The Best Royalty-Free Music Sites in 2024 for Your Videos

Need some background music for your video without worrying about copyright? We’ve found the 20 best royalty-free music sites for 2024 that will be useful when creating video content. Whether you’re making vlogs, commercials, or presentations, you’ll find the perfect soundtrack with unrestricted access for your project.

How to License Music for Videos

Choosing the right music for your video? Music licensing is key!

Music licensing lets you use soundtracks in your projects under specific terms. This usually includes specifying how you’ll use the music (e.g., for commercial or personal use) and any restrictions on views or other terms set by the copyright holder.

Most of the sites we review allow you to easily find music for your videos, ensuring smooth integration into your creations.

What Exactly is Royalty-Free Music

What is royalty free music, also known as music with no copyright? It permits you to use soundtracks in your projects without any royalty payments or licensing fees.Basically, you can use it freely in your projects, no permission needed.

How to know if music is royalty free?

Finding copyright-free music for your projects is a breeze! Many music libraries and websites offer dedicated filters or categories for royalty-free music. You can often find this information in the «terms of use» or «licensing terms» section of a website.

Here are a few tips to help you determine if music is royalty-free:

• Look for dedicated filters or categories. Many websites and platforms offer convenient ways to filter or browse for royalty-free music. Check for options like «royalty-free», «copyright-free», or «free music».
• Review the licensing terms. The licensing terms will detail how you can use the music on a particular site. Look for phrases like «no copyright restrictions», «free to use for any purpose», or «no attribution required».
• Check for download restrictions. If music is available for download without any restrictions, it’s likely royalty-free.

Consider attribution requirements. Some royalty-free music may require you to credit the artist or provide a link to the source. Look for phrases like «attribution required» or «credit the artist».

The List of The Best Royalty-Free Music Sites

Finding the perfect royalty-free music for your videos can be a challenging task. With so many options available, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best royalty-free music sites.

Each of these sites offers a wide variety of soundtracks across different genres and provides various usage terms:

YouTube Audio Library

The YouTube Audio Library is a free music library that offers a wide selection of tracks for use in video content.
License Type: free to use in YouTube videos.
Pros: wide variety of music, free to use, videos with tracks from the library can be monetized.
Cons: limited collection compared to other resources.
Trial Period and Pricing: you can use music and sound effects from the YouTube Audio Library for free.

Facebook Sound Collection

The Facebook Sound Collection is a compilation of free music and sound effects for use in video clips on Facebook and Instagram.
License Type: free for use on Facebook and Instagram.
Pros: easy access for Facebook and Instagram users, free to use.
Cons: limited number of tracks compared to other resources.
Free trial period and Pricing: free license to use audio content from the sound collection for commercial or non-commercial purposes solely in content you create, upload, and distribute in Meta Company products, including through links to Meta Company products posted on third-party websites.

Premium Beat

PremiumBeat is a resource featuring high-quality music intended for use in commercial projects.
License Type: paid license.
Pros: large collection of professionally crafted tracks; high sound quality.
Cons: license purchase required for use; higher prices compared to other resources.
Free trial period: not available.
Pricing: $49 for a standard license, $199 for a premium license, corporate license – individual terms.

Incompetech

Incompetech is a website that provides free music for use in video projects, if attribution is given.

License Type: free, with attribution required.

Pros: large selection of tracks, free to use.

Cons: limited search and sorting capabilities for music.

Free trial period: not available.

Pricing: donation or attribution in video content.

Purple Planet

Purple Planet is among the best royalty-free music websites, offering free music for use in both commercial and non-commercial projects.

License Type: free for personal and commercial use.

Pros: wide selection of tracks, free to use, genre filtering available.

Cons: some tracks may have less professional sound quality.

Free trial period – not available.

Pricing – free license, $8 for a standard license, $40 for a broadcast license.

Free Music Archive

Free Music Archive is an online library that provides access to Creative Commons-licensed music for free.

License Type: various Creative Commons licenses.

Pros: large collection of tracks in various genres; diverse usage of terms.

Cons: some tracks may have limitations on commercial use.

Free trial period – not available.

Pricing – paid packages starting from $45 in the PRO version.

Artlist

Artlist is a paid platform that also offers free access to high-quality tracks on a trial basis for use in video projects.

