Music is one of the most essential elements in creating engaging YouTube videos. Whether you’re vlogging, posting tutorials, or live gaming, the right music can elevate your content to help get you more views and subscribers and grow your channel.
However, finding the perfect music to soundtrack your video, while at the same time avoiding copyright claims or strikes, can be challenging. That’s where using free YouTube music websites can come in handy. YouTube music websites offer offer high-quality, royalty-free music for creators to use in their videos, worry and copyright-free.
In this top 5 guide, we’ll break down the best free YouTube music websites for video creators. All of these music websites are free to use and have a wide range of songs, easy licensing, and trusted by creators. Best of all, using music from these sites will make sure your video stay copyright-free.
✔️ Comparison & Scorecard
✔️ Tips for Using Free Songs
What Makes a Great YouTube Music Website?
When choosing the right YouTube music website for your videos, there are a few important factors to consider:
- Variety: A good YouTube music website should offer a wide range of songs in different genres and moods.
- Licensing: The site should clearly explain how you can use the music, especially if attribution or credit is required.
- Ease of Use: The website should be easy to navigate, with a simple process for downloading and using music in your videos.
- Quality: You’ll want a music selection that sounds professional and matches the mood and style of your content.
With these factors in mind, let’s dive into the best free YouTube music websites you can use for your videos. You can check out our comparison & scorecard here to see which YouTube music site comes out on top!
Top 5 Free YouTube Music Websites for Video Creators
1. Thematic
Overview: Thematic is a platform specifically designed for video creators looking for royalty-free music. It offers curated playlists, high-quality songs from real music artists, and simple licensing options that make it easy to find the perfect soundtrack for your videos.
✅ Pros:
- Curated playlists make it easy to find the right music quickly.
- High-quality songs from real music artists (no boring production music).
- Clear and easy licensing for YouTube videos and social media.
- Made by creators for creators and has an active creator community.
- Helps you get your videos discovered by new viewers as creator videos are featured throughout the site.
👎 Cons:
- Requires signing-up for an account to access the music. It is free to sign-up with Google or an email address.
- Not all songs are available for free. Some songs are exclusive to creators on a paid subscription. However, all songs start out free for all creators.
- Downloads are limited for creators on the free plan. That said, creators can easily unlock unlimited free downloads by earning points on Thematic (by rating songs and engaging with the site).
How to Use Thematic: Sign up for a free account and instantly discover music matched to your video themes and favorite types of music. You can browse through the curated playlists, filter by mood, genre or video keyword, or follow your favorite creators to see the songs they love to use in their YouTube videos. Download songs for free and simply include the provided license link in your video description to keep your video copyright claim free.
2. YouTube Audio Library
Overview: The YouTube Audio Library is a one-stop shop for free music and sound effects available directly on the YouTube platform. It’s one of the most convenient sources for new creators who want to find music that’s already cleared for use on YouTube.
✅ Pros:
- No copyright issues, as the music is provided by YouTube.
- Large selection of free tracks and sound effects.
- Most tracks don’t require attribution (though it’s good practice to check).
👎 Cons:
- The song selection from YouTube Audio Library is very limited compared to other YouTube music websites. Most of the songs are generic or basic production music.
- Many creators use the same tracks, so your music may not be unique.
- It can be difficult to discover songs you actually like as the only way to browse the music is by applying filters. There are no curated playlists or songs matched to your specific preferences.
- Some tracks still require attribution, which can be inconvenient.
How to Use: Simply log in to your YouTube account, navigate to the Audio Library in YouTube Studio, and start browsing. You can filter and browse songs by genre, mood, or instrument, and download them directly to your device. Keep in mind that some songs require credit and you may need to include specific text in your video description.
3. Free Music Archive (FMA)
Overview: The Free Music Archive offers a large selection of free-to-use music tracks, all licensed under Creative Commons. It’s a popular choice for creators looking to find unique music that is safe to use in videos.
