Top 15 Sites to Get Royalty Free Music for Podcasts

Free music for podcasts can sound professional and stay legal if you use trusted libraries.

In this guide, we show you what the top sites are, how to check each track’s licence terms, download in high quality, and build a repeatable workflow across episodes.

At TYX Recording Studios, we guide creators in choosing music, curating playlists, and mastering finals as WAV files for broadcast or video cutdowns. We also run some of the best podcast studios in London, offering professional end-to-end services for ever stage of your podcast's production.

Let's dive into our picks for the best free sources for podcast music.

The top 15 sites, status and pricing

Free Music Archive

A long-running hub of Creative Commons music, curated and community-driven. Best known for deep discovery and clear licence info, plus original, royalty free music. Strong for niche genres and archival finds used in documentary and education.

Price: Free under CC terms. Paid clearance via Tribe of Noise PRO from €45 per track with certificate and high‑quality file.

YouTube Audio Library

Google’s built‑in library for creators with searchable music and sound effects. Best known for simple filters by mood, genre, and attribution. Integrated in YouTube Studio, which makes rights management straightforward when you follow terms.

Price: Free; some items require attribution per track notes.

Incompetech

Kevin MacLeod’s catalogue is used across film, games, and podcasts. est known for broad genre coverage and permissive CC licences. A go-to for iconic cues that are easy to credit or license for attribution-free use.

Price: Free with attribution. No‑attribution licence costs US$30 for 1, US$25 each for 2, US$20 each for 3 or more.

Pixabay Music

Community‑contributed library of royalty free music with fast browsing. Best known for straightforward terms and frictionless downloads. Ideal for quick pulls when you need simple, platform-wide clearance.

Price: Free for commercial use under the Pixabay Content License, no attribution required.

Mixkit

Curated selection of beds and stings for quick edits. Best known for simple terms and no sign up. Handy for intros, transitions, and short beds with clean edits.

Price: Free under the Mixkit Music Free License.

ccMixter

Remix community sharing CC‑licensed songs and stems, supporting musicians worldwide. Best known for artist friendly licensing paths and stems. Active curation and licence filters help you shortlist pod-safe tracks fast.

Price: Free with CC attribution. ccPlus extended licences are available for a fee.

Audionautix

Jason Shaw’s original music is released for open reuse. Best known for wide style variety and pod‑safe beds. Great when you want consistent moods across episodes from one composer.

Price: Free under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

Purple Planet Music

Duo‑run library focused on storytelling cues for film and podcasts, with a diverse range of styles. Best known for offering both free MP3s and commercial upgrades. The catalogue leans toward narrative textures that sit well under speech.

Price: Free with credit. Broadcast licence typically US$40 per item with high‑quality WAV and a licence document.

Musopen

Non‑profit archive of public‑domain classical recordings and scores. Best known for education resources and clean catalogue tags. Useful when you want recognisable repertoire without complex clearance.

Price: Free tier with daily limits. Member plan US$55 per year unlocks unlimited downloads and lossless audio.

FreePD

CC0 public‑domain cues assembled by Kevin MacLeod and collaborators. Best known for zero attribution CC0 use and bulk downloads. Perfect for zero paperwork projects and rapid publishing.

Price: Completely free for any use.

TeknoAXE

High‑energy catalogue covering EDM, metal, and cinematic. Best known for YouTube ready tracks and clear CC terms. Strong pick for punchy bumpers and high impact intros.

Price: Free under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

Uppbeat

Creator‑focused library with podcast categories and safelisting tools. Best known for a generous free tier and clean licensing that avoids claims. Safelisting reduces Content ID issues across major platforms when you publish.

Price: Free plan: 3 downloads/month. Paid plans unlock a wider catalogue and features.

Silverman Sound Studios

One‑composer library of polished material across styles. Best known for straightforward CC BY use or simple upgrade to remove credit. Clear cue sheets and track pages simplify attribution and record keeping.

Price: Free with attribution. Pro licence available for attribution‑free use.

SoundCloud CC search

Use platform filters to find songs released under Creative Commons. Best known for direct artist uploads and niche finds. Sorting by licence and BPM helps you match tone quickly.

Price: Free when the uploader’s CC licence permits your use. Verify each item’s licence.

Unminus

A minimal, modern library releasing music for completely free reuse. Best known for CC0‑like terms and no attribution requirement. The aesthetic skews clean and contemporary, which suits talk heavy formats.

Price: Free for commercial use with broad rights.

Music licensing and copyright for podcasting

Licences control how you can use music in podcasts. Most libraries provide royalty free music, which means you pay once or use it at no cost under set terms for your project, then you do not owe ongoing licence fees for that project.

Performance royalties for public performance or broadcast may still apply depending on territory and context.

Creative Commons: CC BY allows use with attribution. CC BY‑SA requires remixes to share alike. BY‑NC prohibits uses primarily intended for commercial advantage, which will not fit many monetised podcasts. CC0 means public domain. When unsure, pick another cue from the same music library.

Master vs publishing: Libraries typically grant you a master use. If a piece is a cover of popular songs, you still face composition rights. Avoid covers unless the site states clearance for both sides.

Scope: Confirm that podcasts, YouTube, and Facebook are covered. Some libraries sell tiers. If you need broadcast or brand campaigns later, upgrade or buy a PremiumBeat license for that scope.

Attribution: If required, include artists, title, source, and licence in your show notes. Keep this with your project files alongside the invoice or receipts. Maintain a rights log for a world audience.

Territory and duration: Prefer perpetual rights that work across the world. This keeps future podcast episodes safe when you expand.

How to choose music that fits voice

• Aim for speech first. Test three options against your opener and midroll.
• Choose the perfect track that supports the host and keeps the tone steady.
• For interviews, try light acoustic songs. For culture shows, tastefully use hip hop beds.
• Maintain curated playlists for podcast intro music, ad reads, and credits so creators can move fast and create consistent branding. Sort by popularity or editorial picks to find the best artists for your brief.

Workflow for consistent results

• Filter by mood, bpm, and genres. Shortlist five cues per segment.
• Edit loops to fit timing and avoid clashes with names or numbers.
• Duck the music bus so listeners hear every word.
• Target around −16 LUFS stereo (−19 LUFS mono), max −1 dBTP for dialogue‑led episodes.
• Archive stems, attribution, artists, and invoices with each project. Include a master WAV file in your archive.
• Create a clear folder for licences and download receipts.

Conclusion

Choosing the right background music can elevate your podcast, but it is critical to source it legally and with quality in mind. By focusing on trusted libraries, checking each track’s licence terms, and downloading lossless where offered, you can build a repeatable workflow that keeps your podcast episodes professional and consistent across the world.

Build your podcast soundtrack at TYX Studios

Take your podcast to the next level with TYX Recording Studios. Record in our Podcast Studio for broadcast clarity, shape a signature theme from royalty-free music with our Podcast Production team, or commission original cues with our Music Production Studios.

Every session gives you access to industry-leading equipment, acoustically treated rooms, and engineers who know how to clear licences and craft intros, beds, and stings that fit your show.

Whether you are launching your first series or scaling a network, we will help you integrate music legally, mix consistently, and deliver the highest quality masters.

Book your session today and hear the TYX difference.