The best AI music generator depends on what you need the music for. Suno, Udio and ElevenLabs Music suit full songs with vocals, AIVA suits composed instrumental and cinematic pieces, Soundraw, Beatoven.ai and Mubert suit background music for videos and podcasts, and Stable Audio suits short tracks and sound design from a text prompt.
Music makes a video, a podcast intro or an advert feel finished. The trouble is that licensing tracks is fiddly, stock libraries get repetitive and hiring a composer isn't realistic for most small businesses. AI music generators let you describe what you want and get a track back in minutes.
The tools below are well known and widely used. Some create complete songs with vocals and others focus on background music you can trim to fit a video. I've focused on what each one is known for, so shortlist two and try the same brief in both, such as a short, upbeat intro for your podcast.
What should you look for in an AI music generator?
- Licence for commercial use. Check the terms let you use tracks in adverts, client work and monetised videos.
- Vocals or instrumental. Some tools write full songs with lyrics, others focus on instrumental music.
- Control over length and structure. Being able to set the length, intro and ending saves editing time.
- Mood and genre options. Look for clear controls for style, tempo and energy.
- Editing and stems. Separate stems or MIDI files let you tweak a track or hand it to an editor.
- Export formats. Check you can download in the formats your video or audio software uses.
AI music generators compared
| Tool | Best for | Stand-out feature |
|---|---|---|
| Suno | Full songs with vocals | Song generation from a text prompt |
| Udio | Songs in a wide range of styles | Detailed vocal and genre control |
| ElevenLabs Music | Songs for commercial projects | Music from the makers of ElevenLabs voices |
| AIVA | Instrumental and cinematic music | Editable compositions |
| Soundraw | Background music for videos | Customisable track sections |
| Mubert | Content creators | Text-to-music and royalty-free tracks |
| Beatoven.ai | Podcasts and video soundtracks | Music built around mood |
| Stable Audio | Short tracks and sound effects | Text-to-audio from Stability AI |
Plans and features change often, so check each vendor's current plans before you commit.
The best AI music generators for business
1. Suno
Suno is one of the best-known AI music generators. You type a description, or your own lyrics, and it creates a complete song with vocals and instruments in the style you ask for.
Who it suits: businesses that want a jingle, a theme song or a fun track for social media.
What stands out: how complete the songs feel. You get vocals, structure and production from one short prompt.
Watch out for: commercial use rights depend on your plan, so check the terms before you use a track in an advert or client work.
2. Udio
Udio generates songs from text prompts, with control over genre, mood and lyrics. It's known for vocals that sound natural across a wide range of musical styles.
Who it suits: creators who want to experiment with different genres until a track fits.
What stands out: range. It handles very different styles, from acoustic to electronic.
Watch out for: Udio has been changing how it works following agreements with record labels, so check the current download and usage terms before you rely on it.
3. ElevenLabs Music
ElevenLabs is best known for AI voices, and its music generator creates songs and instrumentals from a text prompt. You can shape the style, structure and lyrics, and it's aimed at commercial projects.
Who it suits: businesses that already use ElevenLabs for voiceovers and want music in the same place.
What stands out: having voices, sound effects and music in one tool, which suits video and podcast work.
Watch out for: it's newer than the specialist music tools, so compare a few tracks against Suno or Udio for your style.
4. AIVA
AIVA is an AI composer known for instrumental music, especially cinematic, classical and ambient pieces. You choose a style, generate a composition and then edit it.
Who it suits: businesses that want soundtrack-style music for videos, presentations or games.
What stands out: editing. You can change the composition and download MIDI files to work with in other music software.
Watch out for: it's built for instrumental music, so look elsewhere if you need vocals.
5. Soundraw
Soundraw creates royalty-free background music you can customise. You pick a genre, mood and length, then adjust sections of the track so it fits your video.
Who it suits: video creators and marketers who need background music that fits an exact length.
What stands out: control over structure. You can lengthen, shorten or change the energy of parts of a track.
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Watch out for: it's built for background tracks, not songs with vocals.
6. Mubert
Mubert generates royalty-free music from text prompts or by genre and mood. It's popular with content creators who need tracks for videos, streams and podcasts.
Who it suits: YouTubers, streamers and social media creators who publish often.
What stands out: speed. You can create a fresh track for each piece of content quickly.
Watch out for: check the licence for each use, as the terms for personal, creator and business use differ.
7. Beatoven.ai
Beatoven.ai creates background music for videos and podcasts. You choose a genre and mood, and it composes a track you can adjust as the mood changes through your content.
Who it suits: podcasters and video makers who want music that supports what's being said.
What stands out: mood control. You can shift the feel of the music at different points in a track.
Watch out for: it's aimed at background music, so it won't suit you if you want a catchy song.
8. Stable Audio
Stable Audio from Stability AI generates music and sound effects from text prompts. You describe the sound, tempo and instruments and it creates an audio clip.
Who it suits: creators who want short tracks, loops or sound effects for videos and adverts.
What stands out: sound design. It's useful for effects and textures as well as music.
Watch out for: results vary with how you write the prompt, so expect to try a few versions.
How to choose the right AI music generator
Start with what the music is for. If you want a song with vocals, such as a jingle or a fun social post, try Suno, Udio or ElevenLabs Music. If you need background music that sits under a voice, Soundraw, Beatoven.ai and Mubert are built for that, and AIVA suits instrumental pieces with a cinematic feel.
Then read the licence, because it matters as much as the sound. Check whether you own the track or just have a licence to use it, whether you can use it in adverts and client work, and whether platforms such as YouTube may flag it. Keep a note of which tool and account created each track in case you're ever asked.
If you want to start without signing up to anything, see my guide on where to create AI music for free and my list of AI music generators that work without a subscription. For ideas on using music in your marketing, read about music collaboration as a marketing strategy.
Building a tool in this space? Here's how tools get considered for my roundups.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI music generator?
Suno is the best known for full songs with vocals. Udio and ElevenLabs Music are strong alternatives, AIVA suits instrumental music, and Soundraw, Beatoven.ai and Mubert suit background tracks for videos and podcasts.
Can I use AI music commercially?
Often yes, but it depends on the tool and your plan. Read the licence terms before using a track in adverts, client work or monetised videos.
Can AI music generators make songs with vocals?
Yes. Suno, Udio and ElevenLabs Music create songs with vocals and lyrics. AIVA, Soundraw, Beatoven.ai and Mubert focus mainly on instrumental music.
Will AI music get flagged on YouTube?
It can happen, especially with tracks other people can also create. Keep proof of your licence and check whether the tool offers help with disputing a claim.
