Epidemic Sound is a website with a library of more than 30,000 royalty free songs available, with new songs added each week. The platform also provides more than 60,000 sound effects. Users can choose to create a personal, commercial, or enterprise account. A personal account is for users creating content or podcasts for their own use on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitch with unlimited followers and views—this version also includes monetization. A personal account costs $15 a month. The commercial account is for freelancers and businesses producing commercial content, and this version includes all the features from the personal level plus Vimeo and unlimited use of music in digital ads. A commercial account costs $49 a month. The enterprise level is for media companies, publishers, and broadcasters, and it includes multiple user accounts, clearance for TV ads and shows and cinema, music curation support, customized music productions, and even a dedicated account manager. The enterprise-level costs $500 a month. Epidemic Sound offers a free trial of 30 days, and after that, users must pay a monthly subscription.

 Epidemic Sound vs. Artlist 2024 License | Price | Library | Trial |Breakdown 

All of the content on Storyblocks can be used multiple times for personal and commercial projects. Storyblocks updates their content frequently based on what users are searching for. Any content that users download will be theirs to keep and use forever. Their library of more than 112,000 tracks also includes sound effects. Storyblocks has a wide range of subscription options. For individuals, there are three different subscriptions: basic audio, unlimited audio and unlimited all access. All of these options come with the standard license, which means that the content is yours to use forever and there are no restrictions on distribution and production budget. This license covers one person up to $20,000 in indemnity. For the basic audio subscription, users get three music downloads each month for $99 a year. The unlimited audio includes sound effects and costs $149 a year. The unlimited all access subscription costs $349 a year and includes sound effects as well as video footage and photos.

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Storyblocks is a well laid out, user-friendly website, and the licensing is straightforward and comprehensive, making the process easier for video makers.

Soundstripe provides unlimited access to thousands of songs, with new curated playlists each week and more than 200 new songs each month. The platform also offers more than 40,000 sound effects. Users can filter the search results by genre, mood, and artist. Conveniently, if you only need part of a song, you can find stem audio files so that you can easily extricate one instrument. Soundstripe integrates very well with Adobe Premiere, streamlining the process for video makers. A standard account covers freelancers, YouTubers, podcasters, individuals, nonprofits, and businesses with fewer than 50 employees, and it costs $11.25 a month. A premium account is for the same kind of users, but it includes sound effects and stem files, costing $21 a month. A business account covers businesses with more than 50 employees and includes separate team member accounts, costing $66.25 a month. If you are only looking for sound effects, you can also choose an SFX-only account for $8.25 a month.

Soundstripe Review

Soundstripe is a great option for video makers. The best feature of Soundstripe is that membership covers the use of any music in the library for your video production, and the license remains valid even if your membership expires or is canceled.

Premiumbeat

Ever felt like a DJ trying to mix the perfect track for your project? Enter PremiumBeat, a subsidiary of Shutterstock, where finding royalty-free music is as smooth as a jazz solo. Think of it as your personal music curator, with a touch of that Shutterstock gloss. But remember, every rose has its thorn, and PremiumBeat's is its price tag. Let's find out if it's worth the tune!

Who is PremiumBeat Best For?

With its polished selection, PremiumBeat is the go-to for professionals seeking top-notch tracks. It's like a gourmet restaurant for your ears - ideal for filmmakers, YouTubers, and corporates who aren't afraid to splurge a little for quality.

Years in Business:

19 years. That's almost two decades of setting the rhythm in the royalty-free music world.

Quality of Music: How Many Tracks?

Royalty Free Music 40662

Sound effects 16187

The Maestros Behind the Music: Creators

Curated by music experts, each track in PremiumBeat's library is a gem crafted by professional composers and musicians. It's like having Mozart and Beethoven throwing a party for your project.

Price Explained: What's the Tune Going to Cost You?

A standard license at PremiumBeat is $49, while a premium one hits $199. It's a bit like choosing between a concert ticket and a backstage pass.

