How to buy music for your YouTube videos (safe and cheap methods)

Ever found that one song you wanted for your YouTube video — like it was meant for your video? You add it, publish, and then — boom! A copyright claim shatters it all.

Well, let’s be clear. Music brings life to your videos and is actually effective in increasing their reach. But if you’re using them without being aware of the rules, you’re one step away from a copyright strike. Yes, even if you “gave credit” or “only used 10 seconds.”

So, what’s the solution? Buy music the right way—legally and affordably. In this blog, we’ll show you how to buy music for YouTube videos without breaking the bank.

Why You Should Not Use “Any” Music For Your YouTube Videos?

You might think, “It’s just background music, what’s the harm?” Well, just because you stumbled upon a track online doesn’t mean you can use it as background music for YouTube videos. YouTube has some strict policies regarding music. In fact, the platform has a dedicated Content ID System to catch copyrighted music on the spot. 

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. If copyright holders choose to do so, they can take it even further to the legal side. Here’s what may happen if you use copyrighted music in your music without authorization:

• Ads may be paused, or the revenue will be shared with the copyright holder.
• The audio may get muted.
• The video may be blocked.
• The video might get a copyright strike.
• Fines or lawsuits from the copyright holders.

How To Find Music For YouTube Videos?

There are three main ways to find music for your content. Each has its own rules and benefits. Let’s make it clear:

Free Libraries

We get it. Most creators don’t want to tear their pockets on music rights, especially at the beginning stage. Luckily, there are many Free Music Libraries to help you get started without even spending a spending.

Free libraries often have a diverse collection of genres and styles. And the best part is that most tracks include pre-cleared licenses. That means you need not worry about copyright strikes anymore.

3 Best Platforms To Download Free Tracks

Let’s have a look at the top three free music library platforms:

1. LenosTube Music Library

Quality: 9/10
Tracks: 5,000+

LenosTube’s Music Library is a dedicated free music library that is designed expressly for YouTube content creators. It differs from usual libraries in the sense that the platform curates only high-quality and human-picked tracks that are completely safe to use. 

The platform contains more than 5,000 royalty-free tracks in over 17 genres. It’s still growing. The library is updated regularly with fresh and up-to-date music trends. You can have a look at the views, likes, and even engagement rates to select tracks that work among the audience. 

It’s pretty easy to use the tool. You just need to: 

• Visit the LenosTube website and select YouTube Royalty Free Music under the Free Tools drop-down menu (no need to sign up).
• Browse music by categories — cinematic, upbeat, lo-fi, corporate, etc.
• You can click on the track to see a preview of the track. Usage requirements are attached to the preview description.
• Hit the ‘download’ button. Soon, you will get redirected to an MP3 converter website, from where you will be able to download the tracks. 

2. YouTube Audio Library

Quality: 7/10
Tracks: 1,000+

The YouTube Audio Library is the official music and sound effect library of YouTube, created especially for creators. It is absolutely free and integrated directly into YouTube Studio.

You will get access to more than 1,000 music tracks and sound effects. The platform makes it easy for you to sort out tracks for which credit must be provided or which may be used free without giving credit.

Using them is also super simple:

• Open YouTube Studio.
• Go to the Audio Library.
• Search for music by genre or mood.
• Add the right one to your video right from their built-in editor.

3. Pixabay

Everybody is familiar with free stock photos from Pixabay, but Pixabay Music is a hidden gem when it comes to free background music for YouTube videos.

Quality: 7/10
Tracks: 120,000+

The platform has a huge library of high-quality music of all genres. You can choose from over 120,000 tracks. While many may not meet the quality most creators expect, with such a large selection, you’re sure to find something that suits your taste.

Most tracks are free to use in commercial videos without any attribution. Here’s how to download tracks from Pixabay Music:

• Go to Pixabay Music.
• Search by mood, theme, instrument, or duration to find the best music for YouTube videos.
• Preview the track and check the description to verify whether it matches your style.
• Click the Download button (you may need to sign up before downloading).

✅ QUICK COMPARISON

Music Licensing (Buy the music)

Music licensing is basically getting permission to use a song legally. You can buy tracks either for a fixed price or a subscription fee. Let’s check out why they are the best option and how to buy high-quality tracks at the lowest prices. 

