What is Epidemic Sound?
Epidemic Sound is a royalty-free music and sound effects service that lets creators and businesses use tracks in videos, podcasts, streams and ads for a flat subscription. Founded in 2009 in Stockholm, it works directly with artists and says it owns its catalog of more than 55,000 tracks, alongside more than 250,000 sound effects. Because it owns the music, it can clear connected channels against copyright claims.
Epidemic Sound has grown beyond a music library into a set of creator tools. Studio syncs music and sound effects to your video, Adapt reshapes the length or feel of a track, and Assistant finds music from a text prompt. It also offers AI voiceovers in more than 70 languages, plugins for Adobe Premiere, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve Studio, an API, and an MCP connection for AI assistants.
Epidemic Sound at a glance
How does Epidemic Sound work?
- Choose a plan
Pick Creator for personal channels, Pro for client work and ads, or Business, Business Plus or Enterprise for companies, based on revenue and channel needs.
- Connect your channels
Link your YouTube, social and other channels so Epidemic Sound can clear or safelist them against copyright claims.
- Find the right track
Browse by genre, mood or theme, use curated playlists, or describe what you need to Assistant.
- Fit it to your edit
Use Studio to sync music to video, Adapt to change a track's length or feel, or the plugins to work inside your editor.
- Publish and monetize
Publish content while your subscription is active, and it stays cleared even after you cancel.
Epidemic Sound key features
Owned music catalog
More than 55,000 tracks that Epidemic Sound says it owns outright, which simplifies clearing and monetization.
Sound effects library
Over 250,000 sound effects and variations, from ambience to weather and foley-style sounds.
Channel clearing
Connected channels are cleared or safelisted, so licensed tracks do not trigger copyright claims on monetized content.
Studio and Adapt
Studio syncs music and effects to your video quickly, while Adapt reshapes any track to fit your edit.
AI voiceovers
Generate voiceovers in more than 70 languages from the same account.
Editing plugins
Plugins for Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve Studio let you search and add music without leaving your editor.
Apps, API and MCP
Desktop and mobile apps, an API for apps that need cleared music, and an MCP connection for prompting from an AI assistant.
Why use Epidemic Sound?
- A flat subscription covers unlimited downloads and use, with no per-track royalties.
- Channel clearing reduces the risk of copyright claims on YouTube and social platforms.
- Content published during an active subscription stays cleared after you cancel.
- Tools like Adapt and Studio save editing time when fitting music to video.
- Plans scale from solo creators to agencies and large brands.
Who is Epidemic Sound best for?
A good fit for
- YouTubers, streamers and podcasters
- Freelance video editors doing client work
- Brands and agencies producing social and ad content
- Production companies needing safelisted channels
Less suited to
- Creators who need stock footage or images, which Epidemic Sound does not focus on
- Users who want to publish new content with tracks after canceling
- Large businesses on a small budget, since revenue thresholds push them to higher plans
Epidemic Sound pricing
| Pricing model | Subscription |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Free trial available (length not stated) |
| Starting price | See the official pricing page |
Prices were not visible on the official pricing page when checked. Plans are tiered by use: Creator covers one channel per platform, Pro adds client work and ads, and Business tiers are set by company revenue; yearly billing costs less than monthly.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Epidemic Sound pricing page before you buy.
Epidemic Sound pros and cons
Pros
- Owned catalog makes channel clearing reliable
- Strong creator tools like Studio and Adapt
- Plugins for major video editors
- Previously published content stays cleared after cancellation
Cons
- Creator plan does not cover ads or client work
- No free plan, only a trial
- Business plans are gated by company revenue
Epidemic Sound integrations and platforms
Works with
Available on
Epidemic Sound alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Stock Media Sites.
Epidemic Sound FAQ
Is Epidemic Sound free?
No. Epidemic Sound does not offer a free plan, but its pricing page says paid plans come with a free trial. All plans include unlimited downloads and use, copyright protection for connected channels and access to plugins. Yearly plans are cheaper than paying monthly.
What happens to my videos if I cancel Epidemic Sound?
Content you published while your subscription was active stays cleared, so those videos remain safe after you cancel. Anything you publish after canceling is not covered. Creator and Pro plans have no long-term contract, and you keep access until the end of the billing period you paid for.
Can I use Epidemic Sound for client work and ads?
Not on the Creator plan. Pro allows client work and ads, covering three channels per platform for monetization. Business and Business Plus are for companies, agencies and publishers, with eligibility based on yearly revenue, and Enterprise covers businesses with revenue above $25 million.
Epidemic Sound vs Artlist: what's the difference?
Epidemic Sound focuses on music and sound effects, with channel clearing and tools like Studio and Adapt for fitting tracks to video. Artlist also offers music and sound effects but adds stock footage, templates, LUTs and a broad AI generation suite. Audio-first creators often choose Epidemic Sound, while video editors needing footage may prefer Artlist.
Does Epidemic Sound work with Premiere Pro?
Yes. Epidemic Sound offers plugins for Adobe Creative Cloud, including Premiere Pro and After Effects, as well as DaVinci Resolve Studio. The plugins let editors search, preview and add music and sound effects directly in their timeline.
Sources
This overview is based on Epidemic Sound's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.