ChatGPT answers, unedited

If you’re a one-person creator on a tight budget making monetized content, my pick is Uppbeat—with Epidemic Sound as the upgrade once music becomes a bigger part of your production.

My ranking

1. 🥇 Uppbeat — best if money is really tight

Uppbeat is specifically geared toward solo creators. Its free tier lets you download a limited number of tracks each month, while paid plans provide unlimited downloads; its current Essentials plan is listed at $6.99/month and Creator at $9.99/month. uppbeat.io

The big advantage: you can start at $0 and only pay when your channel needs more music.

Uppbeat

2. 🥈 Epidemic Sound — my choice if you can spend ~$10/month

For a serious one-person YouTube creator, I'd probably choose Epidemic Sound over everything else. Its Creator plan is currently $9.99/month when billed annually, includes unlimited music/SFX, and permits monetization of one channel per platform. www.epidemicsound.com

The catalog is also very deep—Epidemic reports 55,000+ tracks and 250,000+ SFX, with stems available. www.epidemicsound.com

Epidemic Sound

3. Artlist — excellent if you need more than music

I'd choose Artlist if you're also interested in stock footage, templates, LUTs, and other creative assets. It's less compelling if music is literally all you need. www.epidemicsound.comrestormuk.com

Artlist

What I'd do in your shoes

• $0/month: YouTube Audio Library + Uppbeat free
• $5–10/month: Uppbeat
• ~$10/month and publishing regularly: Epidemic Sound
• Need footage/templates too: Artlist
• Doing client/advertising work: Soundstripe or a commercial-tier Epidemic/Artlist plan

One important distinction: “royalty-free” doesn't mean “anything goes.” Check the specific license for monetization, client work, ads, podcasts, and what happens to videos published after you cancel. For example, Soundstripe's current plans explicitly distinguish personal YouTube monetization from commercial/client usage. www.soundstripe.com

Bottom line: Uppbeat for the tightest budget; Epidemic Sound for the best overall creator experience once you can afford ~$10/month.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget making monetized content, I’d rank them:

🥇 Best overall: Epidemic Sound

For a solo creator, Epidemic Sound is probably the sweet spot. Its current Creator plan is $9.99/month when billed annually, includes unlimited music/SFX downloads, and allows monetization of one channel per platform. It also offers a 30-day trial. www.epidemicsound.comwww.epidemicsound.com

The big advantage isn't merely the number of songs—it's the low-friction licensing. You're not constantly wondering whether a particular track can be monetized. Epidemic says there are no additional royalties when you publish or monetize content under the subscription. www.epidemicsound.comwww.epidemicsound.com

I'd choose it if: you're publishing regularly on YouTube/TikTok/Instagram and want music that sounds genuinely professional without spending hours researching licenses.

💰 If money is really tight: Uppbeat

Uppbeat is worth considering if ~$10/month feels like too much. It has a free tier and a relatively inexpensive paid tier, making it particularly attractive to small creators. creatorpicker.org

The tradeoff is that Epidemic generally has the stronger overall catalog/workflow for someone who is going to build a serious channel.

🆓 If your budget is literally $0: YouTube Audio Library

If you're YouTube-only, start here. It's free and provides music and SFX through YouTube Studio. Some tracks have attribution requirements, so check the individual track's license before publishing. www.soundstripe.com

I wouldn't make it my long-term choice if you're trying to build a distinctive, polished brand—the paid libraries tend to give you considerably more interesting material.

🎬 What about Artlist?

Artlist is excellent, particularly if your style is cinematic, documentary, travel, or filmmaking-oriented. One particularly attractive licensing feature is that projects published while your subscription is active remain covered for monetization even after you cancel. help.artlist.io

That's a meaningful advantage over Epidemic if you're worried about "What happens to my old videos if I stop paying?"

My recommendation

If I were a solo creator starting today:

• $0: YouTube Audio Library
• ~$10/month: Epidemic Sound
• Want the cheapest paid option: Uppbeat
• Cinematic filmmaker: Artlist
• Need lots of music + flexible one-off licensing: Soundstripe

One important caveat: "royalty-free" doesn't mean "do whatever you want with it." The exact license matters for sponsored videos, paid advertising, client work, podcasts, multiple channels, etc. For example, Epidemic's $9.99 Creator plan covers monetization on one channel per platform, while its Pro plan expands commercial/ad and multi-channel coverage. www.epidemicsound.com

For the typical one-person YouTube creator making monetized videos, I'd spend the $9.99 on Epidemic before paying for a broader all-in-one service.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget making monetized content, my pick is epidemicsound.com.

