Bensound vs Incompetech

Bensound is a web library of royalty-free music and sound effects for creative projects. Its Free License with Attribution applies to selected tracks in the Free Music section for qualifying uses, with a single-use attribution requirement. All Access subscriptions allow unlimited downloads from the library for one year; subscribers can choose high-quality MP3 or uncompressed WAV files and receive license certificates. Projects published while a subscription is active retain their licenses indefinitely. Bensound lists YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch and Vimeo as cleared video platforms. Paid licenses and subscriptions include YouTube channel whitelisting, though the number of channels varies by plan. Business options cover unlimited client work; individual and professional plans have different channel allowances. Remixing audio or using it to create songs or music productions is prohibited. Organizations with more than 250 employees need an Enterprise License tailored to their requirements. The service is web-based and accepts credit and debit card payments; support for licensing, copyright claims and custom licensing is available through a contact form.

Incompetech provides Kevin MacLeod’s royalty-free music catalog for videos, streams, live productions, films, games, podcasts, and other audio work. Its Creative Commons plan is free and requires crediting the music, including use of the site’s generated credits. The FAQ permits credited use in monetized YouTube videos, streaming sites, and live productions. Users may sing over tracks, cut or splice them, compress or lengthen them, or add instruments, while distinguishing their contributions in credits. Catalog metadata includes title, duration, instruments, genre, BPM, description, mood, ISRC, and collection. Downloads are identified as MP3, with some WAV files potentially available for an extra charge. The maker says the main download exceeds 100 GB and includes alternate takes, stems, MIDI files, and sheet music. Search, a movable mini-player, and JSON catalog data are provided.