The Best Airfoil Alternatives for Seamless Audio Streaming

Airfoil is a fantastic tool for sending any audio to various receivers like Apple TVs, AirPort Express units, and even other Macs and PCs, all in perfect sync. It allows you to distribute your computer's audio everywhere, transforming any compatible device into a remote audio output. However, as with any software, users often seek alternatives for various reasons, including different feature sets, platform compatibility, or pricing models. This guide explores the top Airfoil alternatives to ensure your audio streams exactly where you need it to go.

Top Airfoil Alternatives

If you're looking to replicate Airfoil's functionality or discover new ways to stream your audio wirelessly, these alternatives offer robust solutions for a variety of platforms and needs.

Stream What You Hear

Stream What You Hear (SWYH) is a free and open-source Windows application that broadcasts your computer's sound to UPnP/DLNA devices such as TVs and amps. It's an excellent Airfoil alternative for Windows users who need to stream audio with support for DLNA and music streaming features.

WiFi Audio Wireless Speaker

WiFi Audio Wireless Speaker turns your Android device into a wireless speaker, making it a simple and free Airfoil alternative for Android users. It works by running a small executable on your Windows or Linux machine, allowing you to stream audio directly to your mobile device.

TuneBlade

TuneBlade is a freemium Windows application designed to stream audio to AirPort Express, Apple TV, and other AirPlay compatible devices. Like Airfoil, it supports AirPlay, and its free version is a good way to test its capabilities, though streaming stops every 10 minutes.

SoundWire

SoundWire is a freemium Airfoil alternative that sends any audio from your Windows or Linux PC to your Android mobile devices. It boasts features like low latency and Raspberry Pi development support, making it versatile for various streaming setups.

Stardock Acoustic Bridge

Stardock Acoustic Bridge is a commercial Windows application that allows you to redirect audio from one PC to the speakers of another PC. This feature makes it a viable Airfoil alternative for users looking to share audio between networked Windows computers.

Soundfly

Soundfly is a free Mac application that uses Apple's AUNetSend and Soundflower to broadcast audio to another Mac on your network. It's a straightforward Airfoil alternative for Mac users who want to stream audio within their Apple ecosystem.

AudioRelay

AudioRelay is a freemium application for Windows and Android that enables you to use your phone as a wireless speaker with low latency. Its simple setup and lag-free performance make it a strong contender as an Airfoil alternative for streaming music, movies, or games.

SpeakerShare

SpeakerShare is a free Java application compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, designed to use speakers connected to other computers on the network. It transfers audio in uncompressed PCM format, offering a high-quality streaming experience as an Airfoil alternative.

AirMyPC

AirMyPC is a commercial Windows application that allows you to wirelessly AirPlay mirror your Windows PC screen and sound to your TV through Apple TV. It offers extensive mirroring features, including desktop sharing and webcam mirroring, making it a comprehensive Airfoil alternative for Windows to Apple TV streaming.

Sound Control

Sound Control is a commercial Mac application that adds per-app volume and EQ controls to your Mac applications and allows routing apps to different audio devices. While not a direct Airfoil alternative for broadcasting, its granular control over audio output can be valuable for Mac users managing multiple audio streams.

Share Speaker Player is a free Windows application designed to share speakers in a LAN with high quality. It's an easy-to-use Airfoil alternative for office environments or home networks where sharing audio output from a central PC is desired.

AirPlay

AirPlay is Apple's built-in wireless technology for streaming music throughout your house, wirelessly, fully integrated into speaker docks, AV receivers, and more. While Airfoil builds upon AirPlay, AirPlay itself serves as a fundamental and free Airfoil alternative for iPhone and iPad users within the Apple ecosystem, offering seamless music streaming and iTunes integration.

The world of audio streaming is vast and varied, offering numerous solutions beyond Airfoil. Whether you prioritize open-source flexibility, specific platform compatibility, low latency, or robust mirroring capabilities, there's an Airfoil alternative out there that's perfect for your audio setup. Explore these options to find the best fit for your seamless audio streaming needs.