The Best SoundWire Alternatives for Wireless Audio Streaming

SoundWire is a fantastic tool that allows you to stream audio from your Windows or Linux PC directly to your Android mobile devices, transforming them into remote speakers or wireless headphones. It's perfect for listening to music, movies, or even live DJ sets anywhere in your home. However, if you're looking for a SoundWire alternative with different features, platform support, or pricing models, you're in the right place. This guide explores some of the top applications that offer similar audio mirroring capabilities.

Top SoundWire Alternatives

Whether you need multi-platform support, specific low-latency features, or an open-source solution, there's a SoundWire alternative out there to meet your needs. Let's dive into some of the best options available.

WiFi Audio Wireless Speaker

WiFi Audio Wireless Speaker is a free application that turns your Android device into a wireless speaker. It works seamlessly with Windows or Linux executables, making it a straightforward SoundWire alternative for streaming audio from your PC to your Android phone or tablet.

Airfoil

Airfoil is a powerful commercial SoundWire alternative available for Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, and iPad. It allows you to send any audio to AirPort Express units, Apple TVs, and even other Macs and PCs, all in sync. Airfoil boasts AirPlay support and a clean design, making it a versatile option for audio streaming.

Stream What You Hear

Stream What You Hear (SWYH) is a free and open-source Windows application that broadcasts your computer's sound (what you hear) to UPnP/DLNA devices like TVs or network receivers. It's an excellent SoundWire alternative for Windows users who need DLNA support and reliable music streaming.

AirPlay

AirPlay is Apple's free wireless technology integrated into various speaker docks and AV receivers, allowing you to stream music throughout your entire house. While primarily for Apple devices (iPhone, iPad), its deep iTunes integration makes it a strong SoundWire alternative for those within the Apple ecosystem.

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 specialized SoundWire alternative for macOS users looking to stream audio between their Apple computers.

Stardock Acoustic Bridge

Stardock Acoustic Bridge is a commercial Windows application that enables you to redirect audio from one PC to the speakers of another PC. This feature makes it a distinct SoundWire alternative for users who want to share their music collection's sound across multiple Windows computers.

TuneBlade

TuneBlade is a freemium Windows application designed for streaming audio to AirPort Express, Apple TV, and other AirPlay compatible speakers. With AirPlay support, TuneBlade serves as a capable SoundWire alternative for Windows users with AirPlay-enabled devices, though the free version has streaming limitations.

AudioRelay

AudioRelay is a freemium application for Windows and Android that lets you use your phone as a wireless speaker with low latency. Its simple setup and lag-free performance make it an excellent SoundWire alternative, particularly for those who prioritize minimal audio delay for music, movies, or games.

SpeakerShare

SpeakerShare is a free Java application that allows you to use speakers connected to other computers on the network. Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, it's a versatile SoundWire alternative for sharing uncompressed PCM audio across different operating systems within a local network.

Share Speaker Player is a free Windows application designed to share speakers in a LAN with high quality. It's a practical SoundWire alternative for office environments or homes looking to decrease speaker costs by sharing audio resources across connected Windows PCs.

The world of wireless audio streaming is diverse, offering many powerful alternatives to SoundWire. Whether you need a cross-platform solution, a low-latency option for gaming, or an open-source tool, there's a perfect fit for your audio needs. Explore these options and choose the best SoundWire alternative that aligns with your specific requirements and devices.