Top 22 Royalty Free Background Music Sites for YouTube 2025

This is the most comprehensive roundup of background music sites in 2025 — covering 22 platforms in total. From song libraries to pricing, everything is laid out clearly. The goal is simple: to help creators save time, cut costs, and get the best music service for the lowest price. Let’s get started.

Before we dive in, let’s first explain in simple terms what royalty free music is and why creators need it.

What Is Royalty Free Music (and Why Creators Need it)?

Whether you make content for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, or streaming, every video has the potential to go viral and earn money — even if monetization wasn’t your original goal. That’s why it’s so important to use safe, copyright-cleared background music for your videos. Music not only sets the mood but also protects your content from copyright claims.

Royalty free music means you pay once (through a subscription or a single-track purchase) and then use the track as often as you want. There are no extra fees and no need to split revenue with the copyright owner.

Royalty free music sites make this easy: with one payment, you get access to a full library of tracks ready for commercial use. For creators, this is the most time-saving and cost-effective solution to find safe, high-quality music for any project.

1. HaiMusic

HaiMusic, the best royalty free music library for content creators

HaiMusic, the best royalty free music library for content creators

HaiMusic is a royalty-free music platform built for creators who need high-quality production music on a subscription basis. Unlike pay-per-track sites, Soundstripe offers unlimited access to its hand-picked library for a flat annual fee.

Pros:

• Massive library of 5,000+ music tracks covering every genres, like pop, hip hop, lofi, rock, indie, cinematic, electronic, jazz, ambient, acoustic, classical, and more.

• Works for 90% of creator use cases including films, vlogs, food videos, education, coffee shops, corporate promos, weddings, gaming, and podcasts.

• 100% royalty-free and cleared for use across all major platforms. Lifetime licenses ensures your videos stay protected forever.

• Fast and friendly customer support

Price:

All plans include weekly new releases, intelligent search by mood or genre, and 100% royalty-free licensing.

• Creator Plan: $7.99/month (billed annually, $95.90/year) — for solo creators making personal videos, vlogs, or podcasts; unlimited downloads and lifetime licensing for one channel per platform.

• Pro Plan: $13.99/month (billed annually, $167.91/year) — for agencies or small businesses creating commercial content; up to three monetized channels per platform.

• Enterprise Plan: $35.99/month (billed annually, $431.92/year) — for global brands with rights for TV, film, live events, and software; unlimited channels.

2. Artlist

Artlist

Artlist is a leading royalty-free music platform for filmmakers and creators, offering a massive library of high-quality songs and sound effects with a sleek, easy-to-use interface.

Pros:

• Beautiful, intuitive interface designed specifically for video, film, and YouTube creators.

• Powerful filtering by mood, genre, video theme, and instrument, plus a “For You” page with personalized recommendations.

• Integrates seamlessly with Artgrid (curated footage) and Motion Array (templates, plugins, and video assets), forming a full creative ecosystem.

Cons:

• Slightly higher pricing compared to entry-level competitors.

• Some advanced features and licensing options are only available under the Pro plan.

Price:

• Music & SFX Social Plan: £9.99/month (billed annually) or £14.99/month (billed monthly) — covers personal social media content.

• Music & SFX Pro Plan: £16.58/month (billed annually) — required for commercial or client-based projects.

• Both plans include unlimited downloads, access to the full music and SFX library, and royalty-free licenses valid for life.

3. Legis Music

Legis Music is a flexible, user-friendly royalty-free music platform that offers lifetime licenses, customizable tracks, and one of the most competitive pricing models on the market.

Pros:

• Versatile usage for both personal and commercial projects across all major platforms.

• Free plan available — download up to 10 tracks per month (with attribution).

• Stems for every track allow creators to mix and customize music freely.

Cons:

• The free plan requires attribution, which may not suit all professional use cases.

• The overall library size is smaller compared to major competitors like Artlist or Epidemic Sound.

Price:

• Free Plan: Download up to 10 tracks per month with attribution.

• Pro Plan: $9.99/month — unlimited downloads, full feature access, and 50% discount for annual billing.

4. Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound is one of the most popular royalty-free music platforms, known for simplifying music licensing and offering creators an all-in-one license that covers every use case.

Pros:

• Truly all-inclusive license — no reporting, no hidden royalties, and full legal coverage for every platform.

• Massive, high-quality library across genres, with powerful filters for mood, theme, and sound type.

• Simple, modern interface that makes finding and downloading music effortless.

