Artlist vs Uppbeat
A side-by-side look at Artlist and Uppbeat for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
At a glance
| Artlist | Uppbeat | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10/mo | Free plan |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Multi-platform creators who want perpetual licensing and don't mind annual-only billing | New podcasters or creators on a tight budget who want a legal free option before committing to a paid subscription |
| Founded | 2016 | 2020 |
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
Uppbeat
- 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
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
Uppbeat
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
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 Uppbeat if
New podcasters or creators on a tight budget who want a legal free option before committing to a paid subscription.
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…