Epidemic Sound vs Uppbeat
Quick verdict
Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat are both excellent music & sound tools, and the right pick depends on what you need. Epidemic Sound is royalty-free music and sound effects for video creators, while Uppbeat is free music for creators — no copyright strikes. For most people, Epidemic Sound is the safer default thanks to its wider adoption — but Uppbeat can be the better fit for the right workflow.
If you're choosing between Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat, you're not alone — they're two of the most talked-about music & sound tools around, and the differences aren't always obvious from their landing pages.
We track hundreds of music & sound tools on DesignBookmark, so we've put them side by side below: what each one is, where they overlap, how they differ, and a clear answer to which you should choose.
No fluff and no fabricated benchmarks — just an honest, practical comparison to help you decide fast.
At a glance
| Epidemic Sound | Uppbeat | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Music & Sound | Music & Sound |
| Pricing | Paid | Freemium |
| On DesignBookmark | Featured pick | Listed |
| Categories | 1 | 1 |
Pricing is a general guide and changes often — always confirm current plans on each tool's site.
What they have in common
At a high level, Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat are after the same thing. Both sit in our music & sound category, both are aimed at designers, developers and creators, and both are built to make that job faster and more enjoyable.
So if you're only going to use one, you won't be missing out on the fundamentals either way — the question is which one's particular take on music & sound tool suits you best. That's what the rest of this comparison digs into.
Epidemic Sound
Epidemic Sound bills itself as royalty-free music and sound effects for video creators — and in practice that's exactly what it delivers. The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps improving rather than standing still.
Against Uppbeat, it tends to win people over when you value a tool you can pick up without reading the manual. On the pricing side, Epidemic Sound is generally paid — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
Uppbeat
Uppbeat bills itself as free music for creators — no copyright strikes — and in practice that's exactly what it delivers. What stands out is how focused and dependable it feels: it does what it promises, release after release.
Compared with Epidemic Sound, it's the one to reach for when reliability beats raw feature count. On the pricing side, Uppbeat is generally freemium — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
How to choose between Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat
Pick Epidemic Sound
Choose Epidemic Sound if you want the more established, widely-adopted pick that most people reach for first.
Pick Uppbeat
Choose Uppbeat if you're watching your budget — its pricing model is the friendlier of the two to start with.
Pricing & how you'll pay
Based on their general pricing models, Uppbeat is the friendlier option to get started with, while the other leans more premium. That said, pricing tiers shift constantly — check the current plans on each site before you commit, especially if a specific feature you need sits behind a paywall.
Workflow & learning curve
The best music & sound tool is the one that disappears into your routine. Think about which interface feels more natural to you, which integrates with the apps you already use, and which you'd actually open every day. A short free trial of each tells you more than any feature chart.
Scope — all-rounder or specialist
Both cover similar ground here, so neither is obviously the "bigger" tool. Judge them on how well they do the specific job you care about most, rather than the length of their feature lists.
Momentum & community
A tool is only as good as the team and community behind it. Both Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat are actively maintained and listed on DesignBookmark for that reason — but it's worth a quick look at each one's changelog and community to see which is moving in a direction you like.
Frequently asked questions
Is Epidemic Sound better than Uppbeat?+
Neither is universally "better" — they're both strong music & sound tools, which is why people compare them. Epidemic Sound suits you if you want royalty-free music and sound effects for video creators; Uppbeat suits you if you want free music for creators — no copyright strikes. The best way to decide is to try both on a real project.
What's the difference between Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat?+
They overlap a lot — both are music & sound tools aimed at the same audience. The practical difference is emphasis: Epidemic Sound is royalty-free music and sound effects for video creators, whereas Uppbeat is free music for creators — no copyright strikes. That shapes which workflows each one feels best for.
Is Epidemic Sound or Uppbeat cheaper?+
Going by their general pricing models, Uppbeat is usually the more affordable place to start (Epidemic Sound is paid, Uppbeat is freemium). Pricing changes often, so always confirm the latest plans on each site before deciding.
Can I use Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat together?+
Often, yes. Plenty of people use more than one music & sound tool side by side — one as their main driver and another for the things it does best. There's no rule that says you must pick only one, though most settle on a primary tool over time.
Is there a free version of Epidemic Sound or Uppbeat?+
Uppbeat generally has a free or freemium tier, while Epidemic Sound leans paid. Check both sites for current plans.
The bottom line
The bottom line: Epidemic Sound is the easier one to recommend as a default, but there's no wrong answer between Epidemic Sound and Uppbeat — they're both genuinely good music & sound tools. Re-read the "how to choose" points above, take whichever one speaks to you for a quick spin, and keep the one that earns a permanent place in your workflow.