Free Music, Sound Effects and Video for School Projects: Sources and Licenses

About 2,000 original tracks by Kevin MacLeod, searchable by genre, feel, tempo and length.

In plain English: A student can use any track in a class video or a public YouTube video, including a monetized one, and can cut, loop or add to it. The only condition is credit; a paid license exists for uses where credit is impossible. Files download directly, no sign-in.

Credit: Incompetech's format: "Title" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (replace Title with the real track title). On YouTube, put the credit in the description; if you changed the music, say which parts are yours.

Kid safety: Music made by one composer, no user uploads. His music is registered with YouTube Content ID, so put the credit in the video description or a claim appears.

Good for: background music for slideshows and class videos

Royalty-free production music and sound effects inside YouTube Studio, with filters for genre, mood, duration and whether attribution is required; YouTube says new releases are added twice a month.

In plain English: A student with a YouTube channel can use any track in their YouTube videos, including monetized ones, and in other videos they make. They cannot share or sell the music files by themselves. The library is only inside YouTube Studio, which requires signing in to a YouTube account.

Credit: Tracks marked "Attribution required" are Creative Commons and must be credited in the video description; YouTube Studio gives a Copy button with the exact credit text. Tracks marked "Attribution not required" need no credit.

Kid safety: Curated library run by YouTube, no user uploads; access needs a YouTube account. YouTube says Audio Library music won't be claimed through Content ID.

Good for: music for students who already post to a class YouTube channel

Original music by independent artists, each track under its own license (mostly Creative Commons), with filters for license type and duration.

In plain English: A student can use a track in a class video or post it on YouTube if they follow that track's license, which is shown on the track page. Tracks marked NonCommercial cannot go in monetized videos, NoDerivatives tracks cannot be remixed, and old FMA-Limited tracks allow no video use at all. The Help page says all users can download whether they are members or not.

Credit: For any BY license, list Title, Author, Source and License. FMA's own example: Music: "Tra-la-la" by Podington Bear. Source: Free Music Archive, CC BY NC 3.0. Put it in the video credits or description.

Kid safety: Music is uploaded by many artists and FMA says not all content is rated G and it cannot screen everything, though some tracks are flagged explicit.

Good for: background music for class videos and podcasts

Remixes, samples and a cappellas shared by a music community; the site says it offers over 30,000 tracks, searchable on dig.ccMixter by style, instrument and license.

In plain English: A student can use any track in a video given away free with no advertising, as long as they credit the artist. CC BY-NC tracks cannot be used in a monetized YouTube video or an ad; only tracks with the commercial-use badge can. We couldn't confirm whether downloads need an account.

Credit: Credit in the video itself and link back in the YouTube description, naming the license. ccMixter's example: Music "cafe connection" by morgantj featuring Morusque / Available at ccMixter.org http://ccmixter.org/files/morgantj/18947 / Under CC BY license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Kid safety: The Terms of Use say users may be exposed to content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable; the catalog includes vocal tracks uploaded by community members.

Good for: remix-friendly music for class videos and podcasts

Classical music recordings and sheet music; the music page title says over 100,000 mp3 files.

In plain English: A student can use a public domain recording in a class video or a public YouTube video for any purpose. Check the license icon on each recording first: some are CC BY-NC-SA, which needs credit, no monetization, and the same license on the finished video. Downloads need a free Musopen account.

Credit: Public domain recordings need no credit. Creative Commons recordings follow their CC license (credit the performer). Musopen gives no credit wording of its own.

Kid safety: Classical recordings; recordings are uploaded by users and Musopen says it does not review them for public domain status. Musopen says it can't guarantee every uploaded recording is really public domain.

Good for: classical music for history and music class projects

A "Free Music" section of tracks from Bensound's catalog that can be used under its Free License with Attribution.

In plain English: A student can use a Free Music track in an online video that is free to watch, including YouTube (even monetized), by pasting the attribution text into the description. Not allowed under the free license: podcasts, audiobooks, remixes or songs; school plays and films are allowed only if educational and not making money. Free downloads and the attribution text work without an account.

Credit: For online videos, paste the attribution text shown at download ("Music by https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos", the artist, and a license code) into the description; each code works for one video only. For other allowed uses, mention Bensound.com, for example "Music by Bensound.com".

Kid safety: Music by Bensound's own artists, no user uploads; pages push paid plans. The free license doesn't cover podcasts. Bensound places its own claim if the attribution code is missing or reused.

Good for: music for YouTube class videos

Music composed by Chris Martyn and Geoff Harvey, free for social media and personal projects with credit.

In plain English: Purple Planet lists "Educational Use in class for student projects" and YouTube videos as free uses, and students may edit the length. Monetized YouTube is fine with credit; the music cannot be posted on its own as "free music" or turned into a new song. FAQ: no registration is needed to download tracks for free; only license purchases need an account.

Credit: "Music: www.purple-planet.com" or "Music: Purple Planet Music". On YouTube it must go in the description when you upload, not later.

Kid safety: Two composers, no user uploads. The site footer links SourceAudio's platform terms, which say users must be 18; Purple Planet's own FAQ says no registration is needed to download.

