- Five legal music libraries and the job each one does
- Music libraries side by side
- Creative Commons, YouTube and Jamendo rules in plain English
- Why a cleared track can still get a Content ID claim
- Getting a track into your video without a copyright headache
- Reels, podcasts and demos: where this music ends up
- Frequently asked questions
The short version: Free Music Archive, Jamendo, the YouTube Audio Library, Pixabay and SoundCloud all let you download music free and legally in 2026. What changes from one to the next is the licence, so free to listen isn't the same as free to put in your video or your ad.
People ask me where to get free music for two very different reasons. Some just want songs on their phone without a streaming app. Others are creators and small business owners who need a track under a reel, a podcast or a product video. The sources overlap, but the rules don't, and mixing the two up is how a perfectly innocent video ends up with a copyright claim.
Five legal music libraries and the job each one does
In no particular order, and each one is best for a different job:
- Free Music Archive: best for independent tracks under Creative Commons licences, with a filter to search by the use you need.
- Jamendo: best for browsing playlists by mood and genre, with a free download button on its listening side.
- YouTube Audio Library: best for creators who publish on YouTube and want music and sound effects cleared for their videos.
- Pixabay: best for background music under the same no-attribution licence as its photos and illustrations.
- SoundCloud: best for tracks the uploader has chosen to make downloadable.
Music libraries side by side
| Source | Best for | What to check before you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Free Music Archive | Creative Commons tracks | The licence shown on the left of each track page |
| Jamendo | Mood and genre playlists | The Creative Commons licence the artist picked for that work |
| YouTube Audio Library | YouTube videos | Whether the track needs an attribution line in your description |
| Pixabay | Background music | No attribution needed, no redistributing tracks untouched |
| SoundCloud | Single tracks | Whether the uploader turned downloads on |
Licences and download options change, so check the track page before you rely on any of this.
Creative Commons, YouTube and Jamendo rules in plain English
Free Music Archive puts it plainly in its own FAQ: you don't need an account to listen, but free doesn't mean you can use, alter or build on every song without conditions. Most of its music sits under Creative Commons licences, which means the songs are still copyright protected and some rules apply before you reuse them. The licence for each track appears on the left of the track page, and there's a license filter so you can search only for the use you have in mind.
Jamendo works the same way from the artist side. Its terms say every artist has to choose a Creative Commons licence for each work or album when they publish, and that choice decides what you can do with it. So two songs on the same playlist can carry different rules.
The YouTube Audio Library is the cleanest option if your video lives on YouTube. YouTube describes the music and sound effects there as copyright-safe and says you can monetise videos that use them if you're in the YouTube Partner Program. The library sits inside YouTube Studio, you download tracks as MP3 files, and new releases are added twice a month. The one rule people miss: if a track carries a Creative Commons licence, you must credit the artist in your video description, and YouTube gives you a copy button for the exact attribution text.
Why a cleared track can still get a Content ID claim
A Creative Commons licence and a YouTube copyright claim can both be true at the same time. Free Music Archive's FAQ explains that some of its artists register their music with YouTube's Content ID system, and that this doesn't conflict with the Creative Commons licence. So a track you were allowed to use can still get flagged. Free Music Archive can't clear those claims for you, because it doesn't license the music itself. Its advice is to contact the artist directly, and some are happy to sort it out.
Pixabay's licence summary applies to all of its content, music included: free to use, no attribution required, and you can adapt it into new work. What you can't do is redistribute the content on a standalone basis, meaning the file unchanged with no creative effort added.
SoundCloud has its own quirk. Its help centre says you can only download a track if the person who uploaded it switched downloads on, you have to be signed in, and only individual tracks can be downloaded, not whole playlists. If there's no download button, that's the uploader's choice, not a bug.
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Getting a track into your video without a copyright headache
- Decide the job first: listening on your own device, or putting music in something you'll publish.
- For a YouTube video, start in the Audio Library inside YouTube Studio and filter by attribution.
- For anything else, search Free Music Archive with the license filter set to your use.
- Open the track page and read the licence before you download.
- Copy the attribution text if the licence asks for it, and paste it where the licence says.
- Keep a note of where each track came from, so you can answer a claim quickly if one appears.
Reels, podcasts and demos: where this music ends up
Free, clearly licensed music works well under reels, podcast intros, product demos and slideshows. It's weaker when you want a recognisable chart song, which almost never comes free for reuse. If you're adding the track in an editor, my guide on adding music in CapCut walks through it, and if you're posting Shorts, read whether YouTube Shorts can use copyrighted music before you hit publish. Musicians looking for scores rather than recordings will find my list of free sheet music sites more useful.
My advice: treat every free track as borrowed, not owned. Read the licence, credit when asked, and keep your receipts in a simple note. It takes a moment and saves a lot of stress later.
Run a free music site that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to download free music?
Yes, from sources where the artist or rights holder has allowed it, such as Free Music Archive, Jamendo, the YouTube Audio Library and downloads an uploader has switched on in SoundCloud. Downloading copyrighted songs from sites that don't have permission isn't legal.
Can I use free music in my YouTube videos?
Music from the YouTube Audio Library is described by YouTube as copyright-safe and can be used in monetised videos if you're in the YouTube Partner Program. If the track has a Creative Commons licence, you must credit the artist in your video description.
Why did my video get a copyright claim on a Creative Commons song?
Some artists register their music with YouTube's Content ID system, which doesn't conflict with a Creative Commons licence. Free Music Archive recommends contacting the artist directly, as it can't clear Content ID claims itself.
Do I need an account to download free music?
Not always. Free Music Archive says you don't need an account to listen. SoundCloud requires you to be signed in to download, and only tracks the uploader has made downloadable.
Can I download a whole SoundCloud playlist?
No. SoundCloud's help centre says only individual tracks can be downloaded, and only when the uploader has turned downloads on.
