The right song can make or break your video project and be the difference between impactful and forgettable. The challenge is finding the perfect track that doesn’t drain your entire budget. Thankfully, there are many royalty-free music licensing sites making it easier than ever for creatives to find the perfect track for their projects, no matter how big or small. Music is responsible for setting the tone of your film or video, so if you’re serious about creating something that resonates with your clients and audience, you want to be sure you get the right song. In this guide, we’ll share a list of some of the best music licensing sites, offering a wide selection of royalty-free songs and sound effects for your next project.
Best Music Licensing Sites: At a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the top music licensing platforms covered in this guide:
- Epidemic Sound – Industry veteran with massive library and YouTube integration
- Artlist – All-in-one creative platform with music, footage, and AI tools
- Audiio – Unique lifetime licensing option with AI-powered search
- Musicbed – Premium curated library favored by filmmakers
- Soundstripe – Nashville-based platform with stems and AI editing tools
- Lickd – License mainstream popular music for YouTube
- ALIBI Music – 300,000+ tracks with Adobe Premiere Pro integration
- TunePocket – Budget-friendly option with AI productivity tools
- Musicvine – Filmmaker-focused search with style categories
- Premium Beat – Shutterstock’s curated music marketplace
- Triple Scoop Music – Photographer favorite with Zoom integration
- Marmoset Music – B-Corp certified agency for indie artists
- Pond5 – Massive marketplace for music and stock footage
- Comma Music – Professional licensing for film, TV, and advertising
Epidemic Sound
Having launched in 2009, Epidemic Sound is one of the veterans of music licensing companies. They’ve built a massive library of songs covering a wide range of genres, from mainstream pop and electronic to more obscure indie styles. What sets Epidemic Sound apart is their strong integration with YouTube. Their content ID system helps protect creators from copyright claims, and they work with over 1 million content creators worldwide. You can license tracks individually, but they also offer subscription services with pricing tiers based on your monthly YouTube channel views. This makes it an excellent option if you’re just getting your channel started since you won’t be paying enterprise-level prices while you’re still growing your audience.
Artlist
Artlist.io has evolved from a simple music licensing platform into a comprehensive creative suite for video creators. Beyond their extensive royalty-free music catalog, they now offer stock footage, video templates, sound effects, LUTs, AI image and video generation, AI voiceovers, and video-editing plugins. If you’re creating a ton of slideshows or videos, their subscription model offers tremendous value since you can download unlimited assets. All projects you create and publish while your subscription is active remain licensed forever, even after your subscription ends.
Here are their current pricing tiers:
Music & SFX Social – Perfect for solo creators just starting out on social media.
- Covers one channel per social platform (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.)
- Annual: $9.99 per month (billed annually)
- Monthly: $14.99 per month
Music & SFX Pro – For freelancers, agencies, and professionals needing broader licensing.
- Covers up to 3 channels per platform, unlimited YouTube videos, client projects, paid ads, podcasts, broadcast TV
- Music only: Starting at $16.58 per month (billed annually)
- Music & SFX: Starting at $24.92 per month (billed annually)
Artlist Max – The all-in-one plan for professionals who want everything.
- Includes music, stems, SFX, stock footage (up to 8K), video templates, AI tools, LUTs, and plugins
- Starting at $39.99 per month (billed annually)
- Teams plans available for 2-7 members with 15% discount per user
Business – Custom pricing for companies with 50+ employees, agencies, and broadcasters with expanded licensing needs.
Audiio
Audiio was launched in 2020 by former Universal Music Group artist Clay Jones and industry friends. Since then, Audiio.com has had over 1.5+ million licensed tracks downloaded by subscribers and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The platform adds 500-1,000+ new songs each month, working directly with musicians, labels, and publishers to source quality music for sync licensing.
Unique Features:
- Lifetime Plan – One of the only music licensing platforms offering an unlimited lifetime subscription, currently priced at $299.
- SafeSync – Music-tracking technology that helps avoid annoying copyright claims across distribution channels from social media to television.
- Mobile App – Browse and license music for your next project from anywhere (iOS and Android).
- LinkMatch AI – Paste a Spotify link and get matching tracks from Audiio’s library.
- Hans AI – Describe your scene and get AI-curated music suggestions.
- Sound Effects Catalog – Access to over 30,000 sound effects created by sound designers from Netflix, Lionsgate, and LucasArts.
Read about Audiio’s latest features here.
Musicbed
Musicbed comes loaded with practically any genre and style of music you can think of. Featuring mostly independent bands, composers, and musicians, Musicbed brings these indie creators’ music to the masses at affordable licensing rates. They’ve built a reputation for having one of the best-curated audio libraries in the market, with a polished user experience that lets you exclude certain types of music from your search. This seemingly simple feature isn’t something every platform offers, but it makes finding the right track much faster. Musicbed offers song licensing through both per-song purchases and subscription membership levels, giving you flexibility based on your production volume.