Benefits Of Buying Music Licenses

Music licensing is the safest and best legal way to use background music for YouTube videos. Here’s why you must go for it:

• Legal protection: You are specifically obtaining permission from the copyright owner to utilize their work. You will be completely shielded from all sorts of copyright strikes and lawsuits.
• Exclusive Rights: If the deal is pretty heavy, you can negotiate for exclusive rights to use the track. That is, no one else will be able to use the same music in their videos, and your content will be unique.
• High-Quality: Licensed music is normally high-quality, professionally produced tracks that you won’t be able to find in royalty-free or Creative Commons libraries. This can help raise the production value and give a professional feel to your videos.
• Modify the Track: If needed, you can also include a specific term that allows the modification of the track. You can tailor the music for several videos as per the mood and tone.
• Support Artists: You’re directly contributing to the artists and creators who produced the music. This helps ensure they receive a fair amount of compensation for their work.
• Completely Safe: You might be thinking: Why pay for licensing when we can get the tracks for free? Well, most royalty-free songs begin as free or inexpensive music. But when they become popular, their owners might change their status to licensed music. When this occurs, your hard-earned YouTube money may be taken by the copyright owner. Licenses can protect you from such unprecedented loss. The usage rights will remain with you until the time frame in the agreement ends. 

Side note: This won’t be an issue with our free YouTube music library. All tracks are sourced from reputable channels that have contracts with the artists, ensuring they remain royalty-free in the long term.

So, where to buy music for YouTube videos legally? That takes us to the next section.

5 Best Platforms To Buy Music For YouTube Videos

Check out 5 trusted platforms where you can buy the best music for YouTube videos:

1. Epidemic Sound

Pricing: $8.99 – $16.99 Per Month

Epidemic Sound was started in 2009 in Sweden with a vision to enable creators to access high-quality music for their projects. Now, it has a huge library of more than 40,000 music tracks and 90,000 sound effects — and is most popularly known for being YouTube-friendly, i.e., no copyright claims.

So, how exactly does it work? You just need to pay for a subscription (personal or commercial), and the platform handles all licensing. The plans start at $8.99 per month for a personal plan. You can download an unlimited number of tracks and use them for your YouTube channel, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, podcasts, etc. But you can monetize it only on one platform per social media. For more usage, you must take the Commercial Plan for $16.99 per month. 

The best part about Epidemic Sound is the “stem” file downloads. That’s right, you can download a song in parts — say, just the vocals or the melody — and tailor the track to exactly match your video. Few platforms provide that much customization. 

Another highlight is the ability to link your YouTube channel to Epidemic Sound. If you link your YouTube channel to Epidemic Sound directly, the system will automatically remove any copyright claims for the music you’re using. That’s a tremendous time-saver. 

How To Use?

Using Epidemic Sound is pretty simple and straightforward: 

1. Sign up with an account and pay for a subscription plan to get started.
2. Go to the account settings to connect your social media accounts. This is done to auto-clear any future copyright claims for tracks you use.
3. Search for your favorite track or make use of the mood and tone filters to find the right background music for YouTube videos. Preview them to pick the right one that fits your content type. 
4. Download it and add it to your video through any editing tool. 

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Unlimited downloads with an active subscription.	No pay-per-track option — subscription only
Advanced search and filtering options.	You lose rights to music if the subscription ends
New tracks are added weekly.
Automatic YouTube channel clearance (no copyright issues).

2. Upbeat

Pricing: $5.59 – $14.99 per month

Upbeat is a relatively new player in the music licensing industry, having been founded in 2020, but it has quickly become a favorite among YouTubers. It has a collection of more than 10,000 background music for YouTube videos.

The best thing about Upbeat is that you can begin to use music for free (up to 3 tracks) with the free plan, and it requires proper attribution. And if you are looking for attribution-free, high-quality tracks, they have cheaper premium subscriptions that start at just $5.59 per month with unlimited downloads. You can use the tracks for up to 3 YouTube channels. For wider usage (up to 10 client channels), you must opt for the business plan that costs $14.99 per month.

All the tracks are neatly curated into different categories so that you can find music that fits your style within seconds. Moreover, Upbeat collaborates with indie artists on a regular basis, so you’ll get new, original songs that you won’t find in every other YouTube video.

Getting started with Upbeat is just like other platforms. Here’s how to use it to find the best music for YouTube videos:

How To Use?

