Epidemic Sound vs. Envato

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Epidemic Sound vs. Envato
Epidemic Sound vs. Envato

Content creators face a crucial decision when choosing music for their projects. Two popular platforms stand out: Epidemic Sound and Envato Elements. This in-depth comparison examines their features, pricing, licensing, and user experiences to help you make an informed choice.

Overview of Epidemic Sound and Envato Elements

What is Epidemic Sound?

Epidemic Sound, founded in 2009 in Sweden, offers a vast library of royalty-free music and sound effects. The company aims to simplify music licensing for content creators across various platforms.

What is Envato Elements?

Envato Elements provides a wide range of digital assets, including music, stock footage, graphics, and more. While not exclusively focused on audio, it offers a substantial music library as part of its comprehensive creative toolkit.

Library Size and Content

Epidemic Sound's Library

Epidemic Sound boasts an extensive catalog:

  • Over 35,000 music tracks
  • 90,000 sound effects

The platform offers music across various genres, themes, and moods, providing ample choices for different content needs.

Envato Elements' Audio Library

Envato Elements' audio section includes:

  • 174,064 music tracks
  • 17,738 logos and idents

While Envato's music library is larger, it's important to consider the quality and variety of tracks available.

Licensing Models

Understanding licensing is crucial for content creators to avoid copyright issues and use music legally in their projects.

Epidemic Sound's Licensing

Epidemic Sound uses a direct licensing model:

  • All rights included globally
  • Royalty-free usage
  • No need to pay additional fees to artists or rights holders
  • Content remains cleared even after subscription cancellation

This model offers simplicity and peace of mind for creators, allowing worry-free usage across multiple platforms.

Envato Elements' Licensing

Envato Elements uses a single-use commercial license model:

  • Broad commercial rights for work and personal projects
  • Usage allowed in marketing collateral, advertising campaigns, and products for sale
  • License continues for the life of the end product, even if the subscription ends
  • Users must register items each time they use them

While Envato's model provides flexibility, it requires more attention to usage terms and registration requirements.

Usage Rights and Restrictions

Epidemic Sound Usage Rights

Epidemic Sound allows use on multiple platforms:

  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitch
  • TikTok
  • Podcasts
  • Websites

The platform also offers customized plans for major publishers needing music for TV, cinema, and live events.

Envato Elements Usage Rights and Restrictions

Envato Elements has some notable restrictions:

  • Prohibits use in on-demand services
  • Restricts use of items for merchandising without adding value
  • Does not allow use of music items in presentations
  • Distinguishes between Non-P.R.O. Music and P.R.O. Music, with potential additional fees for P.R.O. Music usage in publicly performed end products
  • Prohibits theatrical release of films using their music

These restrictions may limit some creators, depending on their specific needs and project types.

Pricing Structures

Pricing is a key factor for many content creators when choosing a music licensing platform.

Epidemic Sound Pricing

Epidemic Sound offers two main subscription plans:

  1. Personal Plan:
    • $9.99/month when billed annually ($119.88/year)
    • €10.99/month when billed annually (€131.88/year) for European pricing
  2. Commercial Plan:
    • $24.99/month when billed annually ($299.88/year)

Epidemic Sound also provides single-track licensing options for one-off productions.

Envato Elements Pricing

Envato Elements has a single subscription plan:

  • $39/month when billed monthly
  • $16.50/month when billed annually ($198/year)

This plan includes access to all Envato Elements assets, not just audio content.

Music Quality and Variety

The quality and variety of music are crucial factors for content creators seeking the perfect soundtrack for their projects.

Epidemic Sound Music Quality

Epidemic Sound is known for:

  • Consistently high-quality tracks
  • Professional production standards
  • Exclusive tracks from their roster of music creators
  • Availability of stems (individual track components) for most songs

Envato Elements Music Quality

Envato Elements' music quality is generally considered good, with:

  • A wide range of genres and styles
  • Some users praising the selection as "pretty good"
  • Options for various content categories such as corporate, documentary, action, lifestyle, and sports

However, some users describe the content quality as a "mixed bag," suggesting variability in the music library.

Search and Discovery Features

Efficient search and discovery tools are essential for finding the right track quickly.