License Type: paid license.

Pros: large collection of high-quality tracks, easy music search and filtering; free trial usage after registration.

Cons: license purchase required, higher prices compared to some other resources.

Free trial period and pricing: you can test the soundtracks in a trial version. Paid packages with perpetual licenses start from $9.99.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound is a paid platform with a large library of music and sound effects for use in video projects.

License Type: paid license with the option of free usage during a trial period.

Pros: wide selection of tracks, high sound quality, regular collection updates, easy search and filtering of music.

Cons: license purchase required for usage.

Free trial period: 7 days.

Pricing: $12/month for a personal subscription, $27/month for a commercial subscription, corporate subscription pricing available upon request.

AudioJungle

AudioJungle is an online platform where you can purchase music and sound effects for use in video projects. The platform also features soundtracks that do not require a license purchase.
License Type: paid license.
Pros: large library of tracks and sound effects, option to purchase individual tracks, various licensing options for different needs.
Cons: higher prices compared to free resources.
Free trial period – not available.
Pricing: Paid subscription starts from $16.50.

Jamendo

Jamendo is a music platform where you can find both free and licensed music for use in commercial and non-commercial projects.
License Type: free and paid licenses.
Pros: wide selection of tracks, ability to find music for specific projects, option for subscription or purchasing individual tracks.
Cons: limited number of tracks in the free version; restrictions may apply depending on the type of license.
Free trial period – 14 days.
Pricing: Paid subscription starts from $8.70.

Bensound

Bensound is a resource that provides both free and paid music for use in video projects.
License Type: free and paid licenses.
Pros: wide selection of tracks in various genres, ability to use free tracks with attribution, available paid plans with enhanced features.
Cons: some tracks may have restrictions on commercial use.
Free trial period – not available.
Pricing – free tracks, $9.99/month for the standard package, $19.99/month for the extended package, $39.99/month for the premium package.

Soundstripe

Soundstripe is a paid platform for soundtracks. It offers a free account providing access to a music library for use in video projects.
License Type: paid license.
Pros: wide selection of tracks, high sound quality, various subscription plans, easy search and download of music.
Cons: payment is required for access to the full track library.
Free trial period: not available.
Pricing: $9.99/month for the Creator package, $19.99 for the Pro package, Enterprise package – individually priced. Availability of free tracks upon registration of the respective account.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is one of the best stock music sites, primarily for musicians, but it also contains a large amount of free music that can be used in video projects.
License Type: various licenses, depending on the artist and track.
Pros: large selection of tracks in different genres, free use of many tracks, ability to contact artists for additional permissions.
Cons: it is necessary to carefully check the licenses of each track, as they may vary.
Free trial period: not available.
Pricing: paid subscription $92/year. Free downloads are available after registering on the platform.

Envato Elements

Envato Elements is a platform with a multitude of resources for creative work, including music for video projects.
License Type: paid subscription.
Pros: extensive selection of tracks and other resources, ability to use an unlimited number of resources for a fixed fee, high quality content.
Cons: a subscription is required for all users, regardless of how many tracks they want to use.
Free trial period – not available.
Pricing – personal plan starts from $16.50 per month.

TeknoAxe

TeknoAxe is one of the best royalty-free music sites. A free resource provides music for video projects. It offers a wide selection of tracks across various genres.
License Type: free license with attribution required.
Pros: free usage with attribution, diverse music genres, easy track discovery.
Cons: possibility of encountering less professional tracks.
Free trial period and pricing: free license.

Music Vine

Music Vine is a paid platform that offers high-quality music for video projects with various licensing terms.
License Type: paid license.
Pros: high sound quality, diversity of tracks in different genres, various subscription plans based on needs.
Cons: access to the track library requires payment.
Free trial period – not available.
Pricing – starts from $19.99 for a subscription. Option to purchase individual soundtracks.

Musopen

Musopen is a free resource featuring classical music tracks available for use in video projects.
License Type: various licensing terms, but many tracks are available for free use.
Pros: free use of classical music, selection from various styles and genres.
Cons: limited track selection compared to other resources may not be suitable for some video projects.
Free trial period – not available. Free licenses are offered. Some soundtracks require payment for licensing use.