Soundstripe
Like the previous entries in this list, Soundstripe operates on a subscription model instead of a per-song licensing system. Every time you download a song, you get a perpetual license, meaning you can use it on your project for as long as you want, even after you cancel your membership. Based in Nashville, Soundstripe works with an in-house team of professional musicians and Grammy-recognized artists to deliver high-quality licensed music.
Their music library grew 80% in 2024, and they continue to add new tracks weekly based on customer feedback. What sets Soundstripe apart is their creative flexibility. Each track comes with stems (individual instrument tracks), alternate versions, and cut-downs, plus AI tools to customize track length. They also offer Adobe Premiere Pro integration, Frame.io extensions, and best-in-class YouTube Content ID features to automate claim clearance.
Current Pricing:
- Personal: $9.99/month (billed annually) – For non-commercial, personal projects
- Pro: $19.99/month (billed annually) – Commercial projects, client work, digital ads, includes stems and AI tools
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for teams and businesses needing extended indemnification
Lickd
If you’ve ever wanted to use a recognizable hit song in your YouTube video without getting a copyright strike, Lickd is the answer. Unlike other platforms on this list that focus on production music and indie artists, Lickd is the first copyrighted music licensing platform that lets you legally use mainstream, popular music from major labels while still monetizing your videos.
Their catalog includes over 1.4 million mainstream tracks from artists you actually know, alongside high-quality royalty-free options. When you purchase a license, their automated system called VOUCH clears any copyright claims (usually within 30 minutes), so you can publish without worry. Pricing scales with your channel size, making it accessible for creators at every level.
Why Consider Lickd:
- License popular songs from major artists for YouTube
- Still monetize your videos (unlike using copyrighted music without a license)
- Starting from $22.99/month for one mainstream track plus unlimited stock music
- Built-in claim protection through their VOUCH system
- 30-day money-back guarantee
ALIBI Music
ALIBI Music, launched in 2011, features an extensive library of over 300,000 professionally composed audio files, including stems, alternate versions, and cutdowns. With fresh, relevant music that’s frequently updated and tracks structured specifically for storytelling, it’s no wonder ALIBI is a trusted partner to top players in the film, television, advertising, and video game industries. The company also features affordable subscription plans for indie creators and small businesses, making professional-grade music accessible regardless of your budget.
ALIBI’s website includes intuitive search tools like the Power Player, tap tempo, and negative search functionality to help you find the perfect tracks quickly. Their Adobe Premiere Pro extension streamlines the workflow for video editors who want to browse and license music without leaving their editing software.
TunePocket
TunePocket is a royalty-free music subscription library that offers an affordable, one-click music licensing solution for video creators. You can choose between an unlimited download subscription or a pay-as-you-go membership with no recurring fees. With their all-in-one royalty-free license, you can use the music in personal and business projects, including vlogs, promotional videos, advertisements, social media ads, films, documentaries, games, presentations, events, monetized YouTube channels, and paid freelance work.
While TunePocket maintains a smaller, more curated catalog compared to some competitors, many users prefer this approach over sifting through massive libraries with only a few standout tracks. New music and sound effects are added daily, and every membership includes access to a growing suite of video SEO and productivity AI tools. Their licenses never expire, even when you cancel your subscription, and YouTube channel whitelisting is available to help resolve Content ID claims.
Current Pricing:
- Pay As You Go: Download 5 or 10 tracks with no subscription
- Personal: Starting at $7.50/month (billed annually) for unlimited downloads
- Business: Higher tier for commercial and client work
Musicvine
Music Vine represents some of the most esteemed independent musicians in the world, making fine music accessible to productions of all sizes. Established in 2015, they maintain a smaller catalog of expertly crafted music, which means they’re selective about the artists they work with. For filmmakers, this curation makes finding the right track much easier since you’re not wading through thousands of mediocre options.
What makes Music Vine particularly useful for filmmakers is their search functionality. You can filter by style categories designed to match the tone of your scene, including Production Type, Movie Genre, and Footage Style. This gives you a much more comprehensive view of songs that will actually work for your specific project. Multiple license types are available for each track to ensure you get the coverage you need, whether it’s for a personal project, commercial work, or broadcast distribution.
Premium Beat
Premium Beat is part of the Shutterstock family, meaning it’s one of the larger marketplaces out there with the resources and infrastructure of a major media company. Housing a large selection of both classical and modern audio tracks, quality is prioritized over quantity here. The interface is easy to navigate, making it straightforward to find the specific niche song you’ve been searching for. If you’re already using Shutterstock for stock footage or images, Premium Beat integrates seamlessly into that workflow.
Licensing is available in two levels: Standard and Premium. The Standard license covers web-based and non-commercial use, while the Premium level extends coverage to broadcast, theatrical, and other commercial applications. This tiered approach lets you pay for exactly the rights you need without overspending on coverage you won’t use.
Triple Scoop Music
Founded in 2006, Triple Scoop Music has been a favorite among photographers and videographers for nearly two decades. With over 45,000 hand-picked songs from over 2,000 independent artists (including Grammy winners and composers behind Hollywood films), you’ll find tracks that make a strong first impression with your projects. Their catalog includes contributions from producers credited on iconic albums by U2, Green Day, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Adele, David Bowie, and many others.
