Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound

TL;DR: 

• Musicbed offers a rights-managed music catalog, custom tracks, by-request covers, and third-party licensing for “any song in the world.” This can make pricing unpredictable, with third-party licenses running from USD $200,000 to $700,000. The company doesn’t own the rights to its catalog and works with Performing Rights Organizations, which could lead to extra payments.
• Epidemic Sound is a soundtracking platform that owns the rights to its entire catalog. This means world-class music from real artists, AI soundtracking tools, voiceovers, and more are all contained in a legally watertight, cost-conscious package. Customers can also request custom-made tracks from Epidemic Sound’s artists.

We’ll cover:

• Music, SFX, and voiceovers
• Artist remuneration
• Ethical AI
• Tools and features
• Licensing and pricing
• Platform coverage
• Support and education
• Legal safety

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: At a glance

Want a quick overview? Here’s a table outlining the core facts, figures, and features we’ll cover during this guide.

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Music, SFX, and voiceovers

Musicbed has over 70,000 tracks, plus around 150,000 sound effects.

Epidemic Sound’s catalog contains more than 50,000 world-class tracks, which you can then adapt with smart tools, AI, and stems. An Epidemic Sound subscription also unlocks more than 200,000 Hollywood-grade sound effects, plus AI-powered voiceovers created with professional voice artists.

Musicbed

Musicbed’s rights-owned catalog contains more than 70,000 tracks, many of which offer a choice between vocal and instrumental versions. The company describes its roster, which covers 20 core genres, as follows: “1,500+ artists and composers from every corner of the globe, each hand-picked for their ability to craft a deep, original, and cinematic feel.” Musicbed’s catalog of sound effects contains roughly 150,000 tracks.

Single-track licenses are available, but don’t include monetization. Users can request bespoke covers, original tracks, and rights clearance for “any song in the world” — these services aren’t part of Musicbed’s core offering, and must be purchased separately.

Musicbed doesn’t support any voiceover capabilities, nor does it offer readily available track stems. Those looking to use stems need to reach out to Musicbed’s Support team.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound’s catalog is filled with tracks created by hand-picked artists, each signed on a non-exclusive basis. Covering nearly 400 genres and featuring everyone from up-and-coming stars to Grammy nominees and winners like Jordin Sparks and Ebo Krdum, you’ll find a sound for every moment.

Each of the 50,000+ tracks is available to download as a full mix or split into individual stems. Never run out of sounds with Adapt: an AI-powered tool that instantly tailors the instruments, mood, and length to fit your story. This extends the catalog’s reach far beyond the 50,000 tracks listed in the Epidemic Sound Player.

Groundbreaking musicians like The Smiths co-founder Johnny Marr have mentored Epidemic Sound’s artists, while Grammy winners like Honey Dijon have remixed the catalog.

Epidemic Sound’s artists receive expert guidance from an elite-tier team, including Grammy-nominated producers, songwriters, audio engineers, and musicians. From demos to the final mix, they’re on hand to unlock each artist’s full potential.

Epidemic Sound’s catalog is built for modern-day users and platforms, soundtracking more than 3 billion views on TikTok and YouTube every single day. This state-of-the-art insight is reflected in the catalog — Epidemic Sound’s music curation experts help each artist feel relevant and fresh.

Single-track licenses are available to those who just want one track. As well as music, the catalog contains more than 200,000 Hollywood-grade sound effects. Customers can also request and purchase customized tracks from Epidemic Sound’s artists.

Epidemic Sound also offers AI-powered voiceovers and voice replication, in collaboration with professional voice artists. This supports text-to-speech and speech-to-speech voiceover generation, letting users control language, accent, speed, inflection, and more.

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Artist remuneration

Musicbed pays artists through sync licensing revenue. Epidemic Sound’s remuneration model covers four different pillars, splitting royalties directly with artists and giving them more ways to earn.

Musicbed

Musicbed only pays artists through sync licensing revenue. This is because Musicbed isn’t a royalty-free service and doesn’t own the rights to its catalog. Rather, it manages the rights to its catalog, facilitating the licensing process. Artists on the roster earn royalties and licensing fees when their music is used in projects licensed via Musicbed.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound gives artists more ways to earn a living from their art. This is achieved by working directly with artists, paying them upfront, splitting streaming revenue 50/50, and offering two bonus pools for tracks’ use in the Epidemic Sound Player and AI tools.

On average, Epidemic Sound artists earn over $60,000 per year, with top earners taking home more than $200,000.

Here’s how it works.

Payment for each track commissioned

As of Q1 2026, Epidemic Sound paid a fixed fee of USD $2,000–$8,000 per track. The fee depends on the complexity of the track, customer demand, the role of the artist, and their skill set. The fixed fee is always paid directly to artists before the track is even made available to content creators, and is not recouped against future royalties.