1. Sign up for a free or premium plan with your email.
2. Use the search bar or filter tools to pick the best music for YouTube videos.
3. Preview the tracks and check out the description to see the usage terms— whether it’s licensed or free with attribution.
4. Download the track and add it to your video. Make sure that you follow the usage requirements to stay safe from copyright details.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free plan available (with attribution)	Smaller library compared to Epidemic or Artlist
Affordable premium plans for unlimited use	No “stem” downloads (custom track parts)
Works directly with indie artists for fresh content	Can download just three tracks under the free plan

3. Artlist

Artlist is one of the leading music licensing websites employed by professional YouTubers worldwide to download the best music for YouTube videos. Established in 2016, Artlist soon became a go-to name due to its enormous collection of more than 22,000+ high-quality royalty-free tracks and 27,000+ sound effects (SFX).

You can get started with just $9.99 per month. Even though the pricing is pretty high compared to others, it is worth it. Once you download a track, you can use it for life, even when your subscription expires.

Another big plus is that Artlist collaborates directly with artists and band professionals, guaranteeing studio-grade sound. You can expect music that sounds like actual records — not formulaic stock sound.

How To Use?

Check out how to find music for YouTube videos through Artlist:

1. Sign up for an account in Artlist. Purchase the music plan for just $9.99 per month. If needed, you can also add AI Voice over ($11.99 per month), Footage and Templates ($29.99 per month), or the Artlist Max plan that includes everything at $39.99 per month.
2. Browse the platform and find the track that fits your mood through their advanced filtering features.
3. Add it to your video through any editing software and upload to YouTube.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Unlimited downloads for one flat fee	More expensive than beginner-friendly platforms like Upbeat
Universal license — covers commercial, YouTube, ads, and client work	No monthly plan — only annual billing
Lifetime usage of downloaded tracks even after the platform subscription expires	No free plan to test the platform
High-quality WAV & MP3 formats
No attribution required

4. PremiumBeat

Pricing: $49 – $199 per track

PremiumBeat, established in 2005, is a Shutterstock-owned premium music licensing site with over 15,000 tracks. The platform is renowned for its handpicked library of exceptional tracks. It is the top choice for most filmmakers and professional advertisers.

PremiumBeat works through a pay-per-track system, where tracks begin at $49 for a basic license. It’s enough to add to your social media videos. But for usage in non-digital platforms like TV channels, you need to go for a premium license that costs $199 per track. Once purchased, you can use the track indefinitely in your own or client work (no time limits).

The best part about PremiumBeat is that the tracks you find here are exclusive to the platform. That makes your track truly unique. In addition to that, most tracks have “stem” and short-cut versions.

How To Use?

Have a look at the step-by-step guide on how to buy music for YouTube videos from PremiumBeats:

1. Register an account on PremiumBeat with an email and password.
2. Make use of the search bar and filters to find the perfect track. You can listen to track previews before making a selection.
3. Choose a licensing type that you prefer and add it to the cart.
4. Complete the payment through your preferred gateway. You have the option to download tracks in two formats: WAV or MP3.
5. Open your editing software to drop the track to your video. Upload it to YouTube.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Curation of professional-grade tracks only	Pay-per-track can get expensive if you need lots of music (especially for a YouTube channel)
One-time purchase with lifetime usage	No subscription option
Comes with stems and short versions	No free plan to test the platform
Exclusive music not available elsewhere

5. YouTube Creator Music

YouTube Creator Music is an in-app music licensing system specifically for YouTube creators. Released in 2022, it was created to solve one of the most significant problems for YouTubers — music licensing for YouTube videos. Today, Creator Music has thousands of high-quality songs, ranging from pop, hip-hop, indie, electronic, orchestral, and many more. 

As the platform is a native part of YouTube Studio, it is a more convenient choice for creators who don’t want to deal with third-party sites. Its direct connection with the Content ID System will help you get automatic copyright clearance for each video without any hassle. And yet another positive part is that it offers two options for license purchase:

• Pay upfront for the track as normal. You can find tracks for as low as $20. 
• Revenue share with the right holders of the song — so you don’t pay anything upfront but share the ad revenue earned by the video.

How To Use?

Thinking about how to use music for YouTube videos with Creator Music? Here’s a simple guide:

1. Log in to YouTube Studio. On the left sidebar, click “Creator Music” under the “Earn” section to get redirected to Creator Music.
2. Search for music through various filters and preview them for a better selection. 
3. For each song, YouTube shows whether you need to pay upfront or use revenue sharing. 
4. If you select to pay upfront, proceed to checkout and complete payment. Or you just need to accept the terms.
5. Import and add the downloaded track to your video timeline either through YouTube’s own editor or any editing software. 