Cons:

• Slightly higher pricing than smaller competitors.

• No permanent lifetime license — requires an active subscription to stay covered.

Price:

• Personal Plan: £9.99/month — covers use on personal social channels like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

• Commercial Plan: Higher-tier pricing for business and client work, including ads, branded content, and commercial projects.

5. Soundstrip

Soundstripe is royalty-free music platform for content creators.

Pros:

• Unlimited licenses under one subscription — no per-track fees.

• Curated, high-quality library that’s easy to browse by mood, genre, or theme.

• Simple, user-friendly interface similar to Spotify.

Cons:

• No free plan or pay-per-track option for occasional users.

• Requires an active subscription to maintain usage rights.

Price:

• Standard Plan: From $119/year, offering unlimited music licenses for use across personal and commercial projects.

6. Pond5

Pond5 is one of the world’s largest creative marketplaces, offering royalty-free music, sound effects, and stock video to filmmakers and content creators.

Pros:

• Offers not just music, but also sound effects, After Effects templates, and stock video — an all-in-one production hub.

• Flexible purchasing options — buy single tracks, credit bundles, or subscribe monthly.

Cons:

• Interface can feel overwhelming due to the huge content volume.

• Pricing per track can add up for heavy users.

Price:

• Individual tracks start from £5.

• Monthly memberships begin at £25/month, with credit bundles also available for flexible purchasing.

7. Envato Elements

Envato Elements is a creator’s dream, bundling royalty-free audio, stock footage, templates, photos, and more into one powerful subscription.

Pros:

• Over 128,000 royalty-free audio tracks and 60+ million creative assets included in one subscription.

• Covers every genre imaginable — from pop and rock to cinematic, vocal, and instrumental.

• Includes music kits, sound effects, and monthly freebies (music, video, and 3D assets).

• Seamless integration with Envato Market, where you can hire designers, musicians, and developers directly.

Cons:

• Requires an active subscription to continue using new assets.

• Vast selection can be overwhelming for beginners.

Price:

• Subscription from around $16.50/month (billed annually), granting unlimited downloads across all asset types.

8. Storyblocks

Storyblocks is a royalty-free platform offering unlimited downloads of music, sound effects, and stock media for personal or commercial projects.

• Pros:

  • Huge catalog of 100,000+ tracks, updated regularly with fresh content.

  • Unlimited downloads — ideal for creators producing frequent videos.

  • Simple commercial licensing covering all platforms.

• Cons:

  • Navigation can be slower and less refined than competitors.

  • Search filters sometimes return broad or repetitive results.

• Price:

  • Plans start at £15/month for 5 downloads, with unlimited and all-access tiers available for higher usage.

9. Bensound

Bensound is a royalty-free music site founded by French composer Benjamin Tissot, offering an easy way to access and use free or licensed tracks across videos, websites, and animations.

• Pros:

  • Simple and direct — you can start listening and downloading immediately.

  • Offers a free Creative Commons license (with attribution to Bensound.com).

  • Wide range of genres ideal for short videos, corporate clips, and animations.

  • Paid licenses available for broader commercial use.

• Cons:

  • Website interface is busier and less polished than modern competitors.

  • Limited customization and filtering tools for large-scale projects.

• Price:

  • Free with credit to Bensound.com (Creative Commons).

  • Paid licenses start from £34 per track or £119/year for a standard subscription.

10. TeknoAXE

TeknoAXE offers a raw but generous library of royalty-free tracks under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), allowing full commercial use with proper attribution.

• Pros:

  • 100% free to use for personal or commercial projects with attribution.

  • Huge variety of styles — from breakbeat, dubstep, and EDM to rock and metal.

  • Great source for niche or energetic sounds.

• Cons:

  • Outdated website design and limited search functionality.

  • Attribution required for all uses; no paid no-credit license option.

• Price:

  • Completely free under Creative Commons license (credit required).

11. Audiio

Audiio is a professional-grade royalty-free music platform trusted by global brands like Netflix and Nintendo, offering studio-quality tracks and simple, universal licensing.

• Pros:

  • Thousands of high-quality songs with new ones added daily.

  • Simple and clear all-project license — covers YouTube monetization, TV, and commercial use.

  • Clean interface with strong search and filtering features.

  • Professional-level sound quality across all genres.

• Cons:

  • No free plan or trial for new users.

  • Annual billing required for best value.

• Price:

  • Pro Subscription: $99/year — includes unlimited downloads and all commercial rights.

