Finding the right music for your creative project doesn't have to be expensive. In 2024, there are 17 places to download music for free, where creators can access high-quality, copyright-free or royalty-free music at no cost. Whether you're producing a video, podcast, or any other content, these sites offer a variety of tracks to suit your needs.
In this article
Part 1: 17 Websites to Download Music for Free in 2024
Finding the right music for creative projects no longer has to be costly, with 17 websites to download music for free offering high-quality copyright-free or royalty-free music at no cost in 2024.
1. Incompetech
We’re starting off with Incompetech, a website created by the famous composer Kevin MacLeod. The site offers an impressive number of royalty-free music to download. The site is pretty basic, broken into a few categories you can explore.
The first one and most relevant to this topic is the Royalty-Free Music page, where you can get royalty-free music in different genres for you in any way you want.
What we like about this page is that you can easily select filters to narrow down the song choices available until you find exactly what you’re looking for.
What we mean is you can select “Feels,” which is the type of song. Do you want something calm, dark, bright, or aggressive? There are 20 types to choose from, so you have more than enough options to play around with. You can also select over 25 genres, including the tempo and length.
Another neat addition to the site is the floating player at the bottom of the page, allowing you to listen to a track even before downloading it!
How to Download
Downloading a song from Incompetech is easy. You just click the song you want and click the blue “Download ‘Song Title as MP3” button (it’s a blue bar).
2. Pixabay
Pixabay is renowned as a website for downloading royalty-free pictures, but you can also get excellent, high-quality, and royalty-free music there. There are over 80,000+ tracks generously shared by the Pixabay community to download!
You’ll see filters like birthday, no copyright music, upbeat, motivation, and more that make finding the kind of music you want easier. A feature we really like is that each song is labeled with the genres it belongs to, and clicking those genres will take you to other songs in the same niche, making finding similar songs easier.
If you don’t have any specific genre of music in mind and are simply feeling adventurous, select from what’s currently trending, latest, and editor’s choice, and you’ll be pleased with the options. The Pixabay curated playlist also has some great gems you might want to check out!
How to Download
Go to the song you want and click the “Download” button on the far right. Alternatively, you can also click the song and the green “Download” button on the new page that opens.
A third download method is to click the Play button beside the song; a music player at the bottom of the page will start playing, then click the “Download” button to the player’s right.
3. Jamendo
Jamendo is the first platform on our list that offers free music based on country. You can set the genre. Best of and country to locate any free music you want. Of course, if you want a mix of everything, just put the filter to “All Countries.”
One way Jamendo stands out is that each song you click on has a “Description” section where you’re given detailed information about the song and how it can be applied. For example, “Host” by Color Out is a song that’s intended to alleviate the woes of anyone suffering from anxiety and depression.
The comment section under the tracks also allows you to learn more about it and see people’s opinions about it even before you play it; you can even get recommendations from fellow music lovers!
The Jamendo Music Radio feature allows you to listen to the most memorable songs on the platform, which is a great way to discover new tracks and fall in love with songs you didn’t even know existed!
How to Download
Go to the song and click the “Free Download” button. You don’t even have to click the song to download it, but if you click it, you can still click the “Free Download” button again on the next page.
4. Free Music Archive
The first thing you see when you visit this website is a search bar where you can search for music and select the genre. This feature makes searching for songs a quick and easy affair, but right below that, you see featured mixes for the month, so the site always keeps you up to date on the trending tracks selected by professionals.
If you’re not specific about the kind of royalty-free music you want, click the “Discover” button to see the charts, genres, artist shuffle, etc.
But, more than listening to songs, Free Music Archive allows you to create music, video and film, podcasts, and other media. If you’re a creator, the website can thus be an avenue for you to promote your songs because Free Music Archive receives over 1.5 million pageviews per day, so imagine the potential of people who could listen to your music!
How to Download
Search for the song you want, then click the “Download” button to the far right of the song title. You can also click the song title for more info, then click the “Download” button again to save the song.
5. Josh Woodward
The first thing you see when you visit this platform is the option to select instrumental or vocal music or just listen to anything you want.
