Best Free Music Download Sites for Legal MP3 Downloads

September 2, 2024

There might be a range of reasons that you need free MP3 downloads. You might be expanding your music catalog, or you might want some music for your podcasts or video projects. No matter what the reason here are some of the best options!

These streaming services allow you to listen to music legally and in excellent quality - Spotify, Tidal, or Apple Music, but remember, they primarily focus on streaming rather than traditional downloads. Offline listening is available for paying subscribers.

If you are interested in owning digital music, then Qobuz is an excellent option for a streaming service.

Music streaming services that do have download options, here are guides for that:

Let’s take a look at the top websites for free MP3 downloads! And we’ll even show you some options for using music in videos. Free music without any legal issues and infringements? Perfect. Let’s get into it.

Best Free Music Download Site

Here, we'll share some of the best free music download sites. And if you prefer apps over websites, you should check the best free music apps that offer legal songs.

Quick comparison table:

Platform Free for Personal Use Free for Commercial Use Attribution Required Notes
Free Music Archive Yes Varies (Check License) Often Users need to check the specific license for each track.
SoundCloud Yes Varies (Check License) Often Free downloads depend on artist settings; many tracks require attribution.
Jamendo Music Yes Varies (Commercial License Available) Yes Free for personal use; commercial use requires a license.
YouTube Audio Library Yes Yes Yes Music can be used in videos; attribution required for some tracks.
Amazon Yes No No Free music is typically for personal use only.
Internet Archive Yes Varies (Check License) Often Millions of tracks available, but users must check individual licenses.
Bandcamp Yes Varies (Check License) Often Some music is free for personal use; check licenses for commercial use.
SoundClick Yes Varies (Check License) Often Licensing varies; check individual track permissions.
Last.fm Yes No No Downloads are typically for personal use only.
ReverbNation Yes Varies (Check License) Often Mostly for personal use; commercial use may require additional permissions.
BeatStars Yes Varies (Check License) Often Free beats available; commercial use may require a license.
Musopen Yes Yes No Music is often public domain, making it free for both personal and commercial use.
Audiomack Yes Varies (Check License) Often Free music depends on the artist's settings; check for commercial use.

Free Music Archive

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Despite being around for a while, this site is still wildly popular today. It's one of the best websites for free music downloads.
The Free Music Archive was started by an independent freeform radio station in New Jersey, and most of the songs available are from unknown musicians.

It's a fantastic way to discover and download new music! And the best part? You don't have to worry about legality. You can download and listen to every track on the site without spending a penny.

Check the license for each recording, and if you want to use the songs in a commercial context, use the proper attribution format.

Head to the Free Music Archive and explore the wide range of free, legal music downloads available!

Pros:

  • It has an advanced search box.
  • Different categories to choose from.
  • You can stream before downloading music.
  • You don't have to create a user account.

Cons:

  • Only one download option is available.

SoundCloud

soundcloud
Are you a musician looking to connect with your fans and share your tracks? Look no further than SoundCloud!

This platform provides a great way to interact with your listeners and offer your music directly to your fans.

While SoundCloud does offer paid subscription plans, don't worry if you're just getting started with the platform– you can still access the site's music library for free with a basic account.

Many artists make their tracks available for free, so you can easily download your favorite tunes in various formats.

If you're ready to start downloading, find the track you want to download in the player, then click on the three dots next to "More." If the track is available for download, you'll see an option to download the file in the menu.

Pros:

  • There's a lot of music content to choose from.
  • You can download music from both well-known and emerging artists.
  • You can stream each song before downloading.
  • Free download music are easy to find.

Cons:

  • Sometimes your account get blocked, but we have a guide for that: Unblock SoundCloud
  • Not all artists will give their music away,

Jamendo Music

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Have you heard of Jamendo Music? It's a great website that offers free music downloads made possible through Creative Commons licensing.
That means that the talented musicians and artists behind the music have chosen to make it available to everyone for free!

If you're looking for new music, Jamendo has you covered. You can browse the site for the most popular songs and top-trending tracks.

Also, with the help of the "Latest music" filter, you can quickly view recently added tracks and search for familiar artists to see if their music is available for download.

Another fantastic way to discover new music is by tuning into one of Jamendo's radio stations. You never know what hidden gems you’ll find! A

nd if you come across a song or artist you love, it's easy to download a single track or even a whole album.

