I keep this page as a reminder for myself of where to find music and sound effects for my videos, and I thought other people might find it just as handy. It might be a gentle backing track for a barn owl highlights video, or a bit of birdsong for a social media post. Everything here is either free or good value.
One word of warning before you start. "Royalty-free" doesn't always mean "free to use however you like". Some sites want a credit in your video description, some don't allow monetised videos, and some are free for personal use only. I've added a short "check before you use it" note to each one, so you know what you're getting into.
Royalty-free music explained in 30 seconds
- Royalty-free means you don't pay each time the music is played. It doesn't always mean free to download.
- Creative Commons (CC) licences are common on free sites. CC0 means you can do anything, no credit needed. CC BY means you must credit the artist. NC (non-commercial) means you can't use it in anything that makes money, which includes a monetised YouTube channel.
- Credits go in your video description, copied exactly as the site gives them.
- A copyright claim isn't the end of the world. Some free tracks are registered with YouTube's Content ID system, so you might see a claim even when you're allowed to use the music. It's not a strike. Keep your licence or download receipt, and you can usually get it cleared.
My habit: every time I download a track, I save the licence or credit text in the same folder as the music. It takes ten seconds and has saved me a lot of hassle.
All 20 sites at a glance
| Site | Best for | Cost | Credit needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixabay Music | Background music | Free | No |
| YouTube Audio Library | YouTube videos | Free | Some tracks |
| Uppbeat | Modern creator music | Free (3 a month) or paid | Yes, on the free plan |
| Mixkit | Quick, no-fuss tracks | Free | No |
| Incompetech | Huge variety of moods | Free or paid | Yes, if free |
| Free Music Archive | Independent artists | Free | Depends on the track |
| Bensound | Polished, upbeat tracks | Free or paid | Yes, if free |
| Musopen | Classical music | Free | Depends on the recording |
| ccMixter | Remixes and instrumentals | Free | Yes |
| Jamendo | Indie music with a proper licence | Paid for videos | No, with a licence |
| Freesound | Sound effects | Free | Depends on the sound |
| Zapsplat | Sound effects | Free or paid | Yes, if free |
| SoundBible | Simple sound effects | Free | Depends on the sound |
| BBC Sound Effects | Nature and archive sounds | Free for personal use | Yes |
| xeno-canto | Real bird songs and calls | Free | Yes |
| HookSounds | Professional tracks | Free or paid | Yes, if free |
| Envato Elements | Unlimited everything | Subscription | No |
| AudioJungle | Buying single tracks | Pay per track | No |
| Epidemic Sound | Serious YouTubers | Subscription | No |
| Artlist | Cinematic music | Subscription | No |
Free music for videos
1. Pixabay Music My pick
This is the one I use myself. Pixabay has thousands of free tracks, from calm piano to upbeat pop, and you can use them in commercial videos without giving a credit, although artists always appreciate one. It's quick to search by mood or genre, and there's plenty that suits nature and wildlife videos.
Check before you use it: some artists also register their tracks with YouTube's Content ID, so you might get a claim. Download the licence certificate with each track and you can use it to clear the claim.
2. YouTube Audio Library
If you make YouTube videos, start here. It's built into YouTube Studio: sign in, then click Audio Library in the menu on the left. There's a good choice of music and sound effects, and you can filter by genre, mood, length and whether a credit is needed.
Check before you use it: some tracks need a credit in your description. Look for the attribution icon next to each track.
3. Uppbeat
Uppbeat is made with YouTubers and podcasters in mind, and the music is modern and well produced. The free plan gives you 3 downloads a month from part of the catalogue, and you can use them in monetised videos as long as you paste in the credit.
Check before you use it: each free download comes with its own credit code for one video, and it must go in that video's description.
4. Mixkit
Mixkit is about as simple as it gets. There's no account and no credit needed, and the tracks are free for YouTube, social media and podcasts. It also has free sound effects and video clips.
Check before you use it: the licence doesn't cover things like TV broadcasts, DVDs or video games.
5. Incompetech
Composer Kevin MacLeod has shared a huge collection of his music here over the years, and you'll probably recognise some of it from other people's videos. There's something for almost every mood.
Check before you use it: it's free under a CC BY licence, so you must credit him. If you'd rather not, you can buy a licence that removes the credit.
6. Free Music Archive
The Free Music Archive has a large collection of music from independent artists in just about every genre. It's a great place to find something a bit different.