We like this site because it’s very simple to use. Right on the first page, you can choose songs from a playlist or album or select the filters and tags for a more precise search.
One of the reasons it’s different from the other websites on this list is because it’s run and managed by a single individual: Josh Woodward.
He composes songs in different genres, and being a literal one-man band means he has less time and fewer resources to make more songs, so the music collection here isn’t as extensive as it could have been. But Josh makes up for all this by creating music and giving it out for free!
All of Josh Woodward’s songs are available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, so his songs will be perfect for a YouTube content creator, filmmaker, or anyone who wants great music for a project.
How to Download
Find the track you want and click it. A page will open. You can click “Download MP3” or “Download Instrumental MP3.” So, choose the one you want, and the file will be saved to your system.
6. Bensound
The tagline for this platform is “Royalty Free Music for Videos,” meaning it’s marketed as a site for content creators, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to get free music for other purposes.
Bensound is one of the more recognizable websites on this list because multinational and large brands like Microsoft, Google, Netflix, NASA, Sony, Toyota, and many others have all benefited from Bensound music from the best artists.
To reiterate, Bensound primarily offers music for YouTube, but the site makes it easy to find songs for use on platforms like Twitch, Facebook, Vimeo, Snapchat, and more.
As for where you can use the songs, people have been flocking to Bensound to get royalty-free music for cooking, training, advertising, gaming, and wedding videos.
You don’t even have to know which genre to look for music from because there’s a “popular searches” section with keywords like indie, funny, inspiring, ambient, acoustic, calm, etc. So click on them, and you’ll understand why such songs are so popular; you might even get a few favorites from them!
How to Download
Go to the site and click the green “Free Music” button at the top. Search for or select the given tracks on the next page, and click the “Free Download” button. Then, click the “Download music and get Attribution text” to initiate the download process.
7. SoundCloud
SoundCloud will instantly be familiar to most of you, even if you’ve never downloaded music from the site. And that’s a testament to how popular it is. But what’s the reason for this popularity? Simple: it’s a nearly bottomless swell of royalty-free music!
This is quite literally one of the biggest music platforms in the world. This is evident in its availability on all the major platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Sonos, Chromecast, and Xbox One. But, more than availability, it’s a hub where music lovers and composers come together to enjoy making and listening to music.
The site boasts many features that make it a winner in our books. For example, for artists, there’s an advanced insights feature that allows you to see who’s listening to your music, how they discovered you, and more information you can utilize to great benefit. Listeners get a variety of royalty-free music that can be used in animations, presentations, and other multimedia projects. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved!
How to Download
Simply find the song you want, then click “More.” In the dropdown menu, click “Download File” to get the song (but you must be logged in first, so create an account if you don’t have one already).
8. YouTube Audio Library
Technically, this isn’t strictly a website to download royalty-free music; it’s part of YouTube Studio and allows you to download free music, regardless of whether you’re a content creator.
Just as you would expect from the other sites on this list, there are several genres you could choose from. You can also select the song’s mood, instruments, etc. So, quite a few filters make finding a specific song stress-free.
Regarding the interface, we like how you can see the song’s title, genre mood, artist, duration, license type, and date were all added on one page. It makes things easier and faster because you can get all the necessary song details without opening several pages.
How to Download
All you have to do is go to YouTube Studio and the Audio Library section. Search for music and click the Play button, then look to the bottom of the page, and you’ll see a mini-player playing the song. Click the Download button at the player’s edge to save the song.
9.SoundClick
No, this is not a rip-off of SoundCloud; it’s another popular website hosting an impressive number of royalty-free music!
What do we like the most about this website? The sheer variety of songs and genres makes it a favorite among music lovers. There are literally millions of tracks waiting for you to download! The “Instrumentals” genre alone has over 2.4 million songs. Even the genre with the least number of songs (Latin) has over 29,000+ tracks!
With such an extensive library, many tracks will be by renowned and professional artists, which is another plus.