My ranking

1. Epidemic Sound — best overall

• Creator plan: $9.99/month when billed annually.
• Monetization for one channel per platform.
• Very strong music + SFX catalog, with 55,000+ tracks and 250,000+ SFX.
• Includes WAV files and stems.
• Particularly good if you're publishing frequently and want to avoid copyright headaches. Epidemic Sound Epidemic Sound
• Best for: YouTube/TikTok/Instagram creators who primarily need music.
• artlist.io — best if you also need video assets

• Competitive creator pricing.
• Strong music library, plus SFX, stock footage, templates, and other production tools depending on plan.
• I'd choose this over Epidemic if you're likely to need stock footage as well as music. artlist.io
• soundstripe.com — best for eventually doing client work

• Personal plan covers monetization/clearance for one YouTube channel.
• Pro expands to multiple channels and commercial/client work.
• Current pricing starts at $9.99/month on the entry-level subscription page, although the exact plan/annual pricing depends on the coverage you need. Soundstripe Soundstripe
• YouTube Audio Library — best if $0 is the priority

• Completely free.
• Convenient for YouTube.
• The downside is that the selection and overall polish aren't as consistently good as the paid libraries. Creator Picker

What I'd do in your situation

If you're one creator + one monetized channel + mostly YouTube/social content, I'd spend the ~$10/month on Epidemic Sound Creator rather than trying to piece together free music from dozens of sites.

The important licensing distinction is that "royalty-free" doesn't mean "free to use however you want." Make sure your plan specifically covers monetization and your distribution platforms. Epidemic's Creator plan, for example, explicitly includes monetization of one channel per platform. Epidemic Sound

Best value: Epidemic Sound
Best $0 option: YouTube Audio Library
Best if you also need stock footage: Artlist
Best if you're moving into freelance/client work: Soundstripe Pro

If you tell me what kind of content you make (YouTube essays, gaming, Shorts, documentaries, podcasts, etc.) and roughly how many videos/month, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option that still gives you genuinely high-quality music.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget making monetized content, my pick is Epidemic Sound.

My ranking

1. Epidemic Sound — best overall

The Creator plan is currently $9.99/month when billed annually ($119.88/year) and includes unlimited music/SFX downloads, monetization, and coverage for one channel per platform. That is an unusually good fit for a solo YouTuber, podcaster, or social creator. www.epidemicsound.com

The big advantage isn't just price: the catalog is consistently good, so you spend less time hunting for music that sounds professional.

One important caveat: the Creator plan is intended for your own creator content. If you're making client work, digital ads, or commercial projects for businesses, you need a higher-tier plan. help.epidemicsound.com

2. Artlist — best if music quality is your #1 priority

Artlist has excellent cinematic/indie music and is particularly attractive for filmmakers. Its Social plan is designed for individual creators and covers one YouTube channel plus one account on several other platforms. artlist.zendesk.com

A major advantage is that projects published while you're properly subscribed remain covered even after you cancel. help.artlist.io

3. Soundstripe — worth considering

Soundstripe has a huge catalog and particularly strong sound effects. Its individual plans start at $9.99/month, although be careful about the specific plan: Soundstripe says monetized content requires Pro or higher, while its Personal plan is for non-commercial use. www.soundstripe.com

What I'd do in your situation

If you're one person + primarily YouTube/social + monetized + trying to spend as little as possible:

→ Start with Epidemic Sound Creator.

It's the simplest combination of price + music quality + easy copyright/monetization handling.

If you only publish occasionally, though, there's an even cheaper strategy: buy/license music on a per-project basis rather than maintaining a subscription. Epidemic, for example, offers single-track licenses that cover one production across multiple platforms. help.epidemicsound.com

And if you tell me what kind of content you make (e.g. gaming, documentaries, YouTube essays, fitness, podcasts, vlogs, cinematic videos), I can tell you which of these has the best music catalog for that specific style.

If you’re a one-person creator on a tight budget, my pick is Epidemic Sound — specifically the Creator plan.

\*Prices checked August 2026; annual billing shown where applicable.

