Free music downloads are available from artists and libraries that allow them. A free download does not automatically let you use the recording in a YouTube video, an advert or a commercial project. Check the track’s download option and its licence before choosing it.
Compare six download sources
| Website | Useful for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Pixabay | Background music and instrumentals | Content License and any additional rights |
| SoundCloud | Artist-enabled individual downloads | A download file button on the web track page |
| Musopen | Classical recordings and scores | The specific recording’s status and account limits |
| Jamendo Music | Independent artists | The track’s Creative Commons conditions |
| SoundClick | Independent songs and beats | Free download versus a paid usage licence |
| Free Music Archive | Music with track-level licence information | Attribution, commercial-use and adaptation conditions |
1. Pixabay
Browse Pixabay Music for suitable tracks. Its Content License allows free use with some restrictions. For example, you can’t sell or share the content on its own without adding creative work. “Royalty-free” is not the same as “no copyright” or unlimited permission.
2. SoundCloud
SoundCloud’s download help describes downloads on the web after signing in, when the artist has enabled the download file button. You receive the originally uploaded format, which is not necessarily MP3. A whole playlist cannot be downloaded this way. Mobile subscription offline listening is a separate feature.
3. Musopen
Musopen is useful for classical music and sheet music. Its FAQ warns that an old composition and a particular performance can have different rights, and it does not guarantee that every user upload is in the public domain. Check the individual recording and your account’s download conditions.
4. Jamendo Music
Explore independent music on Jamendo Music. Read the Creative Commons conditions attached to the track: rules about giving credit, commercial use or edits can change what you’re allowed to do with it. Jamendo Licensing offers separate licences for uses beyond those permissions.
5. SoundClick
SoundClick offers independent music, beat sales and licensing. Its FAQ distinguishes free downloads used to evaluate music from commercial song licences. Check the specific artist’s offer; a free preview or download is not automatically an untagged beat you can release as your own song.
6. Free Music Archive
Free Music Archive displays licence information on individual tracks. Its licence guide explains the different Creative Commons conditions and its download-only licence. Check that the licence allows what you want to do.
Before saving a track
- Use the site’s genuine download control.
- Check the format, artist and track title.
- Save the licence or permission details if you plan to reuse the recording.
- Keep the downloaded file backed up.
If you are choosing between an actual audio file and streaming-app offline access, see Spotify offline downloads versus MP3 files.
Technical information checked October 12, 2026, using the sources linked above.