Artlist Review 2026: Is It Worth It? (Honest Assessment)

Last Updated: 2026-01-27

The Verdict (TL;DR)

Artlist is worth it for: YouTubers, filmmakers, freelance video editors, and agencies who need consistent access to high-quality royalty-free music.

Artlist is NOT worth it for: Hobbyists who only publish occasionally, or creators who primarily need sound effects over music.

Rating: 4.5/5 — One of the best royalty-free music platforms for serious creators.

What is Artlist?

Artlist started in 2016 as a royalty-free music library for filmmakers. Founded by Israeli filmmaker Ira Belsky, who was frustrated by the complexity of licensing music for video projects.

Today, Artlist has evolved into a comprehensive creative platform offering:

• 60,000+ music tracks (curated, high-quality)
• 50,000+ sound effects
• 180,000+ stock footage clips
• 20,000+ video templates
• AI tools (video generation, image generation, voiceovers)
• Plugins for Premiere Pro, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve

It's no longer "just" a music library — it's an all-in-one creative toolkit.

Artlist Pricing (January 2026)

Artlist has restructured their pricing into clearer tiers:

Music & SFX Plans

Max Plans (Music + Footage + Templates)

AI Plans

Our recommendation: Most individual creators should start with Music & SFX Pro ($16.58/mo) or Max Pro ($39.99/mo) if you also need footage.

Artlist's Biggest Strength: The All-in-One Platform

This is what sets Artlist apart from competitors like Epidemic Sound.

What you get in one subscription:

• 60,000+ music tracks
• 50,000+ sound effects
• 180,000+ stock footage clips
• 20,000+ video templates
• AI tools (video, image, voiceover generation)
• Plugins for Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci

Why this matters:

• One subscription covers music AND footage AND templates
• Saves money vs subscribing to multiple services
• Streamlined workflow — everything in one place

Note on licensing: Like most platforms, projects published during your subscription stay licensed forever. However, you cannot use downloaded tracks in new projects after canceling — you'd need to resubscribe.

Artlist Features Deep Dive

Music Library

Size: ~60,000 tracks (smaller than Epidemic Sound's 40,000+ but Artlist focuses on quality over quantity)

Quality: This is where Artlist shines. Every track feels professionally produced, cinematic, and usable. Less filler than larger libraries.

Genres covered:

• Cinematic / Epic
• Corporate / Uplifting
• Electronic / EDM
• Acoustic / Folk
• Hip Hop / Urban
• Classical / Orchestral
• Ambient / Chill
• Rock / Indie

Search & Discovery:

• Filter by mood, genre, tempo, instrument
• "Find Similar" feature for tracks you like
• Curated playlists by use case (vlogs, commercials, weddings)
• Stems available for many tracks (separate vocals, drums, etc.)

Sound Effects

Size: ~50,000 SFX

Comprehensive library covering:

• Transitions (whooshes, impacts, risers)
• Foley (footsteps, doors, ambience)
• Nature (weather, animals, environments)
• Technology (UI sounds, glitches, notifications)
• Human (crowds, laughter, breathing)

Stock Footage (Max Plans)

Size: ~180,000 clips

• HD, 4K, and 8K options
• RAW/LOG footage available on higher plans
• Drone footage, lifestyle, nature, business, and more

Video Templates

Size: ~20,000 templates

• Premiere Pro and After Effects templates
• Lower thirds, intros, transitions, title cards
• Motion graphics and animated elements

AI Tools

Artlist has added AI features including:

• AI Video Generation — create video clips from text prompts
• AI Image Generation — generate custom images
• AI Voiceovers — text-to-speech with natural voices
• Voice Cloning — create a custom voice model

These are included in AI plans or Max plans with AI add-ons.

Clearlist (Copyright Protection)

One of Artlist's smartest features. Connect your YouTube channel and Artlist automatically:

• Monitors your uploads
• Clears any false copyright claims
• Protects your monetization

No more manually disputing claims — Artlist handles it.

