Head-to-head comparison
Storyblocks Audio vs ZapSplat
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.
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.
Free sound effects with affordable Gold upgrade
Best for: Podcasters who want a single source for everyday SFX without paying enterprise rates.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
ZapSplat
Pros
- Massive in-house SFX library, consistent quality
- Free covers commercial podcast use with credit
- Gold £4/mo or £120 lifetime drops attribution
Watch-outs
- Free tier requires show-notes attribution
- MP3 quality on free; WAV is Gold-only
- Music library smaller and weaker than SFX
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick ZapSplat if
You’re building around podcasters who want a single source for everyday sfx without paying enterprise rates.. ZapSplat hosts 150,000+ sound effects, all recorded in-house. Free tier covers commercial use with attribution.
Also worth comparing
Frequently asked
What does Storyblocks Audio do better than ZapSplat?
Storyblocks Audio's standout is "Unlimited audio at $149/year (~$12.40/mo)". ZapSplat doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Massive in-house SFX library, consistent quality" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Storyblocks Audio; if the second does, pick ZapSplat.
What are the trade-offs?
Storyblocks Audio: long tail of low-quality filler tracks. ZapSplat: free tier requires show-notes attribution. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Storyblocks Audio and ZapSplat together?
Both are music & sfx tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Storyblocks Audio for one show or episode type and ZapSplat for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.