PremiumBeat vs. Epidemic Sound—which audio library is better for creatives?

As many video creators know, the right audio track can make or break a video’s final edit. The perfect soundtrack enhances a video’s emotional impact and helps elevate the overall viewing experience. 

With countless options available, finding an audio library that meets your budget and creative needs can be daunting.

Two of the most popular contenders in this space are PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound. Both platforms offer extensive music libraries and cater to creatives across various industries, but how do they compare? Which provides the best value for video editors, YouTubers, and content creators?

Let’s compare PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound, analyzing their key features, strengths, and weaknesses and exploring everything from music quality and variety to pricing, licensing, and user experience. 

We’ll even contrast how these two platforms compare to the different music options offered by Envato. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear idea of which audio library best suits your creative needs!

Since its inception in 2008, PremiumBeat has been a major player in the royalty-free music industry. The platform primarily caters to video creators, filmmakers, and multimedia professionals who seek high-quality music tracks for their projects.

PremiumBeat offers an extensive library of over 40,000 tracks covering a wide range of genres and moods, including everything from cinematic scores and corporate jingles to indie rock and electronic dance music. They also offer a library packed with over 16,000 sound effects for your projects.

PremiumBeat’s search and filter tools are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. Users can search for tracks based on mood, genre, instruments, and even specific beats-per-minute ranges, making it easier to find the right music quickly. 

They also curate staff-picked playlists and frequently showcase a selection of new and trending music tracks. 

PremiumBeat also makes it easy to “search similar tracks,” so when you find a song you like, you can quickly find a selection of similar-sounding songs.

Making it easy to preview songs is a key feature of any audio library. Luckily, PremiumBeat has a fantastic music preview player that follows you as you browse music tracks. 

The player showcases a play bar and an audio waveform preview for the song you are listening to, allowing you to quickly skip around to different points of the music track. It also lets you quickly preview more audio associated with that music track, such as song loops, stems, and shorter cuts of the whole track. 

You can even download a watermarked version of the audio track in one click to test it out in your project.

PremiumBeat recently updated its pricing model to include subscription tiers, which include unlimited music track downloads with different licensing options:

Creator: For $14.99 per month, you get unlimited downloads for your content and can monetize the content on one social channel (such as a YouTube channel). If billed annually, the price lowers to $9.99 per month.

Standard: Priced at $59.99 monthly, you get unlimited downloads for client work, podcasts, social content, and personal use. You can monetize the content on five social channels. If billed annually, the price lowers to $24.99 per month.

Enterprise: PremiumBeat also offers an Enterprise subscription tier for content that will be broadcast on TV or used in film. To obtain pricing for this tier, contact PremiumBeat and request a quote.

One of PremiumBeat’s significant strengths is the high quality of its curated music library, which offers exclusivity and professionalism that are lacking in many other stock music platforms. 

PremiumBeat’s ease of use, search and music previewing options, and clear licensing terms make It a go-to resource for many creatives.

However, there are still some limitations to consider. The cost of the Standard subscription, while reasonable for many professional users, might be a hurdle for new and smaller creators. Additionally, while the music and sound effects library is highly curated and exclusive, it may not be as extensive as some larger competitors, potentially limiting choices for more niche or diverse project needs.

Founded in 2009 in Stockholm, Epidemic Sound quickly became a go-to source for royalty-free music among content creators and social media influencers. 

One of its most significant selling points is its library, which offers a vast and trendy selection of over 50,000 music tracks spanning various genres, moods, and styles. This diversity ensures that creators can find music that perfectly complements their projects.

Epidemic Sound’s collection is known for its breadth and depth, covering everything from pop and rock to orchestral and cinematic tracks. Its library of over 200,000 sound effects adds another layer of creative potential, making it a comprehensive tool for content creation.

The platform’s robust search features allow users to filter tracks by genre, mood, and duration. Epidemic Sound also offers curated playlists and recommendations based on previous downloads, which can help users discover new music that fits their style.