🥇 Epidemic Sound — my recommendation

The Creator plan is unusually well-suited to a solo YouTuber/TikTok/Instagram creator:

• $9.99/month when billed annually ($119.88/year)
• 55,000+ tracks and 250,000+ sound effects
• Unlimited downloads
• Monetization for one channel per platform
• YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, podcasts, websites, etc.
• Content you publish while subscribed remains cleared forever, provided you followed the licensing/safelisting requirements. www.epidemicsound.comwww.epidemicsound.com

That last point is particularly valuable: you don't have to worry that old monetized videos suddenly become unlicensed because you canceled your subscription.

See Epidemic Sound's Creator plan

🥈 Artlist — very close second

Artlist has a Music & SFX Social plan at $9.99/month billed annually. It gives you access to its music/SFX catalog and covers monetization on one channel on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitch, plus a podcast. help.artlist.io

I'd choose Artlist over Epidemic if you particularly like its music selection/workflow. Otherwise, Epidemic is the safer default recommendation for a budget-conscious solo creator.

🥉 Soundstripe

Soundstripe is also legitimate and has a strong catalog. Its current Personal plan is $119/year and includes monetization/copyright clearance for one YouTube channel. www.soundstripe.com

The catch is that its cheapest plan is less compelling if you're publishing across several platforms.

What I'd do in your shoes

If you have ~$10/month: Epidemic Sound Creator.

If you can only afford occasional music: consider buying individual licenses rather than maintaining a subscription.

If you're making client work, paid ads, or branded content: don't use the cheapest creator tier. For example, Epidemic's Pro plan is $16.99/month annually and adds commercial/client and digital-ad licensing. www.epidemicsound.com

One important warning: “royalty-free” does not mean “copyright-free.” You want a license that explicitly permits monetization and your particular type of distribution. Also make sure you safelist/connect your channels where the service requires it. www.epidemicsound.com

If you tell me what kind of content you make (YouTube essays, gaming, documentaries, shorts, podcasts, etc.) and roughly how many videos/month, I can narrow it down to the best $0, $10, and $20/month options.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget, my pick is Uppbeat.

My ranking

Why Uppbeat wins for your situation: its free tier gives individuals 3 downloads/month with 25% of the catalog, and its Essentials plan is currently $6.99/month for unlimited music/SFX and one safelisted YouTube channel. Uppbeat explicitly says its plans are copyright-safe for monetization. uppbeat.io

If you're willing to spend ~$10/month, I'd seriously consider Epidemic Sound instead. Its Creator plan is $9.99/month when billed annually and includes unlimited downloads, monetization for one channel per platform, and licensing for social, podcasts, and web. Its catalog is also exceptionally deep. www.epidemicsound.com

My practical recommendation:

• $0 budget: YouTube Audio Library + Uppbeat free
• <$10/month: Uppbeat Essentials ← best bargain
• ~$10/month: Epidemic Sound Creator ← best overall quality/workflow
• Making client/brand work: step up to a commercial plan; don't assume a cheap personal/creator license covers client projects.

One important distinction: “royalty-free” doesn't mean “copyright-free.” Always make sure your specific channel/project is covered by the license and, where applicable, safelisted/cleared before publishing.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget, I’d rank the options like this:

My recommendation by situation

If you make 1–4 monetized videos/month:
→ TunePocket or a pay-once library is probably the best budget move. You avoid paying every month when you’re not downloading much. www.tunepocket.com

If you upload weekly (YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, podcasts):
→ Epidemic Sound Creator is probably the easiest choice. The subscription cost is low compared with the time saved searching, worrying about claims, and finding matching tracks. www.epidemicsound.com

If you have $0 right now:
→ Start with YouTube Audio Library, build your channel, then upgrade once music quality becomes a bottleneck. www.foximusic.com

What I’d avoid

• Random “no copyright music” YouTube channels — licenses can be unclear.
• Free libraries where you cannot easily prove you had permission.
• Paying for a huge catalog if you only need 5–10 songs a year.

For a solo creator trying to look professional while staying cheap, my shortlist would be:

1. Epidemic Sound — best overall creator workflow
2. TunePocket — best budget/value
3. YouTube Audio Library — best zero-cost starting point

The biggest factor is not the number of songs; it’s having a license you can prove if a platform’s automated copyright system flags your video. www.foximusic.com

If you’re a one-person creator on a tight budget, my pick is Epidemic Sound—with Uppbeat as the best ultra-budget option.