Pros:

  • There are numerous songs to choose from.
  • There are different options to search for downloads.
  • You can stream music.
  • It Includes a radio component for the internet.
  • Jamendo also has a smartphone app.
  • You can easily and quickly create an account.

Cons:

  • Only the MP3 format is available; other formats are not available.
  • The quality of downloads isn't HD, which isn't ideal for audiophiles.
  • You have to create a user account first, which is free.

YouTube Audio Library

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This is an excellent free music download site where you can find tons of music that you've probably heard before in vlogs and other YouTube videos.

The best part is that it's perfect for those looking for royalty-free music for their YouTube videos!

If you have a YouTube account, you can access the library through YouTube Studio and download as many songs as you like.

The great thing is that the music tracks can be used in any content you create, not just videos, as long as you follow the library's terms and conditions.

Did we mention that the YouTube Audio Library also offers sound effects and free music recordings? Nice!

Pros:

  • Under the free music tab, you can find different songs that are copyright free.
  • You can use the sound effect on YouTube audio library to enhance your video.

Cons:

  • You must give appropriate credit before using a track in your video description.
  • You can not use a third-party app or website to Download an audio track.

Amazon

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Did you know that Amazon offers free music downloads? It's true! Despite being known for its paid streaming services, Amazon has a wide variety of free songs available for download. Click the "Free" button in the search bar to find them.

While it used to be possible to sort the free music by genre, unfortunately, that option is no longer available. But don't worry; finding the songs you're looking for is still easy.

Just browse through the search results and do a little research.

When you find a free song or album you like, click on it to start the download process.

You'll be directed to a page with purchase options, but don't worry – the price will be displayed as $0.00. You can check out as usual once you've added the free music to your cart.

Pros:

  • There are many options for filtering and modifying the results provided.
  • You can hear songs in the preview before downloading them.

Cons:

  • Downloading might be a bit tricky and requires navigating Amazon's interface.
  • You must log into your Amazon account before use

Internet Archive

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The Internet Archive is an incredible non-profit digital library that houses millions of books, music pieces, software, websites, and other media.

One of the website's most impressive features is the Audio Archive. Here, you can explore a vast collection of songs, concerts, audio novels, podcasts, 78 rpm records, and more!

With a wide range of filtering parameters, including musical genres, you're sure to find something that speaks to you.

The best part? Millions of free music, audio, podcasts, radio programs, and their incredible Live Music Archive can be downloaded directly from the Internet Archive.

There are plenty of file formats to choose from, including MP3 and OGG.

When searching for free music downloads, you can easily filter the results by media type, topics, language, and more.

Also, you can sort the results by artist, most popular items, title, or date published.

Pros:

  • Vast collection of free music, concerts, and audio recordings.
  • Numerous file formats are available.
  • No need to create an account.

Cons:

  • Not all content is available for download.
  • Some music is older or less known, which may appeal to some - but great for those using it for music discovery.

Bandcamp

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Have you heard of Bandcamp? This fantastic music downloader platform has been around since 2008, and it's been a game-changer for independent musicians looking to sell their music directly to fans.

Bandcamp has something for everyone, whether you're into rock, reggae, kids' music, or audiobooks. While it's true that the website's navigation doesn't include a specific filter for free music, it doesn’t take long to find.

To discover the fantastic selection of free downloads available on Bandcamp, type "free downloads" into the search bar. From there, you can browse various tracks you can download for free or purchase at your chosen price.

Bandcamp is one of the best places to discover music; when you buy it this way, you can be sure your money goes to the artist!

Pros:

  • It allows you to download entire albums and individual tracks.
  • Includes many songs that aren't available on other free music download websites.
  • Users do not require accounts.

Cons:

  • There are some limitations on Bandcamp with what can be downloaded for free.

SoundClick

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This is the perfect resource for accessing free music directly from individual artists' websites.

On SoundClick, you'll find a wide range of music genres and charts from signed and unsigned musicians who have decided to make their music available for free download.

Once you've located a track you want to listen to, you can easily stream it or download it to your device. But that's not all. SoundClick also allows you to build your radio stations, interact with other listeners in the forums, and learn more about the music you love.

Also, it's worth noting that while some musicians offer free downloads, others may require payment or only allow music streaming.

SoundClick is a fantastic platform that puts the power back in the hands of the artists, giving you access to their incredible music without any middlemen.