12. Soundbay

SoundBay is a premium royalty-free music and sound marketplace offering high-quality instrumentals, beats, and sound kits for creators, producers, and brands.

• Pros:

  • Large library of professional-grade beats, sound kits, and instrumental music.

  • Suitable for multimedia projects including ads, YouTube videos, and podcasts.

  • Offers music crafted by experienced producers across multiple genres.

  • Also operates as a trusted Australian retailer for pro audio and music gear.

• Cons:

  • Website and licensing info can vary depending on the regional domain.

  • Smaller dedicated background-music library compared to specialized RFM platforms.

• Price:

  • Prices vary by track or bundle; individual beats and background music typically start from $10–$30 per license.

13. Purple Plant

Purple Planet is a charming, theme-based royalty-free music site where genres are organized by mood and feeling — like active, creepy, or cute — instead of standard labels.

• Pros:

  • Unique mood-based categorization makes finding emotional tones easy.

  • Free music for small commercial projects (with attribution).

  • Affordable licensing for higher-quality WAV downloads.

  • Great for YouTube videos, indie films, and games.

• Cons:

  • Smaller library than larger platforms.

  • Requires attribution for free use.

• Price:

  • Free for YouTube and small projects (credit required).

  • Paid licenses start from $8 (standard) or $40 (unlimited) per track.

14. AKM Music

AKM Music is a straightforward royalty-free music site that focuses on clarity and function over flash, giving creators instant access to high-quality tracks without the fuss.

• Pros:

  • Super direct and easy to navigate — search or browse by mood and genre right from the homepage.

  • Clear and simple licensing terms — you know exactly what you’re paying for.

  • Well-organized library suitable for professional and commercial projects.

• Cons:

  • Outdated website design and visuals.

  • Smaller catalog compared to larger modern competitors.

• Price:

  • Royalty-free tracks start from £16.95.

15. TakeTones

TakeTones delivers a curated selection of royalty-free background music composed by professional musicians for video creators and marketing professionals.

• Pros:

  • High-quality, exclusive tracks created by experienced ad and film composers.

  • Covers a wide genre range including rock, hip hop, cinematic, corporate, and kids’ music.

  • Includes short versions and metadata for easy sync with video formats and ads.

• Cons:

  • No free tier or trial for casual creators.

  • Smaller catalog than global players like Epidemic Sound or Artlist.

• Price:

  • Tracks start around $24 per license, with subscriptions available for ongoing projects.

16. Music Vine

Music Vine is a beautifully curated royalty-free music platform offering world-class production tracks at affordable rates — perfect for creators seeking professional quality on a budget.

• Pros:

  • Curated catalog of tracks from top production artists.

  • Clean, modern interface that makes browsing effortless.

• Cons:

  • Smaller selection than massive platforms like Artlist or Epidemic Sound.

  • Requires subscription for full access to unlimited downloads.

• Price:

  • Subscriptions start from $13.99/month, billed annually.

17. FreePD

FreePD.com is a completely free public domain music library that lets creators download and use tracks for any project — commercial or personal — with no restrictions.

• Pros:

  • 100% free and public domain — no attribution, license, or payment required.

  • Instant access to a wide range of genres like world, upbeat, romantic, and epic.

• Cons:

  • Sound quality and production vary; not ideal for high-end commercial use.

  • Smaller catalog compared to paid libraries.

• Price:

  • Completely free — all tracks under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication.

18. Uppbeat

Uppbeat is a freemium royalty-free music platform built for modern creators, offering curated tracks from indie artists with guaranteed no copyright claims.

• Pros:

  • No YouTube copyright strikes or demonetization — perfect for vloggers and streamers.

  • Curated music from global indie artists and producers.

  • Freemium plan with a large selection of tracks; premium unlocks exclusives and unlimited downloads.

• Cons:

  • Free plan limits monthly downloads.

  • Some popular genres are exclusive to the paid tier.

• Price:

  • Free Plan: Limited monthly downloads with attribution.

  • Premium Plan: Around $6.99/month (billed annually) — includes unlimited downloads, exclusive music, and channel whitelisting.

19.Youtube Audio Library

YouTube Audio Library is a completely free resource offering thousands of royalty-free music tracks and sound effects for YouTube creators.

Pros:

• 100% free to use for YouTube content.

• Easy filtering by genre, mood, and license type.

• Includes both music tracks and sound effects.

• Ability to follow favorite artists for new releases.

