Head-to-head comparison
PremiumBeat vs Soundstripe
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.
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.
Royalty-free music with built-in podcasting plan
Best for: Podcasters who want unlimited downloads of music and SFX with podcast-specific licensing baked in.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
Soundstripe
Pros
- Pro plan $19.99/mo annual covers podcasts
- Stems on most tracks, AI tools for customization
- Auto-clearance for 5 YouTube channels
Watch-outs
- Cancellation revokes rights on downloads
- Catalogue smaller than Epidemic
- Monthly billing nearly doubles annual rate
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick Soundstripe if
You’re building around podcasters who want unlimited downloads of music and sfx with podcast-specific licensing baked in.. Soundstripe Pro at $19.99/mo annual (or $239/yr) is one of the better bundled deals for podcasters who also produce social video — music, SFX, stems, and AI tools in one license.
Also worth comparing
Or see all PremiumBeat alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does PremiumBeat do better than Soundstripe?
PremiumBeat's standout is "$49 Standard license covers podcasts". Soundstripe doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Pro plan $19.99/mo annual covers podcasts" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick PremiumBeat; if the second does, pick Soundstripe.
What are the trade-offs?
PremiumBeat: per-track adds up fast for active shows. Soundstripe: cancellation revokes rights on downloads. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use PremiumBeat and Soundstripe together?
Both are music & sfx tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using PremiumBeat for one show or episode type and Soundstripe for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.