Incompetech
Kevin MacLeod's free Creative Commons catalogue
What it is
Incompetech is Kevin MacLeod’s library of music, free to use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence as long as you credit it. The music is copyrighted, not copyright-free: the licence is what lets you use it. If you cannot give credit, you buy a Standard License instead.
Incompetech licence and pricing
Checked on the vendor’s own site on 8 October 2026.
Is it free? Yes, if you credit it. Incompetech music is free under CC BY 4.0. For a podcast, the credit should be spoken, usually at the end of the episode. Without a credit you need the paid Standard License.
- Prices are shown with a $ sign; the licence page does not name the currency.
- Old links to incompetech.filmmusic.io and filmmusic.io/standard-license now go to a different composer’s site. Buy the no-credit licence from incompetech.com itself.
- Credits written for CC BY 3.0, still common in old forum posts, are out of date: the licence is 4.0.
Title Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source →
Sources: Incompetech licences, Incompetech FAQ. Prices change; check before you buy.
Where Incompetech fits in making a podcast
Incompetech is for the intro, outro and music beds. Voice the credit at the end of the episode, as Incompetech asks for podcasts. When you post a clip or a video that uses the track, put the credit in the description, which is where Incompetech says it goes for video. Check your intro level against the voice with a loudness meter so the music does not jump out.
Our take
Kevin MacLeod has released over 2,000 royalty-free tracks under CC BY 4.0 since the early 2000s. License is unchanged — podcasts covered with attribution. Tracks like 'Carefree' and 'Sneaky Snitch' are so widely used they've become almost stock cliches. The site is barebones, the value is real.
At a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Category
- Music & SFX
- Price
- Free under CC BY 4.0 with credit; no-credit Standard License $30 for one track, $50 for two, $20 each for 3 to 18
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Indie podcasts that need free, podcast-cleared music and don't mind giving attribution.
In depth
Kevin MacLeod has been releasing royalty-free music under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 since the early 2000s, and Incompetech remains the single best free option for podcasters who want license clarity. The catalogue runs to over 2,000 tracks across virtually every common mood — cinematic, comedic, dramatic, lo-fi, electronic, orchestral.
The license explicitly covers podcasts as long as you credit MacLeod, with the standard attribution format being a voiced credit at the end of production or a clear written credit in show notes. There's no change to the license in 2026; everything remains CC BY 4.0.
For creators who don't want to include attribution, MacLeod offers an optional paid license to drop the credit requirement on specific tracks. Where it shines is license clarity. Unlike FMA where you have to read license terms per track, Incompetech is uniformly CC BY 4.0 across the entire catalogue — predictable, simple, audit-friendly.
The mood breadth is also impressive for a single-composer operation. Where it falls short is overexposure. Tracks like 'Carefree,' 'Sneaky Snitch,' and 'Local Forecast — Elevator' are used so widely across YouTube and indie podcasts that some have crossed into auditory stock cliche.
The site UI is dated and tagging is functional rather than smart. Best fit for indie podcasters who want zero-cost, license-clear music and don't mind giving Kevin a credit line.
Alternatives to Incompetech
What each one is, in a line. Not a ranking.
- YouTube Audio LibraryFree music inside YouTube Studio; some tracks need a credit.
- Free Music ArchiveTracks under a range of Creative Commons licences, set per track.
- Pixabay MusicRoyalty-free tracks under the Pixabay Content License.
- BensoundRoyalty-free music with a free licence (with credit) and paid licences.
- Epidemic SoundSubscription library of music and sound effects for creators.
Related research and guides
- The $0 podcast stackEvery free tool you need to make and publish a show.
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- MP3 to VideoTurn an MP3 and an image into an MP4, free.
More music & sfx tools
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Incompetech FAQ
How do I credit Incompetech music in a podcast?
Say it, usually at the end of the episode. Incompetech’s FAQ asks podcasts to voice the credit. In show notes or a video description, use the four-line credit above with the real track title.
How much is an Incompetech license without attribution?
Checked 8 October 2026: $30 for one track, $50 for two, and $20 a track for 3 to 18, bought once through incompetech.com.
Is Incompetech music copyright free?
No. It is copyrighted and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, which lets you use it free with credit. That is different from public domain.
What is Incompetech in one line?
Kevin MacLeod's free Creative Commons catalogue
Who should pick Incompetech?
Incompetech is shaped for indie podcasts that need free, podcast-cleared music and don't mind giving attribution.. 0 since the early 2000s
Is Incompetech free?
Yes, if you credit it. Incompetech music is free under CC BY 4.0. For a podcast, the credit should be spoken, usually at the end of the episode. Without a credit you need the paid Standard License.
What are the alternatives to Incompetech?
YouTube Audio Library: Free music inside YouTube Studio; some tracks need a credit. Free Music Archive: Tracks under a range of Creative Commons licences, set per track. Pixabay Music: Royalty-free tracks under the Pixabay Content License. Bensound: Royalty-free music with a free licence (with credit) and paid licences. Epidemic Sound: Subscription library of music and sound effects for creators.
Shorts by Slice
From the team behind these free tools
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- Reads the whole episode, then picks the excerpts worth posting
- Captions burned in and framed vertical, ready to post
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