What is the difference between YouTube Audio Library and PremiumBeat for Commercial Use?

YouTube Audio Library (Free): limited. PremiumBeat (Standard): yes.

What is the difference between YouTube Audio Library and PremiumBeat for Attribution?

YouTube Audio Library (Free): varies. PremiumBeat (Standard): no.

What is the difference between YouTube Audio Library and PremiumBeat for Digital Use?

YouTube Audio Library (Free): limited. PremiumBeat (Standard): yes.

What is the difference between YouTube Audio Library and PremiumBeat for Client Work?

YouTube Audio Library (Free): limited. PremiumBeat (Standard): yes.

What is the difference between YouTube Audio Library and PremiumBeat for Indemnification?

YouTube Audio Library (Free): no. PremiumBeat (Standard): yes.

What is the difference between YouTube Audio Library and PremiumBeat for Refund Policy?

YouTube Audio Library (Free): no. PremiumBeat (Standard): limited.

Compare platforms

YouTube Audio Library vs PremiumBeat

Side-by-side comparison of licensing terms between YouTube Audio Library and PremiumBeat.

License Comparison

Hover or tap any field name to see what it means. Highlighted rows indicate differences.

Field	YouTube Audio Library Free · Free Visit YouTube Audio Library	PremiumBeat Visit PremiumBeat
	✓	✓
	~Tracks under the standard YouTube license are limited to monetized YouTube videos. Tracks licensed under Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) may be used commercially on any platform with proper attribution.	✓
	✓	✓
	Varies	Not required
	✗	✗
	✗	✗
	✗	✗
	~Standard-license tracks are limited to YouTube. Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) tracks may be used on other platforms, apps, and websites as long as the artist is credited.	✓
	~Client work is permitted when the final output is a YouTube video. For CC-BY 4.0 tracks, client work on other platforms is allowed with proper attribution. Tracks cannot be sublicensed or delivered as standalone assets.	✓
	✓Published	✓Published
	✗	✓
	✗	~

Prices may vary by region and are subject to change.

PremiumBeat:

YouTube Audio Library

Free

Visit Platform

PremiumBeat

Standard

Visit Platform

Price

Free

$49/track

Prices may vary by region and are subject to change.

Download

Yes

Commercial Use

Tracks under the standard YouTube license are limited to monetized YouTube videos. Tracks licensed under Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) may be used commercially on any platform with proper attribution.

Yes

Editing

Yes

Attribution

Nice to

Exclusive Rights

Redistribution

Print Use

Standard License does not cover physical products or broadcast media. Use is limited to digital and online media.

Digital Use

Standard-license tracks are limited to YouTube. Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) tracks may be used on other platforms, apps, and websites as long as the artist is credited.

Yes

Client Work

Client work is permitted when the final output is a YouTube video. For CC-BY 4.0 tracks, client work on other platforms is allowed with proper attribution. Tracks cannot be sublicensed or delivered as standalone assets.

Yes

Survives Cancellation

Forever

YouTube Audio Library:

Tracks under the standard YouTube Audio Library license are restricted to YouTube videos. Using these tracks on other social media platforms, websites, or in podcasts violates the terms of service. However, tracks licensed under Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) may be used outside YouTube with proper attribution.

Some tracks may still trigger Content ID matches from third-party claimants despite being in the Audio Library. Check the music policies page in YouTube Studio for current claim status.

PremiumBeat:

PremiumBeat is owned by Shutterstock. Licenses purchased through Shutterstock subscription plans may have different terms than direct PremiumBeat purchases.

Each license covers a single production or project. Using the same track in a separate project requires purchasing an additional license.

Key Differences

Fields where these platforms differ

Commercial Use

YouTube Audio Library:~Tracks under the standard YouTube license are limited to monetized YouTube videos. Tracks licensed under Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) may be used commercially on any platform with proper attribution.

PremiumBeat:✓

Attribution

YouTube Audio Library:Varies

PremiumBeat:Not required

Digital Use

YouTube Audio Library:~Standard-license tracks are limited to YouTube. Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) tracks may be used on other platforms, apps, and websites as long as the artist is credited.

PremiumBeat:✓

Client Work

YouTube Audio Library:~Client work is permitted when the final output is a YouTube video. For CC-BY 4.0 tracks, client work on other platforms is allowed with proper attribution. Tracks cannot be sublicensed or delivered as standalone assets.

PremiumBeat:✓

Indemnification

YouTube Audio Library:✗

PremiumBeat:✓

Refund Policy

YouTube Audio Library:✗

PremiumBeat:~

Popular Comparisons

ShutterstockVSAdobe Stock ElevenLabsVSSoundraw ArtlistVSEpidemic Sound MidjourneyVSChatGPT ElevenLabsVSFish Audio CanvaVSCreative Market PexelsVSUnsplash ElevenLabsVSDescript Envato ElementsVSShutterstock Getty ImagesVSiStock PixabayVSPexels Hailuo AIVSKling AI

Informational Only - Not Legal Advice

LicenseOrg provides informational summaries of platform license terms for educational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Always consult the platform’s official license page and a qualified legal professional.

Exclusive perks for members

Join Our Community

Get early access to new features, plus exclusive deals and coupons from top creative platforms.