⚠️ Important: copyright claims
Using commercial music in your YouTube vlogs without a licence will result in copyright claims. Your video may be muted, monetised by the rights holder, or taken down. Always use properly licensed music. The services below provide legal cover for your videos.
The Best Music Services for YouTube Vloggers
⭐ Best for Most Vloggers
Epidemic Sound
~$15/month (personal)
35,000+ tracks · Sound effects included · YouTube monetisation safe
Epidemic Sound is the most popular music licensing service among YouTubers and vloggers, and for good reason. The library is enormous (35,000+ tracks), search and filtering is excellent, and the subscription covers you for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, and more. Tracks are tagged by mood, energy, genre, and BPM, making it genuinely easy to find the right track quickly. The personal plan ($15/month) covers one channel with unlimited downloads.
✓ 35,000+ tracks✓ Sound effects included✓ Excellent search✓ Multi-platform licence
Curated premium library · Lifetime licence on downloaded tracks
Artlist takes a different approach: smaller library (40,000 tracks), higher curation. Every track is hand-selected for production quality, which means less time sifting through mediocre music. The standout feature: tracks you download during your subscription are yours forever, even if you cancel. Used heavily by filmmakers and high-production-value vloggers. More expensive than Epidemic Sound but the lifetime licence is genuinely valuable.
✓ Lifetime licence✓ High qualityMore expensiveSmaller library
⭐ Best Free Option
YouTube Audio Library
Free
Free tracks · Attribution sometimes required · Built into YouTube Studio
YouTube's own music library is built directly into YouTube Studio and is completely free. The library has improved significantly over the years, with thousands of tracks across every genre. Some tracks require you to credit the artist in your description, others are completely free to use. The main limitation is quality and discoverability; finding great tracks takes time. But for vloggers on zero budget, this is where to start.
✓ Completely free✓ Built into YouTubeMixed qualitySome need attribution
Unlimited downloads · Multi-platform · 30,000+ tracks
Soundstripe sits between Epidemic Sound and Artlist in terms of library size and curation. Unlimited downloads, solid search filtering, and covers YouTube, social media, and commercial use. The annual plan offers good value, and the library focuses on indie artists producing professional-quality music. A solid alternative if Epidemic Sound doesn't fit your style.
✓ Unlimited downloads✓ Multi-platform✓ Indie artists
Premium film music · Used by major ad agencies and filmmakers
Musicbed is the professional's choice, used by major brands, advertising agencies, and documentary filmmakers. The library is smaller but meticulously curated, and the music quality is exceptional. For most vloggers this is overkill, but if you're producing high-end content for brands or filmmaking projects, Musicbed's library feels noticeably more cinematic and distinctive.
✓ Pro-grade qualityExpensiveOverkill for casual vloggers
Free Music Sources (No Subscription)
- Free Music Archive (FMA): Creative Commons music across all genres. Quality varies but gems exist for patient searchers
- ccMixter: Community-driven remixes and original tracks. Attribution required for most tracks
- Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod): One creator's enormous library of free music covering virtually every genre and mood. Attribution required. A vlogging institution
- SoundCloud (free tracks): Many creators offer free tracks for YouTube use. Always check the licence before using
Which Service Should You Use?
Just starting out? Begin with the YouTube Audio Library (free). It's good enough for early videos while you're learning editing.
Growing channel (1,000–50,000 subs)? Epidemic Sound at $15/month is the best investment. The library is excellent, the licence is comprehensive, and the search tools will save you hours.
Pro/commercial work? Artlist for the lifetime licence, or Musicbed for premium film quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best royalty-free music service for YouTube vloggers?
Epidemic Sound ($15/month) is the best all-round service for most vloggers. The library is huge, the search tools are excellent, and the licence covers YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts. For higher-quality curation and lifetime licences, Artlist is worth the extra cost.
Can I use Spotify music in my YouTube vlogs?
No. Spotify music is copyrighted commercial music. Using it in your YouTube videos without a licence will result in a copyright claim, your video being muted or monetised by the rights holder, or your video being taken down entirely.
Is the YouTube Audio Library free to use?
Yes. The YouTube Audio Library is free and built into YouTube Studio. Some tracks require you to credit the artist in your video description. It's a good starting point for new vloggers on zero budget, though the quality is inconsistent compared to paid services.
What happens if I use copyrighted music in my YouTube vlog?
YouTube's Content ID system will detect it. Depending on the rights holder's policy, your video may be muted, monetised by the rights holder (you lose ad revenue), or taken down. Repeat copyright strikes can result in channel termination.
Is Epidemic Sound worth it for beginner vloggers?
Yes, if you're publishing regularly. At $15/month it's a modest cost for unlimited tracks and full legal cover. If you only publish one or two videos a month, start with the YouTube Audio Library until your output increases.