Best stock music and footage sites for creators (2026)

Music, sound effects, footage and photos are the raw material of most videos. Using a song you don't have a licence for can get a video muted, demonetized or taken down, so for creators the licence matters as much as the catalogue. The sites below range from fully free libraries to subscriptions that clear your YouTube channel automatically.

Three questions separate them: what you may do with a file (free libraries usually allow commercial use, but some items are restricted), what happens to your licence when you cancel, and whether a subscription renews on terms you will notice. Plans and terms were read from each site's own pricing and licence pages on 4 Nov 2026, and user scores from Trustpilot the same day. Several of these sites show prices only after you choose a plan or region, so some prices could not be confirmed.

Quick picks

• Free music, footage and sound effects with no attribution: Mixkit, with a lifetime commercial licence on its free items.
• Music subscription with the best user scores: Epidemic Sound, rated 4.7 from 2,155 reviews, with no long-term contract.
• Everything in one subscription: Envato, from $16.50/mo billed yearly for unlimited downloads of 30+ million assets.
• Stock video with well-rated support: Storyblocks, rated 4.4 from 2,519 reviews.
• Curated music for films: Musicbed, rated 4.5, with a full refund within 14 days if a licence was not used.

How these sites were compared

This guide is built from what each company publishes and what its customers report. For every site it checks the free offer and its licence, the first paid plan where it could be read, what you keep after cancelling, refund and renewal terms, and the Trustpilot score with recent review themes.

Compare at a glance

Stock music and sound effects

Tracks and effects you can put under your videos and podcasts.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound owns its catalogue of 55,000+ tracks and 250,000+ sound effects, which is why it can clear content on your channels, and adds AI voiceovers and plugins for Adobe and DaVinci Resolve. Creator and Pro plans have unlimited downloads with no long-term contract; Pro adds use in ad campaigns. There is a free trial and no permanent free plan, and refunds are not prorated. Prices could not be read on its pricing page.

On Trustpilot, Epidemic Sound scores 4.7 from 2,155 reviews. Reviewers like the large music catalogue and easy browsing, and praise quick help with billing and renewals.

Pick it if you post on YouTube every week and want music that will not trigger claims.

Artlist

Artlist combines 900K+ assets (music, sound effects, footage, templates and LUTs) with AI tools for images, video, music and voiceover. A free account can generate AI assets and preview watermarked songs and footage; unwatermarked downloads need a subscription. Plan prices could not be read on its site.

On Trustpilot, Artlist scores 3.2 from 2,792 reviews. Reviews are mixed: many praise fast support and the large music catalogue, others are unhappy with billing.

Musicbed

Musicbed is a curated catalogue for film, accepting less than 1% of artist submissions, with clearance through its SyncID system. The Individual plan covers web, podcast and social accounts up to one million followers. A free account can browse but not download. If you have not used a licence, you can cancel an order within 14 days for a full refund.

On Trustpilot, Musicbed scores 4.5 from 473 reviews. Reviewers praise prompt, helpful support.

Pick it if your videos are cinematic and music choice is part of the craft.

Bensound

Bensound offers music for video creators with automatic YouTube clearance on its subscription. The free licence needs a credit line and covers one video only. The All Access subscription runs for a year and renews automatically unless you cancel at least 14 days before the renewal date.

Pick it if you need a few tracks and can credit the artist.

Stock video and photos

Footage and photos for B-roll, thumbnails and posts.

Mixkit

Mixkit, from Envato, gives away 46,000+ video clips, 1,000+ music tracks, 3,000+ sound effects and video templates. Items under its free licence need no sign-up or attribution and can be used commercially; a few items carry a restricted licence, so check each one.

Pick it before paying for anything.

Pexels

Pexels is a free library of photos and videos shared by creators, which can be used commercially.

On Trustpilot, Pexels scores 2.8 from 52 reviews. Long-time users praise fast, free photos; the score is pulled down by a small number of complaints.

Envato

Envato gives unlimited downloads of 30+ million assets (footage, music, templates, graphics, fonts) plus AI tools, with a lifetime commercial licence for each download. Core costs $16.50/mo billed yearly. You can cancel any time, but there are no refunds, and each download is licensed for a single project.

On Trustpilot, Envato scores 2.3 from 8,987 reviews. Recent reviewers complain about strict subscription terms, unexpected annual charges, and assets they found dated.

Pick it if you use templates, fonts and footage every week; the price works only if you use it often.

Storyblocks

Storyblocks offers unlimited downloads of stock video, audio and images on its All Access plan. Annual plans are not usually refunded for unused time, though you may qualify if you have downloaded nothing since your last payment. Prices could not be read on its site.

On Trustpilot, Storyblocks scores 4.4 from 2,519 reviews. Reviewers praise helpful support, the variety of assets and fair pricing.

Adobe Stock

Adobe Stock has 900M+ images, videos and music tracks. The 10-credit plan is $29.99/mo for up to 10 images or one video a month, and unused credits roll over for up to 12 months. If you cancel a yearly commitment after 14 days, a fee of half the remaining commitment applies, and cancelling or downgrading loses unused credits.

On Trustpilot, Adobe Stock scores 1.2 from 291 reviews. Recent reviewers say cancelling is hard and charges continue, and contributors complain about the review system.

Coverr

Coverr offers free stock videos and music for commercial use without attribution, and now an AI creation studio. The free plan includes 1,000 AI credits; Basic is $5/mo ($4.20/mo yearly) for 20,000 credits and 4K footage. Credits charged for failed generations are returned automatically.

Pick it for free footage, and its paid plan only if you want the AI tools.

What to check before you commit

• The licence per item. Mixkit and Coverr free items allow commercial use without credit; Bensound's free licence covers one video and needs a credit.
• Renewal notice. Bensound needs 14 days' notice before renewal; Adobe charges a fee for leaving a yearly plan early.
• Refunds. Envato gives none; Storyblocks only if nothing was downloaded; Musicbed within 14 days if the licence was unused.
• Channel clearance. Subscriptions like Epidemic Sound and Bensound clear your channels; free libraries do not.

Which one should you pick?

• You are starting out: Mixkit and Pexels, both free.
• You post on YouTube every week: Epidemic Sound.
• You use templates, fonts and footage constantly: Envato.
• You make cinematic work: Musicbed.
• You need lots of B-roll: Storyblocks.

How this guide was put together

The site list comes from the guides that rank highest for royalty-free music and stock video for creators, plus sites that run partner programs. Plans, licences and terms come from each site's own pricing, licence and help pages, read on 4 Nov 2026. User ratings and review themes come from each site's Trustpilot page, read the same day; they reflect what reviewers chose to post, not a survey of all users.