Epidemic Sound vs Bensound

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Choose Bensound for an eligible free track with attribution or a paid license for one specific piece of music. Choose Epidemic Sound for ongoing production where you want subscription audio, editor integrations and a channel-clearing workflow. Both sell paid coverage, but Bensound gives you a one-track purchase route that changes the calculation for occasional work.

For a freelancer, the decisive question is who owns and publishes the finished project. Buying a plan called Individual does not establish that you can deliver music-backed videos to several customers.

Pricing and licensing checked October 28, 2026.

Requirement Epidemic Sound Bensound
Free publishing Trial terms apply Selected free tracks with attribution
Occasional purchase Compare current licensing options Pay-per-track licenses
Ongoing audio Music and SFX subscription Annual All Access audio subscription
Own-channel publishing Creator Individual coverage for permitted uses
Online ads Pro or higher suitable plan Professional or Business
Multiple clients Professional/business scope Business or named-client license route
New work after expiry New coverage required Subscription downloads cannot license later publication
Special distribution Pro Plus/Enterprise depending on use Custom/Enterprise agreement

1. Free music and the attribution requirement

Bensound's Free License applies to tracks identified as Free Music. It covers an online video or livestream that viewers can access free of charge. Other permitted educational film/theatrical uses have separate non-revenue conditions. Eligible online videos may be commercial, subject to the Free License.

For online video, include the exact attribution and unique code supplied with the download. Each code covers one video. Reusing the same music in another upload means obtaining a new attribution code. The Bensound FAQ explains this claim-clearing workflow. Epidemic offers a trial rather than this ongoing credited-free model.

2. Prices and buying models

Epidemic's live page displayed these Sweden-localized SEK prices during research. The annual total is the amount displayed by the provider, rather than a currency conversion.

Epidemic plan Month-to-month Monthly equivalent on annual billing Billed annually
Creator 179 SEK 109 SEK 1,308 SEK
Pro 399 SEK 169 SEK 2,028 SEK
Pro Plus 800 SEK 399 SEK 4,788 SEK

Source: Epidemic pricing. Local currency and tax treatment can differ.

Bensound displayed these EUR prices in its live pricing cards. Annual totals are the actual displayed charge; the rounded monthly equivalents do not multiply to that invoice total.

Bensound license Annual-plan monthly equivalent Billed annually Pay-per-track
Individual €9.99 €119 €34
Professional €19.99 €239 €65
Business €39.99 €479 €190
Enterprise Custom Quote Quote

Source: Bensound pricing. Selected Free Music tracks remain available under the attribution conditions. All Access requires one annual payment; pay-per-track is a one-time asset license within the chosen scope. Compare regional checkout totals in the same currency and use the tier that covers the project.

3. Library fit for repeated production

Both services offer music and sound effects. For a weekly series, search for enough compatible cues to avoid using the same background music in each episode. For one campaign, concentrate on the exact track that suits the edit.

Bensound's one-track option suits the second buying pattern. Epidemic's subscription can suit frequent soundtrack changes across different videos. Test a shortlist against your footage before choosing and compare how each arrangement fits the scene.

4. Audio files and editing permissions

Bensound's paid downloads include MP3 and WAV according to its FAQ. You can make ordinary edits such as cuts, fades and loops to fit a project. Its terms restrict remixes and changes that alter the music's fundamental character.

Epidemic currently provides tools such as Adapt and Studio. Their presence can matter if you need to fit a soundtrack to a changing cut. Compare the required edit with the applicable tool and license rather than assuming a music license permits any transformation of a track.

5. Personal channels and monetization

Bensound's paid Individual coverage allows one YouTube channel; Professional allows up to five; Business offers unlimited channel clearance subject to reasonable use. These are license-specific channel limits, not permission to upload the standalone tracks as a music collection.

Epidemic Creator covers one monetized channel per platform and its current table includes sponsored/boosted content on your own channels. General digital advertising and client work require a different plan. Describe the planned upload accurately before choosing a tier: sponsorship revenue does not make your own upload identical to a client's ad campaign.

6. Client work and license holders

Bensound lets you purchase a pay-per-track license with the client as license holder. For ongoing work sold to multiple clients, compare its Business coverage. Its FAQ distinguishes those routes, and the legal agreement defines the rights for each.

Epidemic Pro covers eligible online client work. Confirm the client publishing workflow and account eligibility before delivery. A client may receive the finished video under the applicable terms; that does not give them permission to extract the soundtrack and use it for a different production.

7. Advertising and wider distribution

Bensound's legal terms place online advertising in Professional coverage, with Business adding multi-client resale rights. TV, VOD and cinema need a custom agreement. The legal terms are more specific than the abbreviated wording on some FAQ entries.

Epidemic Pro covers digital ads within its scope. Pro Plus adds specified OTT/VOD/SVOD coverage; TV and radio need other coverage. Match the media plan before comparing fees. A campaign that starts online can require an upgrade if the customer later books television placement.

Bensound uses channel whitelisting for paid accounts and attribution codes for free-track use. Epidemic uses safelisting to connect publishing to a license.

Keep the track ID, license certificate or download record, destination channel and publication date with the project. That gives you a practical record if a platform flags the upload. Neither a marketing phrase about copyright safety nor possession of an audio file replaces the correct license and clearing steps.

9. Cancellation and publication dates

Bensound's annual subscription certificates cover projects published while the subscription is active. Its cancellation terms require at least 14 calendar days' notice before renewal. A single paid license has a different perpetual licensing basis within its permitted scope.

Epidemic keeps qualifying previously published work cleared; new publishing after expiry needs coverage. Put the release date in your production calendar, especially if the customer controls it. Completing an edit before the account expires does not authorize a later launch on its own.

10. Choosing for your workload

Choose Bensound if an eligible free track fits your project, you can maintain the attribution, or you want to license one piece of music without buying a year of catalog access. Use Business coverage for the appropriate multi-client workflow.

Choose Epidemic Sound if you publish throughout the year, prefer its auditioned catalog and expect to use its audio tools. Compare Pro rather than Creator for client videos and digital ads.

Check current Epidemic Sound offers before paying. For another subscription benchmark, read Artlist vs Epidemic Sound and compare Artlist offers.

FAQs

Can I remove Bensound's credit after purchasing a license?

Paid licenses do not require the free-license attribution, provided the purchase covers your use. Keep the paid license evidence with the project.

Does Bensound offer monthly subscriptions?

Its FAQ states that All Access subscriptions run for a year with a single annual payment.

Can I reuse a free Bensound attribution code?

Each supplied attribution code covers one video. Download again to obtain the appropriate code for another upload.

Does an annual subscription cover videos published after it expires?

Bensound's terms tie subscription certificates to projects published during the paid term. Epidemic also requires coverage for later new publishing; downloading before expiry is insufficient.