MediaCP
Overview: MediaCP is a comprehensive and robust streaming control panel designed for hosting providers and professional broadcasters. It offers extensive features for both audio and video streaming.
Key Features:
- Audio & Video Streaming: Supports SHOUTcast (v1 & v2), Icecast (v2, KH), Wowza Streaming Engine, and Flussonic Media Server for both audio and video.
- Reseller Capabilities: Strong reseller management features, allowing hosting providers to create and manage client accounts.
- Billing Integration: Deep integration with WHMCS for automated billing and service management.
- Live Streaming & TV Station: Advanced features for live broadcasting and creating 24/7 linear TV stations with powerful playlist and scheduling tools.
- Simulcasting: Supports simulcasting to major platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Periscope, and Twitch.
- Statistics & Reporting: Detailed historical reports on connections, sessions, media files, countries, and traffic.
- Media File Manager: Web-based file manager and FTP support for content upload.
- HTTPS/SSL Support: Secure streaming with HTTPS/SSL.
- Multilingual: Supports multiple languages for a global user base.
- API: Available API for integration with other systems.
Target Audience: Web hosting companies, streaming service providers, professional broadcasters, and businesses requiring a scalable and feature-rich streaming solution.
Strengths: Enterprise-grade features, excellent customer support, comprehensive billing integration, robust video streaming capabilities.
Weaknesses: Not open-source (commercial license required), can be more expensive.
SonicPanel
Overview: SonicPanel is a standalone radio hosting control panel primarily focused on audio streaming (SHOUTcast and Icecast) for individual broadcasters and hosting companies. It aims for ease of use and efficient resource management.
Key Features:
- SHOUTcast & Icecast Support: Full support for both streaming server types.
- Auto DJ: Intelligent Auto DJ with playlist creation and scheduling.
- Simulcasting: Basic simulcasting to platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
- Modern & Mobile-Friendly Dashboard: User-friendly interface accessible on various devices.
- Comprehensive Statistics: Detailed listener statistics and reporting.
- Multi-Language: Supports multiple languages for individual clients.
- Free SSL (HTTPS): One-click SSL configuration for all radio systems.
- Player & DJ Widgets: Customizable HTML5 web player and DJ widgets.
- Resource Efficiency: Designed to use fewer server resources for better performance.
- WHMCS/AWBS/Blesta Integration: Support for popular billing software.
Target Audience: Internet radio station owners, small to medium-sized hosting providers, and individual broadcasters looking for an easy-to-manage audio streaming solution.
Strengths: User-friendly interface, resource-efficient, strong Auto DJ features, dedicated admin, client, and DJ panels.
Weaknesses: May lack some advanced automation features compared to more enterprise-level solutions, FTP not built-in (requires web browser for large uploads).
EverestCast
Overview: EverestCast (often "EverestCast Pro") is a powerful radio hosting platform designed for broadcasters, DJs, and content creators. It focuses on providing a user-friendly experience with advanced streaming and management features.
Key Features:
- Multi-Streaming Support: Stream audio and video simultaneously to multiple platforms.
- Playlist Scheduling & Auto DJ: Comprehensive Auto DJ with advanced playlist scheduling, including jingle management.
- Listener Statistics: Real-time listener data, session durations, and peak audience times.
- High-Quality Streaming: Promises high-quality audio and video streams (up to 320Kbps).
- Web-Based Management: Intuitive web-based control panel.
- Live Broadcasting: Supports live streaming from studios.
- Multiple Codecs & Server Types: Supports SHOUTcast, Icecast, Icecast-KH, and various encoders (MP3, OGG, AAC, AAC+).
- Volume Normalization: Automatically balances volume levels between tracks.
- Simulcasting: Live relay to social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
- Custom Branding & Player Builder: Tools to personalize the station with logos and tailor player designs.
- GeoIP Country Locking: Control access to streams based on listener's country.
Target Audience: Individual broadcasters, online radio stations, DJs, and small to medium-sized media companies.
Strengths: Feature-rich for audio streaming, strong Auto DJ and playlist management, good simulcasting options, user-friendly interface.
Weaknesses: Less emphasis on general video hosting compared to MediaCP, specific details on video features can vary by provider.
EverestPanel
Overview: EverestPanel is a feature-rich streaming panel designed for internet radio operators and broadcasters, aiming to simplify radio station management with a focus on ease of use and reliability. It shares many similarities with EverestCast Pro, and it's possible they are related or rebranded versions.
Key Features:
- Station Management: Create and customize radio stations, including shows, programs, and streams.
- Record & Broadcast: Record and broadcast live audio from various sources.
- Statistics & Reports: Detailed statistics on station performance and audience.
