Side by side
Free Music Archive vs Incompetech
Both stand on stock music libraries. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
FMA offers free listening and a catalogue that can also support licensed media projects. Check each work’s license before reuse, since permissions depend on the artist or rights holder’s terms.
Visit Free Music Archive Free plan APIWeb
Incompetech offers a free credited-use option and a Standard License for projects that cannot use attribution. Check the crediting requirements and track download details for your intended use.
Visit IncompetechThe facts
| Free Music Archive | Incompetech | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | API, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Free Music Archive | Not published |
| Website | freemusicarchive.org | incompetech.com |
| On stock music libraries | #8 of 60 | #4 of 60 |
Free Music Archive: what it does well
- Listen to, download, and stream audio and video for free.
- Filter by license, commercial use, genre, and duration.
- Registered members can make playlists and rate works.
- Artists can publish songs on artist pages.
What to know first
- Reuse permissions vary by each work’s license.
- FMA does not own the original works or grant additional rights.
- The API has been shut down.
- Unapproved scraping and hotlinking are prohibited.
Incompetech: what it does well
- Free Creative Commons use requires credit.
- Tracks may be edited with contributions credited.
- Catalog entries include genre, BPM, and mood.
- Catalog data is published as JSON.
What to know first
- Standard License price is not shown.
- Some WAV downloads cost extra.
- Recordings are copyrighted.
- Sheet music is rarely available.
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