The Best FM, AM and Internet Radio Apps for Your Phone
Radio never really went away. Millions of people still start the day with a favorite morning show, follow their local team on AM, or fall asleep to a late-night talk station. The only thing that changed is the device, and for most of us that device is now a phone.
But "radio on your phone" can mean two very different things. Either your phone receives an actual FM broadcast through the air, or an app streams the station over the internet. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right app and avoid surprises on your data bill.
In this guide, you will learn whether your phone can tune in to FM, what happened to the once-popular NextRadio app, and which radio apps are worth installing today.
Does your phone have an FM radio chip?
Many phones over the years have included a small FM receiver, often built into the same chip that handles Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Whether you can actually use it depends on two things: the manufacturer has to enable it, and there has to be an app to control it.
Here is the honest picture:
- iPhone: Apple has never offered an FM radio feature on the iPhone. No app can switch one on, so ignore any listing that claims otherwise.
- Android: Some models, especially budget and mid-range phones from brands like Motorola, Nokia and Xiaomi, have shipped with a working FM radio app. Many flagship phones do not.
The easiest way to check is to look in your app drawer for an app called "FM Radio" or "Radio". You can also search your exact model name plus "FM radio" on the manufacturer's spec sheet.
Why you need wired headphones
A phone's FM receiver needs an antenna, and it uses the cable of wired headphones for that job. That is why FM radio apps usually ask you to plug in headphones before they work. Once connected, many apps still let you switch the sound to the speaker.
As more phones dropped the headphone jack, manufacturers had even less reason to support FM. If your phone only has a USB-C port, you may need USB-C wired headphones, and even then FM support is not guaranteed.
What happened to NextRadio?
If you have been around smartphones for a while, you may remember NextRadio. It was a free app designed to unlock the FM chips in Android phones, and it got a big boost when US carriers and phone makers such as Sprint, LG and Samsung supported it in the mid-2010s.
The idea was appealing: FM uses no mobile data and uses less battery than streaming. However, the company behind it, Emmis, stopped developing NextRadio around 2019. The app may still appear in some stores, but it has not been maintained for years and often cannot detect the FM chip on newer Android versions.
In short, do not count on NextRadio in 2026. If your phone has a built-in FM app from the manufacturer, use that instead.
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Pros and cons of FM versus streaming
Both approaches have their place. FM is great for emergencies and saving data, while streaming gives you access to virtually every station on Earth.
| Built-in FM radio | Internet radio apps | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs mobile data | No | Yes (or Wi-Fi) |
| Works during network outages | Yes, if stations are broadcasting | No |
| Station choice | Only local stations in range | Thousands, worldwide |
| Needs wired headphones | Usually | No |
| Available on iPhone | No | Yes |
| Battery use | Usually lower | Usually higher |
TuneIn: the all-rounder
TuneIn is one of the oldest and best-known radio apps. It collects a huge number of AM, FM and internet stations from around the world, alongside podcasts. You can browse by location, genre or language, or simply search for a station's call letters.
It is free with ads. TuneIn also sells a Premium subscription that adds extras like certain live sports coverage and fewer ads; check the store listing for current pricing in your area.
Best for: anyone who wants one app for local and international stations.
iHeartRadio: big US stations and custom playlists
iHeartRadio is the official home of hundreds of iHeartMedia stations across the United States, plus stations from other broadcasters. It is a great choice if your favorite local station belongs to iHeart, because you often get the cleanest stream and the station's own on-demand content.
Beyond live radio, iHeartRadio offers artist-based stations and a large podcast library. The app is free with ads, and there are optional paid tiers.
Best for: US listeners who follow big-name stations and shows.
Audacy: local sports and news radio
Audacy is the streaming home of Audacy's own station group, which includes many well-known sports, news and music stations in major US cities. If you listen to local sports talk or all-news radio, check whether your station is on Audacy.
The app is free and also includes podcasts. As with any app tied to one broadcaster, it is strongest for that company's stations, so you may still want a second app for everything else.
Best for: sports fans and news listeners in cities where Audacy owns stations.
Radio Garden: explore the world's radio on a globe
Radio Garden turns radio into exploration. You spin a 3D globe, and each glowing green dot is a live station. Tap a dot in Tokyo, Lagos or Buenos Aires and you are listening to what locals hear right now.
It is free, simple and genuinely addictive. It is not the fastest way to find a specific station by format, but it is the most fun way to discover something new.
Best for: curious listeners, language learners and anyone who misses a station from home.
Other good radio apps to know
A few more apps are worth a look, depending on what you listen to:
- Simple Radio by Streema: a clean, lightweight app with a very large station directory. Great if you find other apps cluttered.
- myTuner Radio: a large international station list plus podcasts, available on phones, tablets and many smart TVs.
- NPR: the official app for public radio in the US. It finds your local member station and offers NPR news and shows.
- SiriusXM: satellite radio's streaming app. It is a paid service, often with a free trial, and is known for commercial-free music channels and exclusive talk shows.
How to save data and battery while listening
Streaming radio uses much less data than video, but a long commute adds up. At a typical 128 kbps stream, you use roughly 58 MB per hour. Here is how to keep that in check:
- Connect to Wi-Fi whenever you can. Your phone switches automatically.
- Look for a quality setting. Many apps let you choose a lower-quality stream on mobile data.
- Check which apps use the most data. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular. On Android, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > App data usage. The exact path can vary by brand.
- Use a sleep timer. Most radio apps, including TuneIn and iHeartRadio, have one, so the stream does not run all night.
On iPhone, you can also set a timer in the Clock app: open Clock > Timers, tap "When Timer Ends" and choose "Stop Playing". Your radio stops when the timer does.
Radio in the car and on smart speakers
Almost every app in this guide supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which means you get large, easy buttons on your car's screen. It is the safest way to change stations while driving.
At home, you can often say "play" plus the station name to a smart speaker. Many of these speakers pull the stream from TuneIn or iHeartRadio behind the scenes, so linking your account can keep your favorites in sync.
FAQ
Can I get FM radio on my iPhone?
No. Apple has never enabled FM radio on the iPhone. To listen to your local stations, use a streaming app like TuneIn, iHeartRadio or your station's own app.
Do radio apps work without internet?
Streaming apps need Wi-Fi or mobile data. Only a built-in FM radio app on a supported Android phone works without an internet connection.
Why does my FM radio app say "insert headphones"?
The headphone cable acts as the antenna. Plug in wired headphones and try again.
Is it worth keeping a separate battery-powered radio?
For emergencies, yes. A small battery or crank radio works when phone networks are down and your phone battery is precious. Your local emergency management agency may recommend one for your preparedness kit.