Every podcast needs music. Intro and outro tracks set the tone, signal transitions, and make your show feel polished and professional. As tempting as it is to grab your favorite song, using commercial music without a license can lead to takedowns, removed episodes, and costly copyright claims. The good news is that plenty of services exist to help you find the perfect track legally. Here are five reliable places to source podcast music, from completely free libraries to affordable subscriptions.
Pixabay (Free)
Pixabay is a free, open library where you can download music without worrying about copyright. You can filter by genre, mood, movement, and theme, which makes it easy to narrow in on the right feel for your show. As a bonus, Pixabay also offers free stock images and video — handy if you produce audiograms or promotional clips alongside your episodes.
Free Music Archive (Free)
The Free Music Archive is another strong free option with a large, well-organized catalog. You can filter by genre, mood, energy, and whether a track includes vocals, so you can quickly find something that fits an intro without stepping on your voiceover. Always double-check the specific license attached to each track, since some require attribution.
YouTube Audio Library (Free)
The YouTube Audio Library provides free music you can use as long as you follow its terms. It is especially convenient if you already repurpose your podcast into video. Just be sure to read the usage rules for each track — breaking them can create a copyright issue even with "free" music, so a quick check saves headaches later.
Jamendo (Pay Per Track)
Jamendo offers both pay-per-track licensing and monthly subscriptions, depending on how much music you need. When you purchase a track, the rights are included, which gives you peace of mind for commercial use. Jamendo also has a selection of free tracks, making it a flexible middle ground between free libraries and full subscription services.
Soundstripe (Subscription)
Soundstripe is an excellent choice if you produce multiple shows or need frequent access to fresh music. A subscription unlocks unlimited licensed tracks, and curated playlists — staff favorites, moods, and occasions — take the guesswork out of choosing. The interface is clean and fast, which makes finding the right piece far less of a chore.
How to Choose the Right Source
Which option is best depends on how often you swap out music and how much you plan to use it. If you only need a single intro and outro, a free library will likely cover you. If you release regularly across several shows and want variety, a subscription pays for itself in time saved. Whatever you choose, read the license terms before you publish so you always know exactly how a track can be used.
Once your music is sorted, you can bring everything together in MyPodOps Studio, where you can record, edit, and add your intro and outro in one place before publishing your episode.