- User Management: Administrators can set access levels for users.
- Auto DJ & Playlist Management: Built-in Auto DJ for 24/7 music, advanced rotation system, drag & drop file uploader.
- HTTPS Streaming & Port80 Proxy: Secure streaming and compatibility with restrictive firewalls.
- HTML5 Responsive Player: Modern, responsive web player.
- Crossfade & Volume Normalization: Enhances audio playback quality.
- Multiple Encoder Types: Supports MP3, OGG, AAC, AAC+ v1 and v2.
- DJ Streaming Accounts: Individual broadcasting accounts for DJs.
- Multilingual Support: Benefits both streamers and listeners.
- Multi-Channel from Single Source: Ability to have multiple channels from one source.
- Simulcasting: Stream to platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
- GeoIP Country Locking: Control audience access by country.
- Jingles Manager: Powerful scheduler for hourly/daily jingles and advertisements.
Target Audience: Internet radio operators, broadcasters, and anyone looking for a comprehensive and easy-to-use radio automation solution.
Strengths: Comprehensive radio automation, strong DJ features, robust playlist management, good simulcasting, user-friendly.
Weaknesses: Similar to EverestCast, it's primarily focused on audio streaming, and advanced video hosting might not be its core strength.
AzuraCast
Overview: AzuraCast is a free and open-source web radio management suite. It provides a complete solution for launching and managing internet radio stations, emphasizing scalability and customization.
Key Features:
- Open-Source: Free to use and highly customizable via plugins and direct code access.
- Web-Based Media Management: Easy upload, metadata editing, playlist management, and organization of audio files.
- Auto DJ Service: Automated playlist generation and scheduling for 24/7 broadcasting.
- Live Broadcasting: Supports live DJs connecting and broadcasting in real-time.
- Listener Statistics & Analytics: Detailed listener data and reports.
- Multiple Radio Station Management: Manage multiple stations from a single installation.
- Public Pages: Customizable public-facing pages for now playing info, song history, and listener requests.
- Web Hooks: Integrate with third-party services for event notifications.
- Streaming Protocols: Supports popular protocols like Icecast and SHOUTcast.
- Scalability & High Availability: Designed for scalability by adding new servers and features clustering/redundancy.
- API: Available API for integration with other systems.
- Security: HTTPS, role-based authorization, regular updates.
Target Audience: Individual broadcasters, community radio stations, hobbyists, developers, and users who prefer open-source solutions and have the technical capacity for self-hosting or desire full control.
Strengths: Free, open-source, highly customizable, strong community support, good for technical users who want control over their server.
Weaknesses: Requires self-hosting and more technical knowledge for setup and maintenance (though pre-built images are available), customer support is community-based (not direct vendor support like commercial panels).
| Feature/Panel | MediaCP | SonicPanel | EverestCast | EverestPanel | AzuraCast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Commercial | Commercial | Commercial | Commercial | Open-Source |
| Primary Focus | Audio & Video | Audio | Audio | Audio | Audio |
| SHOUTcast Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Icecast Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video Streaming | Extensive | Basic/Limited | Some | Some | No (primarily audio) |
| Auto DJ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Broadcasting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reseller Features | Extensive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited/No |
| Billing Integration | WHMCS (Deep) | WHMCS, AWBS, Blesta | WHMCS (via providers) | WHMCS (via providers) | No (manual) |
| Simulcasting | Yes (Advanced) | Yes (Basic) | Yes | Yes | No (requires external tools) |
| Statistics/Reports | Detailed | Detailed | Detailed | Detailed | Detailed |
| Media Manager | Yes (Web/FTP) | Web-based | Web-based | Web-based | Web-based |
| HTTPS/SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multilingual | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Premium/Vendor | Vendor | Vendor/Provider | Vendor/Provider | Community |
| Ease of Use | Moderate to High | High | High | High | Moderate (for self-hosting) |
| Cost | Commercial License | Commercial License | Commercial License | Commercial License | Free |
Conclusion
- For Hosting Providers & Professional Video/Audio: MediaCP stands out for its comprehensive features, robust video streaming, and deep billing integration.
- For Dedicated Audio Broadcasters & Resellers (Commercial): SonicPanel, EverestCast, and EverestPanel are strong contenders, offering user-friendly interfaces, powerful Auto DJ, and good management features for audio stations. The choice between these three might come down to specific UI preferences, subtle feature differences, or provider offerings.
- For Cost-Conscious Users, Hobbyists, or Those Seeking Full Control/Customization: AzuraCast is an excellent choice due to its open-source nature, active community, and flexibility, provided you are comfortable with self-hosting and managing your server.