Licensing Explained

The licensing at PremiumBeat is as clear as a bell. Standard License for web use, Premium for the big screens - simple yet comprehensive.

Is Service Worth the Encore?

Here's the million-dollar question: Is PremiumBeat worth its weight in gold? For those seeking quality over quantity, absolutely. But if your wallet's singing the blues, you might want to explore other stages.

Cons: Hitting a Few Sour Notes

While PremiumBeat offers a symphony of quality, it does come with a high note on price. And remember, if you stop subscribing, it's like unplugging the speakers – you lose access to your playlist. Plus, there's no dedicated SFX library, so it's more about the music than the sound effects.

Conclusion: The Final Chord

So, is PremiumBeat the lead singer in the band of royalty-free music sites? For those who value quality and variety, it's a resounding yes. But if you're jamming on a budget, this might not be your stage. In the end, PremiumBeat hits many high notes but be aware of the price tag – it's not just background music; it's an investment in your project's soundtrack.

Mixkit is a website that offers royalty-free music at no cost. Mixkit offers a stock music free license that enables users to include that music in their commercial and non-commercial projects for free. The permitted projects include podcasts, social media video posts, online marketing ads, YouTube videos, and videos for educational purposes. The songs can be downloaded, copied, modified, distributed, and publicly performed on any web or social media platform, which includes internet-based on-demand video services, ads, and podcasts. Tracks cannot be used in CDs, DVDs, video games, or TV or radio broadcasts. They cannot be remixed or claimed as your own. Attribution to Mixkit is appreciated, but it is not required.

Is Mixkit worth it?

Mixkit is a bit of a risky option, as they state on their website that any legal issues that might arise are the responsibility of the user, making it very important to read the terms of use carefully if you decide to include songs from Mixkit in your projects.

Purple Planet offers royalty-free music at no cost for personal projects and requires attribution. The personal projects can include monetized channels on YouTube and films that you send to film festivals or use for educational purposes. To use their songs for commercial purposes and no longer need to give attribution, you can pay $8 for a standard license or $40 for a broadcast license. The standard license includes music that can be used in DVDs and products for clients and at a single public location such as a bar or spa or for hold music at one location. The broadcast license includes all of the features plus unlimited locations and worldwide broadcasting or advertising on TV and radio on unlimited locations and international distribution of the film.

Is Purple Planet worth it?

Purple Planet offers several different options and is clear about the terms of use for their free music, making it a good option for downloading royalty-free music.

There are two different kinds of licenses on Bensound: a free license with attribution and a pro license. For music under the former license, users can include the song in online videos and other projects for free if they credit Bensound.com. That music cannot be claimed as your own, registered in any store or on any platform, used in podcasts or audiobooks, or remixed. If you do not want to credit Bensound, you can purchase a Bensound Pro license, but the same conditions apply, and a license is only good for one person or company. There are three different licenses available under the pro license. The standard license costs 34 euros for one track and gives you worldwide rights to use the music on websites and in videos, films, presentations, and hold music, and background music at a venue. The extended license costs 65 euros for one track and permits users to include the song in internet advertising, local TV and radio advertising, software, video games, apps, CDs, DVDs, and films at shows, concerts, and plays. The last option allows music to be used in national and international TV/radio advertising and costs 580 euros per track.

Is Bensound worth it?

Compared to other options, Bensound is fairly expensive if you need to purchase a license, but it is a good option for free music if you give attribution.

This is a small free music platform with a total library of approximately 200 songs. The songs are by the artist Josh Woodward, and they can be used in projects (even commercial ones) as long as the project creator gives attribution to Josh Woodward. The songs cannot be used in advertisements or as in-store music or on-hold music without purchasing a traditional license for $30 per song (in which case you would no longer need to give attribution). The songs can also be modified.

Is Josh Woodward worth it?

Josh Woodward’s website is a great option for people who are looking for free-quality music made by an actual artist.