✅ Pros:
- Great variety of songs in all genres.
- Most tracks are available under Creative Commons licenses, which makes them safe to use with proper attribution.
- Easy-to-use search filters for mood, genre, and more.
👎 Cons:
- Most of the tracks require attribution, which may not suit all creators’ needs.
- Some licensing terms can be confusing, so users must double-check usage rights.
- The interface can feel outdated and not as user-friendly as other platforms. This can make finding the right song for your videos challenging and time consuming.
How to Use: Visit the Free Music Archive website, search or browse the library, and download music. Make sure to pay attention to each song’s license details to ensure you’re using the music correctly and avoid copyright issues.
4. Incompetech
Overview: Created by composer Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech is one of the most well-known resources for royalty-free music. With hundreds of tracks available, it’s a go-to for many new video content creators.
✅ Pros:
- Large song selection that spans various genres.
- Clear licensing terms (usually requires attribution).
- Option to download all of the songs on the site at once (for a fee).
👎 Cons:
- Requires attribution for most songs, which may not be ideal for some creators.
- The music library is not as frequently updated compared to other platforms, so the music can feel stale or outdated.
- The website design and search functionality can be a bit clunky and outdated, which makes finding songs difficult.
How to Use: Search through Incompetech’s library, download the songs you like, and ensure you follow the attribution requirements listed for each song. We recommend checking out the site’s FAQ so you know exactly how to properly credit the music.
5. Bensound
Overview: Bensound offers a collection of free royalty-free music for both personal and commercial use. It’s a great resource for creators looking for professional-quality music with simple licensing terms.
✅ Pros:
- High-quality tracks that work well in professional videos.
- Simple and clear licensing terms.
- Offers both free and premium tracks.
👎 Cons:
- All free songs require attribution in your video description, and premium tracks require payment.
- Downloads are limited for free creators there are restrictions on how you can use the music depending on the subscription you select.
- Limited selection of free music compared to other platforms.
- Some of the most popular tracks are overused in many videos.
How to Use: Visit the Bensound website and search by mood or genre or download the songs you like. Just be sure to credit the music if you use the free version of this YouTube music website.
YouTube Music Website Comparison & Scorecard
| Platform | Variety | Licensing | Ease of Use | Quality | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🏆 18/20 |
| YouTube Audio Library | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | 14/20 |
| Free Music Archive (FMA) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 13/20 |
| Incompetech | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/20 |
| Bensound | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 13/20 |
Tips for Using Free Songs from YouTube Music Websites
- Always Check License Details: This is super important to make sure that your videos remain copyright free. Some of the music on these YouTube music websites require attribution, while others may have other restrictions on where and how the music can be used (such as in sponsored or branded content or on different social media sites and platforms). Always make sure you read the license details to avoid copyright issues.
- Select the Right Music for Your Content: Choose music that matches the tone and style of your video. Whether you’re making a fun vlog or a serious tutorial, the music should complement the content and not distract from it. You want your video to be loved by your viewers and subscribers, so consider your soundtrack thoughtfully.
👉 Bonus tip: by choosing trending music (not production), you can become a music tastemaker by introducing your audience to great new songs from up-and-coming music artists. - Edit the Music to Fit Your Video: If necessary, use basic editing tools to trim the music or adjust the volume to fit your video’s timing and mood. Again, you want the music to help you tell your video’s story, not become a distraction or take away from the vibe.
You’re ready to get free music for your videos!
As you can see, using the right music for YouTube videos can make all the difference in capturing your audience’s attention and turning casual viewers into longtime subscribers. With these top free YouTube music websites and channels, you’ll have access to high-quality, royalty-free tracks that will enhance your content without the risk of copyright claims or legal issues. We recommend checking out each site to see which one best fits your vibe and has the music that will take your videos to the next level.
Ready to dive into these websites and start creating content? Check out Thematic or any of these free YouTube music websites today and elevate your YouTube videos with an epic soundtrack.
Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.
