Royalty-free music and SFX library, official TikTok Sound Partner.
Alternatives
Epidemic Sound alternatives (free and cheaper) (2026)
YouTube's native dashboard for uploading, scheduling and analyzing Shorts, with free audio library.
Free music and SFX under a license allowing commercial use without attribution.
TikTok's pre-cleared royalty-free music library for business accounts.
Creator-focused music platform with a free tier of 3 downloads a month.
Royalty-free music, SFX and footage with a universal license.
Short answer: for a free Epidemic Sound alternative, use YouTube Audio Library for YouTube-only videos and Pixabay Music for anything you cross-post. Its licence allows commercial use without attribution. Uppbeat has a small free tier that needs a credit line in each video. For TikTok business accounts, use the TikTok Commercial Music Library. If you need a paid subscription, Soundstripe starts at $9.99/mo and Artlist AI Starter at $11.99/mo billed yearly. Choose based on the licence terms, not the size of the catalog.
How Epidemic Sound works and what it costs
Epidemic Sound has no free plan, only a free trial. Its pricing page, checked 13 October 2026, names Creator and Pro plans with no long-term contract, plus Enterprise with a 12-month minimum. Ads are allowed only on Pro or Enterprise. Yearly billing is discounted. Epidemic's own blog lists Creator at $9.99/mo billed yearly or $17.99 billed monthly, and Pro at $16.99/mo yearly or $39.99 monthly. Creator covers your own channels; Pro adds client work and ads.
The part most people miss is what happens when you cancel. Epidemic says you can keep using it until your plan's end date, and it doesn't offer prorated refunds. Its Creator plan page says "All content published during a free trial or an active subscription is cleared forever," if your channels were safelisted. Anything published after the subscription ends is not cleared, and that includes tracks you downloaded but never used.
Free alternatives
YouTube Audio Library
Type: Free, inside YouTube Studio. Free plan: free music and sound effects. Some tracks require attribution, which is noted on each track. Paid: none. Best for: YouTube-only uploads, where Content ID problems are least likely.
Pixabay Music
Type: Free library. Free plan: free, and its licence allows commercial use without attribution. Paid: none. Best for: cross-posting the same edit to Shorts, TikTok and Reels.
TikTok Commercial Music Library
Type: Free, inside TikTok. Free plan: pre-cleared tracks for business accounts. Paid: none. Best for: brand accounts posting on TikTok. The clearance covers TikTok only, so don't reuse the audio on YouTube.
Uppbeat
Type: Freemium. Free plan: a small monthly download allowance, with a credit line in each video description. Paid: check current pricing on Uppbeat; its site blocked our requests. Best for: creators who only need a few tracks a month and want a creator-focused catalog.
Paid subscriptions
Artlist
Type: Subscription. Free plan: none. Paid: AI Starter is $11.99/mo billed yearly ($19.99 monthly); stock Music & SFX plan prices were not shown on its pricing page. Best for: creators who also want footage or AI songs and voiceover from one company.
Soundstripe
Type: Subscription. Free plan: none. Paid: from $9.99/mo for the Individual plan, or single-track licences from $49. Best for: people who need one track for a client job without subscribing.
Envato Elements
Type: Subscription. Free plan: none. Paid: Core is $16.50/mo billed yearly, or $39 monthly. Best for: editors who also use templates and stock media.
Musicbed
Type: Subscription. Free plan: none. Paid: prices are not shown on its plans page; check current pricing on Musicbed. Best for: cinematic, artist-led tracks for higher-end videos.
Lickd
Type: Per-track licences. Free plan: none. Paid: paid, per track. Best for: using mainstream chart music on YouTube with claim protection.
Summary table
| Tool | Starts at | Free plan | Watermark on free | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemic Sound | $9.99/mo yearly ($17.99 monthly) | Trial only | No free plan | Baseline |
| YouTube Audio Library | Free | Yes | None (some tracks need a credit) | YouTube-only uploads |
| Pixabay Music | Free | Yes, no attribution | None | Cross-posting |
| TikTok CML | Free | Business accounts | None | TikTok brand accounts |
| Uppbeat | Check Uppbeat | Small allowance | None, but credit line required | A few tracks a month |
| Artlist | $11.99/mo yearly (AI Starter) | No | No free plan | Music plus footage or AI |
| Soundstripe | $9.99/mo | No | No free plan | Single-track client licences |
| Envato Elements | $16.50/mo yearly | No | No free plan | Templates plus audio |
| Musicbed | Check Musicbed | No | No free plan | Cinematic tracks |
| Lickd | Per track | No | No free plan | Chart music |
Which to pick
- Best for YouTube-only creators on no budget: YouTube Audio Library.
- Best free option for cross-posting: Pixabay Music.
- Best for occasional client jobs: Soundstripe single-track licences, so you don't carry a subscription.
- Best if you also buy footage and templates: Envato Elements or Artlist.
- Stay on Epidemic Sound if you publish every week and want music and SFX cleared on one channel per platform.
What you give up by switching
Leaving Epidemic doesn't touch videos you already published while subscribed. But any new upload that uses an Epidemic track after you cancel is not cleared, so re-edit old project files before you reuse them. A worked example: Epidemic Creator billed yearly costs $119.88 a year ($9.99 x 12); paying monthly costs $215.88 ($17.99 x 12). If you publish fewer than one video a month, a free library or one-off licences usually cost less.
See also royalty-free music for YouTube and copyright-free music for monetized videos.
Questions
Is there a free Epidemic Sound alternative?
Yes. YouTube Audio Library and Pixabay Music are free. Uppbeat has a small free allowance with a credit line. TikTok's Commercial Music Library is free for business accounts, but only for use on TikTok.
What is a cheaper alternative to Epidemic Sound?
Soundstripe's Individual plan starts at $9.99/mo, the same as Epidemic Creator billed yearly. Uppbeat has a free tier; check its site for current paid prices.
What happens to my Epidemic Sound music if I cancel?
Videos you published while subscribed (and safelisted) stay cleared. New uploads after you cancel are not cleared, even with tracks you downloaded earlier. Refunds are not prorated.
Can I use Epidemic Sound in ads?
Only on Pro or Enterprise, according to its pricing page.
Sources: Epidemic Sound pricing; Pixabay license summary; YouTube Audio Library help; Uppbeat help center; Epidemic Sound Creator plan; Epidemic Sound blog (plan prices); Artlist pricing; Soundstripe pricing; Envato Elements pricing. Checked on 13 October 2026. Based on published plans, not a hands-on test.