Good for: background music for class videos

Production music composed by Jason Shaw, browsable by genre and mood.

In plain English: A student can use any track in a class video or a public YouTube video, even commercially, as long as it is part of something they made and they give credit. They cannot resell the music as-is or claim it as theirs. No account; download buttons open MP3 files.

Credit: Link to audionautix.com or credit with "music by audionautix.com".

Kid safety: One composer, no user uploads; the site says it uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads.

Good for: background music for slideshows and class videos

Music, sound effects and video assets by paid contributors; the free plan opens 25% of the catalog with 3 downloads, then 1 more each month.

In plain English: A student on the free plan can use a downloaded track in videos on their own channel, including YouTube, if they paste the Uppbeat Credit. They cannot remix it into a song, make music-only videos, or share the file. The license is tied to your Uppbeat account, so you need one.

Credit: Each download gives a unique Uppbeat Credit to paste into the video description; one credit per video, even for the same track.

Kid safety: Curated catalog from Uppbeat contributors (contributor applications are currently closed), not open uploads.

Good for: music for students' own YouTube or social videos

Music by independent artists, each track under a Creative Commons license chosen by the artist, plus paid licenses through Jamendo Licensing.

In plain English: Jamendo says free downloads are for personal listening and "doesn't mean their music can be used in videos." Its Creative Commons page says a CC BY track can be used with credit and a CC BY-NC track can go in a non-monetized video, so a student must check each track and avoid ND tracks in videos. Downloads need a Jamendo account.

Credit: Every CC license used requires naming the artist; Jamendo says to put the author's name in the description or credits.

Kid safety: Music uploaded by artists, including vocal tracks; no content filter was observed. Jamendo's pages give different answers about video use, so we list it last among music sites.

Good for: listening and finding CC tracks; video use needs care

A huge shared library of sound effects, field recordings and samples uploaded by its users. Run by the Music Technology Group at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.

In plain English: Each sound carries one of three licenses. CC0 sounds can be used any way you like. CC BY sounds need a credit. CC BY-NC sounds need a credit and can't go in anything that earns money, which rules out a monetized YouTube channel. You must be logged in to download, and the terms say you have to be 18 or older to register.

Credit: Freesound's own pattern: "sound2" by user2 (freesound.org/people/user2/) licensed under CC BY 4.0. Your Freesound account keeps a list of everything you've downloaded, which helps when you write credits.

Kid safety: Sounds are uploaded by users and flagged by the community; nothing is filtered for kids. Because registration is 18+, a teacher should download for younger students. Some old sounds use the retired Sampling+ license; Freesound says to treat it like CC BY-NC.

Good for: specific sound effects (a door, rain, a crowd)

A large library of sound effects and some music. The FAQ says the team adds 200 to 500 new sound effects a week.

In plain English: Free (Basic) accounts may use sounds in personal, commercial and broadcast projects, including YouTube videos and educational projects. Free users get MP3 files and a cap of 4 downloads every 60 minutes. A free account is required to download, and you may only download through your own account.

Credit: Free users must credit "ZapSplat" wherever reasonably possible, for example in end credits or a video description.

Kid safety: The FAQ has a section for schools: several wrong passwords from one school can block the school's whole network for up to 24 hours.

Good for: sound effects for videos that will be posted online

Free sound clips in WAV or MP3 with large download buttons, sorted into a general free section and a Royalty Free section.

In plain English: Sounds in the Royalty Free section are Creative Commons or public domain. Other free sounds can be used commercially only if they're CC BY or public domain, so read the license line on each sound's page before you post a project online.

Credit: For a CC BY sound, credit the creator and license shown on that sound's page.

Kid safety: No account needed. Some sections, such as war sounds, are aimed at game makers; preview first.

Good for: quick, common sound effects

Free sound effects and music tracks, downloadable without an account.

In plain English: Use the sounds free in your own projects, commercial or not. You can't sell or share the sound files themselves or put them in a sound app.

Credit: Credit is optional; SoundJay asks you to consider crediting soundjay.com.

Kid safety: No account needed.

Good for: interface clicks, beeps and everyday noises

The BBC's sound effects archive, browsable by category (nature, transport, machines, daily life, animals, crowds and more), with a mixer for building soundscapes.

In plain English: Students and teachers may use the sounds for formal education, such as a class presentation or a project you hand in. The license forbids uploading BBC content to social media, so a video that uses them can't go on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. Commercial use is sold separately through Pro Sound Effects.

Credit: The license asks for this credit if the sound doesn't already carry one: bbc.co.uk – © copyright [year] BBC.

Kid safety: A broadcaster's own archive with no user uploads. The Military category holds weapons and battle sounds, so preview before playing sounds to a class. Best for projects that stay in the classroom. Pick another source if the finished video will be posted publicly.

Good for: realistic period and location sounds for in-class work

Free stock video clips shared by Pexels contributors.

In plain English: All photos and videos are free to use and edit, including in videos posted online. Don't sell unedited copies, and don't show identifiable people in a bad or offensive light.

