Royalty-free music, SFX and footage with a universal license.
Head-to-head
Artlist vs Epidemic Sound (2026): which music library should you use?
Royalty-free music and SFX library, official TikTok Sound Partner.
Short answer: Epidemic Sound is the simpler pick if you want one music and sound-effects subscription for YouTube, TikTok and podcasts, with a free trial. Artlist now sells two kinds of plans: AI plans (AI songs, voiceover, images and video, with a commercial licence) and separate stock catalog plans for music, SFX and footage. Pick Artlist if you also want footage or AI tools under one brand.
Quick verdict
- Pick Epidemic Sound if you mainly need music and SFX for a channel, want a free trial, and like a plain "unlimited downloads and usage" promise.
- Pick Artlist if you want stock footage and music from one company, or AI-generated songs and voiceover under a commercial licence (AI Starter from $11.99/mo yearly).
Side-by-side comparison
| Artlist | Epidemic Sound | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No free plan; you can generate some free samples | No free plan; free trial (length not stated) |
| Plans | AI Starter, AI Core, AI Creator, Business; plus stock plans (Music & SFX, Sound Effects Pro, Footage & Templates, Max) | Creator, Pro, Business, Enterprise |
| Published prices | AI Starter $19.99/mo or $11.99/mo yearly; AI Core $39.99 or $23.99; AI Creator $69.99 or about $41.67. Stock plan prices not on the page we read | Creator $9.99/mo yearly or $17.99 monthly; Pro $16.99/mo yearly or $39.99 monthly (Epidemic's blog) |
| Catalog | Stock music, SFX and footage (sizes not stated); AI songs on AI plans (110/mo on AI Starter) | 55,000+ tracks, 250,000+ sound effects |
| Licence | AI plans: "covers commercial use"; Business adds indemnification | Unlimited downloads and usage, copyright protection, royalty-free; ad campaigns need Pro or Enterprise |
| Cancelling | Not stated on the pricing page | Monthly plans, no minimum (Enterprise 12 months); no prorated refunds |
| Footage | Yes, separate stock plan | No |
The licence questions creators actually ask
Paid ads: Epidemic says ad campaigns need Pro or Enterprise, so Creator alone isn't enough for sponsored or paid campaigns. Artlist's AI plans say the licence covers commercial use; its stock plan terms weren't on the page we read.
After you cancel: Epidemic's pricing page says you can use the service until your plan ends. It doesn't say on that page what happens to videos already published, so read their licence terms before cancelling. Artlist's pricing page doesn't cover this either.
Content ID: Epidemic lists "copyright protection" on all plans. Neither pricing page explains claim clearing in detail, so check each help center.
What a year costs
Using the published prices: Epidemic Creator billed yearly is $119.88 a year, and Artlist AI Starter billed yearly is $143.88 ($11.99 x 12). Epidemic Pro, which you need for ads or client work, is $203.88 a year. Artlist's stock Music & SFX price wasn't on its pricing page, so we can't put the like-for-like stock plans side by side; check current pricing on Artlist.
Epidemic's Creator plan page adds one rule that matters for the budget: anything you publish after cancelling is not cleared, including tracks you downloaded while subscribed. Budget for it as an ongoing cost for as long as you publish new videos with its music.
Which should you pick?
- YouTuber who only needs music and SFX: Epidemic Sound. A large SFX library, a trial to test it, and plugins.
- Editor who buys footage too: Artlist, on a stock plan that bundles footage.
- You want AI music plus voiceover in one bill: Artlist AI Starter.
- You want to spend nothing: neither. Try the YouTube Audio Library first.
Questions
Is Artlist or Epidemic Sound better for YouTube?
For music and sound effects only, Epidemic Sound is the more direct fit: 55,000+ tracks, 250,000+ SFX, and copyright protection on every plan. Artlist makes sense if you also want footage or AI tools.
Is Epidemic Sound free?
No. It has a free trial, not a free plan. The trial length isn't stated on the pricing page.
Does Artlist have a free plan?
No free plan is listed. Artlist lets you generate some free voiceovers, images, a video and music to try its AI tools.
Can I use Epidemic Sound music in ads?
Only on Pro or Enterprise, according to Epidemic's pricing FAQ.
Sources: artlist.io/pricing, epidemicsound.com/pricing, Epidemic Sound blog (its own plan prices), Epidemic Sound Creator plan. Checked on 13 October 2026. Based on published plans, not a hands-on test.