Sound is important for a great TikTok or YouTube experience. Adding the right sound effect can make a video go viral, but using copyrighted audio can lead to your video being muted or removed.
That’s why “No Copyright Sounds” (NCS) and royalty-free sound effects are crucial for creators. They let you use great audio without legal issues.
If you are tired of searching everywhere for No Copyright Sounds, you are in luck.? These are the 7 best websites to download free sound effects for your next project.
1. Freesound.org
Freesound is a massive collaborative database where people from all over the world upload audio snippets. It is one of the most popular resources for editors because of the sheer volume of choices.
Key Features:
- Huge Community: You can find almost any specific noise you need, from city ambience to sci-fi lasers.
- Detailed Search: The search filters let you look for sounds by file type, license type, and popularity.
- Totally Free: Most files are free to download, though you need to create an account first.
Note: Always check the specific license on each file. Some require you to give credit to the creator.
2. YouTube Audio Library
This is the safest bet for any YouTuber. It is a built-in library provided directly by YouTube, meaning the sounds are guaranteed to work on their platform without copyright strikes.
Key Features:
- Integration: It is located right inside YouTube Studio.
- Safety: You never have to worry about a strike when using these files on YouTube.
- Simple Interface: You can easily filter by genre, mood, or duration.
- URL: studio.youtube.com (Look for “Audio Library” in the left menu).
3. Zapsplat
Zapsplat is a favorite among indie game developers and video editors. They offer a library of over 100,000 professional-grade sound effects.
Key Features:
- Professional Quality: The audio quality is generally higher than community-uploaded sites.
- Variety: They have specific categories like “Horror,” “Cartoon,” and “Nature.”
- Free Options: You can download sounds for free as MP3s if you credit Zapsplat in your video description. If you don’t want to give credit, you can pay a small donation to upgrade your account.
4. Mixkit
Mixkit is an excellent resource created by Envato, a major company in the creative stock industry. The best part about Mixkit is how straightforward the license is.
Key Features:
- No Sign-up Required: You don’t need to create an account to start downloading.
- Curated Collection: The library is smaller than Freesound, but the quality is consistently high.
- Simple License: You can use their sound effects for free in commercial projects (like monetized YouTube videos) without attribution.
5. Free SFX
As the name suggests, Free SFX is dedicated entirely to sound effects. While the website design looks a bit older, the library is extensive and very useful.
Key Features:
- Categorization: The site has hundreds of categories, making it easy to browse if you aren’t sure exactly what you are looking for.
- Community Focused: Like Freesound, it relies on community contributions.
- Ease of Use: It is simple to preview sounds before you download them. Just remember to credit the site when you use their files.
6. 99Sounds
99Sounds is a bit different. Instead of downloading individual files one by one, 99Sounds offers “packs” created by sound designers.
Key Features:
- Themed Collections: You can download unmatched collections like “Cinematic Booms” or “Space Sounds.”
- 100% Royalty-Free: Everything on the site is free to use for commercial work.
- High Quality: These sounds are often designed by music producers, so they sound very polished and professional.
7. BBC Sound Effects
This is a hidden gem. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) released a massive archive of sound effects from their history for personal, educational, and research use.
Key Features:
- Historical Archive: You can find sounds dating back to the 1920s.
- Realism: Because these were used in real broadcasts, the nature and city sounds are incredibly realistic.
- Usage Note: The standard license is for personal use only. If you are making a commercial video (one that makes money), you need to double-check their licensing terms or pay for a commercial license.
Conclusion
Great audio can make a good video feel professional. With these No Copyright Sound websites, you have access to thousands of pops, clicks, whooshes, and atmospheric sounds without spending a penny.
Don’t let copyright strikes scare you away from being creative. Explore these libraries, download a few packs, and start making your TikToks and YouTube videos sound as good as they look.