50/50 split on all music streaming royalties

Epidemic Sound splits all royalties collected from music streaming platforms 50/50 with artists, even if they no longer work with Epidemic Sound.

A Soundtrack Bonus for all artists

Epidemic Sound pays artists a share of a yearly Soundtrack Bonus, proportional to the popularity of their tracks on the Epidemic Sound platform. In 2026, this bonus will be approximately $4.2 million, and will continue to grow alongside the business.

Remuneration for AI features

In 2025, Epidemic Sound expanded its remuneration model to include dedicated payments for artists contributing to AI-powered tools.

• Voices: A text-to-speech and speech-to-speech feature, which provides professional voice actors with both upfront payments and ongoing usage bonuses.
• Adapt: A music customization tool, which has its own Adaptive Soundtrack Bonus of more than $1 million. This rewards ‌artists whose adapted tracks are downloaded.

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Ethical AI

Musicbed doesn’t provide much information on its AI approach. Epidemic Sound takes a human-first approach to AI, working with artists and creators to develop new tools responsibly.

Musicbed

Musicbed’s advertised AI features are limited to in-product search functions. However, there’s no public information suggesting how Musicbed balances the adoption of AI tools against the creativity and concerns of musicians and creators.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound has made its belief clear that human creativity will always come first. Artists have the power to move people, to change the world — AI can help them do that.

When developing AI-powered tools like Adapt, Epidemic Sound informs and consults artists and users. Together, they help shape features that are cutting-edge, useful, and responsible.

As touched on before, Epidemic Sound approached AI with artists in mind, and has developed its remuneration model accordingly. This led to the creation of the $1 million Adaptive Soundtrack Bonus, which pays Epidemic Sound’s artists when their adapted tracks are downloaded.

AI is a new technology, and it’s understandable that some users and artists may be apprehensive. AI is a tool used to superpower, not replace, the Epidemic Sound catalog, but it’s not a requirement for those who want to use the platform old-school. Artists can also opt out of tools like Adapt if they wish.

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Tools and features

Musicbed’s features focus primarily on the music, whereas Epidemic Sound supports the user’s full editing workflow. Let’s look at both of their features and see how they differ.

Musicbed

Musicbed’s suite of tools and features is fairly modest, instead focusing on the catalog. Users can discover music with AI-powered search, which finds tracks based on title, reference track, and segments from within the Musicbed catalog. 

Musicbed also has a mobile app, which helps users discover, listen to, and download tracks.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound’s tools and features include plugins, integrations, and AI-powered tech, making it easier to find the right sound for your project.

• Epidemic Sound app: Discover, download, and sync tracks and sound effects, wherever you are. Use tools like Search by Shazam, export directly to mobile editing apps, listen offline, and more.
• Adapt: An AI-powered tool that helps you instantly tailor the instruments, mood, and length to fit your story.
• Assistant: An AI-powered chatbot that helps you find next-level tracks and sound effects for your project, directly in the chat.
• Studio: An AI-powered soundtracking tool built to match your video content with sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound’s catalog. Studio creates cohesive soundtracks complete with music, sound effects, and transitions.
• Voices: Create your own AI voice replica, or create AI voiceovers based on a catalog of professional, diverse voice artists.
• Find similar: Heard an irresistible hook, beat, or riff, and want more options that sound like it? Use Epidemic Sound’s find similar feature to explore further.
• Search by video: Whether you’ve got a rough cut or the final edit, Epidemic Sound’s video soundmatching tool generates music and sound effect recommendations in seconds.
• Search by reference track: Type in any track or artist name, or paste a Spotify link, to get instant matches from Epidemic Sound’s catalog.
• Search by Shazam: Identify any song and get suggestions from Epidemic Sound’s catalog. Powered by Shazam, only in the Epidemic Sound app.
• Plugins: Discover and edit music and sound effects directly in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition, plus DaVinci Resolve Studio. Apple silicon/Intel users can also download a Final Cut Pro desktop app.
• Create versions: Create different versions of a track by adjusting the length, looping it, and selecting parts to include or exclude. You can create versions on the web and in the plugins for Adobe and DaVinci Resolve Studio.
• Segments: Split tracks into distinct sections based on their musical structure. Whether you need a powerful chorus or a subtle bridge, find and use a specific part of any song in seconds.
• MCP Server: A proprietary gateway built for developers and partners to pioneer the next generation of context-aware creative applications.
• Partner API: Give your users full access to the Epidemic Sound catalog, including industry-leading soundtracking tools, through the Epidemic Sound Partner API.

