Royalty free music for videos is music you can use without paying a fee every time the video is played, but it isn't always free and it often comes with conditions. Some sites ask you to credit the artist, others need a licence or subscription. Nine sites follow in no particular order, with what each page says about free use.
Music makes or breaks a video, and the wrong track can get it muted or claimed. Most creators grab whatever comes up first, then find out about the licence later.
The nine sites below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. I read each site's own page this week, as of Oct 2026. If you'd rather make your own background track, my guide to free AI background music for videos covers the AI route.
Royalty free music sites side by side
I checked the free plan column on each site's own page, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page says its music is free to use or free to download and use. Not stated means the page I read didn't say so in plain words, so check the licence on the site before you publish.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audionautix | Free music library | Genre-sorted production music, including commercial use | Yes |
| Bensound | Royalty free music | Tracks picked for video creators | Not stated |
| ccMixter | Remix community | Liberally licensed tracks you credit | Yes |
| Chosic | Free music library | Background music for YouTube and social posts | Yes |
| Fesliyan Studios | Free music library | Background music sorted by mood | Not stated |
| Free Music Archive | Free music archive | Royalty free tracks for all kinds of projects | Not stated |
| Mixkit | Free stock music | Quick MP3 downloads for videos | Not stated |
| TuneTank | Music library | Music for YouTube, TikTok and podcasts | Not stated |
| YouTube Audio Library | YouTube's own library | Copyright-safe tracks inside YouTube Studio | Not stated |
Nine places to find music for your videos
Audionautix
Best for: Anyone who wants free production music by one composer, Jason Shaw, sorted by genre, and who need it to cover commercial use too.
Bensound
Best for: Video creators who want polished royalty-free tracks from a site with its own menu link for dealing with a claim on YouTube.
ccMixter
Best for: Video makers happy to give credit in return for liberally licensed remixes, since the site says its music is free to use if you credit it.
Chosic
Best for: YouTubers and social media creators after background music sorted by genre and mood, which the site says is free to use even commercially.
Fesliyan Studios
Best for: People who search by feel, with royalty-free background music grouped into moods like happy, funny, suspenseful and action, plus a published music policy.
Free Music Archive
Best for: Anyone browsing royalty-free and free-to-download tracks for a project, from an archive that's now powered by Tribe of Noise.
Mixkit
Best for: Editors who want a royalty-free MP3 for a video, fast, from a stock music page built around quick downloads.
TuneTank
Best for: Creators publishing on YouTube, TikTok and podcasts who want a royalty-free library with a licence page published up front.
YouTube Audio Library
Best for: YouTubers who want copyright-safe music and sound effects without ever leaving YouTube Studio, which is where the library lives.
Which music site for which job
- You need music for a client video or an ad: Audionautix or Chosic, which both say commercial use is covered.
- You only post on YouTube: YouTube Audio Library.
- You're happy to credit the artist: ccMixter.
- You search by mood rather than genre: Fesliyan Studios.
- You post across TikTok, YouTube and podcasts: TuneTank.
Royalty free doesn't mean no rules
YouTube's own help page on the Audio Library says that if you use a track with a Creative Commons license, you must credit the artist in your video's description. The same page says Audio Library tracks are copyright-safe (YouTube Help, read 28 Oct 2026).
The one word, free, covers three very different deals: music in the public domain, Creative Commons music you have to credit, and licences that only last while you're paying. Read the licence line on the track page, not the label on the home page, and add the credit to your description the moment you upload.
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Licensing is also behind the message explained in sound availability on TikTok.
One site I took off this list
FreePD was a public domain music site plenty of creators relied on. When I checked it this week, its home page said the site has closed after 17 years. If an old tutorial sends you there, use one of the nine above instead, and keep a note of the licence for anything you downloaded before.
If you'd like to understand what you're listening to, see music theory apps.
Four checks before you publish a video with music
- Read the licence on the track page and screenshot it with the date.
- Add the credit line to your description if the licence asks for one.
- Check that ads or client work are covered, not just your own channel.
- Keep the download email or account history in case a claim turns up later.
Do you make a royalty free music library or a music licensing platform? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a music site
Match the licence to where the video goes. For your own YouTube channel, the built-in library is the safest place to start. For client work or ads, pick a site that says commercial use is covered and keep proof of the licence. And credit artists whenever you're asked to, because it takes ten seconds and heads off a dispute later.
If you're editing short clips, my comparison of video editing apps for Reels and TikTok will help you pick where to drop the track in.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is royalty free music?
It's music you can use without paying a royalty each time your video is played. It isn't always free, and many sites still set conditions such as a credit or a licence.
Where can I get free music for YouTube videos?
YouTube's own Audio Library in YouTube Studio has royalty-free music and sound effects, and several sites on this list say their music is free to use.
Do you have to credit royalty free music?
Sometimes. YouTube Help says tracks with a Creative Commons license must be credited in your video's description, so check each track's licence.
Can I use royalty free music in commercial videos?
Only if the licence says so. Some sites on this list say their music is free to use even commercially, but always check the track page.
Is FreePD still available?
When I checked in Oct 2026, the FreePD home page said the site had closed.
