Where to Find Free and Licensed Music Without Getting Hit by Copyright Claims
Music can completely change the pace and mood of a video, but using the wrong track can also lead to Content ID claims, muted audio, restricted monetization, or even takedowns.
The confusing part is that “free,” “royalty-free,” and “copyright-safe” do not all mean the same thing.
A track may be free to download but still require attribution. Another may be licensed for YouTube but not for commercial client work. Music available inside Instagram or TikTok may also have different usage rights from music you download and edit into a video yourself.
Here is an updated 2026 guide to some of the most useful music libraries for YouTube, Shorts, Reels, social videos, and commercial content.
1. YouTube Audio Library
Best for: YouTube creators who want the safest free option
YouTube Audio Library is still one of the easiest places to find music and sound effects for YouTube videos.
YouTube describes music and sound effects downloaded directly from its Audio Library as copyright-safe, and creators in the YouTube Partner Program can monetize videos that use them.
Some tracks use a standard YouTube Audio Library license and do not require attribution. Others are released under Creative Commons and require the artist credit shown in the library to be added to the video description.
Attribution: Depends on the track
Monetization: Yes on YouTube
Best for: YouTube videos · Shorts · Vlogs · Tutorials · Background Music
One important point: YouTube only guarantees that music from its own Audio Library is known to YouTube as copyright-safe. It does not guarantee tracks labelled “royalty-free” on random YouTube channels or third-party websites.
2. Pixabay Music
Best for: Free music with flexible commercial use
Pixabay offers music under its Content License, which generally allows users to download, modify, and use content for both commercial and non-commercial projects without mandatory attribution.
Pixabay also specifically states that its music can be used in commercial video projects, including client work, promotional content, and paid training materials, as long as the music is incorporated into a larger creative work rather than redistributed as a standalone music file.
Attribution: Not required
Commercial use: Generally allowed
Best for: YouTube · Reels · Social Media · Client Videos · Promotional Content
The important distinction is that the music can be used inside a creative project, but you cannot simply download a track and resell or redistribute the music itself.
3. Mixkit
Best for: Free background music without attribution
Mixkit is another useful option when you want quick, royalty-free background music for social content.
Its free stock music can currently be used for YouTube, websites, blogs, podcasts, social media, music videos, and online advertising. Attribution is appreciated but not required.
Attribution: Not required
Commercial use: Allowed for many online uses
Best for: YouTube · Reels · Podcasts · Websites · Online Ads
There are some limits. Mixkit states that its music cannot be used for certain formats such as CDs, DVDs, video games, or TV and radio broadcasts.
So for ordinary online creator content, it is very convenient. For broadcast or game projects, check another license.
4. Bensound
Best for: Polished music when you are willing to follow the licensing rules carefully
Bensound has both free and paid licensing options.
For free tracks used on YouTube, Bensound currently requires creators to use the specific attribution text provided when downloading the track. That attribution can be tied to a particular video, so simply writing a generic credit may not be enough.
For broader social, commercial, or client use, Bensound offers individual licenses and subscription plans with license certificates.
Attribution: Required for certain free uses
Commercial use: Depends on license
Best for: YouTube · Social Videos · Commercial Projects · Client Work
This is one of those services where it is worth saving your license certificate or attribution information with the project files.
5. Epidemic Sound
Best for: Creators who publish frequently and want a simpler licensing workflow
Epidemic Sound is subscription-based and designed around licensed music for digital content.
Current plans cover platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, and websites, with different tiers depending on whether you are an individual creator, freelancer, or business.
The key feature is safelisting: you connect eligible channels to your Epidemic Sound account. Content properly published during an active subscription remains cleared even after the subscription ends.
However, that does not mean you can keep downloading or newly publishing projects with those tracks after the subscription has ended.
Attribution: Not normally required
Commercial use: Depends on plan
Best for: YouTube · Instagram · TikTok · Client Content · Commercial Video
If you create paid ads or client work, make sure your plan actually covers those uses rather than assuming a basic creator plan does.
6. Artlist
Best for: Professional creators, filmmakers and brand content
Artlist also uses a subscription model, but its current licensing is divided between Social and Pro / Business uses.
The Social license is aimed at personal creators and covers social platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitch. Pro licensing expands into client work, paid and promoted videos, websites, commercials and other professional uses.
Projects properly created and published during an active subscription remain cleared for monetization after the subscription ends.
Attribution: Not normally required
Commercial use: Depends on plan
Best for: Social Content · Films · Brand Videos · Client Work · Wedding Films
Again, the important distinction is between a project licensed while subscribed and using downloaded assets later for entirely new projects.
What About Music Built Into Instagram Reels, TikTok or YouTube Shorts?
This is where many creators get confused.
Music available inside a social platform is generally licensed according to that platform's own agreements, account type, region, and intended use.
That does not automatically mean you have a separate downloadable music license.
So if you create a Reel with music from Instagram's library, do not assume you can download that finished video and reuse the same music freely in a YouTube video, paid ad, client project, or another platform.
Likewise, YouTube warns that music that may be safe for a Short is not necessarily licensed for longer-form videos.
The safest rule is simple:
Platform music stays on the platform unless the license explicitly says otherwise.
Royalty-Free Does Not Mean Copyright-Free
These two terms are often mixed up.
Copyright-free generally means the work is not protected by copyright or the relevant rights have expired or been waived.
Royalty-free usually means you receive a license allowing you to use the work without paying a royalty every time it is used.
The music can still be copyrighted.
This is why a “royalty-free” track may still trigger Content ID if your use is not properly licensed or registered. YouTube specifically warns that Content ID does not automatically know whether you purchased a license from an external website.
Before You Publish: 5 Things to Check
• Commercial use — Is monetized, sponsored or client content covered?
• Attribution — Does the track require a specific credit?
• Platform restrictions — Is the license valid on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms you plan to use?
• Subscription status — Does the project need to be published while your subscription is active?
• Proof of license — Save receipts, certificates, screenshots or attribution text with your project files.
That last one is easy to overlook until a Content ID claim arrives months later.
Quick Comparison
| YouTube Audio Library | Yes | Some tracks | Yes on eligible YouTube content | YouTube |
| Pixabay Music | Yes | No | Generally yes | Social + commercial video |
| Mixkit | Yes | No | Many online uses | Social, YouTube, podcasts |
| Bensound | Yes / Paid | Free tracks may require it | Depends on license | Creator + commercial work |
| Epidemic Sound | Subscription | No | Depends on plan | Frequent creators |
| Artlist | Subscription | No | Depends on plan | Professional / client work |
Which One Should You Use?
If you mainly publish on YouTube, start with YouTube Audio Library.
If you need free music that can also work outside YouTube, Pixabay and Mixkit are useful places to look.
If music is an important part of your content and you publish regularly across several platforms, Epidemic Sound or Artlist can make licensing much easier — especially once you start monetizing, doing client work, or running branded content.
The main thing is not to look for music that is simply “free.”
Look for music that is licensed for the exact way you intend to use it.
Music licensing policies can change, so always check the current license page for the specific service or track before publishing.