When deciding which music subscription to purchase, today’s creators aren’t just picking a library of songs, they’re choosing between three distinct platform philosophies: a bundled stock media ecosystem (Storyblocks), an audio-only specialist (Epidemic Sound), or a hybrid music and AI platform (Artlist).
Beyond just comparing a platform’s available tracks, the real decision rests on your overall content strategy. For instance, whether you only need audio, or if you’re looking for music integrated into a larger stock media toolkit.
This post compares all three platforms head-to-head, but with particular attention to how Artlist and Epidemic Sound compare to Storyblocks. If you already have your choices narrowed down, check out our deep-dive guides comparing Storyblocks vs Epidemic Sound or Artlist vs Storyblocks.
Table of contents
Comparing Epidemic Sound, Storyblocks, and Artlist at a glance
Before zeroing in on the right stock music subscription for your needs, it’s important to evaluate and compare several factors to determine whether it checks all the boxes. This quick-reference table breaks down the most important features across all three stock music platforms.
| Factor | Storyblocks | Epidemic Sound | Artlist |
| Music-only plan available? | No (bundled with all stock media) | Yes | Yes (Music & SFX plan) |
| Music library size | 60,000+ tracks | 55,000+ tracks | 30,000+ tracks |
| Other stock media included? | Footage, images, templates, motion graphics, sound effects, animated backgrounds | SFX | SFX, templates, footage (on higher tiers) |
| Indemnification | Up to $20,000 USD | None (Individual plans) | None (Individual plans) |
| Includes AI-generated content? | No (100% human-made catalog) | No | Yes |
| Unlimited downloads? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | High-volume creators who need diverse stock media and comprehensive legal protection | Creators who want music and SFX only on a budget | Creators who want a smaller catalog alongside AI tools |
Storyblocks, Artlist, and Epidemic Sound in a nutshell
It’s a lot easier to choose a stock music subscription if you look where each platform excels.
Artlist: Though it maintains a smaller stock catalog of footage, music, sfx, and templates, Artlist has shifted focus toward AI tools, with plans that combine basic stock access with expanding generative AI offerings.
Storyblocks: Storyblocks offers a comprehensive, bundled stock media subscription with unlimited downloads of pre-licensed assets. Music makes up just one section of a massive, 100% human-made library that includes video footage, stock images, motion templates, and sound effects alongside time-saving plugins and tools.
Epidemic Sound: Audio is Epidemic Sound’s specialty. They offer a more niche stock music subscription focused strictly on high-quality tracks, sound effects, editing plugins, and specialized audio tools.
Comparing music libraries
Storyblocks leads the group with over 60,000 tracks in their stock music library, followed by Epidemic Sound with 55,000+, and Artlist with over 30,000 tracks. That said, music libraries are an important consideration when choosing a subscription plan, but remember it’s not the only consideration.
Library exclusivity
You’ll only find 100% exclusive music libraries with both Storyblocks and Epidemic Sound, meaning you will not find their tracks on competing platforms. Artlist only offers exclusive rights on a portion of its catalog. Exclusive tracks lower your risk of receiving false copyright claims on YouTube and simplify the clearing process if a claim does occur.
Epidemic Sound maintains an exclusive catalog by operating its own music label. Storyblocks also curates its music through the Storyblocks Label, partnering with elite independent musicians, Grammy Award-winning artists, and touring musicians who have played with superstars like Sabrina Carpenter.
Ways to explore and search
Search and filtering vary considerably across all three services:
- Storyblocks offers 20 distinct music genres and 10 mood filters, along with filters for BPM, track duration, instrument, and vocals. They also offer a conversational search tool that lets you describe the song you’re looking for in your own words, then AI searches their library for you.
- Artlist features 27 genres and 21 moods. It allows filtering by video theme, duet, acapella, or vocal gender.
- Epidemic Sound leads in search granularity with 390 sub-genres and 34 mood categories. Creators can filter by key, BPM, track length, or specific geographic regions under its World music category.
While Storyblocks boasts the largest exclusive music catalog, Epidemic Sound offers the deepest search filters.
| Factor | Storyblocks | Epidemic Sound | Artlist |
| Music library size | 60,000+ | 55,000+ | 30,000+ |
| 100% Exclusive tracks? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Genres | 20 | 390 | 27 |
| Moods | 10 | 34 | 21 |
What else you get with your subscription
All three stock music subscription options include extra features and tools beyond unlimited audio downloads.