My ranking

1. Epidemic Sound — best overall

For a solo YouTuber/creator, this is the one I'd choose if you can afford roughly $10/month when billed annually. Its current Creator plan includes unlimited music/SFX downloads, licensing for social, podcasts and web, and monetization of one channel per platform. www.epidemicsound.com

The big advantage is the quality and depth of the catalog. It has a very large library, stems, and strong search/discovery tools. www.epidemicsound.com

Epidemic Sound

2. Uppbeat — best if money is REALLY tight

If you're just starting and don't want another subscription, I'd try Uppbeat first. Community feedback specifically calls its free tier useful for smaller creators, although attribution/download limits apply. www.reddit.com

The tradeoff is that you'll have fewer choices and more limitations than Epidemic.

Uppbeat

3. Artlist — best if you also need other assets

Artlist is excellent, particularly if you eventually want stock footage, templates, SFX, etc. Its Social license covers monetization/sponsorship on personal social channels, but the exact channel and commercial-use limitations matter. artlist.io

Artlist

What I'd do in your shoes

Starting from $0: Uppbeat/free sources → build your channel → subscribe to Epidemic once music becomes important.

Can spend ~$10/month: Epidemic Sound Creator.

Making videos for clients/businesses: Don't automatically buy the cheapest creator plan. The licensing changes substantially for client/commercial work; for example, Epidemic's Pro plan is designed for professional/freelance commercial use, while Artlist's Pro license covers client work and paid/promoted videos. artlist.iowww.epidemicsound.com

One important distinction: "royalty-free" doesn't mean "copyright-free." Always make sure the specific subscription/license covers monetization on the platforms where you publish. Also keep your license/subscription records in case Content ID generates a claim.

Bottom line: Epidemic Sound for ~$10/mo is the sweet spot for a serious one-person creator; Uppbeat if every dollar matters.

If you’re a one-person creator on a tight budget, my pick is Epidemic Sound—with Uppbeat as the budget alternative.

🥇 My recommendation: Epidemic Sound

For a solo YouTuber, filmmaker, podcaster, or social creator, Epidemic Sound Creator is probably the sweet spot. Its current individual plan is $9.99/month when billed annually ($119.88/year) and includes unlimited music/SFX downloads and monetization for one channel per platform. www.epidemicsound.com

The big advantage isn't just the number of tracks—it's that the catalog tends to have a much more polished, modern “real production” sound than most free royalty-free libraries. Epidemic currently lists 55,000+ tracks and 250,000+ sound effects. www.epidemicsound.com

I'd choose it if music is an important part of your content's identity.

💰 If money is really tight: Uppbeat

Uppbeat is arguably the better value.

Its Free plan gives you 3 downloads/month, while the paid Essentials plan is $7.99/mo monthly or less with annual billing, and Creator provides the complete catalog for $9.99/mo monthly or less annually. The paid plans support monetization and YouTube channel safelisting. uppbeat.io

I'd pick Uppbeat over Epidemic if:

• you're still small and every dollar matters
• you want music plus stock video/motion graphics
• you don't need an enormous catalog
• you want to start completely free

🎬 Artlist is worth considering for cinematic content

Artlist has particularly strong music for cinematic YouTube, travel, documentaries, filmmaking, inspirational videos, and polished brand-style content.

Its Social license covers monetized personal content on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch and podcasts, with one channel per platform. help.artlist.iohelp.artlist.io

One interesting advantage: projects published while your subscription is active remain cleared for monetization even after you cancel. help.artlist.iohelp.artlist.io

🆓 Don't overlook YouTube's own library

If $0 is the priority, start with the YouTube Audio Library. YouTube explicitly says Audio Library music can be used in monetized videos and is copyright-safe on YouTube. support.google.com

That's actually my #1 free recommendation, rather than downloading supposedly "no copyright" music from random YouTube channels.

One important current wrinkle: YouTube Creator Music is changing in August 2026, moving away from paid licenses toward free tracks and revenue-sharing options. support.google.com

My ranking for your situation

If I were spending my own money:

1. 🥇 Epidemic Sound — best combination of quality, selection and ease
2. 🥈 Uppbeat — best if keeping costs extremely low
3. 🥉 Artlist — best if your content has a cinematic/filmmaker aesthetic
4. Soundstripe — excellent alternative, especially if you care about SFX
5. YouTube Audio Library — best $0 option

Bottom line: If you can afford roughly $10/month, I'd go Epidemic Sound. If $10/month feels too high while you're building the channel, start with Uppbeat Free, then upgrade when you actually need more music.

