Head-to-head comparison
Epidemic Sound 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.
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.
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
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
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 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.
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 Epidemic Sound alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Epidemic Sound do better than PremiumBeat?
Epidemic Sound's standout is "Single flat license covers podcasts and ads". PremiumBeat doesn't make that promise — it leans into "$49 Standard license covers podcasts" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Epidemic Sound; if the second does, pick PremiumBeat.
What are the trade-offs?
Epidemic Sound: library skews instrumental and sometimes generic. 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.
Do they support the same platforms?
Epidemic Sound works on iOS, Android where PremiumBeat doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Epidemic Sound and PremiumBeat together?
Both are music & sfx tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Epidemic Sound for one show or episode type and PremiumBeat for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.