How to Find Free Music for Videos: Step-by-Step Guide with Trusted Sites
Well-chosen music can turn an ordinary video into something vibrant and memorable. Whether it’s a family clip, a product presentation for a marketplace, or a short video for social media — it’s the sound that sets the mood and enhances the impact. But where can you find free music for videos that suits both personal and commercial projects?
This article offers a step-by-step guide and a list of trusted websites where you can legally download free songs for video and free sounds for video without the risk of copyright infringement.
Step 1: Define the Purpose of the Video
Before you start searching, ask yourself: what is this video for and who will watch it?
- Home and family clips — best paired with a warm background melody.
- Marketplace promos — minimalist or energetic tracks work well.
- Educational videos — calm music without vocals.
Step 2: Consider Copyrights
To avoid your video being blocked or removed, always check the license of each track:
- CC0 — full freedom of use, even for ads.
- CC BY — attribution required.
- CC BY-NC — allowed only for non-commercial use.
If you plan to post the video on YouTube, marketplaces, or in ads, use only tracks with open or commercially safe licenses.
Step 3: Where to Find Free Music for Videos
Here are reliable and popular websites:
- Free Music Archive — Creative Commons licensed music, filters by genre and rights.
- Pixabay Music — everything is free to use even in commercial videos, no attribution required.
- Bensound — free tracks available, good for presentations and promos.
- Incompetech — music library by Kevin MacLeod, Creative Commons classic.
- FreeSound — sounds and effects: wind, footsteps, button clicks, and more.
- YouTube Audio Library — built-in library of free music and sounds for videos. Can be used even in commercial projects (check each track's terms).
- SoundCloud — many tracks by independent artists. Use the Creative Commons filter and read the track description carefully.
- BBC Sound Effects — huge collection of professional BBC sounds. Free for personal, educational, and research use.
- Moby Gratis — musician Moby offers over 500 tracks for free use in non-commercial videos, student projects, and indie films. Registration and approval required.
All tracks are available in popular formats like MP3, WAV, OGG, and our online video editor accepts any of them — no conversion or delay needed.
Step 4: Upload and Test in Context
Even the highest quality music may not suit a specific video. Upload a few options and preview them directly in the editor with your video in the background. This helps you assess rhythm, dynamics, and emotional fit.
Some Tips for Choosing Music
- Choose based on mood: fast electronic for dynamic scenes, acoustic or ambient for calm ones.
- Avoid vocals if your video has speech or subtitles — music shouldn't compete with voice.
- Pay attention to tempo and length to avoid abrupt endings.
- Instrumental tracks are always versatile.
- Keep the license or source link — it's your defense in case of disputes.
Creating video is always a creative process. With the right music, even simple editing becomes an emotional story. Use free sounds for video legally, choose wisely — and your content will definitely resonate with viewers.