Artlist Pros & Cons (Honest Assessment)

Pros

1. All-in-one platform — Music, SFX, footage, templates, AI in one subscription
2. High-quality curation — Less digging through mediocre tracks
3. Clean interface — Easy to find what you need quickly
4. Clearlist — Automatic copyright claim protection
5. All-in-one platform — Music, SFX, footage, templates, AI in one subscription
6. Flexible plans — Pay only for what you need
7. Commercial use included — Use in client work, ads, broadcasts

Cons

1. Smaller music library — ~60,000 vs Epidemic Sound's 40,000+ (though ES grows faster)
2. Can't separate music and SFX — Bundled together
3. Daily download limits — 40 songs or 100 SFX per day
4. No traditional free trial — Only watermarked previews
5. Some support complaints — Refund requests can be difficult
6. Annual commitment — Best pricing requires yearly payment

Artlist vs Epidemic Sound

This is the comparison everyone wants to know:

Our take:

• Choose Artlist if you need an all-in-one platform (music + footage + templates + AI)
• Choose Epidemic Sound if you primarily need audio and want a larger SFX library

We use both — they complement each other well.

Who Should Use Artlist?

Artlist is GREAT for:

• YouTubers who need consistent, quality background music
• Filmmakers working on short films, documentaries, commercials
• Freelance video editors doing client work
• Agencies needing a reliable music source for multiple projects
• Podcasters who want intro/outro music and background tracks
• Corporate video producers creating training, marketing, or internal content

Artlist is NOT ideal for:

• Hobbyists who publish occasionally (monthly cost not worth it)
• Creators who need mostly SFX (Epidemic Sound has more)
• Those who want to test before buying (no true free trial)
• Budget-conscious beginners (free alternatives exist for simple needs)

How to Get the Best Artlist Deal

1. Always choose annual billing — Saves significantly vs monthly
2. Use our link for 2 months free — Get 14 months for the price of 12
3. Start with Music & SFX Pro — Upgrade to Max later if you need footage
4. Don't overbuy — If you don't need footage, don't pay for Max

FAQs

Is Artlist legit?

Yes. Artlist is a legitimate, well-established company founded in 2016. They're used by major brands and have millions of subscribers. Your license is legally binding and protects your content.

Is Artlist worth the money?

For active creators who publish regularly, yes. The all-in-one platform (music + footage + templates) provides excellent value. If you publish less than monthly, consider whether the annual commitment makes sense.

Can I use Artlist music on YouTube?

Yes. All Artlist plans include YouTube rights. Connect your channel to Clearlist for automatic copyright claim protection.

Can I use Artlist for client work?

Yes, with Pro or Max plans. Social plans are limited to your own channels. Pro/Max plans include commercial and client work rights.

What happens if I cancel Artlist?

Projects published during your subscription remain licensed forever. However, you cannot use downloaded tracks in new projects after canceling — you'd need to resubscribe. This works the same as Epidemic Sound and most other platforms.

Does Artlist have a free trial?

Sort of. Artlist offers a free account with watermarked downloads for preview purposes. You cannot publish content with watermarked tracks. There's no time-limited full-access trial like Epidemic Sound offers.

Read our full Artlist Free Trial Guide →

How does Artlist compare to Epidemic Sound?

Both are excellent. Artlist offers more features (footage, templates, AI tools). Epidemic Sound has a larger SFX library and a true 30-day free trial. Both have similar licensing — published content stays licensed forever, but you can't use tracks in new projects after canceling.

Conclusion

Artlist has earned its reputation as one of the best royalty-free music platforms for video creators. The combination of high-quality curation and the all-in-one platform (music, footage, templates, AI) makes it a compelling choice.

Is it perfect? No. The library is smaller than some competitors, there's no true free trial, and daily download limits can be annoying for power users.

Is it worth it? For serious creators who publish regularly, absolutely. Having music, footage, templates, and AI tools in one subscription provides excellent value.

Sources:

• Artlist Pricing - Official
• Artlist Reviews - G2
• Artlist Help Center