Where to Find Free Music for Video Projects

Creating engaging videos often requires the perfect soundtrack, but finding music that’s both free and legal to use can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are numerous platforms offering free music for video creators. Below, we'll explore some of the best options, giving you access to high-quality, royalty-free tracks for your projects.

YouTube Audio Library

The YouTube Audio Library is an essential tool for video creators who are looking for free, high-quality music and sound effects. If you're producing content for YouTube, this platform is designed to make your workflow easier by offering music tracks that are safe to use without worrying about copyright issues. The platform is accessible directly through your YouTube account, which makes it a convenient option for beginners or anyone creating content specifically for YouTube.

One of the key features of the YouTube Audio Library is its user-friendly interface. It allows you to filter music by genre, mood, instrument, duration, and license type. This makes it easy to find the right soundtrack for your video, whether you're producing a vlog, a tutorial, or a more cinematic project. You can also access a broad collection of sound effects, which are especially helpful for adding subtle background noises or enhancing specific moments in your video.

Most of the music in the YouTube Audio Library is royalty-free, meaning you don’t have to worry about paying for licenses. However, some tracks are licensed under Creative Commons, which may require you to give credit to the artist. This makes it important to always check the licensing information before you use a track, especially if you plan to monetize your content or use it on platforms other than YouTube.

One drawback to the YouTube Audio Library is that it’s somewhat limited in its variety compared to other music libraries. While it’s a great resource for general-purpose background music and sound effects, you might not always find the most unique or modern-sounding tracks for specific creative projects. But if you're looking for a quick, reliable, and free solution, especially for YouTube, this platform should be one of your first stops.

Free Music Archive (FMA)

The Free Music Archive (FMA) is a well-known platform for finding a vast array of free music suitable for video projects. This platform has been around for years, offering music tracks under various Creative Commons licenses. It’s popular among video creators because it provides a wide selection of genres and styles, making it easier to find music that suits different types of projects—from YouTube videos to documentaries and promotional content.

One of the greatest advantages of using FMA is its enormous collection of music. You can explore different genres such as electronic, jazz, classical, and hip-hop, with sub-genres that cater to very specific needs. This means that whether you need something upbeat for a tutorial or a more relaxed, ambient track for a background video, FMA has something to offer. In addition, users can search for tracks based on license types, ensuring that they choose music that matches their project’s needs, especially for commercial uses.

However, it’s important to note that not all tracks on FMA are free for commercial use without attribution. The platform uses various types of Creative Commons licenses, so you need to carefully check the license for each track. For instance, some tracks are free to use in any project, while others may require you to credit the artist or even refrain from using the music in a commercial setting. Therefore, always review the terms for each piece of music before including it in your video.

While FMA is a great resource, its website interface can be a bit outdated and not as user-friendly as some other platforms. Finding the right track might take more time compared to other, more modern services. Despite this, FMA remains a solid choice for creators who want a wide variety of music options for free.

Mixkit

Mixkit is an excellent platform for creators who need royalty-free music but want to avoid complicated licensing rules or payments. What makes Mixkit stand out is that it offers all of its tracks completely free of charge, with no need to sign up for a subscription or give attribution to the artist. This is a huge plus for video creators who are working on a budget or don't want to worry about giving credit in their videos.

Mixkit’s library is designed specifically for creators, with tracks that are categorized by genre, mood, and use case. For example, you can find music for upbeat YouTube videos, cinematic trailers, or calm background music for tutorials. The platform offers a wide range of genres, from electronic and acoustic to cinematic and corporate. This makes it easy to find a track that matches the tone and style of your video, whether you’re creating content for social media, personal projects, or even more professional purposes.

The platform’s interface is straightforward and easy to use, which is especially helpful if you don’t want to spend too much time searching for the perfect track. You can preview songs directly on the site, and when you find something you like, downloading it is just a click away. This simplicity makes Mixkit ideal for beginners or content creators who need to streamline their production process.

One limitation, however, is that the library, while varied, may not have the depth or diversity that some larger paid platforms offer. If you’re looking for highly specific or niche music tracks, you might need to explore other options in addition to Mixkit. But for most common video needs, Mixkit’s free and easy-to-use approach makes it a favorite among creators.

Bensound

Bensound is another popular platform for royalty-free music, particularly for those looking to add professional-quality sound to their videos without spending a lot of money. What makes Bensound unique is that most of the tracks are composed by the site’s founder, Benjamin Tissot, a talented musician with years of experience. The platform now includes music from other artists as well, expanding its library to offer more variety in genres and styles.

The site is especially known for its easy-to-browse music collection, which is organized by genre. Whether you need corporate music for a business presentation, uplifting tunes for a vlog, or cinematic soundscapes for a film project, Bensound has a track for nearly every situation. You can filter tracks by genre, mood, or tags like “happy,” “inspiring,” or “epic,” making it easier to find the right music to fit your video’s tone.

While many of the tracks are free to use with attribution, Bensound also offers paid licenses for creators who don’t want to worry about giving credit or who are using the music for larger commercial projects. These licenses are relatively affordable, allowing users to purchase single tracks for around $29 or opt for a subscription plan if they need frequent access to the music library. The flexibility of both free and paid options makes Bensound appealing for creators with varying budgets and project needs.

One potential downside is that the free tracks come with a “no derivatives” clause under the Creative Commons license, which means you cannot remix or modify the music. However, for most creators who simply need high-quality background music, this limitation isn’t much of an issue.

Overall, Bensound is a solid choice for video creators looking for polished, professional-sounding music, especially if you’re comfortable with giving attribution or are willing to invest in a license for more freedom in how you use the tracks.

Pixabay

Pixabay is widely known for its vast collection of free stock images, but it also offers an extensive library of royalty-free music, making it a valuable resource for video creators. What sets Pixabay apart from many other platforms is the sheer size of its music collection, with over 80,000 tracks available for free. This makes it one of the largest free music libraries, giving creators plenty of options to choose from for various types of projects.

The music on Pixabay is completely free to use for both personal and commercial projects, and no attribution is required. This is a major advantage for creators who want to keep their workflow simple and don’t want to worry about crediting artists or navigating complicated licensing rules. Whether you’re making a YouTube video, a podcast, or even a commercial, Pixabay’s music can be used without restrictions.

One of the best features of Pixabay’s music library is its advanced filtering system. You can search for music by genre, mood, tempo, duration, and theme. This makes it incredibly easy to find the perfect track for your video, whether you need something upbeat and energetic or calm and soothing. The platform covers a wide range of genres, from electronic and pop to classical and cinematic, which ensures that there’s something for every type of video project.

In addition to music, Pixabay also provides sound effects, which can be helpful for adding subtle audio enhancements to your videos. For example, if you’re creating a video that needs ambient sounds like birds chirping or city noises, Pixabay’s sound effects library can provide these elements for free.

While Pixabay offers a wide variety of free music, it’s important to remember that the music is not exclusive to the platform, so it’s possible that other creators might be using the same tracks in their projects. However, for most video creators, especially those working on a budget or needing a quick solution, Pixabay is a fantastic resource.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right music for your video doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Platforms like YouTube Audio Library, Free Music Archive, and Mixkit make it easy to find quality, royalty-free music for your projects. Be sure to review the license details for each track, especially if you're using them for commercial purposes. Now that you're equipped with this knowledge, go ahead and find the perfect soundtrack to elevate your next video!