You can navigate the website by selecting the genre, sub-genre, tags, price, meta-data, and character of the songs. So, you can be very detailed in your search.
How to Download
Go to the website, search for songs, or click on your desired genre. When the songs appear, click the ellipses to the music’s right, and a dropdown menu will appear. Click “Free Download.”
10. Bandcamp
We’re at website number 10 already! We regard this site as a blend of old-school music and the modern world. Why do we say that? There are sections on the website that allow you to purchase cassettes and vinyl records!
These media formats were phased out long ago, but many music lovers still have a soft spot for them. Plus, the vintage look and feel add to their allure. You can purchase CDs as well if you prefer that.
But we digress. Regarding royalty-free music, you can select dozens of tags to make your choice easier and even choose the artist’s location. The reviews from people who listen to the songs can also help you make an informed decision, so that’s another cool feature!
How to Download
Go to the “Discover” section and filter the songs by selecting the “free downloads” tag. Once you see something you like, click on it and choose “Buy Track.” From there, click ‘Add to cart” even though you’re not making a purchase. Once you finish the checkout process, the song will be ready for download.
11.YouTube Studio
In all likelihood, you’re no stranger to YouTube, but you might be new to getting royalty-free music from it. YouTube Studio is more known for being a platform for YouTubers or content creators to create videos, manage their pages and channels, and use tools to edit videos before posting.
While all this is true, the all-in-one platform includes the YouTube Audio Library we mentioned earlier. The tool allows you to access royalty-free music created by aspiring musicians and fellow YouTubers like you. You’ll also get very detailed analytics, editing features, and steps you need to take to monetize your content.
If you’re a music composer, this is an excellent opportunity to grow your audience and earn from what you love doing. And if you’re looking simply for music, the sheer amount of talent guarantees you’ll get the perfect songs you need for any project!
How to Download
First, log into your YouTube account and then open YouTube Studio. Then, go to Audio Library and look for music, background music, or maybe sound effects if that’s what you’re after. Click the Play button and then the Download button on the small music player playing the song.
12. Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is often regarded as one of the best places to get the rarest and oldest online content, including free music.
The platform is so vast because individuals upload all the content they see. If there’s one particular song you heard long ago and have searched for years but couldn’t find online, chances are someone has uploaded it to the Internet Archive!
The website has high-quality and legal books, software, movies, and music downloads. Millions of works fall under the Creative Commons license on this website, meaning you get unlimited songs you can use for free however you wish!
How to Download
Search for the songs you want using the search bar, then click it once the results are displayed. Scroll down, and you’ll see multiple download options, the most common being torrent files or direct downloads. Click the direct download because it’s faster, and you don’t need a torrent client to download it.
13. BeatStars
The platform is touted as the largest marketplace for high-quality beats. And with over 8 million tracks to download, that’s no exaggeration. The focus is more on helping music composers get a footing in the music marketplace. However, you can still get great royalty-free music here too.
So, if you’re a producer, an artist, a songwriter, or someone looking for free music for multiple projects, this is the place to meet. The website is especially endearing if you’re into Pop, Hip-hop, and R&B!
Another highlight of the website is the licensing options. There are exclusive and non-exclusive licenses, which are great for people with different budgets. More than free music, you can also get sample packs, loops, and sound kits.
How to Download
Go to the website, search for the song you want, and click it. You’ll be taken to a new page. From there, click the “Download for free” button under the song and to the right of the page.
14. Audiomack
This is another platform developed to empower artists. The tagline says the website is “artist-first,” and that’s great. But the focus on artists also means it’s an excellent resource for free songs!
The website has several sections to meet the needs of those who make music and those seeking it. The most popular genres on the site are rap, hip-hop, and R&B, but they are not limited to those genres alone.
As an artist, you can upload your music and let people download and stream them for free. So, while you’re building a fanbase and promoting yourself, other people can use your music in their projects, which creates more exposure to your work!
How to Download
You can only download free music via the Audiomack app on Android or iOS, but not the desktop client. Find the song you want using the search function or going through any music category (Best of 2024, Hip-Hop, Popular in Your Area, etc.). Tap the “Download” below the song’s artwork to save it to your device.