• All tracks marked as “copyright safe” by YouTube.

Cons:

• Some tracks require attribution.

• Music selection can be hit-or-miss in production quality.

• Limited usage rights — primarily for YouTube only.

Price:

• Completely free with a YouTube account.

20. MotionArray

Motion Array is an all-in-one creative marketplace offering templates, footage, plugins — and a built-in royalty-free music library — under one subscription.

• Pros:

  • Access to music plus video templates, assets, sound effects, graphics, plugins — everything in one place.

  • Royalty-free tracks included in its library; you don’t pay extra performance royalties.

  • You can use downloaded music in both personal and commercial projects while your subscription is active.

• Cons:

  • Some tracks are registered with P.R.O. / Content ID, which may require extra steps or filtering to avoid claims.

  • If you cancel your subscription, you can’t use new music after that — only previously downloaded works remain usable in finished projects.

  • The breadth of assets means music browsing may compete with many other content types, making the music section less isolated.

• Price:

  • Subscription plans that include all assets (music, templates, footage etc.) start at around $39.99/month (or equivalent when billed annually) for a single user.

  • Multi-user / team plans and business licenses (for apps, games, large companies) are also available at higher tiers.

21. Thematic

Thematic is a creator-focused music licensing platform offering trending and copyright-safe tracks for social media, with a free core option and premium upgrades.

• Pros:

  • Tracks are matched to your content (using algorithms and curation) for easier discovery.

  • Free core tier available, with no copyright claims on YouTube or social media.

  • Covers multiple social platforms (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc.).

  • Lifetime right to use the licensed tracks without worrying about retroactive claims.

• Cons:

  • The free tier has limits (download caps, fewer selections) compared to premium.

  • Some features, like podcast licensing, multi-channel, or access to premium tracks, are restricted to paid plans.

  • Because it leverages trending / popular artist tracks, some songs may be better known, which could reduce uniqueness.

• Price:

  • Free Plan: Basic access to a selection of songs and SFX, safe for social uploads.

  • Premium Plan: ~$8.99/month for full access, unlimited downloads, and safety across more use cases.

  • Pro Plan: ~$24.99/month — unlocks multiple YouTube channels, full licensing for sponsored content, early access, etc.

22. Tunereel

TuneReel is a royalty-free production music library offering flexible licensing (track purchase or subscription) with strong rights assurance and genre variety.

• Pros:

  • Once you license a track, you have permanent usage rights — you “own the right” to use it forever.

  • YouTube monetization and commercial use are explicitly supported and backed by their team if claims arise.

  • Broad, well-filtered catalog covering many styles and moods.

  • Offers both subscription unlimited access and individual track licensing options for flexibility.

• Cons:

  • No free unlimited plan for all tracks — full premium library access requires subscription.

  • Some niche or less common genres may be less represented compared to massive libraries.

  • As a smaller platform, fewer “extras” (e.g. video templates, plugins) than all-in-one suites.

• Price:

  • Subscription plans with unlimited downloads for all active projects (exact pricing varies).

  • Individual track licenses also available for those who prefer pay-per-track.

Our Top 3 royalty-free music sites

With so many platforms out there, it can be tough to find the right one that truly fits your creative flow. We’ve tested dozens of royalty-free music sites and narrowed it down based on cost, usability, and music quality. Whether you’re a YouTuber, filmmaker, or content creator, these three platforms stood out above the rest.

So, without further ado, the three royalty-free music sites we recommend in 2025 are:

HaiMusic

YouTube Audio Library

Still one of the best free options around, YouTube Audio Library remains unbeatable for creators on a budget. Its clean interface and diverse selection of royalty-free tracks make it a perfect starting point for new YouTubers or anyone producing videos without a licensing budget. It’s quick, safe, and offers a surprising variety of moods and genres — and best of all, it’s completely free.

Epidemic Sound

If simplicity and professionalism are your priorities, Epidemic Sound delivers. Its all-in-one license removes the headaches of reporting, royalties, or hidden fees. With a massive, expertly curated library and a beautifully intuitive interface, it’s clear why top YouTubers and agencies swear by it. It’s not the cheapest, but the peace of mind and music quality make it worth every penny.

And that’s a wrap! Each of these platforms brings something unique — from Hai Music’s affordability and high-quality, to YouTube Audio Library’s accessibility, and Epidemic Sound’s all-inclusive professionalism. Whichever one you choose, investing in the right soundtrack can turn good content into something truly unforgettable.