Epidemic Sound vs YouTube
Epidemic Sound
epidemicsound.comYouTube
youtube.comSide by side
| Figure | Epidemic Sound | YouTube |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $1.99/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 5 |
| Spec score · Stock Music Libraries | 8.0 (#10) | 8.3 (#5) |
| Support | Business and Business Plus include priority support, while Enterprise includes a dedicated Customer Success Manager. | YouTube directs users to its Help Center, Help Community, and TeamYouTube for troubleshooting and updates. |
Plans
Epidemic Sound
- BusinessPriced on request
- Business PlusPriced on request
- CreatorPrice not published
- CreatorPrice not published
- EnterprisePriced on request
- ProPrice not published
- ProPrice not published
YouTube
- Sports + News Plan$49.99 a month
- YouTube TV$59.99 a month
- Sports Plan$64.99 a month
- 4K Plus$9.99 a month
- More premium TV add-ons$1.99 a month
In their own words
Epidemic Sound
Epidemic Sound provides music and sound effects, with licensing and tools to find, edit, and sync audio to content. The company describes a catalog of more than 55,000 tracks and 250,000 sound effects and variations, and says it owns all rights to its tracks with global rights included in its direct license. A 30-day free trial is available, but downloading and using music requires an active subscription or a single-track license. Content published during a trial or active subscription remains cleared forever when publishing channels are correctly safelisted under the subscription terms; content made after the subscription ends is not cleared. Tools include AI voiceovers, voice replicas, monthly AI credits, and prompt-based music discovery. Plugins are available for Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and DaVinci Resolve Studio. The Mac desktop app supports workflows with Final Cut Pro, Avid Pro Tools, CapCut, and other editors. Plans serve individual creators, professionals, businesses, and larger organizations, with terms for channels, users, revenue, and permitted uses. The listed platforms include Android, iOS, macOS, web, Windows, and API access.
YouTube
YouTube is a service for discovering, watching, and sharing videos and other content, as well as a platform for creators and advertisers. People can browse and search without a Google account, though some features require one. Channel owners can upload videos, comment, and make Shorts and playlists; YouTube Studio is the place to post videos and edit a channel. Shorts are vertical videos of 60 seconds or less, alongside longer videos. Recommendations use signals such as viewing behavior, likes, dislikes, subscriptions, and satisfaction feedback. Users can pause, edit, or delete their search and watch history. Developers can use YouTube APIs to embed playback, search and manage content, review analytics, add subscribe buttons, and manage live streams. Eligible Partner Program creators may access multiple revenue streams, subject to regional availability and program criteria. The free service is listed for Android, iOS, and web, with an API. YouTube Premium adds ad-free viewing on millions of videos, offline downloads, background play, and ad-free music in YouTube Music, though some creator and event promotions may remain. Premium plan options include individual, household family, and annually verified student plans.