Music plays a powerful role in setting the tone, mood, and emotion of YouTube videos. However, where to get free music for YouTube videos? In this guide, we'll walk you through what kind of music you can use and recommend top websites for free background music. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned YouTuber, having a reliable source of free music is a must for growing your channel successfully and professionally.
Contents Guide Part 1. What Music Can We Use for YouTube Videos?Part 2. Free Websites to Find Background Music for YouTube VideosPart 3. Bonus: Convert YouTube Music to MP3 Before Adding to VideosPart 4. Summary
Whether you're creating vlogs, tutorials, gaming content, or promotional videos, the right soundtrack can dramatically improve viewer engagement and retention. However, using copyrighted music without permission can lead to serious consequences like video removal, demonetization, or even legal action.
When uploading videos to YouTube, it's crucial to use music you are legally allowed to share. Generally, you can use music that falls under these categories:
You should never use commercial music without explicit permission, even if you credit the artist, as this can lead to copyright claims. Always read the terms associated with each track you download to ensure you meet the licensing conditions, such as providing proper attribution. Using approved music not only protects your videos from takedown notices but also helps you maintain a professional and trustworthy channel image.
Where to get free music for YouTube videos? Here are some great places to find free music:
YouTube’s own Audio Library is one of the most reliable sources for free music and sound effects. All tracks here are specifically cleared for use in YouTube videos, minimizing the risk of copyright issues. You can filter music by genre, mood, instrument, or even license type (some require attribution, others don't). Best of all, it's directly integrated with your YouTube account, making it very easy to download and use instantly.
Pros: Free, safe for monetization, easy-to-navigate categories.
Best for: Creators who want quick, no-hassle access to safe music.
Where to get free music for YouTube videos? Operated by the WFMU radio station, Free Music Archive offers a huge selection of tracks curated by music enthusiasts. Many tracks are available under Creative Commons licenses, allowing for free use with attribution. FMA features a broad range of genres, from electronic and hip hop to classical and experimental sounds.
Pros: Vast genre variety, curated collections.
Best for: Creators looking for unique or non-mainstream background music.
Where to get free music for YouTube videos? Have you heard Incompetech? Run by composer Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech is famous in the YouTube community. It hosts hundreds of original tracks, all royalty-free. Tracks are categorized by genre and mood, and many of them are cinematic, making them ideal for intros, trailers, or storytelling videos. Using Incompetech music usually requires attribution unless you purchase a license.
Pros: Wide variety of moods and styles, excellent for cinematic projects.
Best for: Storytelling, gaming videos, or dramatic projects needing powerful scores.
Where to get free music for YouTube videos? ccMixter is a creative platform where musicians and remixers share their work under Creative Commons licenses. Here, you can find instrumental tracks, remixes, and samples to incorporate into your videos. Licensing is clearly marked for each track, and many songs allow commercial use with attribution.
Pros: Community-driven, highly creative and diverse catalog.
Best for: Creators seeking remixes, experimental, or alternative sounds.
Where to get free music for YouTube videos? Bensound provides a professional library of royalty-free music for use in multimedia projects, including YouTube videos. While many tracks are free with attribution, paid licenses allow you to use the music without credit and on multiple platforms. The site organizes music into clear categories like "Corporate," "Acoustic," "Electronic," and "Jazz."
Pros: High-quality professional tracks, easy browsing by theme.
Best for: Commercial, corporate, and polished YouTube videos.
Although SoundCloud is best known for hosting emerging artists and music producers, many tracks are available under Creative Commons licenses. You can filter search results to show only CC-licensed songs. Always double-check the license terms, as not all Creative Commons tracks allow commercial use.
Pros: Massive variety, access to fresh, independent artists.
Best for: Creators wanting trendy, modern, or indie music to stand out.
Where to get free music for YouTube videos? Sometimes you may find some tracks on YouTube Music that are perfect for your video, but they are hard to download. Even if you download the songs with a YouTube Music Premium account and know where are YouTube Music downloads stored, you can't transfer them outside the YouTube Music program because of DRM.
It's not difficult at all to download YouTube Music for your videos once you get the right music downloader. DumpMedia YouTube Music Converter. DumpMedia is a tool designed to easily convert YouTube music to MP3 or other audio formats. It allows you to save songs offline and edit them into your videos.
DumpMedia supports batch downloads, which is perfect for busy content creators. All the songs will be downloaded with original audio quality. Once the YouTube Music app keeps crashing, you can also play downloads on other music players for a better experience.
How to download free music for YouTube videos with DumpMedia? Here's a step-by-step tutorial:
Step 1. Open DumpMedia YouTube Music Converter, enter the built-in web player, and sign in with your account. Then you can search for the YouTube Music song you want to play offline. Simply by dragging them to the "+" button, the software will fetch data from YouTube Music.
Step 2. Click on the Output Format dropdown to select MP3 as your output format, as well as the folder according to your requirements.
Step 3. Click the "Convert" button to start the conversion process. Once completed, your converted songs will be available in the designated output folder.
After reading this article, you should know where to get free music for YouTube videos. By using royalty-free, Creative Commons, or public domain music, you can add professionalism and emotional impact to your videos without any legal worries. Platforms like YouTube Audio Library, Free Music Archive, and Incompetech provide fantastic options for free. Tools like DumpMedia YouTube Music Converter can also assist in making the music accessible offline. Always remember to read the licensing terms carefully and give credit when required to ensure a smooth and successful YouTube journey!