Pros And Cons

Pros	Cons
No need for external tools as Creator Music is integrated into YouTube Studio.	The music library is smaller compared to platforms like Artlist
Affordable licensing and revenue-sharing options.	Currently available only in the United States
No chances for copyright strikes.	Limited to YouTube (can’t use on other platforms)
Free music options available	No sound effects library

Why You Cannot Buy Music Directly From Artists?

You will probably be thinking why should I go for music licensing platforms and pay an extra fee? Why can’t I contact the artist or the record company directly and secure a much better deal? Unfortunately, that’s not practical. 

When you need to use a song, you’re dealing with multiple stakeholders with different rights. For instance:

• The Publisher with the composition rights ( lyrics and arrangement).
• The Songwriter(s) will have rights to the original composition of the song.
• Occasionally, the artists themselves have some rights, especially if they’re independent.

Sometimes, these parties may have internal problems. Let’s take the case of Prince, the iconic American musician. Throughout his career, Prince notoriously battled with his record company, Warner Bros., which controlled the rights to his music. At one stage, he rebranded himself with an unpronounceable symbol as a show of protest. Even after his death, rights to his songs have been a matter of debate with millions of dollars at stake. 

That’s how complex song ownership can become. Obtaining permission to utilize a song implies that you must clear it with all these entities. And that ain’t easy. You can’t just walk into a random record company and negotiate contracts. 

It’s because of all these complex legal troubles that music licensing platforms came into existence. They do all the complicated work behind the scenes as middlemen. They have deals already in place, so you can use the music in your videos legally without fear of copyright strikes. So, always try to buy music from authorized platforms only.

Creative Common License

Creative Commons (CC) is a license that enables creators to distribute their work (such as music, photos, and videos) for free, but with some conditions. It is yet another free music option available for content creators, just like royalty-free music. But the catch over here is that you need to abide by the terms imposed. It could be to credit the artist, use their watermark, or some extra clause. 

Check out some reasons why you can try out Creative Commons tracks as background music for YouTube videos:

• The majority of Creative Commons music is free, which is perfect for low-budget creators.
• There are various CC licenses. You are free to pick one that suits your purposes. For instance, CC BY-NC lets you use the track only for non-commercial videos. If you want music for your monetized channel, pick CC BY tracks, as they allow commercial usage. You just need to give credit to the artist.
• Adopting CC Music is a great way to support individual artists who aim for exposure.
• Creative Commons music covers a huge range of genres and styles. That makes it easy to find tracks that fit your style.

There are various dedicated music libraries like Free Music Archive (FMA), ccMixter, Jamendo, etc., for CC tracks. Most of them are free to use. 

Which Music Is Better for Your Video?

Have a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each type of music:

Point	Free music	Creative Commons	Licensed Music
Cost	Free	Usually free. But always check the license. Some licenses may allow free use only for non-commercial projects.	Fixed Price
Usage Rights	Use it forever, anywhere until the track changes its status to ‘licensed’.	Free to use, but with conditions.	Specific usage rights are negotiated between you and the copyright owner.
Attribution	Depends on the condition.	Often required to credit the artist.	Depends on the license agreement.
Restrictions	Few to none. You can use it for commercial purposes (like monetized YouTube videos) without worrying about copyright strikes	Comes with restrictions, such as not being allowed to use it for commercial purposes or not being allowed to modify the track.	Strict rules regarding the time period, platform, and so on.

An Extra Option: Generate Unique Music With AI

Discovering the best music for YouTube videos isn’t always simple, especially if you want original songs that nobody else is using. That’s where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in handy.

Many AI tools allow you to compose personalized tracks in minutes. And here’s the most exciting part: You will have full rights over the track without breaking the bank for hiring professional artists or purchasing licenses. Check out the top AI music tools and how to use them step-by-step:

1. Soundraw

Pricing: $11.05 to $19.50

Soundraw is an AI music generator that makes use of advanced models to produce custom tracks in real time. It’s ideal for creators who want background music for YouTube videos in a hurry and don’t have hours to spend browsing for the perfect track.

The plans start at just $11.05 per month. But the problem is that it’s just a personal plan and you don’t have the rights to use the generated music on monetized videos. For commercial uses, you need to subscribe to their Artist package, which ranges from $19.50 ( download up to 10 videos) to $32.50 (download unlimited videos).