Credit: Not required; Pexels says credit is always appreciated, for example: Video by [name] from Pexels.

Kid safety: The terms say children under 13 need a parent's or guardian's authorization.

Good for: modern B-roll: nature, cities, people

Free music, 130,000+ sound effects and 240,000+ video clips shared by its community, alongside its photos.

In plain English: Use and edit anything for free, including in videos posted online. You can't sell or share the files on their own, and you can't use them in a misleading way. Music downloads worked signed out; Pixabay's FAQ says sign-up is needed for full-resolution photos and videos.

Credit: Not required; Pixabay says credit is always appreciated.

Kid safety: The terms say children under 13 need a parent, guardian or other authorized adult to approve their use. Some contributors register their music with Content ID (marked with a shield icon); keep the download certificate to dispute a claim.

Good for: one site for music, sounds and B-roll

A curated set of free stock video clips, music tracks and sound effects from Envato.

In plain English: Free-license videos and sound effects can go in commercial and non-commercial projects, including YouTube and social video. You can't share the files on their own or register them with a rights-management service. A few clips carry a Restricted License, so check the label on each download. Music has its own license: no remixing into a new music track, games, TV or radio.

Credit: Not required for free-license videos; Mixkit asks for a credit where reasonably possible.

Kid safety: The User Terms say you must be 18 or older to use Mixkit, so a teacher should download. The site also promotes Envato's paid subscription and AI generators.

Good for: polished B-roll and short background tracks

Free HD stock video clips (some in 4K) and some music tracks.

In plain English: Videos and music can be used for commercial and non-commercial projects at no cost, so a project posted online is fine.

Credit: Not required; Coverr says credit is appreciated when possible.

Kid safety: The site promotes its paid AI video and music tools next to the free clips.

Good for: short establishing shots and intros

Free sample packs and a browser remix tool built from Library of Congress audio and video that has been cleared as free to use. The remix page can save a loop as a WAV file.

In plain English: Every clip was chosen because it's free to use, either public domain or cleared for this project. Students can download sample packs or a looped pattern and build their own track.

Credit: Each clip comes with information on how to credit the original creators; use it in your credits.

Kid safety: No ads or user uploads; the clips come from the Library's collections.

Good for: beats and samples for music class

The Prelinger Archives of educational, industrial and home films, the Moving Image and Audio archives, and the Great 78 Project's digitized 78rpm records.

In plain English: Many Prelinger films carry a Creative Commons public domain dedication and can be reused freely, but Prelinger warns that not all of them do. Other uploads should carry a Creative Commons license set by the uploader. Use an item only when its page shows a public domain mark or a CC license.

Credit: For a Prelinger film: title, year, Prelinger Archives, Internet Archive. For CC items, follow the license.

Kid safety: Uploads come from the public and aren't filtered for kids; preview films and records before class. Prelinger notes that a public domain film can still contain copyrighted music or footage.

Good for: historic film clips and old recordings

Early recordings from the Victor, Columbia and Okeh labels, streamed by the Library of Congress under a license from Sony Music.

In plain English: Great for listening and research. The Library streams these recordings with permission, and its rights page says you need written permission to copy or reuse them, except as fair use allows. To put an old recording in a project, use Citizen DJ or a public domain copy instead.

Credit: When you cite a recording: Library of Congress, National Jukebox.

Kid safety: No ads or user uploads.

Good for: listening to music history

Natural and human-made sounds recorded by park scientists: amphibians, birds, geysers, rivers, insects, machines, mammals, weather.

In plain English: The NPS says the clips are in the public domain and may be downloaded, so students can use them in any project, posted online or not.

Credit: The NPS asks for appropriate credit, for example: Sound: National Park Service.

Kid safety: Government site, no ads, no user uploads. Not everything on nps.gov is public domain; the Arrowhead logo, for one, is a registered trademark.

Good for: real animal and nature sounds for science projects

Mission video and audio in the NASA Image and Video Library, plus an audio and ringtones page on nasa.gov.

In plain English: NASA video and audio can be used for school and informational projects without asking. Don't use the NASA logo or imply NASA endorses you, and check the credit on each file: some material on NASA sites comes from partners.

Credit: NASA asks to be acknowledged as the source, for example: Video: NASA.

Kid safety: Government site with no ads.

Good for: space footage and rocket and mission audio

One search across openly licensed and public domain audio collected from many sites, with one-click attribution.

In plain English: Openverse only finds the audio; the license comes from the original site, and Openverse says it doesn't verify licenses. Click through and check the license on the source page before using a track.

Credit: Use Openverse's generated credit, then check it against the source page.

Kid safety: No account or ads, but results come from sites whose content isn't filtered for kids.

Good for: searching many CC audio sites at once

The media library behind Wikipedia, including audio and video files under free licenses.

In plain English: Every file can be reused, but each license has its own rules: some need a credit, some need the license named, and CC BY-SA asks you to share your edited version under the same license.

Credit: Use the "Use this file" button on the file page; it writes the credit for you.

Kid safety: No ads, but the collection isn't filtered for kids.

Good for: historic speeches, music recordings and animal sounds