Head-to-head comparison
Epidemic Sound vs Storyblocks Audio
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.
Unlimited royalty-free music and SFX bundled with stock video
Best for: Podcasters who also produce video clips and want one subscription to cover music, SFX, and stock footage.
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
Storyblocks Audio
Pros
- Unlimited audio at $149/year (~$12.40/mo)
- All Access $349/year bundles audio plus video
- Podcast license covers commercial use
Watch-outs
- Long tail of low-quality filler tracks
- Tagging shallow vs Artlist or Epidemic
- No stems on most files
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 Storyblocks Audio if
You’re building around podcasters who also produce video clips and want one subscription to cover music, sfx, and stock footage.. Storyblocks audio is $149/year unlimited; All Access at $349/year bundles audio with video and stock photos. License is podcast-friendly across plans.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Epidemic Sound alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Epidemic Sound do better than Storyblocks Audio?
Epidemic Sound's standout is "Single flat license covers podcasts and ads". Storyblocks Audio doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Unlimited audio at $149/year (~$12.40/mo)" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Epidemic Sound; if the second does, pick Storyblocks Audio.
What are the trade-offs?
Epidemic Sound: library skews instrumental and sometimes generic. Storyblocks Audio: long tail of low-quality filler tracks. 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 Storyblocks Audio doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Epidemic Sound and Storyblocks Audio 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 Storyblocks Audio for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.