And if you tell me what kind of content you make (e.g. gaming, documentary, tech, fitness, faceless YouTube, vlogs, cinematic storytelling), I can narrow this down to the best library for your specific sound.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget, I’d rank them:

\*Prices/licensing can change; these are the current published plans I found.

🏆 My pick: Epidemic Sound

For a solo YouTuber/TikTok/Instagram creator, Epidemic Sound's Creator plan is probably the sweet spot. It's currently $9.99/month when billed annually ($119.88/year) and includes unlimited music/SFX downloads, social/web/podcast licensing, and monetization of one channel per platform. www.epidemicsound.comwww.soundstripe.com

The big advantage is the quality-to-price ratio. Epidemic has 55,000+ tracks plus 250,000+ sound effects, and you can use stems to remix individual parts of tracks. www.epidemicsound.com

Even better for a budget-conscious creator: content you publish while your subscription is active remains cleared after you cancel, provided your channels were properly safelisted and you followed the plan terms. www.epidemicsound.com

When I'd choose Artlist instead

Artlist is particularly attractive if your content is more cinematic, documentary, travel, filmmaking, or polished lifestyle oriented. Its Social plan covers monetization on one channel per platform and includes its music/SFX catalog. help.artlist.ioartlist.io

The annual Social Creator pricing is currently $9.99/month ($119.88 billed annually), while monthly billing is $14.99. artlist.io

One important distinction: Artlist's Social license is for personal social content; client work, paid/promoted videos, and broader commercial use require the Pro license. help.artlist.ioartlist.io

Soundstripe

Soundstripe is another strong budget option, particularly if you're primarily on YouTube. Its Solo Creator offering includes 58K+ tracks, nearly 100K SFX, unlimited access, and automatic YouTube clearance, with plans starting at $9.99/month. www.soundstripe.com

Bottom line

If you're saying:

“I'm one person, I'm trying to spend as little as possible, but I don't want my videos to sound cheap.”

I'd go:

1. Epidemic Sound — best overall 🥇
2. Artlist — best if you want a cinematic/filmmaker feel
3. Soundstripe — best alternative, especially for YouTube

If you're only posting to YouTube and don't want a subscription at all, there are also genuinely free options worth considering—but I'd approach “free royalty-free music” much more carefully because the licensing/monetization terms vary substantially.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget, I’d rank them:

My pick: Epidemic Sound

If you're making monetized YouTube/TikTok/Instagram content, I'd spend the money on Epidemic Sound rather than chasing random "royalty-free" sites.

Its creator offering is designed around social creators, with a large curated catalog, sound effects, stems, and licensing intended to avoid copyright headaches. Epidemic's current comparison says its catalog has 55,000+ tracks and 250,000 SFX. www.epidemicsound.comartlist.io

The catch is important: your license is subscription-based, so you need to understand what happens to new uploads after cancellation.

Best alternative: Artlist

I'd choose Artlist if you make cinematic documentaries, travel videos, essays, short films, etc. Its music tends to be particularly strong for that polished, cinematic feel.

Artlist's Social license covers monetization on a creator's personal social channels, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitch. artlist.io

A major advantage is that projects published while your subscription is active remain licensed even after you cancel. help.artlist.io

If money is really tight: Uppbeat

I'd look at Uppbeat before paying $15–20+ per month. It has a free tier and is specifically oriented toward creators. Third-party comparisons currently put its paid tier around $8.25/month, making it one of the more affordable dedicated creator libraries. creatorpicker.org

One I'd skip for your situation: Soundstripe

Soundstripe is good, but its current individual pricing is roughly $19.99/month or $119/year for Personal, with Pro at $239/year. www.soundstripe.com It does offer YouTube monetization/clearance, but for a cash-strapped solo creator I think Epidemic/Artlist/Uppbeat give you a better value proposition. www.soundstripe.com

The $0 strategy

If you're literally at $0, use the YouTube Audio Library initially. It's free and avoids paying for a music subscription while you're proving your channel/content concept.

My recommendation:
$0 → YouTube Audio Library
<$10/month → Uppbeat
Around $10–15/month → Epidemic Sound
Willing to pay annually for premium/cinematic → Artlist

One important distinction: "royalty-free" does not mean "copyright-free." For monetized content, look specifically for a license that explicitly permits commercial/monetized use on your platforms, and save your license/download records.