Check before you use it: every track has its own Creative Commons licence. Avoid anything marked NC if your videos make money.
7. Bensound
Bensound has been around for years and its tracks are polished and easy to listen to, from acoustic to corporate to jazz. It's good for intros and upbeat videos.
Check before you use it: the free licence needs a credit with a unique licence code, and each code covers one video. Copy it exactly from the download page into your description, or you may get a claim.
8. Musopen
Musopen offers free recordings of classical music, plus free sheet music. It's lovely for calm, reflective videos and documentaries.
Check before you use it: most recordings are public domain, but check the licence shown on each one.
9. ccMixter
ccMixter is a community of musicians sharing remixes, instrumentals and vocals under Creative Commons licences. There's a lot of creative stuff here if you're happy to dig around.
Check before you use it: you'll need to credit the artist, and some tracks are non-commercial only.
10. Jamendo
Jamendo has a huge catalogue of independent music. Listening and downloading on Jamendo Music is free for personal use. For your videos, you buy a licence through Jamendo Licensing, which is simple and fairly priced.
Check before you use it: don't use free Jamendo downloads in your videos without a licence.
Free sound effects and nature sounds
11. Freesound
Freesound is a huge community library of sound effects and recordings, from footsteps and thunder to woodland ambience. You need a free account to download.
Check before you use it: each sound is CC0, CC BY or CC BY-NC. The CC0 ones are the easiest to use.
12. Zapsplat
Zapsplat has a very large library of professionally recorded sound effects, plus some music. It's well organised and easy to search.
Check before you use it: free downloads need a credit. A paid account removes that.
13. SoundBible
SoundBible is a small, straightforward site for sound effects. It's handy when you just need a door slam or a clap in a hurry.
Check before you use it: licences vary from sound to sound. Some are public domain, some need a credit, and some are personal use only.
14. BBC Sound Effects
The BBC has opened up a big part of its sound archive, and there's so much here for nature lovers: dawn choruses, rivers, farmyards, storms and plenty more, recorded over many decades.
Check before you use it: it's free for personal, educational and research use only. For commercial videos, you'll need to buy a licence.
15. xeno-canto
If you make wildlife videos, you'll love this one. xeno-canto is a worldwide collection of bird songs and calls, recorded and shared by birders. It's brilliant for identifying birds, too.
Check before you use it: each recordist chooses their own Creative Commons licence, and many are non-commercial. Always credit the recordist.
Worth paying for
If you make a lot of videos, a paid library can save you time and worry. You get a wider choice, no credits to remember, and far fewer copyright claims.
16. HookSounds
HookSounds has professional music that's been written for videos, with a free selection so you can try it out before paying.
Check before you use it: free tracks need a credit. Read the licence to see what's covered for monetised videos.
17. Envato Elements
One monthly subscription gets you unlimited downloads of music, sound effects, stock video, photos, templates and more. If you make a lot of content, it's very good value.
Check before you use it: register each project when you download an item, as that's what covers you.
18. AudioJungle
AudioJungle is Envato's pay-per-track shop. It's handy if you only need one special track for a video and don't want a subscription.
19. Epidemic Sound
Epidemic Sound is used by a lot of big YouTubers. You get a huge, high-quality library and your channel is cleared, so Content ID claims are handled for you.
20. Artlist
Artlist is known for cinematic, emotional music that works beautifully for nature films and slow-motion footage. It's a subscription, with music and sound effects included.
Questions people ask
What does royalty-free music mean?
It means you don't pay a fee each time the music is played. Some royalty-free music is free to download and some you pay for once. Either way, you still have to follow the licence.
Can I use royalty-free music in monetised YouTube videos?
Usually, yes. Pixabay, Mixkit, the YouTube Audio Library and Uppbeat all allow it, though some need a credit. Avoid anything with a non-commercial (NC) licence if your channel makes money.
Why did I get a copyright claim on free music?
Some artists register their free tracks with YouTube's Content ID. A claim isn't a strike. Dispute it using the licence or credit you saved when you downloaded the track, and it's usually cleared.
Where can I find free bird songs and nature sounds?
xeno-canto is best for bird songs and calls, and Freesound and BBC Sound Effects have lots of nature recordings. Check each licence, as many are for non-commercial use only.
Once you've found your music, you'll need something to put it all together. Here are my picks for free video editing software, and if you'd like to go live, my guide to streaming your wildlife cameras to YouTube.
Paul