Filmstro

Filmstro is a paid platform offering music that allows you to customize the mood of your video. There is a library of free soundtracks available.
License Type: paid license, free licenses are also available.
Pros: unique customization capability for music, large library of tracks, high sound quality.
Cons: payment required for access to the track library, may have limitations on certain features without additional payment.
Free trial period: not available.
Pricing: free licenses, $8.25/month for the YOUTUBER package, $20.75/month for the PRO package, $41.50/month for the PRO PLUS package.

StoryBlocks Audio

StoryBlocks Audio is a paid platform offering music and sound effects for use in video projects.
License Type: paid license.
Pros: large library of tracks and sound effects, ability to download unlimited resources for a fixed fee.
Cons: payment required for access to the track library.
Free trial period: not available.
Pricing: $16.30 for the Starter package, $32.50 for the Unlimited All Access package, $38 for the PRO package.

Free Stock Music

Free Stock Music is a resource for music in video projects, providing tracks free of charge for personal and commercial use.
License Type: free and paid licenses.
Pros: unlimited free usage, variety of music genres and styles.
Cons: possibility of encountering less professional tracks, limited number of tracks compared to paid resources.
Free trial period: not available.
Pricing: Free License, $19 for a Pro License, $29 for a Business License, $240 for a Broadcast License.

Summary

We reviewed the top royalty-free music websites, both free and paid, that you can use for your video content creation. From YouTube Audio Library to Free Stock Music, you’ll find a variety of resources with their own advantages and different types of licenses.
Remember, usage rules may vary from one resource to another, so always check the license terms before using music in your projects.
Enjoy creating videos with great soundtracks!

FAQ

How to credit copyright-free music?

When using copyright-free music, it’s important to credit the creators appropriately in your video or project. This usually includes providing the artist’s name and the track title in the description of your video or project.

Can I Use 30 Seconds of A Copyrighted Song?

Using even small snippets of copyrighted songs can be a copyright infringement. It is recommended to obtain a license or permission from the copyright holder before using any portion of a copyrighted song.

Can I make money from royalty-free music?

Yes, you can make money using royalty-free music. However, you may need a special license or pay a fee for commercial use.

Here’s how it works:

• Royalty-free music means that you pay a one-time fee to use the music, and you don’t have to pay any royalties each time you use it.
• Commercial use means using the music in a way that makes money, such as in a TV commercial, a movie, or a product advertisement.

Most royalty-free music websites offer different types of licenses:

• Personal use licenses are for non-commercial use, such as using the music in a personal video or on your website.
• Commercial use licenses are for using the music in a way that makes money.

The cost of a royalty-free music license varies depending on the website and the type of license you need. Personal use licenses are typically less expensive than commercial use licenses.

Is copyright-free music the same as royalty-free music?

No, these terms have different meanings.

• Copyright-free music means that the music is not protected by copyright. This means that anyone can use the music without permission or paying royalties.
• Royalty-free music means that you pay a one-time fee to use the music, and you don’t have to pay any royalties each time you use it. However, the copyright holder still owns the copyright to the music.

Here’s a table to help you understand the difference:

What is a Creative Commons License?

A Creative Commons license is a type of copyright license that allows creators to give other people permission to use their work under certain conditions. This can include things like requiring attribution or limiting commercial use.

There are six different Creative Commons licenses:

• Attribution (BY): You must give credit to the creator.
• Attribution-ShareAlike (BY-SA): You must give credit to the creator and allow others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon your work under the same license.
• Attribution-NoDerivatives (BY-ND): You must give credit to the creator, and you may not alter, transform, or build upon the work.
• Attribution-NonCommercial (BY-NC): You must give credit to the creator, and you may not use the work for commercial purposes.
• Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (BY-NC-SA): You must give credit to the creator, and you may not use the work for commercial purposes. You must also allow others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon your work under the same license.
• Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (BY-NC-ND): You must give credit to the creator, and you may not use the work for commercial purposes. You may not alter, transform, or build upon the work.

Creators can choose which Creative Commons license they want to use for their work. They can also choose to not use a Creative Commons license at all.

What is Public Domain Music?

Public domain music is music that is no longer protected by copyright. This means that anyone can use it without permission or paying royalties.

What are YouTube copyright claims?

A YouTube copyright claim is a notification that your video contains copyrighted material. The copyright owners can choose to block your video or monetize it themselves.