Epidemic Sound also has a music preview player that follows you on their website as you browse music tracks. 

Like PremiumBeat’s, their player showcases a play bar and an audio waveform preview. You have a few other options on the music player, such as the ability to find similar songs and the option to download a watermarked version. 

However, the player doesn’t feel as responsive as PremiumBeat’s and lacks options for previewing song loops and shorts. 

You also can’t preview every song in the Epidemic Sound catalog until you start a free trial, which can be off-putting when you want to browse the music library.

Similar to PremiumBeat, Epidemic Sound also offers flexible subscription plans tailored to different types of users:

Personal: Priced at $17.99 per month (or $9.99 per month if billed annually), this plan is designed for individual creators who monetize content on one channel per platform. It also includes access to the Epidemic Sound mobile app for on-the-go music management.

Commercial: This plan, at $49.79 per month (or $19.99 per month if billed annually), is ideal for professionals who produce content for clients, businesses, or digital ads. It allows monetizing content on up to three channels per platform and includes mobile app access.

Enterprise: This plan is tailored for larger productions like TV and film. It requires a custom quote and offers more comprehensive licensing terms.

Epidemic Sound also provides a 7-day free trial for its Personal and Commercial plans, allowing users to test the music platform before committing.

Epidemic Sound’s extensive music and sound effects library is one of its biggest strengths, providing users with many choices. Plus, users can monetize a channel per platform, allowing them more options with lower-tier subscription plans, like the Personal plan. 

The mobile app adds further convenience, allowing users to manage their music needs from anywhere.

However, the subscription costs for plans tailored more toward client work, like the Commercial plan, might be a downside for smaller creators. Also, Epidemic Sounds’ music preview options aren’t as intuitive as other audio libraries, potentially making finding the right song more tedious.

PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound offer distinct advantages and limitations catering to different creatives. So which one is right for you? Here’s a closer look at some of their pros and cons:

PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound’s music libraries are well-rounded with a diverse range of quality music tracks.

PremiumBeat’s music selection isn’t as extensive as Epidemic Sound, but the music tracks often feel like they have more depth than the average track on Epidemic Sound. However, Epidemic Sound often feels more trendy with a modern selection of tracks. 

To sum it up, I’d say that PremiumBeat’s music feels like something you would hear in an advertisement, and Epidemic Sound’s music is akin to something you would listen to on indie radio. 

I would give PremiumBeat the edge head-to-head, especially with the platform’s loops, shorts, stem options, and music tracks.

While both audio libraries have sound effects, Epidemic Sound’s selection is superior by a mile. Epidemic Sound offers a selection nearly 10x bigger than PremiumBeat. 

Most of PremiumBeat’s sound effects feel a bit shallow and dated compared to the ones provided by Epidemic Sound. 

The sound effects on PremiumBeat feel like a last-minute addition to the music library offerings.

Both PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound offer competitive subscription plans. PremiumBeat offers a cheaper Creator month-to-month plan, but Epidemic Sound offers cheaper Commercial plans. (However, neither provides an option to license a track without a subscription plan.) Licensing for both libraries is also similar. 

I give the licensing edge to Epidemic Sound because they allow you to monetize channels per platform, which is a nice touch. 

Both sound libraries have quality user experiences. Epidemic Sound has a more trendy look and vibe. 

However, I would have to give PremiumBeat an overall edge in user experience due to its more robust music preview player. 

PremiumBeat also makes it easier to preview every song they have without having to have a subscription or an account first. 

Epidemic Sound does deserve some credit, though, because they also offer an app that makes it easy to search for tracks while you are on the go.

As alluded to at the beginning of the article, I also wanted to contrast the audio libraries of PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound to that of Envato. 

Envato’s audio library is a powerhouse for creatives seeking both variety and quality. And here’s where things get really interesting: Envato has partnered with PremiumBeat to include their entire catalog in Envato subscriptions, meaning you get both libraries for one price.

