Where to Find Free Music: Best Sites & Apps
You know that feeling when you need a song for a video, a background track for a social post, or just something new to listen to — but your wallet says no. The good news is that finding free music legally and safely is easier than ever, whether you’re a creator on YouTube or a casual listener.
Music streaming users worldwide: 523 million paid subscribers as of 2023 · Free music apps listed in roundup: 25 · Top royalty-free site downloads per month: over 1 million tracks · Spotify free tier active users: 220 million
Quick snapshot
- Free Music Archive provides free downloads of independent music (Free Music Archive)
- Pixabay music tracks are free for commercial use without attribution (Pixabay)
- Bensound offers royalty free music cleared for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram (Bensound)
- Exact number of daily new tracks added to Free Music Archive is not publicly tracked
- Long-term viability of some free apps if they change business models
- Steady rise in royalty-free music usage: Soundstripe catalog now nearly 120,000 tracks (Soundstripe)
- More creators likely to turn to royalty-free libraries as copyright enforcement tightens, especially with AI-generated music copyright uncertainty (Silverman Sound)
The table below compares the key features of the top free music sources.
| Feature | Free Music Archive | Pixabay Music | Bensound | Spotify Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free | Free (with attribution option) | Free (ad-supported) |
| Legal for commercial use | Yes, many tracks open source | Yes, all tracks royalty free | Yes, with attribution or license purchase | No (streaming only, not for download/use in projects) |
| Download allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (offline with premium) |
| Library size | Thousands of tracks | Thousands of tracks | Hundreds of tracks | Over 100 million tracks |
| Best for | Independent music discovery | Video projects, social media | YouTube, Facebook, Instagram | Casual listening |
Four sites, one pattern: free doesn’t always mean the same thing. The first three are built for creators who need to clear rights; the last is for listeners who don’t mind ads.
What is the best site for free music?
If you’re looking for a single destination that balances legality, safety, and ease of use, the answer depends on what you’re making. For creators, the YouTube Audio Library is a top-tier first stop: it’s directly integrated into YouTube Studio, and every track is copyright-safe, meaning it won’t trigger Content ID claims. But its selection is limited to production music and sound effects. If you’re exploring free creative resources, you might also be interested in our guide on Free Online Drawing Courses.
Best royalty free music sites compared
- Free Music Archive — open access to independent artists, free to download and share. (Free Music Archive)
- Pixabay Music — all tracks royalty free and free for commercial use, no attribution required. (Pixabay)
- Bensound — royalty free music cleared for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. (Bensound)
- Soundstripe — subscription-based but every track is royalty free and pre-cleared; catalog of nearly 120,000 tracks. (Soundstripe)
For creators who need safety guarantees, YouTube Audio Library is the safest bet because YouTube itself certifies it. For more variety, Pixabay and Bensound are solid — just check their license terms before using in commercial projects.
What makes a free music site safe and legal
A site is safe when it explicitly states that its music is cleared for the platform you intend to use. YouTube’s own Audio Library is the gold standard: YouTube says music and sound effects downloaded from it are copyright-safe and will not be claimed through Content ID (YouTube Help). For third-party sites, look for “royalty free” and “cleared for YouTube” labels. Be wary of any site that doesn’t provide a clear license.
The pattern: the best site is the one that matches your specific use case — listening vs. creating, casual vs. commercial.
What music app is 100% free?
No major streaming app is “100% free” without trade-offs. The most popular ones offer free tiers that are ad-supported, with limited skips or offline features. But they are free to install and use.
Free music streaming apps that don’t cost a dime
- Spotify Free — ad-supported, limited skips, available on web and mobile. 220 million active users. (Spotify)
- Pandora Free — ad-supported, limited skips, personalized radio. (Pandora)
- SoundCloud Free — ad-supported, access to millions of tracks from independent creators. (SoundCloud)
- YouTube Music Free — ad-supported, background play limited, access to official songs and user uploads. (YouTube Music)
Pros and cons of truly free apps
Upsides
- No upfront cost
- Access to massive music catalogs
- Available on multiple devices
Downsides
- Frequent ads interrupt listening
- Limited skips and offline access
- Lower audio quality on some apps
What this means: if you’re willing to tolerate ads, you can listen to almost any song for free. But if you need the music for a project, these apps don’t allow downloads for reuse.
How can I find songs for free?
Finding songs for free legally requires knowing where to look and how to filter. The process is straightforward once you have the right tools.
Step-by-step: finding free songs online
- Identify your need. Are you listening for pleasure or creating content? This determines the source.
- Use a dedicated free music archive. Free Music Archive lets you download and share independent music. Use the search filters to find tracks by genre, license type, or popularity.
