Uppbeat
Free music for creators with a generous free tier
Best for: New podcasters or creators on a tight budget who want a legal free option before committing to a paid subscription
Free tier Visit UppbeatUppbeat is a UK-based music licensing platform that offers a functional free tier alongside paid subscriptions, making it popular with early-stage content creators. The free plan provides 3 downloads per month and access to roughly 25% of the catalog. Paid tiers unlock unlimited downloads, sound effects, and eventually stock video assets.
Key features
- YouTube channel safelisting
- Free tier with 3 downloads/month and individual license
- Unlimited downloads on paid tiers
- Sound effects library on paid tiers
- Stock video and motion graphics on Creator and Pro plans
- Extended license for client work on Pro plan
Our take
Uppbeat's free tier is the most genuinely usable free offering in this category - 3 downloads per month with full licensing isn't just a teaser, it's workable for a weekly podcast that rotates intro music infrequently. The Essentials plan at roughly $10/month (annual) is competitive. The catalog is smaller and leaner than Epidemic Sound or Artlist, which starts to matter when you're producing at volume and need variety. The affiliate program pays flat amounts per signup rather than a percentage, which limits upside on higher-tier conversions.
Pros
- Best free tier in the category - genuinely usable
- Competitive annual pricing on Essentials
- Simple, transparent licensing
Cons
- Catalog smaller than Epidemic Sound or Artlist
- Free tier limited to 25% of catalog
- Pro plan needed for client-facing or commercial work
Uppbeat pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0.00 | - | 3 downloads/month, 25% catalog access, individual license. |
| Essentials | $10.99 | - | Unlimited music and sound effects, 1 YouTube channel safelist. Annual billing saves 20%. |
| Creator | $12.99 | - | Adds stock video (up to 1080p), motion graphics, LUTs, 3 YouTube channel safelists. |
| Pro | $21.99 | - | Extended license for client work and ads, unlimited 4K video, WAV files, 10 safelists. |
