As a YouTuber, one of the key elements that elevate your videos is the music. The right soundtrack can add emotion, energy, and atmosphere to your content. However, navigating the world of music licensing can be tricky. Using copyrighted music without permission can result in your videos being taken down or demonetized. Fortunately, there are many websites offering free and copyright-free music that you can legally use for your YouTube videos. Here are 10 great sites where you can find music for your next project.
YouTube Audio Library
The YouTube Audio Library is an essential tool for anyone creating content on the platform. It offers a vast collection of free music and sound effects that you can use in your YouTube videos. Music in the library is free to use for monetized content, and there are no copyright restrictions, though some tracks may require attribution. You can search by genre, mood, instrument, duration, or even license type.
Key Features:
Free to use for YouTube videos
Categorized by genre, mood, instrument, etc.
Some tracks require attribution
Free Music Archive (FMA)
The Free Music Archive has been around for over a decade, offering a huge selection of free, high-quality music across various genres. FMA is curated by WFMU, a renowned freeform radio station, and the site allows you to filter tracks by genre, popularity, and more. All the music on the site is available under various Creative Commons licenses, so be sure to check the usage rights before downloading.
Key Features:
Extensive library with a wide range of genres
Creative Commons licenses (some tracks require attribution)
User-friendly interface for easy browsing
Bensound
Bensound is a go-to site for royalty-free music that can be used in YouTube videos, presentations, and other projects. While the music on the site is free to download and use, some tracks require attribution, and others may need a paid license for commercial use. The music is well-organized by genre, and you can find anything from upbeat tracks to cinematic background scores.
Key Features:
Free music with or without attribution
Commercial licensing available
Large selection of genres, from acoustic to electronic
Incompetech
Created by composer Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech has a massive collection of royalty-free music. It has been a staple resource for YouTubers and other content creators for years. Most of the music is available under a Creative Commons license, which allows you to use it in your videos as long as you provide proper attribution. The site is well-organized, and you can find tracks by mood, genre, or tempo.
Key Features:
Huge library of free music with various genres
Creative Commons license (attribution required)
Easy-to-use search and filter system
Artlist.io
While Artlist.io is a subscription-based service, it’s known for its high-quality music and simple licensing process. Artlist offers a wide variety of tracks from indie musicians, and the subscription grants you unlimited downloads. All tracks come with a lifetime license, meaning you can use them across all your YouTube videos without worrying about copyright claims.
Key Features:
High-quality tracks for all types of videos
Lifetime license for unlimited use
Subscription-based service, but offers a free trial
Jamendo
Jamendo offers a large collection of free music that you can use for personal projects and non-commercial purposes. It features a broad spectrum of music styles and genres, and you can easily search for tracks based on mood, genre, or keywords. For commercial projects, Jamendo offers a licensing service where you can purchase a license to use the tracks in your content.
Key Features:
Free music for personal use
Searchable library by genre, mood, etc.
Commercial licensing available
SoundCloud (Royalty-Free Music)
Though SoundCloud is primarily a platform for independent musicians to share their music, many artists also release their tracks under Creative Commons licenses. You can use the advanced search function to filter for royalty-free music or tracks that are available for commercial use. Just make sure to check the track’s license to ensure it’s safe for use in your YouTube videos.
Key Features:
Search for royalty-free music by filtering with licenses
Large community of independent artists
Creative Commons licenses available for free and legal use
Purple Planet Music
Purple Planet Music offers a wide variety of royalty-free music that you can use for YouTube videos, podcasts, and other projects. The music is organized by genre, mood, and themes, and while it’s free to use with attribution, you can also purchase a license for commercial use. The website also offers sound effects and loops.
Key Features:
Free music with attribution
Commercial licenses available
Organized by mood, genre, and theme
ccMixter
ccMixter is a music platform that features music released under Creative Commons licenses. The site is a great place to find original compositions, remixes, and samples that you can legally use in your YouTube videos. The site also offers tools for remixing music, making it perfect for creators who want to customize tracks to fit their needs.
Key Features:
Creative Commons-licensed music
Remixes, samples, and original tracks
Search by license type, genre, and mood
Freebeats.io
Freebeats.io offers free royalty-free beats that you can use in your YouTube videos. The site focuses on hip hop, rap, and electronic music, with a selection of tracks that can be used commercially. All tracks are free to use with attribution, and you can even download them in high-quality WAV format.
Key Features:
Free hip hop, rap, and electronic beats
Attribution required for free use
High-quality downloads (WAV format)
Conclusion
When creating YouTube videos, using music that’s free from copyright restrictions is crucial to avoiding issues with monetization or content removal. These 10 websites provide a wealth of options for free and copyright-free music that you can use in your videos. From simple background tracks to intricate soundscapes, these resources will help you find the perfect music to enhance your content without breaking the bank. Always double-check the licensing and attribution requirements to ensure that you’re using the music in compliance with its terms.
