Best Sound Effects Libraries in 2026
Updated
In short: Epic Stock Media is ranked #1 of 33 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of 99Sounds and Soundly. The best-ranked option with a free plan is 99Sounds. The lowest first paid tier on this page is ZapSplat at £1.88/mo.
From sound design to video production, a sound effects library gives you audio assets to consider for a project. Compare catalog size and file formats to understand what material is listed and how it may suit your workflow. Download model describes how you access the sounds; commercial use, broadcast use, and perpetual usage help clarify the listed usage terms. Check whether there is a free plan and what paid access starts from. Epic Stock Media, 99Sounds, and Soundly are among the options, alongside BBC Sound Effects and Mixkit. Weigh the formats, access details, rights, and cost information against your project's needs.
33 sound effects libraries ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
7 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epic Stock MediaWeb · Windows · Mac | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $24.92/mo | 6.6 | |
| 2 | 99SoundsWeb · Windows · Mac | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | SoundlyWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | Rogue Waves LibrariesWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | ZapSplatWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | £1.88/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | BBC Sound EffectsWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 7 | MixkitWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 8 | Pro Sound EffectsWeb · Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 9 | SoundsnapWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 10 | The RecordistWeb · Windows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 11 | FreesoundWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 12 | Lots of SoundsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | SoundBitsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | SoundDinoWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | SoundrangersWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | TONSTURMWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | AiSHAWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | CreatorsFXWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | SFXLibraryWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | Sound IdeasWeb · Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $41.67/mo | 5.1 |
| 21 | SoundFX.onlineWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | SoundGatorWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | SoundMorphNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | SoundOfYouTubeWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | Tabletop AudioWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which sound effects librarie is ranked first on Freedom251?
Epic Stock Media is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 6.6. 99Sounds is second and Soundly third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, ZapSplat has the lowest first paid tier we found: £1.88/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.