Adding background music is essential for taking videos to the next level. Studies show that viewers engage up to 400% more with videos that have suitable background soundtracks. Unfortunately, finding the right royalty free music can become a tedious task, especially on a budget.
There are hundreds of sites and resources providing free music, but music can quickly become overwhelming when you don‘t know what to look for. To help solve this problem, I have curated the following list of excellent free resources for background music that cater to every need.
1. Artlist
Artlist offers over one million studio recorded songs to set the perfect mood for any project. You can browse through thousands of soundtracks based on genre, instrumentation, mood and tempo with advanced filtering options.
All music clips can be used for commercial and personal use after purchasing an Annual subscription starting from $9.99/month. Free trial also available.
Key Features
- Over 1 million high quality, commercial royalty-free songs
- Daily updates to the catalog
- Organized categories and advanced search tools
2. Mixkit
With an ever-growing library of over 50,000 tracks, Mixkit makes curating free music simple. Their media licensing is one of the most lenient allowing unlimited personal and commercial use without attribution.
Key Features
- 50,000+ tracks spanning a wide variety of genres
- New music and SFX updated daily
- Commercial usage cleared for YouTube etc
3. Bensound
Bensound offers a sizable collection of over 400 tracks across popular genres like Acoustic, Cinematic, Reggae and more. All music has been composed and produced by musician Ben Beiny exclusively for the portal.
Key Features
- 400+ exclusive tracks by in-house composer Ben Beiny
- Direct downloads from site after providing email address
- Personal/non-commercial usage license
4. Free Stock Music
As the name suggests, Free Stock Music provides thousands of high quality instrumental tracks you can download and incorporate into video projects for free. From Ambient and Dance to Country music, they have all genres covered.
Key Features
- 3500+ instrumental tracks
- Spans dozens of genres
- Updated weekly with new tracks
5. Free Music Archive
Part of the Internet Archive project, The Free Music Archive has a specific section dedicated to creators looking for background scores for video or multimedia content.
Key Features
- Curated tracks tagged for use in video projects
- Wide variety spanning many genres/moods
- Some tracks require attribution
6. AShamaluevMusic
With focus mostly on cinematic, ambient and inspirational tracks, AShamaluevMusic provides over 400 high quality tunes cleared for use in video projects. You can also listen to previews right on the site.
Key Features
- 400+ cinematic/ambient/inspirational tracks
- Previews available for every song
- New music added every month
7. Silvermansound
Offering one of the most versatile catalogs spanning over 100 different genres, Silvermansound aims to provide soundtracks for every project. From high intensity trailer music to soothing ambient tunes, they have something for everyone.
Key Features
- 2000+ tracks across 100+ genres
- Attractive audio player and equalizer
- Personalized service for custom tracks
8. Jamendo
Jamendo works on a unique model where artists themselves upload tracks to promote their portfolio. Listeners can stream for free or download under Jamendo’s licensing terms. This results in a diverse catalog of over 500K tracks.
Key Features
- Over 500,000 tracks spanning all genres
- Advanced filters to refine searches
- Free streaming available
9. Pixabay
Best known for their catalog of over 2 million free images and videos, Pixabay also offers a music section with tracks anyone can use. Their licensing covers commercial projects without attribution.
Key Features
- All tracks licensed for commercial use
- No attribution required
- Easy download via MP3 format
10. TuneTank
Specializing in music and SFX for video creators, TuneTank offers over 2000 high quality tracks cleared for use in YouTube videos and similar projects. Provide attribution and access this catalog spanning cinematic, rock, pop and ambient genres.
Key Features
- 2000+ tracks in popular genres
- YouTube friendly licensing terms
- New music added every month
11. Audionautix
Focused on providing free music for independent creators and developers, Audionautix allows use of their tracks in both commercial and non-commercial projects with attribution.
Key Features
- Hundreds of tracks spanning many genres
- MP3 Downloads cleared for monetized videos
- Special YouTube embed feature
12. Chosic
Chosic offers two types of licenses – tracks either completely copyright free or for non-commercial use only. Make sure to pay attention to the icons and descriptions.
Key Features
- Free streaming previews for all tracks
- Public domain vs attribution licenses clearly marked
- MP3 Downloads available
Premium Resources (Paid Options)
While free music libraries allow creators plenty of options, paid premium libraries take quality and licensing terms to the next level. They also provide advanced search/filtering and unlimited downloads.
If you have the budget, I highly recommend exploring these paid stock music sites as well:
1. Envato Elements – Industry leading library with unlimited downloads. Ideal for business use.
2. Storyblocks – Specialized site providing high quality, unlimited music/video content.
3. Shutterstock – Leading creative asset site with music catalog to suit every project.
4. Adobe Stock – Seamlessly integrate with Adobe apps like Premiere Pro.
Find the Right Background Music Site For You
The key is to understand your needs – Are you a beginner looking for free tunes or an expert wanting advanced licenses? Narrow down genres, quality levels and licensing terms accordingly.
Review previews before downloading tracks in bulk. And don‘t forget to provide attribution whenever required or simply to support the artists!
With this comprehensive list, you should now have no shortage of awesome sites providing the perfect free background music to elevate your videos! Let me know in the comments if you have any personal favorites I may have missed.
