Starts atPaid from $11.99/mo billed yearly
- No free plan
- Watermark on free exports
- Commercial use on paid plans
Head-to-head
Lickd vs Artlist: chart music or a royalty-free library?
At a glance
Starts atPaid
- No free option listed
They sell different music. Lickd licenses mainstream, chart music for YouTube videos, from $8 a track, priced by your average views. Artlist sells a subscription to a royalty-free library and AI tools, from $11.99/month billed yearly. Pick Artlist for everyday background music. Pick Lickd when a video needs a song people know.
Quick verdict
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Artlist | Lickd |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Royalty-free music, sound effects, footage and AI tools | Licenses for mainstream tracks, plus royalty-free tracks |
| Price | AI Starter: $11.99/month yearly. Stock music plans not priced on the page we checked | From $8 per track; plans priced by average views |
| Free plan | No. Free AI samples | No. 30-day money-back guarantee if no credit used |
| Claims | Not covered on the pricing page | "All your copyright claims crushed" |
| Platforms | License covers commercial use | Priced from YouTube views; TikTok and Instagram not stated on Lickd's pricing page (checked 16 Oct 2026) |
| Best for | Daily background music | Hero songs in YouTube videos |
Use both
Many YouTubers use a library like Artlist for most videos and buy a Lickd track only for a video that needs a known song. Lickd prices go up with views, so a big channel pays more per track.
Which one for Shorts, TikTok and Reels?
- Background music on every Short: Artlist.
- A known song in a YouTube video: Lickd.
- TikTok and Reels: Lickd does not say it covers them. Use in-app sounds or a library you hold rights to.
How to choose
- Decide if you need a known song or just good background music.
- For background music, start with Artlist.
- For a known song, enter your average views in Lickd's calculator.
- Keep license records for every claim dispute.
Common questions
Is Lickd worth it?
If you need mainstream music on YouTube, it is one of the few legal routes, from $8 a track.
Does Lickd work for TikTok?
Its pricing page does not say it covers TikTok or Instagram.
Is Artlist royalty-free?
Yes. Its license covers commercial use.
Related: Artlist vs Epidemic Sound, Artlist vs Musicbed, royalty-free music.
Sources: artlist.io/pricing, lickd.co/pricing. Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.