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Licensing and pricing

Both Musicbed and Epidemic Sound have multiple tiers for different customers and budgets. Musicbed’s solo tiers start from $27.49 to $100.74 per month billed yearly, or $29.99 to $109.98 billed monthly. Small-to-medium business pricing runs from $91.66 to $202.41 per month billed yearly, or $99.99 to $219.98 billed monthly. Enterprises and deals for custom music, covers, and third-party licenses are subject to bespoke pricing.

Epidemic Sound’s plans range from $9.99 to $29.99 per month billed yearly, or $19.99 to $74.99 billed monthly. These plans all include a 30-day free trial. There’s also a custom Enterprise solution.

All prices are listed in USD, and may vary depending on your location.

Musicbed

Musicbed provides a range of plans for creators and businesses, including a custom Enterprise plan. Users can also try a 14-day free trial.

Here’s what the Musicbed plans are called, what they include, and how much they cost.

Individual: From $27.49 to $100.74 per month billed yearly, or $29.99 to $109.98 billed monthly. For freelance filmmakers, wedding filmmakers, creators, and podcasters. Pricing depends on use case.

• Personal use
• Unlimited access and downloads of music
• Unlimited access and downloads of sound effects for an additional fee
• Monetization

Business: $91.66 to $202.41 per month billed yearly, or $99.99 to $219.98 billed monthly. For production companies, agencies, brands, and non-profits with up to 250 employees.

• Everything in the Individual plan, plus:
• Client and brand work

Enterprise: Bespoke pricing, for large brands with more than 250 employees, or projects that need extended coverage.

• Everything in the Business plan, plus:
• Extended rights and clearances
• Custom licensing options
• Unwatermarked downloads
• Team workspace
• Music curation
• Potential for custom music

Further arrangements for custom music, covers, and third-party licenses for “any song in the world” are subject to case-by-case pricing, and aren’t included in standard plans. With all fees included, licensing a third-party hit song via Musicbed can cost between USD $200,000 and $700,000.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound’s plans cover amateur creators to established household brands. You can choose from four comprehensive, cost-conscious plans: Creator, Pro, Business, and Enterprise.

Creator: $9.99 per month billed yearly, or $17.99 billed monthly. For individual creators who want premium audio for their personal video content. Includes 30-day free trial.

• Unlimited access and downloads of music and sound effects, available as 320kbps-quality MP3 and 48khz 24-bit WAV files
• Unlimited access to Epidemic Sound’s AI-powered tools
• Licensing for social, podcasts, and web
• Monetize one channel per platform
• Instant voiceovers, with 250,000 credits per month and one voice replica

Pro: $16.99 per month billed yearly, or $39.99 billed monthly. For professionals and freelancers creating video content for commercial use online. Includes 30-day free trial.

• Everything in the Creator plan, plus:
• Licensing for digital ads
• Sublicensing for clients
• Monetize three channels per platform
• Instant voiceovers, with 250,000 credits per month and three voice replicas

Business: $29.99 per month billed monthly, or $74.99 billed monthly. For small to midsize businesses and agencies creating content at scale. Includes 30-day free trial.

• Everything in the Pro plan, plus:
• Clearance for business use, including marketing, social, and internal & external events
• Agency client work licensing
• Instant voiceovers, with 250,000 credits per month and five voice replicas
• Up to three user seats

Enterprise: Bespoke pricing, for businesses and agencies that want supercharged solutions, insights, and support.

• A plan tailored to your needs, including options such as:
• Unlimited licensing for any media
• Instant voiceovers, with custom credits and number of voice replicas
• World-class indemnification coverage
• Dedicated Customer Success Manager
• Music consultation
• Commission customized music productions
• Optimized workflows with plugins and API integrations
• Multiple user seats and SSO
• Access to Epidemic Sound’s AI-powered tools upon request

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Platform coverage

Musicbed and Epidemic Sound’s platform coverage depends on which plan you subscribe to. Musicbed’s coverage is more complex, whereas Epidemic Sound’s is split into four clear sections.

Musicbed

Musicbed’s coverage varies by plan, and depends on the use case.

• Individual (YouTube creator/podcaster): Web and social media accounts with up to one million followers, plus podcasts with up to 10,000 downloads per month.
• Individual (Wedding filmmaker): Web and social media accounts with up to one million followers, plus podcasts with up to 10,000 downloads per month.
• Individual (Freelance filmmaker): Web and social media accounts with up to one million followers, podcasts with up to 10,000 downloads per month, internal use, and industrial use.
• Individual (Music supervisor, with up to 250 clients): Web and social media accounts with up to one million followers, podcasts with up to 10,000 downloads per month, internal use, and industrial use.
• Individual (Other, with up to 250 clients): Web and social media accounts with up to one million followers, podcasts with up to 10,000 downloads per month, internal use, and industrial use.
• Business (with up to 250 clients): Web and social media accounts with up to one million followers, podcasts with up to 10,000 downloads per month, internal use, and industrial use.
• Enterprise: Web, podcasts, social media accounts (including celebrities) with more than one million followers, clients of any size, broadcast, cinema, film festivals, VOD, OTT, CTV, video games, and more.

