Head-to-head comparison
99Sounds vs Artlist
Two of the music & sfx tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Free sound effect packs curated by audio professionals
Best for: Hobbyists and indie podcasters who want professionally recorded SFX packs for free.
Curated royalty-free music with lifetime track ownership
Best for: Podcasters who want a smaller, hand-picked catalogue and the right to keep using downloaded tracks forever.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
99Sounds
Pros
- Genuinely free packs with commercial license
- Curated by working sound designers
- 24-bit WAV files standard
Watch-outs
- Pack-based browsing instead of file search
- License terms vary pack-to-pack
- Update cadence slower than commercial libraries
Artlist
Pros
- Lifetime license on downloaded tracks
- Music & SFX Social from $9.99/mo annual
- Curated catalogue with stronger song-quality average
Watch-outs
- Catalogue smaller than Epidemic or Storyblocks
- AI Starter and AI Professional tiers replaced AI Suite
- Stems not on every track
Which one should you pick?
Pick 99Sounds if
You’re building around hobbyists and indie podcasters who want professionally recorded sfx packs for free.. 99Sounds releases free SFX packs curated and recorded by professional sound designers — typically Creative Commons or custom royalty-free, most cleared for commercial use including podcasts. Recent 2026 releases include cinematic, horror, and electronic packs.
Pick Artlist if
You’re building around podcasters who want a smaller, hand-picked catalogue and the right to keep using downloaded tracks forever.. Artlist's bet is curation over volume — smaller library than Epidemic but average song quality is genuinely higher. The killer term: tracks downloaded during a subscription stay licensed for life, even if you cancel.
Also worth comparing
Or see all 99Sounds alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does 99Sounds do better than Artlist?
99Sounds's standout is "Genuinely free packs with commercial license". Artlist doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Lifetime license on downloaded tracks" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick 99Sounds; if the second does, pick Artlist.
What are the trade-offs?
99Sounds: pack-based browsing instead of file search. Artlist: catalogue smaller than epidemic or storyblocks. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use 99Sounds and Artlist together?
Both are music & sfx tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using 99Sounds for one show or episode type and Artlist for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.