Top 5 Royalty-Free Music Options for YouTube Videos
Finding the perfect background music for your YouTube videos can be a challenge, especially when dealing with copyright claims and licensing issues. Fortunately, several platforms offer high-quality royalty-free music, ranging from free options to professional subscription-based services. Here are the top five recommendations to help you find the best fit for your content.
1. Creator Mix (Free Option)
Creator Mix is a completely free resource for YouTube, Twitch, LinkedIn, podcasts, and more. It guarantees no DMCA or copyright strikes, making it a hassle-free choice for content creators.
The platform offers a straightforward interface, allowing users to browse by mood, genre, or artist. While the library isn’t extensive, the quality is impressive. Each track includes a simple licensing guide, ensuring compliance by crediting the creator appropriately in video descriptions. This transparency and ease of use make Creator Mix an excellent option for those seeking free background music.
2. Artlist (Premium Subscription)
Artlist has become one of the most comprehensive resources for video creators, offering high-quality music, sound effects, AI voiceovers, and stock footage. The AI-powered search tool helps users find tracks by describing their desired sound in natural language, significantly improving workflow efficiency.
Users can filter by instrument, mood, theme, and more, with the option to find similar tracks based on selected songs. Artlist’s pricing plans include a social plan at $9.99/month for personal content creators and a pro plan at $16.58/month (billed annually), which offers access to stems, an Adobe Premiere Pro extension, and extended licensing. For those needing additional assets like video templates and stock footage, the Artlist Max subscription is an all-in-one solution.
3. Epidemic Sound (Professional Quality)
Epidemic Sound provides one of the largest royalty-free music and sound effects catalogs, used in millions of videos daily. With over 50,000 tracks, its advanced search and filtering options make finding the perfect background music quick and easy.
Users can filter by genre, mood, duration, beats per minute, and vocals. The licensing is transparent, allowing monetization on platforms like YouTube. Pricing starts at $9.99/month for personal use, covering one channel per platform, while the commercial plan at $19.99/month enables content creators to publish work for clients and multiple channels. Notably, any content created while subscribed remains cleared forever, eliminating future copyright issues.
4. Lickd (Commercial Music Licensing)
Lickd stands out by offering licensed commercial music, enabling creators to use popular tracks from artists like Coldplay, Dua Lipa, and Justin Bieber. This service eliminates the traditional complexities of licensing commercial music for YouTube videos.
The platform provides both royalty-free and premium music. Plans start at $22.99/month, including one premium track per month, with higher-tier plans offering more licensed tracks. This unique option is ideal for those seeking well-known songs to enhance their video content without facing copyright restrictions.
5. Suno AI (AI-Generated Music)
Suno AI is an innovative tool that generates unique music from text prompts, offering a new level of customization for video creators. Users can specify the mood, instruments, and structure of their desired track, making it a powerful option for those looking for completely original compositions.
The free plan allows 10 song generations per day, while the Pro Plan at $10/month grants access to 500 tracks monthly. A premier plan at $30/month provides additional features. This AI-powered platform is perfect for creators wanting a unique sound tailored to their specific needs.
Choosing the Best Option
The ideal choice depends on your specific requirements:
- For free music: Creator Mix is the best option.
- For high-quality sound libraries: Artlist and Epidemic Sound offer exceptional choices.
- For commercial music licensing: Lickd is the go-to service.
- For custom AI-generated music: Suno AI provides a fresh approach to music creation.
Each platform offers trials or free versions, so exploring them firsthand is recommended. Finding the right music will enhance your content and create a more engaging experience for your viewers.