Head-to-head comparison
Bensound 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 music library from composer Benjamin Tissot
Best for: Quick free background music for video, where podcasts are the wrong use case.
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
Bensound
Pros
- Long-standing reliable free library for video
- Paid licenses cover podcasts legitimately
- Familiar tracks recognizable to viewers
Watch-outs
- Free license forbids podcast use
- Catalogue smaller than competing libraries
- Same tracks across thousands of YouTube videos
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 Bensound if
You’re building around quick free background music for video, where podcasts are the wrong use case.. Bensound's been a free music staple for over a decade, but the free Creative Commons license explicitly excludes podcasts. Podcast use requires a paid license starting from around 34 euros per track.
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 Bensound alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Bensound do better than Epidemic Sound?
Bensound's standout is "Long-standing reliable free library for video". 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 Bensound; if the second does, pick Epidemic Sound.
What are the trade-offs?
Bensound: free license forbids podcast use. 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 Bensound doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Bensound and Epidemic Sound together?
Both are music & sfx tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Bensound for one show or episode type and Epidemic Sound for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.