Read the license before you download
Free sound effects come under a few kinds of license. The Credit and Commercial use columns above show what each site says, but the license name tells you the rules at a glance:
| License | Commercial use | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CC0 | Yes, use for any purpose | Not required |
| CC BY | Yes | Required |
| CC BY-NC | No: the Freesound FAQ says you cannot earn money with the work you create | Required |
| Site licenses (Mixkit, Pixabay, Sonniss, 99Sounds) | As the site's own license says | Not required at these four |
On Freesound, SoundBible and OpenGameArt the license differs per sound, so the table says "Depends". Read the license next to the download button every time.
Where to look for which sound
| You need | Start here |
|---|---|
| Quick effects for a video, no credit | Mixkit, Pixabay, 99Sounds |
| Professional libraries for a film or game | Sonniss GDC bundles |
| Game sounds like clicks, impacts and coins | Kenney, OpenGameArt |
| A very specific recording | Freesound, SoundBible |
| Effects for a YouTube video | YouTube Audio Library |
For music tracks next to your effects, see our list of free music for videos.
Credit lines and records
When a sound needs credit, name the sound, the creator, the license and where you found it. Freesound says to always mention the original creators of CC BY sounds, and the OpenGameArt FAQ suggests listing the asset name, author, license and URL in your credits when the artist gives no wording of their own.
Keep a note of every sound you use: the page URL, the creator, the license and the download date. Several sites forbid passing the files on by themselves. Sonniss and 99Sounds do not allow reselling or redistributing the sounds, and Pixabay forbids selling or distributing content on its own without changes.
Edit sounds for your project
- Trim Audio: cut a sound to the part you need.
- Audio converter: change WAV to MP3 or the other way round.
- Extract Audio from Video: reuse the sound of your own clip.
- MP4 to MP3: save the audio track of a video file.
We opened each site's license, terms or FAQ page on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. If a page does not mention commercial use or credit, the table says "Not stated". This list is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use free sound effects in commercial projects?
Often yes, but check each site. Mixkit says its sounds can be used for commercial and personal projects, Sonniss calls its bundles royalty free and commercially usable, and 99Sounds allows personal and commercial projects. On Freesound, CC BY-NC sounds are not for work that earns money.
Which sound effect sites need no credit?
Mixkit, Pixabay, Sonniss and 99Sounds say attribution is not required, and Kenney's packs are CC0. On Freesound, SoundBible and OpenGameArt it depends on the license of each file.
Do I need an account to download sound effects?
On Freesound you do: its FAQ says to log in to a registered account before downloading. Mixkit says no sign up is required for its sound effects.
Can I sell or share the sound files themselves?
Generally not. Sonniss forbids reselling or redistributing the sounds, including in a sound library or sample pack, 99Sounds forbids redistribution even for free, and Pixabay forbids selling or distributing content on its own. Using them inside your own finished video, game or app is what these licenses are for.
Can I use YouTube Audio Library sound effects in monetized videos?
YouTube says creators in the YouTube Partner Program can monetize videos with music and sound effects from the Audio Library, and that downloaded items will not be claimed through Content ID.