Epidemic Sound
Music and sound effects with channel clearing.
Epidemic Sound is a subscription library of music and sound effects, with connected channels so Content ID claims are cleared on your videos.
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Is Epidemic Sound worth it?
Epidemic Sound is worth it for YouTubers and short-form creators who publish often and want music and sound effects without copyright claims, thanks to its channel connection. Stems let you adjust tracks to fit an edit. The catch is what happens after you cancel and for client work, so check both before you commit.
The short version
- Best for
- YouTubers who publish often and want no claims.
- Made for
- YouTubers, short-form creators, podcasters
- Free plan
- Check site
- How it charges
- Monthly or yearly subscription. Prices change often; check the current plans on Epidemic Sound’s site.
Good at
- Large library including sound effects
- Channel connection clears claims
- Stems to adjust tracks
Where Nub hesitates
- Check what stays cleared after you cancel
- Client work needs a higher plan
Pick Epidemic Sound if
- You upload often and want Content ID claims cleared through a channel connection
- You want sound effects and music in the same subscription
- You want stems to fit tracks under voice-overs or cut them to length
Skip it if
- You want stock footage on the same licence as your music: Artlist covers that
- You edit videos for clients and don’t want to pay for a higher plan
- You mainly want editing templates and plugins: Motion Array focuses on those
How Epidemic Sound keeps copyright claims off your channel
The feature that sets Epidemic Sound apart is the channel connection. You link your YouTube channel and other accounts to your subscription, and when you use one of its tracks in a video on a connected channel, Content ID claims are cleared. For a creator uploading several times a week, that removes the routine of disputing claims one by one.
Day to day, you search the library by mood, genre, tempo or length, preview tracks and download the one you want, along with sound effects from the same subscription. Stems let you split a track into parts such as drums, bass or melody, so you can drop the busy layer under a voice-over or end the music cleanly on a cut. That makes the same track usable in a long video and a 30-second Short.
Artlist is the closest alternative. Artlist leans towards a cinematic sound, bills yearly on most plans and bundles footage on bigger plans; Epidemic Sound offers monthly or yearly billing and a large sound-effects library. Soundstripe is a smaller library with clear licensing, and Motion Array suits editors who mainly want templates.
Two points deserve a careful read before you subscribe. First, check what stays cleared after you cancel, because the rules for videos published during your subscription matter for a back catalogue that keeps earning views. Second, client work needs a higher plan, so freelancers editing for brands shouldn’t rely on a personal creator plan. Podcasters should also confirm their plan covers podcast distribution at the time of writing.
Epidemic Sound vs similar tools
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | How it charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemic Sound | YouTubers who publish often and want no claims. | Check site | Monthly or yearly subscription |
| Artlist | Filmmaking creators who also want stock footage. | No | Yearly subscriptions |
| Soundstripe | Creators who want a simple music licence for video and podcasts. | Check site | Monthly or yearly subscription |
| Motion Array | Editors who want templates and assets alongside music. | Check site | Monthly or yearly subscription |
Epidemic Sound FAQ
Is Epidemic Sound free?
Epidemic Sound is mainly sold as a monthly or yearly subscription. Free trials and limited free access have changed over time, so check its pricing page at the time of writing.
What happens to my videos if I cancel Epidemic Sound?
The rules depend on your plan and when the video was published, so read Epidemic Sound’s current licence terms before cancelling. Pay particular attention to whether videos published during your subscription stay cleared on connected channels.
Epidemic Sound vs Artlist: which should I choose?
Epidemic Sound suits frequent uploaders who want claims cleared through a channel connection, stems and the option to pay monthly. Artlist suits creators who want a cinematic sound and footage on the same licence and are fine paying yearly. Try both libraries with your own edits if you can.
Can I use Epidemic Sound for client videos?
Client work needs a higher plan than the standard creator subscription. If you edit for brands or other channels, check which plan covers that use before publishing.
Can podcasters use Epidemic Sound?
Yes, podcasters use it for intros, background beds and transitions. Check that your plan covers podcast distribution on the platforms you publish to, since coverage can differ by plan.
Alternatives
- Artlist · Filmmaking creators who also want stock footage.
- Soundstripe · Creators who want a simple music licence for video and podcasts.
- Motion Array · Editors who want templates and assets alongside music.