Best Artlist Alternative: Quick Answer


best artlist alternative

If you like Artlist’s idea (royalty-free subscription, simple licensing) but want a different price point, catalog or feature set, the top Artlist alternatives to look at are:

  • Epidemic Sound – best 1:1 alternative for YouTubers & creators

  • Soundstripe – best for budget-friendly music + SFX with AI search

  • Storyblocks – best if you need lots of stock video plus audio

  • Envato Elements – best everything bundle (music + graphics + templates)

  • Track Club (by Marmoset) – best for high-end, super-curated music

  • Uppbeat / free & AI tools – best if you’re on a very tight budget

Which one is best depends on how you publish and how much you can spend. Let’s break it down.

1. Epidemic Sound – closest overall Artlist competitor

Best for: YouTubers, streamers, and small creators who want a simple music-only subscription.

Why people choose it instead of Artlist

  • Personal vs Pro plans:
    Epidemic Sound has a Personal plan for individual creators, and Commercial/Enterprise plans for client work and brands – very similar to Artlist’s Social vs Pro model.

  • Platform coverage: Personal plans cover one channel per platform (one YouTube, one TikTok, one Instagram, etc.), just like Artlist’s personal license. 

  • Large catalog: 50,000+ tracks and sound effects, often praised for modern, polished production.

When Epidemic is a better Artlist alternative

  • You only need music + SFX, not footage or AI tools.

  • You like the way Epidemic handles safelisting and Content ID, and you want a platform that’s been in the YouTube creator space for a long time.

2. Soundstripe – simple, flexible music & SFX subscription

Best for: Creators who want affordable music + SFX with good editing tools.

Why it’s a strong Artlist alternative

  • Unlimited music for creators: Soundstripe is built as a flat-fee, unlimited music subscription for video creators - safe for YouTube, Facebook and more. 

  • Video-friendly features:

    • AI-powered assistant Supe to help you find tracks by vibe.

    • AI Song Editing and stems so you can extend or cut tracks to fit your edit.

  • Commercial options: There are creator plans and business/enterprise options for advertising, brands and agencies. 

When Soundstripe might beat Artlist for you

  • You care more about music workflow (stems, AI editing, integrations) than having stock footage and templates.

  • You want budget-friendly plans starting around the same or lower price than Artlist’s entry tier.

3. Storyblocks – huge stock video + audio library

Best for: Editors who need a ton of stock video and templates, with audio as a bonus.

Key reasons to pick Storyblocks instead of Artlist

  • All-inclusive subscription: Storyblocks offers unlimited downloads of stock video, templates, photos, music and SFX under one plan.

  • Big library: Millions of assets and tens of thousands of royalty-free music tracks.

  • Simple royalty-free license: Anything you download is yours to use royalty-free as long as you’ve paid the subscription; business plans add enhanced coverage.

Best Artlist alternative if:

  • You’re primarily a video editor who needs stock footage first, music second.

  • You want a team or business license with unlimited downloads and don’t care about AI voice/image/video tools.

4. Envato Elements - everything bundle for creatives

Best for: Designers, editors and marketers who need music plus graphic assets, templates and fonts.

Why Envato Elements competes with Artlist

  • One subscription, one license: Elements offers unlimited downloads of music, SFX, video templates, stock photos, graphics, fonts and more under a single license.

  • YouTube-safe music: All audio tracks are covered by a license that allows use on YouTube and many commercial projects; you can also download license certificates to resolve Content ID claims.

  • Restrictions: Broadcast use for music is limited, so big TV campaigns may need separate licensing.

When Envato Elements is the better alternative

  • You need templates, logos, fonts and graphics just as much as music.

  • You’re doing web design, motion graphics or branding alongside video editing and want an asset hub that covers everything.

5. Track Club (by Marmoset) – boutique, highly editable music

Best for: Filmmakers, agencies and brands that value quality and control over giant catalogs.

Why Track Club stands out

  • Curated catalog: Track Club focuses on high-quality, carefully curated songs from Marmoset’s award-winning roster, prioritizing depth and artistry over sheer volume.

  • 100% editable music: Their MixLab tool lets you tweak stems, BPM and more so the track fits your edit perfectly.

  • Ethical angle: Track Club reinvests 10% of all profits into community organizations, which appeals to brands that care about impact.

Pick Track Club instead of Artlist if:

  • You’re doing brand films, high-end commercials or narrative work where music quality is critical.

  • You want more control over stems and mixes than most stock platforms offer.

6. Cheaper & free-leaning alternatives (Uppbeat, AI tools, etc.)

If your main goal is saving money, you can combine smaller or free tools:

Uppbeat

  • Frequently mentioned by editors as a cheaper Artlist alternative, with a free tier and a premium plan around $6.99/month.

  • Good for smaller creators who need basic royalty-free tracks for YouTube and social.

AI-driven libraries (SOUNDRAW, HaiMusic, etc.)

  • Lists of top royalty-free music sites for 2026 now include AI-powered tools like SOUNDRAW (AI generates custom tracks) and newer platforms like HaiMusic, which compete on price and flexibility.

  • These can be powerful if you’re comfortable with AI and don’t need a traditional, human-curated catalog.

When these budget alternatives make sense

  • You’re just starting a channel and don’t want to commit to a bigger subscription.

  • You’re okay with smaller libraries or AI-generated music in exchange for lower cost or free tiers.

How to choose the best Artlist alternative for you

Ask yourself three questions:

  1. What assets do I actually need?

    • Music only: Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Track Club

    • Music + lots of stock footage: Storyblocks

    • Music + design assets + templates: Envato Elements

    • Super-low budget or free: Uppbeat, YouTube Audio Library, AI tools

  2. What license do I need?

    • Personal YouTube/TikTok: Personal/Creator/Social-type plans (Epidemic, Soundstripe, Uppbeat)

    • Client work / ads / brand channels: Pro/Commercial/Business plans (Epidemic Commercial, Soundstripe Enterprise, Storyblocks Business, Envato commercial uses, Track Club business plans).

  3. What’s my monthly budget?

    • Under $10/month: Uppbeat, entry-level creator plans (Soundstripe, Epidemic).

    • Around $10–$20/month: Most creator-level plans from the big services.

    • $30+/month: All-in-one bundles (Storyblocks, Envato, Artlist-style Max competitors) and higher-tier commercial licenses.

Final takeaway

There’s no single “best Artlist alternative” for everyone:

  • Epidemic Sound is the closest match for creators who mainly want music + SFX with a familiar YouTube-focused license.

  • Soundstripe is ideal if you want strong editing tools and AI search at a competitive price.

  • Storyblocks and Envato Elements are better if you need huge asset libraries (video, templates, design).

  • Track Club wins if you care most about boutique, ultra-high-quality music.

  • Uppbeat and AI libraries make sense when budget is your main constraint.