Envato also gives you options to license songs individually or through a subscription. 

Let’s dive into some of the key benefits Envato offers:

After looking at the audio libraries of PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound, it is hard to imagine a library being much more extensive. However, Envato’s music selection completely dwarfs both of them.

With the PremiumBeat partnership, Envato now offers over 300,000 music tracks in its library—including PremiumBeat’s 40,000+ exclusive, professionally-produced tracks. 

Envato also offers music kits, packs, logo indents, and sound effects. 

Envato’s sound effect library alone has over 1 million sound effects, which puts things in perspective when looking for a specific audio clip. 

Envato’s search options make finding the right track easy, too! You can search from various categories and easily navigate best sellers, new releases, weekly trending tracks, and curated playlists. This includes seamless access to PremiumBeat’s curated collections and exclusive content.

Each track features a responsive music playback preview bar, which displays the audio waveform and other essential information, such as the beats per minute, audio tracks included, and the ability to download a watermarked version of the song quickly. 

This feature makes previewing and finding audio tracks for your next commercial, creative project, or demo reel easy.

One of Envato’s standout features is its flexible and straightforward licensing terms. Unlike some competitors, Envato’s licensing is simple, covering a wide array of projects without the need for complicated negotiations or additional fees. 

Envato’s licensing ensures you’re covered whether you’re working on a personal project, client work, or commercial content. This includes full commercial licensing for all PremiumBeat tracks, with stems, loops, and multiple versions included.

All you need to do is select the licensing terms you want for your audio track and add them to your cart. You can even license a song for broadcast or film use immediately! An option PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound do not offer when purchased separately.

Envato gives users many different ways to license audio tracks. You can license individual songs or subscribe and have unlimited downloads to thousands of tracks. 

Envato Elements’ pricing model is incredibly competitive, especially when compared to platforms like PremiumBeat and Epidemic Sound. 

Currently priced at $16.50 when billed annually, users gain unlimited access to music and many other creative assets, including templates, graphics, and more. This means you’re getting what would cost $14.99–$59.99 per month with PremiumBeat alone, plus Envato’s entire library, all for one low price.

This all-inclusive approach offers tremendous value, particularly for creatives who need resources across multiple media types. 

Envato integrates tools and resources that enhance the entire creative process. For instance, the platform offers seamless integration with other Envato assets, such as video templates, fonts, and Add-Ons. 

You’ll also gain access to Envato’s cutting-edge AI lab tools, such as AI ImageGen.

Envato is known for its exceptional customer support and help center, crucial for creatives working under tight deadlines. The platform provides prompt assistance to resolve issues quickly. Additionally, Envato fosters a vibrant community of creatives across everything from their Author Hub and Community Forums to their blog and tutorials. They even give creators free files every month!

Envato also supports content ID. What is content ID? Many online-based music composers who sell licenses to their music via Envato have their content digitally fingerprinted via Content ID to help protect against unauthorized uses. They also use these YouTube Partner platforms to administer and manage their content.

We provide license certificates for audio you download on Envato, so if a copyright notice appears on a video containing music tracked by Content ID, it can be easily cleared. This includes the entire PremiumBeat library, which has been pre-registered for content ID, eliminating copyright headaches from the start.

In a crowded market of audio libraries, Envato stands out for its massive range of diverse assets, user-friendly licensing, and unbeatable value. Now that PremiumBeat’s entire catalog is included with Envato subscriptions, you’re essentially getting two premium libraries for the price of one.

When you compare Envato (now with PremiumBeat included) against Epidemic Sound, the choice becomes even clearer. You get PremiumBeat’s broadcast-quality, curated tracks plus Envato’s massive variety—over 300,000 tracks total—all for less than what Epidemic Sound’s Commercial plan costs alone.

For creatives who demand an all-in-one solution, Envato is the best choice.

While you’re here, check out the top music trends for 2025, or browse the best royalty-free music on Envato today!