Music can make or break your YouTube video. Whether you’re vlogging, gaming, or sharing tutorials, the right soundtrack helps set the tone, boost engagement, and keep viewers watching longer.
But finding high-quality music that’s both free and safe to use – without risking copyright claims or monetization issues – can be tough. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best free music websites for YouTube creators, so you can elevate your content with confidence and stay 100% copyright-safe.
In this top 5 guide, we’ll break down the best free music websites for YouTube 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.
✔️ Free Music Website Comparison
✔️ Tips for Using Free Songs
What to Look for in a Free Music Website
Not all royalty-free music sites are created equal. As a creator, you want more than just “free” – you want quality, a guarantee of no copyright issues, and creator-friendliness. Here’s what to consider when choosing the right music source for your videos:
🎵 Music Variety. A great music website should offer a wide range of genres, moods, and tempos – so you can match music to any moment, whether it’s a chill vlog or a fast-paced montage.
✅ Clear Licensing. You shouldn’t need a law degree to understand how to use the music. Look for sites that make it easy to know when credit is required and whether tracks are cleared for monetization.
⚡ Ease of Use. Downloading and using music should be frictionless. A clean UI, fast search, and helpful filters go a long way when you’re editing on a deadline.
🎚️ Professional Quality. Your content deserves music that sounds as polished as your production. Lo-fi is fine – low-quality is not.
With these factors in mind, let’s explore the best free music websites for YouTube creators – and see how they stack up in our side-by-side comparison scorecard.
Top 5 Free Music Websites for YouTube 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 free 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.
Free Music Website Comparison
| Website | Best For | Cost | License Type | Standout Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic | YouTube & TikTok creators | Free (credit required) | Royalty-free, monetized-safe | Built for creators, curated playlists, auto-attribution, no strikes |
| YouTube Audio Library | Beginners needing native YouTube tracks | Free | Public domain & attribution | Native to YouTube, reliable but limited in style/quality |
| Free Music Archive (FMA) | Indie/experimental content | Free | Creative Commons / varied | Massive archive, but inconsistent licensing and quality |
| Incompetech | Simple background music for projects | Free (with credit) | Creative Commons / royalty-free | Long-time staple, but dated UI and limited track diversity |
| Bensound | Corporate videos & casual vloggers | Free (with credit) | Royalty-free / CC | Friendly UX, but restrictive free use terms |
🏆 Why Thematic Wins:
- Specifically built for YouTube and TikTok creators who want trending, aesthetic music
- Every song is cleared for monetization (no copyright claims)
- Curated, trending playlists by vibe, genre, and video type
- Auto-attribution makes compliance effortless
- Free to use, no complex licensing jargon
Thematic is more than a music library – it’s a creator-powered ecosystem.
Tips for Using Free Music in Your YouTube Videos
Using royalty-free music is a great move – but to get the most out of it (and stay strike-free), keep these pro tips in mind:
✅ Always Read the License
Even “free” music can come with conditions. Some of the music on these free music websites, while others may restrict use in sponsored content or across certain video platforms. Always check the license details before you publish to avoid copyright flags or monetization issues.
🎯 Match the Music to Your Video’s Vibe
The right track should enhance your content, not distract from it. Whether you’re sharing a chill day-in-the-life vlog or a high-energy tutorial, your soundtrack should match the tone and keep your audience engaged and grow your channel.
👉 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 Your Track for Flow
Trim the song. Loop it. Lower the volume under voiceover. Don’t be afraid to customize your music to fit your video’s pace and emotional beats. Great editing = a better viewer experience.
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 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 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.
