If you typed "where to" into a search box because you need a place to go right now that is free, legal, and does not want an account or a card, the best answer is Free Music Archive. It is an interactive library of legal audio downloads; its songs are licensed under Creative Commons, Public Domain, or a customized license shown on each song page. It is free to access and download, no account requirement is documented in the pages retrieved, and no payment card requirement is documented.
What Free Music Archive Is and Who It Suits
Free Music Archive is a catalog of music that rights holders have chosen to release under Creative Commons, public domain, or another license that permits free access. The archive is available internationally in the sense that its terms do not list country restrictions, but the rights to each track still depend on the license or public-domain status shown on the track page. This suits anyone who needs background music for a video, a podcast, or a presentation and wants to avoid copyright claims. It also suits people who want to download music for personal listening without paying or creating an account. The music is free because the artists and labels have chosen to give it away under those specific legal terms.
If you are looking for a place that requires zero sign-up and zero payment, Free Music Archive works as long as you follow the license on each individual song page. You do not need to register. You do not need to enter a credit card. You simply browse, find a track, read its license, and download.
The Thing a Reader Gets Wrong About This Subject
The most common mistake is thinking "Creative Commons" and "royalty-free" are the same thing. They are not. Royalty-free means you do not have to pay ongoing royalties to a rights holder, but it does not automatically mean the music is free to use in a video. A royalty-free music library might still require you to buy a license, create an account, or pay a one-time fee. Creative Commons is a specific set of licenses that allow free use, but only under the conditions the artist chose. Creative Commons’ “Legal Music for Videos” page explains that CC-licensed music can be used in videos, but not music under a No Derivatives license, and attribution is required under CC licenses that are not public domain or CC0. So if you download a track that has a CC BY-NC-ND license (Non-Commercial, No Derivatives), you cannot legally sync it into a video at all, even if you give credit. If you use a track with a CC BY license, you can adapt it and use it commercially, but you must give credit. If the track is CC0 or public domain, you can do anything without asking permission or giving credit.
Another mistake is assuming that any music on a free site is automatically safe to use in a video. Free Music Archive’s License Guide states that CC BY allows sharing, copying, adapting, and commercial use with attribution; CC0/public domain allows copying, modifying, distributing, and performing without asking permission; and ND-licensed music cannot be legally synced into a video. You must check the license on each track page before you download. The same applies to any other source of Creative Commons music. The license is the legal agreement, not the site's general terms.
What to Check Before Committing to One
Before you download a track for a video, check three things on the song page. First, look for the license type. It will be written as something like "CC BY 4.0" or "CC0" or "Public Domain". Second, read the attribution requirements. Some licenses require you to name the artist and the license in your video description or credits. Third, check whether the license allows commercial use. If your video will make money from ads, a "Non-Commercial" license means you cannot use that track. Free Music Archive’s FAQ For Videos explains that users may access or download content for free, subject to each file’s license terms. The same principle applies to any other Creative Commons source.
If you want a source that is specifically designed for finding CC music for videos, ccMixter is named by Creative Commons as a relevant source of CC music. The retrieved pages do not document account, card, or country requirements for ccMixter. It is a community site where musicians upload tracks under Creative Commons licenses. You can search by license type, genre, or instrument. As with Free Music Archive, you must check each track's license before using it in a video.
If you want music that is already in the public domain and requires no attribution at all, Musopen is a library of public-domain classical music recordings and sheet music. The retrieved pages did not provide enough documented detail to confirm free-tier contents, account requirements, payment-card requirements, or country availability for additional services. However, Musopen is commonly known as a free public-domain resource. You can download recordings of symphonies, sonatas, and other classical works without any license restrictions because the music itself is old enough to be in the public domain. The recordings on Musopen are also released under public-domain or CC0 licenses. You do not need to give credit. You do not need an account to download.
If you want a massive archive of free music that includes both Creative Commons and public-domain works, Archive.org (the Internet Archive) hosts the Free Music Archive collection as well as many other audio collections. However, Archive.org is a well-known public digital library. You can search for "Creative Commons music" or "public domain music" and find thousands of tracks. You do not need an account to download most items. You do need to check the license on each item's page, because not everything on Archive.org is free to use in a video. Some items are under copyright and are only hosted for preservation.
If you want a source that is specifically for finding music to use in videos and other media, Jamendo is a platform where artists upload music under Creative Commons licenses. Jamendo has a "Music for Videos" section that lets you filter by license type. You can download tracks for free, but you may need to create a free account to access some features. The license terms still apply, so check each track before using it.
If you want a guide that explains the different Creative Commons licenses in plain language, the Hootsuite blog has a resource page that lists Creative Commons music sources and explains what each license means. It is not a music source itself, but it can help you understand what you are agreeing to when you use a CC-licensed track.
If you want a wiki-style list of free music resources, Wikimedia Commons maintains a page of free media resources for music. It lists sites like Free Music Archive, ccMixter, and others, along with notes about their license types. It is a reference page, not a download site.
If you want the official wiki documentation for Free Music Archive itself, the Creative Commons wiki has a page about Free Music Archive that explains its history and license policies. It is useful for understanding how the archive works, but you will still need to go to Free Music Archive to download music.
If you want a quick, no-account, no-card download of a single track right now, Mp3.now is a site that lets you search for and download MP3 files. You should be aware that not all music on mp3.now is necessarily licensed for free use in a video. You would need to verify the license of any track you download from there before using it in a video. The site itself does not appear to provide license information on its search results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use music from Free Music Archive in a YouTube video that makes money?
It depends on the license of the specific track. If the track is licensed under CC BY, CC0, or public domain, you can use it in a monetized video. If the track is licensed under CC BY-NC (Non-Commercial), you cannot use it in a video that makes money. Check the license on the track page before you download.
Do I have to give credit if I use a CC0 or public domain track?
No. CC0 and public domain tracks do not require attribution. You can use them without giving credit to the artist. However, it is considered good practice to credit the artist anyway, but it is not legally required.
What happens if I use a No Derivatives (ND) track in a video?
You cannot legally sync an ND-licensed track into a video because syncing it to moving images is considered creating a derivative work. The ND license only allows you to share the track as-is. If you use it in a video, you are violating the license terms and could face a copyright claim.
Is there any free music site that does not require attribution at all?
Yes. Sites that offer CC0 or public domain music do not require attribution. Free Music Archive has a filter for CC0 and public domain tracks. Musopen also offers public-domain recordings that do not require attribution. Archive.org has a large collection of public-domain recordings as well.
Can I edit or remix a track I download from Free Music Archive?
Only if the license allows derivatives. CC BY and CC0 allow you to edit, remix, and adapt the track. CC BY-ND and CC BY-NC-ND do not allow any changes. Check the license on the track page. If it says "No Derivatives" or "ND", you cannot edit it.
Where this fits
This is one guide from Where to Download Music Free and Legally.