Epidemic Sound provides access to a sound effects library containing over 200,000 assets on both standard plans. Subscriptions include credits for voiceover tools, voice replica features, and an audio adjustment tool called Adapt. Epidemic Sound also offers a mobile app and integration plugins for Adobe software and DaVinci Resolve.
Storyblocks includes full access to its entire library on the Unlimited All-Access plan. You’ll get downloads of 100% human-made sound effects, 8K, 4K, and HD footage, video templates, and stock photos. Subscription plans include monthly AI Toolkit credits for generating video, voiceovers, and images. Subscribers also get access to Maker, an online browser editor, and the Storyblocks Adobe Creative Cloud plugin to import assets directly into Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Artlist’s entry-tier Music & SFX plan covers audio assets and includes a basic extension for Premiere Pro. Creators who want access to footage, templates, and generative features must upgrade to the Artlist Max plan, which costs roughly five times as much as their entry-tier music option.
Licensing and indemnification
Licensing terms dictate how and where you can legally publish your video projects. Every platform’s base license covers social media posting for one account per platform.
Artlist and Storyblocks include personal, commercial, and client video work in their standard individual plans. Epidemic Sound restricts client and commercial rights to its pricier Pro plan. All three services grant perpetual coverage for projects published while your subscription stays active. However, you cannot use previously downloaded tracks in brand-new projects after cancelling your plan.
Storyblocks sets the standard for copyright safety by offering up to $20,000 USD in legal indemnification on individual plans. Neither Epidemic Sound nor Artlist offers any legal indemnification on standard individual subscriptions.
| Factor | Storyblocks | Epidemic Sound | Artlist |
| Personal use | All plans | All plans | All plans |
| Commercial / Client use | All plans | Pro plan only | All plans |
| Indemnification | Up to $20,000 USD | None (Individual) | None (Individual) |
| Perpetual coverage | Under active plan | Under active plan | Under active plan |
Which music subscription is right for you?
Selecting the ideal stock music subscription depends on your specific creative role and budget:
- Budget-conscious social creators and new YouTubers: Epidemic Sound or Artlist (Music & SFX) fit best. Both offer low-cost entry plans designed specifically for creators who only need background tracks and sound effects.
- Growing YouTubers and video editors: Storyblocks offers the most value. You get an expansive catalog of over 7 million human-made stock assets (including video and templates) alongside broad commercial licensing coverage.
- Freelancers and commercial video production teams: Storyblocks’ ULAA plan provides the highest level of protection, featuring comprehensive licensing coverage. You receive industry-leading $20,000 indemnification protection alongside an extensive library of commercial-ready assets.
- Podcasters and audio-first creators: Epidemic Sound works best for pure audio production, offering deep category filtering and a massive library of over 200,000 sound effects.
- Creators wanting stock assets alongside generative AI: Choose Storyblocks if you prefer a large, 100% human-made stock library paired with targeted AI tools. Pick Artlist if you prefer exploring varied AI generation models over stock asset variety.
Comparing team, business, and enterprise music subscription plans
Organizations and video production teams often require expanded license rights and administrative tools from their stock music subscription provider.
Features and tools
Storyblocks for Business adds Maker for Teams, single sign-on (SSO) integration, central administrative controls, and dedicated account support. Epidemic Sound Enterprise offers team project management features, custom voiceover credits, and custom music composition options. Artlist Business delivers team management tools, studio extensions, and access to select AI generation features.
Licensing and indemnification comparison
Storyblocks provides up to $1,000,000 USD in legal indemnification for enterprise customers, and publishes its complete Business License online for complete transparency.
Artlist caps its business indemnification at the total cost of a one-year subscription. Epidemic Sound handles indemnification through customized enterprise negotiations, though without publicly listing standard coverage caps. In fact, neither Epidemic Sound nor Artlist publishes its full business license terms online, so you’ll have to contact a sales representative for more details.
Choose the music subscription that fits how you create
A lot goes into the thinking behind selecting the right stock music subscription you purchase, but the decision ultimately depends on your content creation needs. Epidemic Sound remains a focused choice for pure audio users, while Artlist continues expanding into generative AI tools. Storyblocks provides the best overall value for video creators, combining the largest exclusive music library, millions of visual stock assets, and transparent, industry-leading legal protection.