Triple Scoop offers several subscription packages ranging from podcast-only to full commercial use, as well as the ability to purchase single songs under various licensing models. They’ve also partnered with Zoom, powering the Zoom Music App that’s now used by millions of people worldwide. This integration lets you add licensed music directly to your Zoom Meetings and Events, which is particularly useful for virtual presentations and recorded webinars.
Marmoset Music
Based in Portland, Oregon, Marmoset is a full-service music agency representing a highly curated roster of diverse and rare independent artists, bands, record labels, and vintage recordings. Their team scours the planet to deliver the perfect song for any project, from emerging indie bands to rare archival recordings you won’t find anywhere else.
What makes Marmoset unique is their commitment to doing business differently. They’re the only Certified B Corporation in the music licensing industry, investing 10% of profits directly back into community partners and publishing annual transparency reports. Their search functionality lets you browse by mood, vocals, story, character, and more, effectively matching tracks to the emotional tone of your project.
Licensing is broken down into specific use cases including personal, commercial, wedding, student film, and small business projects, with respective pricing and usage rights for each. They’ve also launched Track Club, a subscription app specifically for the creator economy that includes MixLab, a patent-pending feature that lets you customize stems and create your own mix of any track.
Pond5
Primarily known for their stock video clips, Pond5 also has a substantial music collection and sound effect library. You can search their library of over 900,000 songs, and while they don’t offer free tracks, you can purchase songs individually without needing an account. This makes Pond5 a good option for one-off projects where you don’t want to commit to a subscription.
You can search by Price, Public Domain, and Non-P.R.O. tracks, which helps you avoid having to pay performance royalties. For creators who need both music and video footage, Pond5’s membership plans let you download from a pre-curated library with perpetual licensing. If you’re already using Pond5 for stock footage, adding music licensing to your workflow is seamless.
Comma Music
Comma Music is a production music label focused primarily on professional licensing for film, TV, and advertising. They own every track in their library, which means one-stop licensing with zero copyright claims. Unlike consumer-focused subscription services, Comma operates more as a traditional music licensing agency, offering custom quotes based on your specific project needs.
Their sync supervision team, led by Executive Producer Bonny Dolan and Music Supervisor Lily Shallow, has secured licenses with major brands and popular artists including Cyndi Lauper, Iron and Wine, Andrew Bird, Brandi Carlile, Dua Lipa, and Daft Punk. If you’re working on a larger production and need help navigating the licensing process, from consultation and creative search through negotiation and clearance, Comma offers full-service support.
For indie filmmakers and smaller productions, Comma may not be the most budget-friendly option, but for commercial work, advertising campaigns, and broadcast content, their professional approach and high-quality catalog make them worth considering. Contact them directly for licensing rate cards or custom quotes, which are typically delivered same day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Music Licensing
What is royalty-free music and do I still have to pay for it?
Royalty-free music means you pay a one-time licensing fee to use the music, and you won’t owe additional royalties each time you use it in a project. Despite the word “free” in the name, you do still pay an upfront fee. The “free” part refers to not paying ongoing royalties for future uses. Once licensed, you can typically use the track in multiple projects without additional costs, though specific terms vary by platform.
Can I use licensed music on YouTube and still monetize my videos?
Yes, most music licensing platforms specifically allow monetization on YouTube and other social platforms. When you license music properly, you receive documentation proving your rights to use it. Many platforms like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Soundstripe offer YouTube Content ID whitelisting or claim resolution services to help prevent or quickly clear copyright claims on your videos.
What happens to my licensed music if I cancel my subscription?
This varies by platform, so always check the specific terms. Most subscription services like Artlist, Soundstripe, and TunePocket allow you to continue using music you downloaded and used in published projects while your subscription was active, even after canceling. However, you typically cannot use previously downloaded tracks in new projects after your subscription ends. Some platforms like Audiio offer lifetime licenses that never expire.
Do I need a sync license and a master license separately?
Traditional music licensing requires two separate licenses: a sync license (from the publisher/songwriter) and a master license (from the recording owner/label). However, royalty-free music platforms simplify this by providing a single comprehensive license that covers both rights. The composers and artists on these platforms have already granted the necessary permissions, so you don’t need to negotiate with multiple parties.
Which music licensing platform is best for wedding videographers?
Wedding videographers often prefer Triple Scoop Music, Musicbed, and Marmoset for their emotional, cinematic catalogs. These platforms have strong reputations among wedding professionals and offer licensing specifically designed for wedding films. If you want to use recognizable popular songs, Lickd is the only platform that legally licenses mainstream music for YouTube, though be aware of any restrictions on music video-style edits.
Final Thoughts
We hope you find this list helpful as you search for the right music source for your next project. The best platform for you depends on your specific needs: budget, production volume, the types of projects you create, and whether you need additional assets like stock footage or sound effects. Many platforms offer free trials or the ability to preview tracks before committing, so take advantage of those options to find the right fit.
If you have any other recommendations or experiences with these platforms, please share in the comments below. We’ll keep this post updated as the music licensing landscape continues to evolve.
