Every video, podcast intro, and stream needs a bed of background music, and the useful question is not "which tool makes the best music" but which one reliably produces background that sits under narration without fighting it — and what the licensing terms actually let you do. This guide separates the generators from the libraries, with limits stated plainly.
Suno: full songs from prompts
Suno is Freemium and generates original songs from text prompts — background music, songwriting ideas, and jingles and ads are its listed uses. If you want a catchy, song-like bed with vocals, nothing else here does that. The trade-offs: generated songs can sound generic without careful prompt refinement, and free usage is limited, with commercial terms that should be checked before you monetize anything. Read the license before your song goes on a monetized video.
Soundraw: instrumental focus
Soundraw is Freemium for video background music, podcast beds, and section editing — the "section editing" part is the hidden gem for editors, letting you match a bed to a video's structure. Its instrumental focus means no generated vocals for songs, which is usually what you want for backgrounds anyway. Some regions require a VPN to access the service.
Beatoven: video scoring
Beatoven is Freemium for video scoring, YouTube soundtracks, and ad backgrounds. It is tuned for creators who need a mood-matched track fast. Output quality is best for backgrounds, not standalone listening — which is exactly the use case — and some users report access issues without a VPN in certain regions.
Mubert: royalty-free streams
Mubert is Freemium and built for content creators needing AI-generated royalty-free background music — background music, stream audio, and brand video scoring. The honest limit: generated music can feel generic next to a composed score, and fine control over arrangement and instrumentation is limited.
AIVA: cinematic leanings
AIVA is Freemium for film scoring, game music, and background tracks. If your videos have a cinematic mood, AIVA's output suits it. But its outputs lean toward classical styles, with less strength in pop or hip-hop, and access is unreliable in some regions without a VPN.
Epidemic Sound: the library alternative
Epidemic Sound is Paid and takes a different approach: AI to find and license the perfect soundtrack rather than generate one. It covers video backgrounds, podcast beds, and sound effects. The catch is ownership — music is only usable while the subscription stays active, unlike a one-off royalty-free purchase. For professional creators who need reliability over novelty, that trade is often worth it.
How to choose
Background under narration: Soundraw or Beatoven. Song-like tracks with vocals: Suno, after reading the commercial terms. Cinematic mood: AIVA. Professional workflow with guaranteed licensing: Epidemic Sound's subscription.
A workflow that chains them
- Define the mood and tempo of your video.
- Generate a draft bed with Soundraw or Beatoven.
- Edit sections to match your video's beats.
- Check the licensing terms before publishing.
- Build a shortlist of re-usable beds for your series.
Common mistakes
Monetizing Suno output without checking its commercial terms; expecting cinematic quality from any generator; assuming a subscription library's tracks stay yours after cancellation; and picking music that competes with your voiceover instead of sitting under it.
FAQ
Can I use AI music on monetized videos? Check each tool's commercial terms — Suno's in particular require review.
Which is best for podcasts? Soundraw's podcast beds and section editing are purpose-built for it.
Do any of these generate vocals? Suno does; the instrumental tools do not.
Is Epidemic Sound worth paying for? If you need guaranteed licensing and a deep library, yes.
Which tool is fastest? Soundraw and Beatoven generate a usable bed in minutes.
Can AI music sound like a real composer? Not yet — outputs lean generic without prompt refinement.
Pricing at a glance
Suno, Soundraw, Beatoven, Mubert, and AIVA all have free tiers with generation limits — enough for a handful of videos per month. Epidemic Sound is Paid, and its ownership model differs fundamentally: tracks are usable only while your subscription is active, unlike generated music you keep. If you publish daily, the library approach wins on variety and licensing clarity; if you publish occasionally, a freemium generator covers you at zero cost. Either way, read the commercial terms before the music goes anywhere monetized.
The licensing trap worth understanding
The most expensive mistake in this category is not choosing the wrong generator — it is using generated or licensed music commercially without reading the terms. Suno's free usage limits and commercial terms should be checked before any monetized upload, and Epidemic Sound's tracks lapse when the subscription does. For creators building a back catalog, that difference compounds: videos whose soundtrack disappears when a plan lapses are a quiet liability. Pick your tool by licensing model first, sound second.