Individual (Music supervisor), Individual (Other), and Business plans can be extended to cover broadcast, OTT, CTV, VOD, radio, streaming audio, video games, cinema, film festivals, web/social accounts with more than one million followers, and podcasts with more than 10,000 monthly downloads. This extended coverage is based on a quote, and isn’t included in a fixed price.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound’s platform coverage depends on which plan you subscribe to. Here’s the lowdown.

• Creator: Cleared for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok*, Twitch, and one podcast RSS feed.
• Pro: Cleared for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok*, Twitch, podcasting platforms, websites, digital ads, business & client work, and boosted social media posts.
• Business: Cleared for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok*, Twitch, podcasting platforms, websites, digital ads, business & client work, internal company use, non-arena events, apps & games, and influencer marketing.
• Enterprise: Cleared for whatever you need. Includes everything in the Business plan, plus scope for TV, offline events, commercial streaming and VOD, and any other platforms outlined in your customized deal.

*Epidemic Sound tracks can be used for more than 60 seconds in TikTok content, if you add the music to your video in an external, off-app editing software before uploading it to TikTok. Learn more here.

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Support and education

Both Musicbed and Epidemic Sound provide resources to help you understand their platforms, including customer support, help centers, and educational articles.

Musicbed

Musicbed has a Help & Support Center, where you can browse FAQ articles, read how-to guides, report bugs, and contact MusicBed support via email or phone.

The website also has an “Articles” section, which covers blog-style topics. They’re usually in-depth discussions with professional creators and musicians, rather than overviews. Chat support is available via the website, too.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound’s multilingual Help Center is split into sections, which users can browse depending on their query. There’s also a free text field for more specific questions, a request submission form, and chat support. Enterprise customers have access to a dedicated Customer Success Manager.

The Epidemic Sound blog is filled with guides, how-to articles, and other relevant material. The website also hosts a dedicated How it Works section, which details core topics and use cases related to the product and experience. Customers can also share their queries and feedback with other users by joining the Epidemic Sound Discord server.

Musicbed vs. Epidemic Sound: Legal safety

Musibed and Epidemic Sound’s legal frameworks both emphasize the need to secure the relevant rights, but do so in different ways. Musicbed manages its catalog’s rights, but doesn’t own them. This makes the licensing process less straightforward for Musicbed users.

Epidemic Sound owns all of the rights to the tracks in its catalog, directly licensing music to subscribers. This helps resolve unfair takedowns and copyright strikes, as long as the product’s used correctly. Epidemic Sound doesn’t require cue sheets.

Musicbed

Any content published with an active Musicbed plan is covered in perpetuity, on the condition that you complete the 12-month subscription term. Early cancellation will nullify any licenses issued under the subscription.

Musicbed also requires users to create a new license for every new video project they publish. This can be time-consuming and may result in user error, as new licenses are needed even if you’ve licensed the track before.

Because Musicbed works with artists affiliated with PROs (Performing Rights Organizations), users may need to pay additional fees for specific broadcast content.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound owns all of the rights to its catalog. This means that all of the 50,000+ world-class tracks are safe for subscribers to use in their content. Users only need to clear their channels, not their projects, simplifying the licensing process. Additional clearance only applies to sublicensed content, and is as easy as sending your clients a unique clearance link every 30 days.

You can edit Epidemic Sound’s tracks with the Adapt AI tool, customize based on stems, and more. It’s all covered within the license, offering the same legal peace of mind as Epidemic Sound’s original tracks. For Adapt specifically, any input must follow Epidemic Sound’s terms, and shouldn’t contain any unauthorized material.

The Digital Rights Management team, comprising more than 30 experts, is on hand to ensure your compliant content isn’t unfairly muted, taken down, or hit with copyright strikes.

Epidemic Sound provides indemnities for infringement claims against Enterprise customers, whether they use original music or tracks modified with Adapt.

Epidemic Sound’s catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe, removing the headache of licensing. Even if your subscription has ended, content created and published within your active period will remain cleared forever.

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free.

Start soundtracking the world today. Join Epidemic Sound.

*All information published in this article is accurate as of January 27, 2026. You can get in touch here for any feedback or corrections.