons: the abundance of options can overwhelm a beginner
• Price: $49 (ThemeForest, regular license + 6 months of support)
• Download: 🔗 SONIK on ThemeForest

6. Castilo

Castilo, a budget option for those who need a radio station website without extra costs. At a price of $45 on ThemeForest, the theme provides a built-in player, episode import from an external RSS feed, and a statistics panel: total listens, daily/weekly/monthly trends.

There is keyword search within episodes and the ability to order tracks from Amazon and iTunes directly from the site. Donations are a built-in feature that requires no additional plugins.

• Pros: low price, built-in listen statistics, RSS import
• Cons: design is more modest than competitors, no free version
• Price: $45 (ThemeForest + 6 months of support)
• Download: 🔗 Castilo on ThemeForest

7. Tusant

Tusant by SecondLineThemes is designed specifically for radio, not adapted from a music theme. The homepage player has advanced controls: playback speed, volume, scrubbing. It works equally well across all browsers.

Episodes and shows are displayed in several layouts: masonry grid, carousel, single-column list. The theme is compatible with Seriously Simple Podcasting, PodLove, and Buzzsprout.

• Pros: purpose-built for radio, advanced player, multiple show layouts
• Cons: pricier than alternatives, no free version
• Price: from $69/yr; all-themes bundle, $139/yr; lifetime, $389
• Download: 🔗 Tusant on SecondLineThemes

8. Music (Themify)

Music by Themify solves the main pain point of radio websites: the player does not stop during navigation. AJAX page transitions do not interrupt playback, so the listener stays in the flow.

The theme has built-in Google Maps events (date, venue, time), album galleries, and the ability to embed YouTube and Vimeo videos. WPML compatibility, a plus for multilingual projects.

• Pros: AJAX player without interruptions, Google Maps for events, monetization via tickets
• Cons: premium only, no free starter version
• Price: $59 Standard / $69 Developer (one year of support and updates)
• Download: 🔗 Music on Themify

9. DJ Rainflow

DJ Rainflow builds the site around three ready-made homepage layouts with a large welcome slider. An events calendar and a blog for music news come out of the box.

Selling discs and merch via WooCommerce. Host profiles can be set up as separate pages with photos and social media links.

• Pros: three ready-made homepage layouts, intuitive player, WooCommerce
• Cons: design is a bit dated, premium only
• Price: $59 (ThemeForest, regular license)
• Download: 🔗 DJ Rainflow on ThemeForest

10. Rare Radio

Rare Radio offers four demo options to choose from, and each one features a player as the central element of the homepage. The broadcast schedule is displayed as a weekly grid.

Donations are accepted natively, without additional plugins. Custom post types (services, team, reviews) help make the site a full-fledged destination, not just a list of episodes.

• Pros: 4 demos, native donations, integration with Contact Form 7 and MailChimp
• Cons: premium only, no live demo out of the box
• Price: $69 (ThemeForest + 6 months of support)
• Download: 🔗 Rare Radio on ThemeForest

11. Radio Station

Radio Station, a free theme from the WordPress.org directory with Icecast and Shoutcast support. Built specifically for radio: broadcast schedule, show pages, DJ and host profiles are all built in, not cobbled together with plugins.

The theme is updated regularly; version 6.3.2 was released in July 2026. It works for scheduled podcasts, live broadcasts, and radio grids with multiple programs.

• Pros: completely free, native Icecast/Shoutcast support, regular updates
• Cons: design is simpler than premium competitors, no built-in monetization
• Price: Free on WordPress.org
• Download: 🔗 Radio Station on WordPress.org

12. Castpod

Castpod, another budget-friendly option on ThemeForest at $45. The emphasis is on RSS import: you can pull episodes from iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher directly onto the site. Built-in keyword search helps listeners quickly find the right episode.

WooCommerce is on board, so you can start selling digital and physical goods without additional plugins. An image gallery and episode grid come out of the box.

• Pros: low price, RSS import from three sources, WooCommerce
• Cons: Google Play integration is outdated (the service is shut down), design does not stand out from competitors
• Price: $55 (ThemeForest + 6 months of support)
• Download: 🔗 Castpod on ThemeForest

13. Richard Dream

Richard Dream from TemplateMonster covers the needs of audio projects: a built-in player, a layout for episodes with numbering and titles, an events page with details. It is compatible with Elementor, so page design is configured visually.

Social icons on episode pages encourage listeners to share content. It suits those who prefer TemplateMonster as a marketplace.

• Pros: compatibility with Elementor, events page with details, episode numbering
• Cons: premium only, multi-site license gets sharply more expensive ($128 for 5 sites)
• Price: $59 for 1 site / $128 for 5 sites (TemplateMonster + 6 months of support)
• Download: 🔗 Richard Dream on TemplateMonster

The embed from Pro.Radio helps compare positions at a glance, a real-world example of how a WordPress theme turns a site into a full-fledged radio station:

⁉️🤔 FAQ

Can I launch an internet radio station with a free WordPress theme?

Yes, and we showed three completely free options: Astra, Audioman, and Radio Station. Each has a radio template or native stream support. Paid features (donations, advanced player, statistics) are added via plugins, but the basic station works on the free version with no restrictions.

How is a radio theme different from a music theme?

A music theme is built for selling tracks, albums, and concerts. A radio theme is built for a continuous stream: a player that doesn't stop when you navigate (Onair2, Music), a show schedule, host profiles, recording archives. The difference is the content type: for radio it's a time grid, not a catalog.

Do I need separate hosting for the radio stream?

Yes, the audio stream (Icecast/Shoutcast) does not run on WordPress hosting, it runs on specialized radio hosting or a VPS. The theme simply embeds that stream into the site via a player. The site itself lives on regular WordPress hosting.

What if the player stops when I navigate between pages?

That's standard browser behavior on a full page reload. The solution is either a theme with an AJAX player (Music by Themify, Onair2) or a popup player that lives in a separate window and is unaffected by navigation.

Which theme works for podcasts rather than live radio?

Virtually all themes on the list support podcasts: Castilo and Castpod have RSS import, Astra and Divi have episode templates, Tusant works well with Seriously Simple Podcasting. But if you don't need a live stream at all, go with Castilo or Castpod, they're lighter and cheaper.

What to choose in 2026: the final breakdown

Choosing a theme comes down to three questions: budget, whether you need a live stream right now, and how critical design is.

If your budget is zero, start with Radio Station or Audioman on WordPress.org. Both themes have an active community and frequent updates. If you need maximum features with no restrictions, Onair2 at $69 offers the most mature feature set of any radio theme on the market.

For visual customization without code, go with Divi ($89/year), the builder covers any design need. And if your radio station is already running and you just need a site that "stays out of the way" of the stream, Tusant is designed for exactly that scenario.

Pick a theme, import the demo, and go on air. The sooner you launch, the sooner your audience starts growing.