15. Musopen
We’re almost at the end of our exhaustive list, but you’ll love this site if you want free music and sheet music. That alone makes it unique from all the other sites here because the music is printed, so you can use it as a guide to create your music.
Of course, to use sheet music, you must know about music creation, but if you’re here reading this, we assume you already know how to read music notation. But even if you’re here just for royalty-free music to use in personal and commercial projects, you won’t be disappointed!
You’ll be pleased to know there are no ads here, too. All you have to do is search for sheet music and download it via PDF format or music as an audio file. And since there are categories like Relaxing, Fun, Celebratory, and Romantic, it streamlines finding the perfect music for your needs. And to make things even easier, you can search for the music by composer, form, instrument, etc.
How to Download
Simply go to the page dedicated to royalty-free music, click the song you want, and then click the Download icon beside the Play button. But remember, you have to open a free account first to be able to download.
16. Amazon Music
You know Amazon is a marketplace, but did you know you can also get exceptional free music from the online giant? With Amazon Music, expect nothing less than millions of songs and podcasts you can download.
What makes this platform so great is that it integrates well with Amazon products, so if you own them, that’s a huge plus for you!
We’ll point out that while there’s Amazon Music Free, that’s only one tier. There’s also Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Music Prime. And while these offer different features, you don’t need to bother with the other tiers if your sole focus is free music.
How to Download
Downloading a song requires getting an Amazon Prime subscription and an Android or iOS app or the web. Look for the song you want, then tap the “Download” icon beside the song or album you want. If you’re using a free account, you can stream the music but cannot download it.
17. ReverbNation
If you’re an artist who wants to launch a career, ReverbNation is the place to be. If you want the best free music for your next video or project, ReverbNation is the place to be!
Think of this website as an all-in-one place where music creators and lovers can meet. As a composer, you can promote your music on the platform for free and engage with your fans via social messaging and email. You can even sell the songs directly to fans. And you can also earn royalties each time the songs are streamed or used in a performance!
The comments section can also help you if you want to know more about the artists and similar tracks because you can get more recommendations.
How to Download
Once you create and log into your account, explore the music or search for what you want. Click the song, and it will start playing on a small player at the bottom of the page. You’ll see a Download button beside the Share button. Click the download button and download the song.
Part 2: Combining Music and Creativity with DemoCreator
After downloading music, creators may also need a powerful tool to integrate that music into their videos or other projects. This is where DemoCreator is an excellent choice. Not only does it support HD video recording and editing, but it also makes it easy to seamlessly add background music to your work. Here are a few core features of DemoCreator that can help you improve the efficiency and quality of your content creation.
- Video Recording and Editing
DemoCreator provides a powerful video recording function, which is especially suitable for creators who need to create tutorials, demos, game commentaries and other content. You can record screen operations or live action while easily importing music downloaded from the previously mentioned websites to make your work more attractive.
- Audio Editing and Background Music Addition
Adding the right music to a video can greatly enhance the viewer's experience, and DemoCreator supports high-quality audio recording and editing, so you can record voice-overs and add background music. With the easy-to-use drag-and-drop tool, users can seamlessly integrate music downloaded from “17 Places to Download Music for Free” into their videos to complete the production in no time.
- Animation and Effects Library
In addition to music, DemoCreator has a rich library of transitions, animations, and built-in sound effects to help creators create professional-grade multimedia content. Combined with your choice of background music, these features make your video content more dynamic and visually appealing.
Whether you're a video creator, educator, or podcaster, DemoCreator makes it easy to combine music and creativity in a professional and engaging way.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article has explored 17 top websites for downloading music for free in 2024, highlighting their unique features, pros and cons, and methods for downloading. As you create and edit your music videos, consider using Wondershare DemoCreator, a powerful screen recording and video editing software that enhances your creative process. With its user-friendly interface and advanced features, you can easily capture high-quality video, add effects, and edit your content seamlessly. Download DemoCreator today to elevate your music video projects and share your creativity with the world!