If you tell me what kind of content you make (YouTube essays, gaming, documentaries, Shorts, podcasts, etc.), I can narrow this down to the single best library for your style of music.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget making monetized content, I’d rank the options like this:

My recommendation by budget

$0/month

• Start with YouTube Audio Library.
• Add Pixabay Music for variety.
• Save screenshots/PDFs of licenses when you download tracks. videotoolshack.com

$10–15/month

• Get Epidemic Sound if you publish consistently.
• The value is not just the music; it’s avoiding hours of searching and reducing copyright headaches. creatorpicker.orgvidiq.com

You publish only occasionally (a few videos per month)

• Consider a pay-once licensing service instead of subscriptions. Platforms like Foximusic offer track purchases/bundles aimed at creators who don’t want another monthly bill. www.foximusic.com

What I would avoid

• Random “no copyright music” YouTube channels unless the license is crystal clear.
• Free libraries that require attribution if you know you’ll forget to add credits.
• Using popular songs with “fair use” assumptions—monetized content is where those claims tend to hurt.

For most solo creators, the sweet spot is:
Start free → grow → subscribe to Epidemic Sound when music quality becomes part of your brand. creatorpicker.orgvidiq.com

If you tell me your content type (gaming, faceless YouTube, vlogs, tutorials, shorts, podcasts, documentaries, etc.), I can narrow this down because the “best” library changes a lot by genre.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget, I’d put Epidemic Sound at #1, with Artlist as the closest alternative.

🥇 My pick: Epidemic Sound

For $9.99/month when billed annually, its Creator plan gives you unlimited music/SFX downloads, a catalog of 50,000+ tracks, and monetization for one channel per platform. Content you publish while subscribed remains cleared even after you cancel, provided you've properly safelisted your channels. www.epidemicsound.comwww.epidemicsound.com

That last point is particularly valuable for a small creator: you don't have to keep paying forever just to keep your old videos licensed.

See Epidemic Sound's Creator plan

🥈 Artlist if you care more about cinematic quality

Artlist's Social plan is also aimed specifically at individual creators. It covers one YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch and podcast channel, including monetization. Projects published while you're subscribed remain covered after you cancel. help.artlist.io

Its music tends to be particularly attractive if you're making cinematic YouTube videos, documentaries, travel content, short films, or polished storytelling.

See Artlist's Social plan

The important distinction

If your content is simply your own monetized YouTube/social content, either is excellent.

If you're likely to start doing client work, paid ads, sponsored commercial projects, or multiple channels, don't accidentally buy the cheap creator/social tier. Epidemic's Creator plan, for example, doesn't cover digital ads or client work; its Pro plan does. www.epidemicsound.comwww.epidemicsound.com Artlist similarly requires its Pro license for client/commercial work. help.artlist.io

Bottom line:
Epidemic Sound → best value for most solo YouTubers.
Artlist → my choice if music quality/style is the priority and you want a more cinematic catalog.
YouTube Audio Library → best if $0 is an absolute requirement.

If you tell me what kind of content you make (e.g. faceless documentaries, gaming, travel, finance, podcasts, Shorts), I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 libraries and the cheapest licensing strategy for your specific use.

For a one-person creator on a tight budget making monetized content, I’d rank the options like this:

My recommendation by situation

If you have $0/month

• Start with YouTube Audio Library.
• Add Pixabay Music for extra options.
• Keep a spreadsheet or folder with downloaded licenses/track info.

If you can spend ~$10/month and upload regularly

• Pick Epidemic Sound. It’s the easiest “stop worrying about copyright and focus on making videos” choice. www.epidemicsound.com

If you upload only occasionally (a few videos/month or less)

• Consider a pay-once library instead of subscriptions. Some creators prefer one-time licensing because they don’t want another recurring bill. www.foximusic.com

If your content needs a premium feel (film essays, travel, storytelling, brand videos)

• Look at Artlist or Musicbed-style libraries rather than generic stock music.

The budget creator setup I’d choose

1. Start free: YouTube Audio Library + Pixabay.
2. When the channel earns enough for one subscription: switch to Epidemic Sound.
3. Save your favorite tracks into a personal “creator sound palette” (intro music, tense moments, emotional moments, background loops).

One thing to watch: “royalty-free” does not automatically mean “safe for monetized content.” Check that the license explicitly covers commercial use/monetization and keep proof of the license. videotoolshack.com

For most solo creators, my short answer is: Epidemic Sound if you can afford ~$10/month; YouTube Audio Library if you can’t.