Artlist vs Epidemic Sound
A side-by-side look at Artlist and Epidemic Sound for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
At a glance
| Artlist | Epidemic Sound | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Best for | Multi-platform creators who want perpetual licensing and don't mind annual-only billing | Podcasters and YouTube creators who want a large, well-organized catalog with zero copyright headaches |
| Founded | 2016 | 2009 |
Key features
Artlist
- Curated catalog with high editorial quality standards
- Perpetual license - content stays licensed after cancellation
- Music stems for custom mixing
- Podcast coverage on all paid tiers
- Premiere Pro extension included
- AI music, AI voiceover, and stock footage as add-ons or in Max bundle
Epidemic Sound
- 50,000+ tracks and 90,000+ sound effects
- Mood, genre, and BPM filtering
- Stems available for custom mixing
- YouTube channel safelisting
- 30-day free trial on all paid plans
- Plugins for Premiere Pro, Final Cut, and DaVinci Resolve
Pros and cons
Artlist
Pros
- Perpetual licensing is the strongest in the category
- Pro plan covers client work, ads, and broadcast
- High catalog curation quality
Cons
- Annual billing only - no true monthly option
- Catalog size smaller than Epidemic Sound
- Full feature stack (footage, AI tools) requires expensive Max plan
Epidemic Sound
Pros
- Large, well-curated catalog with strong search tools
- Covers podcasts on Creator plan - no upgrade required
- 30-day free trial, no credit card required
Cons
- Catalog depth thins out in niche or classical genres
- Monthly billing is nearly double the annual rate
- No lifetime or per-track purchase option for casual users
The verdict
Choose Artlist if
Multi-platform creators who want perpetual licensing and don't mind annual-only billing.
Artlist's perpetual licensing is a genuine differentiator - most competitors void your license if you cancel, Artlist does not. The Music & SFX Pro plan at $16.58/month (annual) is the serious podcaster tier: three channels per platform, client work, ads,…
Choose Epidemic Sound if
Podcasters and YouTube creators who want a large, well-organized catalog with zero copyright headaches.
Epidemic Sound has the best-organized catalog in the space - genre and mood filtering is genuinely useful, not decorative. The Creator plan at $10/month (annual) is hard to beat for podcasters who just want reliable, copyright-safe background music. The caveat:…