To set the mood and hook your audience, you need to find the right music for your YouTube videos. But that means copyrighted tracks are fair game for takedowns or penalties. Luckily, there are legal platforms where you can download copyright-free music. Sourcing music that is free to use, so long as you follow their guidelines, here are seven reliable websites.
One good option is to use software music, which resists copyright restrictions. The free music download sites offer great music choices to give credit where credit is due.
Audionautix
Best for: Mood-specific music by genre or tempo.
Jason Shaw is the brainchild and creator of Audionautix, where you can find an amazing library of royalty-free tracks. The music search page is user-friendly, where you can search music by tempo, genre, or mood.
Features
- Downloads are free, and no signup is required.
- Available for free, personal and commercial.
- A donation-based platform.
Usage: You will need to add your video description and attribution to Jason Shaw.
MusOpen
Best for: Classical music lovers.
A treasure trove of classical music can be reached with MusOpen, featuring the compositions of legends such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. A lot of tracks are in the public domain and copyright-free.
Features
- With a free account, you can download up to 5 free downloads daily.
- Organized by mood, composer, and category.
- Works best for historical or serious-themed content.
Usage: Public domain works do not require attribution, and you are still allowed to use them.
YouTube Audio Library
Best for: With easy integration of YouTube content.
If you are a YouTuber, then you know that YouTube has a built-in resource called the YouTube Audio Library. It has over 1,000 tracks and 300 sound effects and is accessible via your YouTube account.
Features
- Music available for monetized videos.
- Genre, mood, and duration filtering.
- Clear attribution requirements.
Usage: Make sure always to check if one or more tracks require attribution.
Unminus
Best for: Attribution-free and unlimited usage.
Unminus stands out with its Creative Commons Zero (CCO), so you can use tracks without crediting the artist.
Features
- Completely royalty-free and unrestricted.
- Tracks are categorized by mood and genre.
- Simple and clean interface.
Usage: Get Music for personal or commercial use without limitations.
Thematic
Best for: High-quality music from emerging artists.
Thematic connects YouTubers with professional quality tracks from indie artists. It is free to register, and you can download up to five tracks per month.
Features
- Designed for YouTube creators.
- Received custom attribution links.
- Access to artist catalogs.
Usage: Don’t make the mistake of missing their detailed attribution guidelines and avoid problems.
TeknoAXE
Best for: Electronic and thematic music.
TeknoAXE offered thousands of free music tracks that were also being made free and could be used for horror, comedy, or drama.
Features
- Over 1,500 tracks are available.
- Primarily EDM, rock, and thematic compositions.
- Regular uploads via TeknoAXE’s YouTube channel
Usage: The Creative Commons 4.0 license requires attribution.
Icons8 Fugue
Best for: Projects that they don’t care about.
Icons8 Fugue is connected to the popular Icons8 platform, which provides a bunch of free MP3 tracks.
Features
- Easy to discover categorized music.
- Preview full tracks before download.
- Ideal for non-commercial use.
Usage: Free MP3 downloads are for non-commercial use only.
FAQs
Are all free music tracks really copyright free?
Not all free music tracks are copyright free. Each website requires you to check its licensing terms to be sure the music is in the public domain or licensed for free use, often under Creative Commons licenses.
Do I need to attribute the creators for all tracks?
Attribution requirements differ at each site and track. Finally, some platforms have the Creative Commons Zero (CCO) licenses or don’t require attribution, such as Unminus, some others, like Audionautix, TeknoAXE, or FreeMusicArchive, require you to credit the creator in your video description.
Are these free music tracks free to use for commercial YouTube videos?
Many free music tracks can be used for commercial use, but make sure each track is licensed. As long as you follow their guidelines, there are platforms like MusOpen, Audionautix, and YouTube Audio Library to pick tracks that are okay for monetized videos.
What should I do if my video gets flagged for copyright despite using free music?
Check if the music you are using is available under the platform’s licensing terms. You can dispute a claim if you think it’s incorrect by giving proof of your license or attribution. Log your sources and your licenses all the time.
When do these websites update their music libraries?
Platforms like Teknoaxe add new tracks on a regular basis, and other ones, such as Unminus, may add new music less regularly. Companies do release newsletters or social media facts from time to time. For example, subscribe to newsletters, follow their social media channels, or frequently visit their site.
