Head-to-head comparison
Artlist vs PremiumBeat
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.
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.
Shutterstock-owned royalty-free music with per-track licensing
Best for: Podcasters who only need one or two tracks and prefer to pay per song rather than subscribe.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
PremiumBeat
Pros
- $49 Standard license covers podcasts
- Subscription bundle: 5 tracks/mo for $64.95
- Curated catalogue with consistent quality
Watch-outs
- Per-track adds up fast for active shows
- Library smaller than subscription competitors
- Premium license ($199) needed for broader use
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick PremiumBeat if
You’re building around podcasters who only need one or two tracks and prefer to pay per song rather than subscribe.. PremiumBeat (owned by Shutterstock) is one of the last big libraries still leaning into per-track licensing. Standard license at $49 per track covers podcasts.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Artlist alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Artlist do better than PremiumBeat?
Artlist's standout is "Lifetime license on downloaded tracks". PremiumBeat doesn't make that promise — it leans into "$49 Standard license covers podcasts" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Artlist; if the second does, pick PremiumBeat.
What are the trade-offs?
Artlist: catalogue smaller than epidemic or storyblocks. PremiumBeat: per-track adds up fast for active shows. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Artlist and PremiumBeat together?
Both are music & sfx tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Artlist for one show or episode type and PremiumBeat for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.