You can customize each element of the music— be it instrument, duration, mood, or genre. The AI generates unique arrangements to make sure that two songs are not the same. Thus, you need not worry about copyright strikes.

Now, let’s check out how to find music for YouTube videos through Soundraw:

1. Visit soundraw.io and sign up for your account.
2. Click on “Create Music” and configure your preferences. 
3. Hit the ‘Generate’ button. Within seconds, Soundraw’s AI will create a few music tracks based on your input.
4. You can preview the track. If you aren’t satisfied, you can further edit it by modifying the instruments or adjusting the sections.
5. Once satisfied, download the track in high-quality MP3 or WAV format.
6. Drag and drop the music to your video through any editing software.

2. AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist)

Pricing: €11 to €33 per month

AIVA is an AI composer established in 2016, initially developed for video game soundtracks and film scores. Now, YouTubers across all niches use it to create emotional, cinematic background music for YouTube videos.

The best part about AIVA is its Free plan that allows users to test the waters with up to 3 tracks. You can’t use it for monetization and must give credits to AIVA. The paid plans start at €11 per month. You will get up to 15 downloads per month and limited monetization. Credits are not required. However, if you’re willing to invest a bit more (€33 per month), you will get 300 downloads per month with full copyright and monetization rights. 

You can choose the style as well as the arrangement of the track as per your content type. There is also a sheet music export feature to facilitate re-recording.

Check out how to use music for YouTube videos using AIVA:

1. Visit aiva.ai and sign up for a free account (limited use). You can upgrade it later for full use.
2. Click on the ‘Create a New Track’ option. You will see four options: from a style, from a chord progression, step by step, from an influence, and import MIDI.  Select how you want to generate it.
3. As the next step, you may need to set parameters for the generation— duration, mood, and tempo. You can type it as a prompt.
4. Click the ‘Generate’ button. The system will generate a unique composition quickly. 
5. Listen to the music and fine-tune the elements if needed.
6. Download the final track in WAV, MP3, or MIDI format. Upload it to your video through any editing tool.

Buying a License VS AI Music Generation: Which Is the Best Option?

When you’re searching for the best music to buy for YouTube videos, you might feel stuck between two options— purchasing the license and AI music generation. Which should you choose? Let’s make it simple!

Aspect	Buying a License	AI Music Generation
Quality	Professional-grade tracks that are ready to use.	Depends on the AI model you have used. Some of them may lack that creative human touch.
Legal Safety	Safe for commercial use as it’s fully licensed.	Depends on the plan to which you have subscribed. Some plans put restrictions on the usage of generated music on monetized videos.
Price	A monthly subscription fee or an expensive one-time fee.	Cheaper monthly subscription fee. You can continue using the generated track even after the subscription expires.
Uniqueness of Track	Not unique. Many creators may use the same track.	Custom-made tracks that are generated just for you with unique arrangements.
Customization	Limited. You must pick from the available pre-made tracks.	Create a track from scratch by adjusting tempo, mood, instrument, etc.
Ease of Use	Easy to browse and download.	Requires some technical knowledge to use AI tools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where to buy music for YouTube videos?

You can buy background music for YouTube videos from licensed platforms that offer safe and high-quality tracks. The exact choice depends on your budget and quality requirements. For instance, YouTube’s own platform Creator Music offers tracks at affordable rates under $20 and some with the option of ad revenue sharing (no upfront payment required). But if you want quality tracks itself, you may have to go for a platform like PremiumBeat that has a hand-picked collection of high-quality tracks.

2. Can I use a track if I give credit to the artist?

Unfortunately, mere crediting is not enough for all tracks. You need proper licenses to use some music in your video.

3. What rights do we need to have to use a track in the background music for YouTube videos?

You need two types of music licensing for YouTube videos:

• Sync License: This gives you the permission to add the music to your video.
• Mechanical License: This covers reproducing the music when it is shared or downloaded. Want to buy real shares for your video to rank it higher on the search results? Buy authentic YouTube video shares from us.

4. Do AI Music Tools Offer Legal Licenses?

Yes, mostly, but always check their terms! Most AI tools license you to use the music in YouTube videos, but some plans will restrict commercial use.

Conclusion

Times have changed. Now, you don’t need to compose music from scratch or worry about copyright strikes. Music licensing platforms have made it easier to find the best music for YouTube videos. And if you prefer something one-of-a-kind, AI music tools are at your service, too!

The most exciting part is that many of these platforms offer free versions. So, why not give them a shot?