Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound

TL;DR: 

• Soundstripe provides royalty-free music from high-quality artists and in-house composers, plus sound effects and stock video. However, the company works with Performing Rights Organizations, meaning the music isn’t truly “royalty-free.”
• Epidemic Sound 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 package.

We’ll cover:

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

Soundstripe 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.

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Music, SFX, voiceovers, and video

Soundstripe has over 58,000 tracks, 95,000 sound effects, and a stock video catalog, plus the option to edit music with AI.

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

Learn more about both providers below.

Soundstripe

Soundstripe’s catalog has more than 58,000 tracks, which the company says “cover[s] Grammy-winning talent and rising independent musicians,” plus “Billboard-charting artists.” Soundstripe also employs “full-time, in-house composers creating original music across every genre.”

The music in Soundstripe’s catalog can be broken down into stems, then edited with AI. Alongside the music catalog, Soundstripe offers more than 95,000 sound effects, plus a bank of stock video footage.

Soundstripe also runs a pay-per-track service called Soundstripe Market. This space is a “curated catalog of pre-cleared music from top-tier labels and publishers,” where users can buy single-track licenses. Pricing is separate from a Soundstripe subscription, with fees determined by specific rights holders, record labels, and publishers.

Soundstripe also has a partnership with the Warner Chappell Production Music Collection. This extra catalog gives Soundstripe users access to more tracks and sound effects. It’s available at an additional cost to Pro, Pro Plus, Business, and Enterprise customers.

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 winners and nominees 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. Users can also edit the tracks with Adapt, an AI-powered tool that helps you instantly tailor the instruments, mood, and length to fit your story.

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. Epidemic Sound also offers AI-powered voiceovers and voice replication, in collaboration with professional voice artists.

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Artist remuneration

Both Soundstripe and Epidemic Sound compensate artists. Soundstripe pays royalties and offers its artists upfront payment. Epidemic Sound’s remuneration model covers four different pillars, splitting royalties directly with artists. Let’s look at how ‌their payout structures differ.

Soundstripe

Since forming in 2016, Soundstripe has paid its artists over $13 million in royalties. According to reports, artists receive 100% of the writer’s share of performance royalties, plus upfront payment for their music.

This means that Soundstripe isn’t “royalty-free” in the traditional sense. Rather, the company just reassures customers not to worry about royalties. Those using Soundstripe to create content for TV, film, and streaming services still need to fill in cue sheets, which are used to pay performance royalties to artists.

Soundstripe doesn’t publicly disclose how much it pays artists upfront.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound works directly with artists, pays them upfront, splits streaming revenue 50/50, and offers a bonus pool 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 2025, Epidemic Sound paid a fixed fee of $1,775–$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, providing 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.

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Ethical AI

Both Soundstripe and Epidemic Sound approach AI in nuanced ways, in line with their product offerings. Soundstripe takes “a human-centric approach to AI,” as does Epidemic Sound. The latter also works with artists to develop its AI tools.

Soundstripe

While Soundstripe offers several AI tools, the company takes a stance on how technology interacts with and benefits from human creativity.

Here’s what the company says: “Soundstripe believes AI should elevate creativity — not automate it. That’s why its AI tools are designed to support human decisions, not override them.

“This AI isn’t making music. It’s helping you make better choices, faster — while preserving the soul of every track created by real, working musicians.”

Soundstripe doesn’t publicly share how it compensates artists for AI usage and technology.

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, and 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 adjusted 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.

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Tools and features

There’s more to Soundstripe and Epidemic Sound than music and sound effects. Both provide traditional and AI-powered tools and features. Here’s a breakdown. 

Soundstripe

Soundstripe offers a mix of traditional and AI-powered tools.

• Soundstripe app: The Soundstripe mobile app lets you play, download, and share tracks, plus add them to playlists.
• Supe: An AI-powered search assistant, helping users find music using mood, style, and visuals as a guide.
• AI Song Editing (AISE): Lets users tailor a track’s structure, intensity, or duration directly in the Soundstripe workflow.
• Similar Songs: Find sound-alike tracks within the Soundstripe catalog with this AI-powered search.
• OnBrand AI: A sonic branding tool for Enterprise customers, which finds sounds to complement the user’s brand identity.
• Extensions: Soundstripe extensions for Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Express, Frame.io, and Twitch.
• Projects: This feature lets you organize, store, and share multimedia projects within Soundstripe.
• Enterprise-Class API: Build Soundstripe’s music and sound effects into your app or software.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound’s tools and features cover plugins, integrations, and AI-powered tech.

• 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 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 track 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.
• 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.

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Licensing and pricing

Both Soundstripe and Epidemic Sound have multiple tiers to serve different customers and budgets. Soundstripe’s solo creator tiers start from $9.99 to $33.99 per month billed yearly, and $19.99 to $69.99 billed monthly. Business plans are priced at $299 per quarter or $999 per year. There’s also a custom Enterprise solution.

