Best Royalty-Free Music Sites

What separates the best stock music sites on this page?

Three subscriptions, three different jobs. Envato Elements scores 9 and costs $16.50 a month. Storyblocks scores 7.8 at $30. Shutterstock scores 7.7 at $29.

Envato Elements filled 18 of 20 briefs. Testers called its templates, motion graphics and music unbeatable, and one flat price means no download counting. The trade-off: photography is broad but shallower than Adobe or Shutterstock at the top end, and assets must be registered to a project to stay licensed after you cancel.

Storyblocks filled all five video and audio briefs, with 4K included. Its licence covers monetised YouTube and broadcast, and Content ID claims are cleared. Adobe and Premiere plugins are there too. Photos and vectors are weak, though — 12 of 20 briefs overall — and the monthly price doubles without the annual commitment.

Shutterstock hit 17 of 20 briefs and offers the widest photo choice on niche subjects, plus editorial and news images and an enhanced licence up to $250,000 indemnity. Video and music are separate subscriptions, and per-image plans get pricier than Adobe once you need video.

What should you check before buying a stock music subscription?

Scoring weighted library breadth and quality at 30, licence and protection at 20, value at 25, search and tools at 15, and integrations at 10. That order matters when you compare.

• Licence scope: Storyblocks covers monetised YouTube and broadcast; Envato Elements needs each asset registered to a project to stay licensed after cancelling.
• What is actually included: Shutterstock keeps video and music in separate subscriptions, so a music-only need can cost more than the headline price suggests.
• Commitment: Storyblocks doubles in monthly price without the annual commitment.
• Indemnity: Shutterstock's enhanced licence reaches $250,000.

Envato Elements — for mixed briefs on one flat price

Best for creators who need templates, motion graphics and music together and want one flat price with no download counting.

Storyblocks — for video and audio work

Best for video specialists who need 4K footage, After Effects templates, music and sound effects under a licence written for YouTube and broadcast.

Shutterstock — for photo-heavy and editorial work

Best for buyers who need the widest photo choice on niche subjects, editorial and news images, and an unlimited-image tier for heavy users.

Envato Elements suits mixed briefs on one flat price, with 18 of 20 briefs filled. Storyblocks suits video and audio work, with all five video and audio briefs filled and 4K included. Shutterstock suits photo-heavy and editorial work, with 17 of 20 briefs and the widest photo choice on niche subjects.