Tool profile
OpenBroadcaster: cost, fit and limits
OpenBroadcaster is open source software made by OpenBroadcaster Inc. of Canada for managing community radio and TV stations, with playout, distribution and Emergency Alert System integration and online distribution. It is aimed at stations that run on small budgets.
What to know first
OpenBroadcaster targets community stations and puts emergency alerting up front, with CAP and EAS integration, HD playout, multi-platform distribution and YouTube output. The pages we read show no software price and no license terms. The site links an AI policy page and names AI voices through Polly for alerts, but describes no AI function. A Tagish, Yukon address is shown.
OpenBroadcaster at a glance
| Maker | OpenBroadcaster Inc., Canada |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Radio Automation Software in 2026, rank 12 of 12 |
| Website | openbroadcaster.com |
Who OpenBroadcaster is best for
Community radio and TV
The software is built for community stations, and covers both radio and TV playout. and the same software covers playout of both kinds of channel.
Stations with alert duties
CAP and Emergency Alert System integration supports emergency alerting from the same system, with Polly named for AI voices. The same screen can then run a warning without a manual switch.
Stations that also publish online
Distribution covers multiple platforms, including YouTube, so one asset library can feed several outlets. and keeps one library of files for every outlet.
OpenBroadcaster plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open source software | Not shown on the pages read | Described as open source. License terms and any paid support are not shown on the pages read. |
Checked November 2026.
What OpenBroadcaster does
- Emergency alerting
- CAP and Emergency Alert System integration is named, which matters to stations that must relay public warnings. A station can relay public warnings from the same system that runs normal programming, which lowers the chance of a missed alert.
- HD playout
- The vendor describes HD playout for stations that carry video along with audio. That makes the software useful for community television as well as audio-only stations, which many automation tools do not cover.
- Multi-platform distribution
- Output goes to several platforms, with YouTube named, so the same schedule can serve more than one audience. A single schedule can feed more than one outlet, with YouTube named as an example on the vendor page.
- Asset ownership
- The vendor page states full ownership of digital assets, which speaks to stations wary of platform lock-in. Full ownership of digital assets means a station is not locked out of its files if it changes systems.
How OpenBroadcaster handles your data
The OpenBroadcaster privacy page names OpenBroadcaster Inc. and a Tagish, Yukon address. The pages we read did not state hosting region, retention periods, whether any data trains a model or certifications. An AI policy page is linked from the site, and AI voices through Polly are mentioned for emergency alerts, but the text of that policy was not part of what we read, so a station should open it before relying on AI voices.
Where OpenBroadcaster falls short in practice
- No price or license text. The pages read show neither, so a buyer cannot judge cost or reuse rights without contacting the vendor. A buyer cannot compare costs or reuse rights without contacting the vendor, which slows any evaluation.
- Narrow audience. The positioning is community radio and TV, which may not match a commercial network's needs. A commercial network with ad scheduling and traffic needs may find the feature set too narrow.
- AI described thinly. Only an AI policy link and AI voices for alerts are mentioned, with no workflow or limits described. The AI policy page was linked but not read, so what it covers remains unknown to us.
Works with
Alternatives to OpenBroadcaster
OpenBroadcaster: common questions
Is OpenBroadcaster free?
The site describes it as open source, but the pages we read show no software price, subscription plan or license terms. Ask the vendor what a station pays for hosting, support and updates, and which license covers the code. Ask for a license file.
Does OpenBroadcaster support emergency alerts?
Yes, the site names CAP and Emergency Alert System integration for emergency alerting. It does not describe certification status or regional rules, so a station in a regulated market should confirm compliance with its own authority before depending on it.
Does OpenBroadcaster use AI?
The site links an AI policy page and names AI voices through Polly for emergency alerts. No AI scheduling, voice tracking or content generation function is described on the pages read, so treat the AI mention as narrow. Treat the AI mention as narrow until the vendor shows more.
Where is OpenBroadcaster based?
The vendor pages give an address in Tagish, Yukon, Canada, and the privacy page names OpenBroadcaster Inc. Hosting regions are not stated, so ask where any managed service runs before storing station assets. Ask where any managed service runs before storing station assets.
Can OpenBroadcaster handle TV as well as radio?
The site says it manages community radio and TV stations and describes HD playout. It does not list formats, channel counts or hardware requirements, so confirm in a trial that your video workflow is supported. Ask for a trial to confirm your video workflow works.