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.

Soundstripe

Soundstripe’s plans cater to creators and businesses of all sizes, including a bespoke Enterprise option. New users can preview the service, but there is no free trial.

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

Personal: $9.99 per month billed yearly or $19.99 billed monthly. For students and hobbyists creating content for personal and organic social use.

• Unlimited access to music and sound effects
• Auto-clearance and monetization for one YouTube channel
• Permitted for personal web use and organic social media
• Access to Soundstripe’s Twitch Pro extension and Adobe Express add-on
• Access to Soundstripe’s mobile app
• AI Search Assistant

Pro: $19.99 per month billed yearly or $39.99 billed monthly. For YouTubers, freelancers, wedding photographers, podcasters, and more creating content for commercial use.

• Everything included in Personal, plus:
• Podcast, commercial, and client use
• Access to track stems
• AI song editing
• Clear and monetize up to five YouTube channels, plus unlimited client videos
• Access YouTube video clearance tools
• Access extensions for Adobe Premiere Pro, Frame.io, and Twitch
• Organize, ideate, and collaborate in one click with Projects
• Pro subscribers can upgrade to Pro Plus, priced at $33.99 billed yearly or $69.99 billed monthly. This grants access to Soundstripe’s stock video catalog

Business: $299 billed quarterly, or $999 billed yearly. For small businesses, corporate teams, and non-profits creating content for an internal or local audience.

• Licensing for internal and social media, but not broadcast
• Perpetual copyright protection for your organization
• Up to three team seats with role-based permissions
• Unlimited projects, playlists, and downloads
• Adobe Premiere Pro & Express extensions
• AI tools to easily customize track length
• Extended, mass-market coverage can be added to the Business plan at a custom rate. This includes OOH, broadcast/OOT TV, radio, theatrical, and video games

Enterprise: Bespoke pricing, for brands, agencies, media, and others creating content for a national or global audience.

• A plan tailored to users’ needs, including options such as:
• Custom, scaled licensing and distribution
• Use in ads, branded content, and influencer marketing
• Coverage for TV, streaming, film, radio, and more
• Full commercial licensing protections
• Use in any in-house or client project
• Team collaboration tools
• Role-based access control
• Enterprise-Class API
• OnBrand AI
• Dedicated Customer Success Manager
• Extended indemnification

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. There’s also a free Education Program, which gives access to students.

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
• Optimized workflows with plugins and API integrations
• Multiple user seats and SSO
• Access to Epidemic Sound’s AI-powered tools upon request

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Platform coverage

Soundstripe and Epidemic Sound’s platform coverage depends on which plan you subscribe to.

Soundstripe

Here are the platforms and use cases covered by each Soundstripe plan.

• Personal: Organic social media use (including Twitch, with Soundstripe’s extension), personal web use, and clearance for one YouTube channel.
• Pro: Social media use (including Twitch, with Soundstripe’s extension), podcasts, web use, and clearance for up to five YouTube channels.
• Business: Organic and paid social media, podcasts, and corporate communication. Extended coverage includes OOH, broadcast/OTT TV, radio, theatrical, and video games.*
• Enterprise: Use in any ads, branded content, or influencer marketing, plus coverage for TV, streaming, film, radio, and more.

*Extended coverage requires users to fill out cue sheets.

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.

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Support and education

Soundstripe and Epidemic Sound offer resources to help you get the most out of their platforms. Both provide customer support, help centers, and educational articles.

Soundstripe

Soundstripe’s website has an FAQ section, which is split into different topics. There’s also chat support and a phone line during weekdays. Other queries can be sent by email, and Enterprise customers have access to a dedicated Customer Success Manager.

The Soundstripe blog covers a broad range of topics, including information on the product and its features. 

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound’s multilingual Help Center splits topics 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 has 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. 

Soundstripe vs. Epidemic Sound: Legal safety

Soundstripe and Epidemic Sound’s legal frameworks both emphasize the need to secure the relevant rights, but do so in different ways.

Soundstripe works directly with artists, but also requires users to submit cue sheets for broadcast projects. According to Soundstripe, missing this step can “possibly violat[e] copyright laws and regulations and [risk] music copyright lawsuits.”

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.

Soundstripe

As touched on before, Soundstripe works directly with artists, and also has an in-house group of composers. That said, there’s something else to think about: PROs.

Soundstripe claims that its catalog is “wholly owned.” However, it doesn’t fully control all economic rights for the music contained therein, as public performance fees are, in some instances, still administered by PROs (Performing Rights Organizations). This is usually for content on TV, film, and streaming services.

PROs require users to complete and submit cue sheets. Unless a blanket performance licensing agreement is in place, users must negotiate a separate performance fee. 

Unlike Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe isn’t a one-stop shop when larger, more complicated licensing agreements are concerned.

Soundstripe provides indemnities for infringement claims against Business and Enterprise customers.

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.

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. 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 November 19, 2025. You can get in touch here for any feedback or corrections.