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Where to Find Copyright-Free Music for YouTube

Updated November 2026 — Good news: you don't need a budget to soundtrack your videos safely. Bad news: "free download" doesn't always mean "free to use on YouTube." Here are the sources that actually work — and the traps to watch for.

1. YouTube Audio Library (the safest starting point)

Inside YouTube Studio you'll find the Audio Library: thousands of free tracks and sound effects. Music marked with no attribution required is yours to use freely; tracks marked "attribution required" need a credit in your description (YouTube gives you the exact text to paste).

• Pros: free, zero claim risk when used as directed, searchable by mood/genre/duration.
• Cons: overused — popular tracks appear in thousands of videos, which can make your content feel generic.

2. Pixabay Music (no-cost, no-attribution)

Pixabay's music section offers a large catalog of royalty-free tracks you can use in videos without attribution and without fees. You don't even need an account to download. Stick to the license shown on each track's page — don't redistribute the raw audio files themselves.

3. Uppbeat (free tier for creators)

Uppbeat's free plan gives you a limited number of downloads per month for use in YouTube videos, with credit required. The paid tier removes limits and attribution. One advantage: Uppbeat's catalog is curated and less overused than the YouTube Audio Library.

4. StreamBeats (built for streamers and creators)

Harris Heller's StreamBeats project releases entire catalogs of DMCA-safe music (lofi, hip-hop, EDM, synthwave and more) specifically so creators can use them without claims. Free, no attribution needed on most releases.

5. Epidemic Sound / Artlist (paid, but worth knowing)

These subscription libraries are what professional YouTubers mostly use: huge catalogs, no claims as long as your subscription is active, and the license covers all your videos (past videos can break if you cancel, so read the terms). Not free — but the safest option if you're monetizing.

The trap: free tracks still get Content ID claims

This surprises creators constantly. Even legitimately free music can trigger a claim because:

• Scammers re-upload free tracks to Content ID through shady distributors, then claim every video that uses them. Your license is valid — you dispute and win — but it's a hassle.
• The same recording appears under multiple licenses. "No copyright music" compilations on YouTube often include tracks someone else registered in Content ID.
• Attribution lapses. Miss the required credit in your description and a free track can earn you a legitimate claim.

If a "no copyright" song gets claimed, here's exactly what to do — a dispute with proof of your license usually clears it. And if you're unsure before publishing, check the track before uploading: our free scanner fingerprints your audio and flags songs Content ID is likely to match, so you know before YouTube's Checks tab does.

Quick rules before you download anything

• Read the actual license, not the video title. "No copyright" in a YouTube title means nothing legally.
• Save your license proof. Screenshot the license page or download confirmation — it's your evidence in a dispute.
• Avoid "type beats" and remixes labeled free unless the original song's owner grants use; a producer giving away a beat doesn't clear the sample.
• Test before publishing — upload as Unlisted and read the Checks tab, or scan first with the free tool below.

Bottom line: YouTube Audio Library for zero risk, Pixabay and StreamBeats for quality free options, Uppbeat's free tier when you want curation, and a paid library once you're monetizing. Whatever you pick, verify the license and scan before you publish — free doesn't always mean claim-free.

← What to do if you get a copyright claim
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