- Check YouTube’s Audio Library. Access it via YouTube Studio (left menu). You can filter by genre, mood, instrument, and duration. Every track is safe to use. (YouTube Help)
- Search royalty-free platforms. Use Pixabay Music or Bensound and filter by license (e.g., “free for commercial use”).
- On SoundCloud, use the “royalty free” tag. Many independent artists release music under Creative Commons licenses. (SoundCloud)
The catch: even on “free” sites, some tracks require attribution. Always read the license before downloading.
Where can I listen to music for free without paying?
If you just want to listen — not download — the free tiers of major streaming apps are your best bet. They work on desktop and mobile, and you don’t need a credit card.
Free listening platforms for desktop and mobile
- Spotify Free — available on web, desktop app, and mobile app. Ad-supported, limited skips. (Spotify)
- SoundCloud Free — web and mobile. Huge catalog of independent music, podcasts, and more. (SoundCloud)
- YouTube Music Free — web and mobile. Combines official songs with user-uploaded content. (YouTube Music)
- Pandora Free — web and mobile. Radio-style listening with personalized stations. (Pandora)
Zero cost streaming options
All the above apps are truly free to use — no hidden fees, no trials that expire. The trade-off is that you’ll hear ads, and you can’t download songs for offline listening unless you pay. For casual listening at home or on the go, they work perfectly. A 2025 roundup from Lucid Samples highlights that free streaming is the dominant way people consume music, but it’s not suitable for creators who need to use the music in their own projects.
Why this matters: the choice between free streaming and free downloading depends on your role. Listeners have plenty of options; creators need to be more careful. If you’re also looking for free learning resources, check out our guide on Learning Spanish Free: Tips for Seniors & Dyslexia.
Where to find royalty free music for Facebook and YouTube
Royalty-free music is the key to avoiding copyright claims on social media. Several platforms specialize in tracks that are pre-cleared for these platforms.
Royalty free music for social media
- Pixabay Music — all tracks royalty free, free for commercial use, no attribution required. (Pixabay)
- Bensound — music is “copyright safe, cleared and ready to use for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok” (Bensound).
- Free Music Archive — many tracks are open source and can be shared legally. Check the license for each track. (Free Music Archive)
- YouTube Audio Library — built for YouTube, but also safe for use on other platforms if you own the rights to the video. (YouTube Help)
Free downloads for video projects
For video projects, you need a track that you can download and edit. The platforms above all allow free downloads. For example, a Reddit user in r/Filmmakers recommends Pixabay and Bensound as go-to resources for royalty free music for short films. A 2025 article from SFX Engine notes that safelisting features can automatically clear music on connected channels, helping prevent copyright claims.
The trade-off: free royalty-free music libraries are smaller than paid ones, but they cover the needs of most indie creators. If you need a specific mood or genre, you may need to search across multiple sites.
“Free Music Archive is free to play, download and share — instant access to independent artists.”
“Bensound music is copyright safe, cleared and ready to use for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.”
“Pixabay and Bensound are my go-to resources for royalty free music for short films.”
— Reddit user on r/Filmmakers
For creators in the US and Europe, the choice is clear: use YouTube Audio Library for safety, Pixabay for variety, and Bensound for specific social media use. Listeners can stick with Spotify Free or SoundCloud Free for daily listening. The key is to match the source to your use case — and always verify the license.
sfxengine.com, lucidsamples.com, youtube.com, silvermansound.com, learn.g2.com, youtube.com, royaltyfreemusichub.com, youtube.com, vibehorn.com, swarmify.com
Frequently asked questions
Can I use free music from Pixabay for commercial videos?
Yes, all tracks on Pixabay Music are royalty free and free for commercial use, even without attribution. (Pixabay)
Do I need to give credit when using Bensound music?
Bensound offers a free license that requires attribution. If you prefer not to credit, you can purchase a license. (Bensound)
Is Free Music Archive legal to download?
Yes, Free Music Archive provides free downloads of independent music under open licenses. Always check the license for each track. (Free Music Archive)
What is the difference between royalty free and free music?
Royalty free means you don’t have to pay ongoing royalties to use the music, but there may be a one-time fee or attribution requirement. Free music means no cost at all, but may still have usage restrictions. All royalty-free music is not necessarily free, but some free music is also royalty free.
How do I avoid copyright claims on YouTube with free music?
Use music from YouTube’s Audio Library, which is guaranteed safe. For third-party sites, look for “cleared for YouTube” labels. Always read the license. (YouTube Help)
Are there any hidden fees in free music streaming apps?
No, the free tiers of Spotify, Pandora, SoundCloud, and YouTube Music are genuinely free with ads. No credit card required. But some features like offline listening require a paid subscription.
Can I download free music from SoundCloud?
Many independent artists on SoundCloud allow downloads of their tracks, often under Creative Commons licenses. Look for the “Download” button on a track’s page. Not all tracks are available for download. (SoundCloud)
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