Head-to-head comparison
PremiumBeat 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.
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.
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
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
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 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 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 PremiumBeat alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does PremiumBeat do better than Storyblocks Audio?
PremiumBeat's standout is "$49 Standard license covers podcasts". 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 PremiumBeat; if the second does, pick Storyblocks Audio.
What are the trade-offs?
PremiumBeat: per-track adds up fast for active shows. 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.
Can I use PremiumBeat and Storyblocks Audio 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 Storyblocks Audio for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.