Best Stock Music Libraries in 2026
Updated
In short: Soundstripe is ranked #1 of 59 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of RouteNote and Bensound. The best-ranked option with a free plan is RouteNote. The lowest first paid tier on this page is RouteNote at $0.83/mo.
A stock music library can supply music and sound effects for video, audio and other creative projects, with licensing terms shaping how you can use them. Compare catalog size and licensing model, including client work licenses and perpetual usage rights. AI-generated music, stem downloads and included SFX may also matter to your production process. Soundstripe, RouteNote and Bensound are among the entries to consider. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the assets and rights you need, then compare how each library’s listed options fit your work.
59 stock music libraries ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
6 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 | SoundstripeWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $3.99/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | RouteNoteWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $0.83/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | BensoundWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $0.83/mo | 6.4 | |
| 4 | TuneTankWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $7/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | UppbeatWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $6.99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | SoundimageWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 7 | Pond5Web · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $10/mo | 5.5 |
| 8 | FoximusicWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 9 | HookSoundsWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $0.83/mo | 5.4 |
| 10 | iStockWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $14.99/mo | 5.4 |
| 11 | AudiioWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | $14.99/mo | 5.3 |
| 12 | Epidemic SoundWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | FilmstroWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $14.99/mo | 5.3 |
| 14 | Music VineWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | Triple Scoop MusicWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | Artlist MusicWeb · Windows · Mac · API · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $0.83/mo | 5.2 |
| 17 | AudioSparxWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | Fesliyan StudiosWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | Free Music ArchiveWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | IncompetechWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | Music for MakersWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | MusicbedWeb · iPhone | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 23 | YouTubeWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 24 | AGsoundtraxWeb · Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $16.58/mo | 5.1 |
| 25 | APM MusicWeb | 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 stock music librarie is ranked first on Freedom251?
Soundstripe is ranked #1 of 59 with a score of 6.7. RouteNote is second and Bensound third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, RouteNote has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.83/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.