Head-to-head comparison
99Sounds vs Epidemic Sound
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.
All-inclusive royalty-free music and SFX subscription
Best for: Podcasters who want one flat fee, no attribution, and clean platform-wide clearance for ads and sponsorships.
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
Epidemic Sound
Pros
- Single flat license covers podcasts and ads
- Rare Content ID issues — full rights owned
- Creator plan dropped to $9.99/mo annual
Watch-outs
- Library skews instrumental and sometimes generic
- Cancelling removes rights on new uploads
- Search returns lots of near-duplicates
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 Epidemic Sound if
You’re building around podcasters who want one flat fee, no attribution, and clean platform-wide clearance for ads and sponsorships.. Epidemic Sound's pitch is owning the master and sync rights to every track, which sidesteps the YouTube Content ID claims that hit creators using pooled-rights libraries. Creator plan now sits at $9.
Also worth comparing
Or see all 99Sounds alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does 99Sounds do better than Epidemic Sound?
99Sounds's standout is "Genuinely free packs with commercial license". Epidemic Sound doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Single flat license covers podcasts and ads" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick 99Sounds; if the second does, pick Epidemic Sound.
What are the trade-offs?
99Sounds: pack-based browsing instead of file search. Epidemic Sound: library skews instrumental and sometimes generic. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Do they support the same platforms?
Epidemic Sound works on iOS, Android where 99Sounds doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use 99Sounds and Epidemic Sound 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 Epidemic Sound for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.