Head-to-head comparison
Bensound 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.
Free music library from composer Benjamin Tissot
Best for: Quick free background music for video, where podcasts are the wrong use case.
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
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
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 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 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 Bensound alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Bensound do better than PremiumBeat?
Bensound's standout is "Long-standing reliable free library for video". PremiumBeat doesn't make that promise — it leans into "$49 Standard license covers podcasts" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Bensound; if the second does, pick PremiumBeat.
What are the trade-offs?
Bensound: free license forbids podcast use. 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 Bensound and PremiumBeat 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 PremiumBeat for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.