Pros:

  • There are a lot of different genres to choose from.
  • Includes numerous promotions and discounts for music downloads.

Cons:

  • The free music is scattered among the paid tracks. So you’ll need to spend some time finding the free stuff.
  • Some songs are only available for streaming.

Last.fm

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Are you looking for a way to discover new music based on your listening history? Last.fm is a great website that tracks your music preferences and suggests new songs based on those preferences.

While it no longer offers free music streaming, it still has a modest selection of free music available for download.

On the Last.fm Download Free Music page, you can find 12 pages of tracks available for download in MP3 format.

While it's not searchable, you can click play and get a preview before downloading the music.

It's worth noting that while you can download the music for free, you should only use it for your enjoyment. Last.fm does not allow free music downloads for commercial purposes.

Pros:

  • Each download can be accessed with only one click.
  • Almost all tracks are previewable.
  • No need for a user account.

Cons:

  • Only MP3s are available for download.
  • Only a few hundred options are available.

ReverbNation

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If you're an up-and-coming band looking to sell your music online, ReverbNation is an excellent platform to get started.

Unlike other music websites, ReverbNation is solely focused on promoting new artists, so you won't find any songs by the current chart-toppers on the site.

Many famous bands have launched their careers through ReverbNation. As a fan, you can easily download songs from these upcoming artists for free.

Here's how to do it:
First, create an account on the website. Then, head over to the artist's profile and click on the "Become A Fan" option to gain access to their songs for download.

Finally, click the Download icon next to the tracks you want to download, and you're ready!

With ReverbNation, you can discover new and exciting music from emerging artists and support them on their journey to success.

Pros:

  • Helps artists build their audience.
  • Fans can directly download songs and support artists.

Cons:

  • You can only download songs from upcoming artists.

BeatStars

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Are you looking for free music that is also legal? [BeatStars] (https://www.beatstars.com) is an excellent platform for you, as it provides a good source for casual listeners and music producers worldwide. While the platform is commercial, it still offers a variety of free music downloads that you can easily find under the "Free Beats" category.

You can sort songs by genre and tags, including hip-hop, trap, soul, and more. Once you find the music you like, tap the "Free Download" icon to download the MP3 file to your device.

Note that some tracks come with a price specifying the purchase and usage conditions if you want to use the music for a song recording, video, live performance, or other similar uses.

BeatStars offers a list of free music downloads that you can filter by genre and mood, such as mellow, sleepy, motivating, and more.

One thing to remember is that to access the download link for some music; you must first subscribe to the artist's profile or follow them on social media, which only takes a few clicks and is free.

Pros:

  • There is a list of all available free downloads.
  • Various genres to choose from.

Cons:

  • Before downloading some tracks, you must follow the artist's page

Musopen

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With a wide selection of recordings and sheet music available for streaming or download, Musopen is the perfect place to find your new favorite tunes.

Whether searching by instrument, performer, composer, or the convenient music discovery tool, Musopen makes it easy to find exactly what you're looking for.

Furthermore, with the option to filter by criteria such as rating, license type, length, and mood, you're sure to discover some incredible new music.

Also, with the Musopen mobile app or on your PC, you can access internet radio for even more music listening options.

While you can enjoy listening to music without logging in, creating an account allows you to download up to five songs daily.

And with a free account, you'll still have access to lossy audio quality.

Pros:

  • Free music files that you can use for anything
  • Access to sheet music downloads
  • Supports playing the music in preview.
  • Has a radio option for the internet.

Cons:

  • There's a limitation on the number of downloads each day
  • HD audio is not available for free
  • Excessive online advertising

Audiomack

best-free-music-download-sites-for-legal-mp3-downloads

Audiomack is a free music streaming platform that allows artists to upload their music. It’s a great place to discover new music in genres like hip-hop, rap, and reggae. Many tracks are available for free download, depending on the artist's settings.

Pros:

  • Free streaming and downloads are available.
    Wide variety of genres, trendy in hip-hop and urban music.
  • Artists can upload and manage their tracks.
    Cons:
    Not all music is available for download; some may be streaming-only.
    Requires an account for some features.

Key Notes:
Varies (Check License): This indicates that the permissions may differ from track to track or artist to artist. Users should always check the specific license attached to the music they wish to use.
Attribution Required: Many platforms offer music under Creative Commons licenses, which often require giving credit to the artist if their work is used.

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