Epidemic Sound's Search Features

Epidemic Sound offers several advanced search and discovery tools:

  • Soundmatch: Suggests tracks based on video frames
  • Epidemic Audio Reference: Allows searching for tracks with similar tone and sound
  • Mobile app for discovering and downloading music on the go

Envato Elements' Search Features

Envato Elements provides extensive filtering options:

  • Mood
  • Genre
  • Instrument
  • Length
  • Theme
  • Tempo
  • Vocals
  • Decade
  • Properties

Users can include or exclude specific attributes in their search, allowing for precise filtering.

Additional Tools and Features

Both platforms offer extra features to enhance the user experience and streamline workflows.

Epidemic Sound's Additional Features

Epidemic Sound provides:

  • Adobe Premiere Pro Plugin for seamless integration into video editing workflows
  • Stems for customizing tracks
  • Direct YouTube claiming to avoid copyright issues

Envato Elements' Additional Features

While Envato Elements doesn't offer music-specific tools, it provides:

  • Access to a wide range of other creative assets (graphics, templates, stock footage, etc.)
  • "Trial Use" option for testing items before committing to a project

User Experience and Interface

A user-friendly interface can significantly impact productivity and satisfaction when using a music licensing platform.

Epidemic Sound User Experience

Epidemic Sound is praised for its:

  • Nearly perfect user experience
  • Intuitive interface with featured playlists and themes on the homepage
  • Three main tabs: Discover, Browse, and Saved
  • User-friendly search function

Envato Elements User Experience

Envato Elements is known for:

  • A clean interface similar to popular streaming services
  • Intuitive browsing experience
  • Ability to create custom playlists and favorite tracks
  • Continuous browsing while listening to tracks

Both platforms prioritize user-friendly experiences, but Epidemic Sound seems to have a slight edge in advanced filtering and search capabilities.

Content Creator Community Opinions

Understanding how other content creators view these platforms can provide valuable insights.

Epidemic Sound Community Feedback

Epidemic Sound receives largely positive feedback:

  • Many creators consider it one of the best royalty-free music libraries available
  • Praised for its simplicity in browsing songs and great selection
  • Some users find it worth the money, especially for its ease of use

However, some users have reported experiencing copyright claims despite using the service, which can be concerning for content creators.

Envato Elements Community Feedback

Envato Elements also receives positive reviews:

  • Many creators find it to be a great platform with a wealth of resources
  • Often described as having good value for money
  • Appreciated for its huge library of digital content at an affordable cost

Some users express frustration with the lack of instructions or support for certain elements, and the stock footage quality is sometimes criticized.

Customer Support

Reliable customer support can be crucial, especially when dealing with licensing and copyright issues.

Epidemic Sound Customer Support

Epidemic Sound offers:

  • A comprehensive Help Center with articles answering common questions
  • Direct contact with the support team through a contact form
  • Fast response times, with some users reporting responses within minutes
  • Generally positive feedback on support quality

Envato Elements Customer Support

Envato Elements provides:

  • Multiple contact methods including a contact form, social networks, and email
  • A detailed FAQ section on their website

Some users have praised Envato's support team for prompt responses, while others have reported difficulty getting in touch with staff.

Pros and Cons

Epidemic Sound Pros

  1. Large, high-quality music library
  2. Simple, worry-free licensing model
  3. Advanced search and discovery tools
  4. Stems available for most tracks
  5. Adobe Premiere Pro integration
  6. Generally positive user experiences

Epidemic Sound Cons

  1. Focused solely on audio content
  2. Higher pricing for commercial use
  3. Some users report copyright claim issues

Envato Elements Pros

  1. Access to a wide range of creative assets beyond music
  2. Single subscription covers all content types
  3. Extensive filtering options for music search
  4. Competitive pricing for the range of assets provided
  5. License continues for life of end product

Envato Elements Cons

  1. More complex licensing terms
  2. Restrictions on usage in certain contexts (e.g., on-demand services)
  3. Variable music quality according to some users
  4. Lack of music-specific tools (e.g., stems, plugins)

Use Cases and Recommendations

When to Choose Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound is ideal for:

  1. Content creators focused primarily on audio needs
  2. Users requiring high-quality, professionally produced music
  3. Creators who value simplicity in licensing and usage rights
  4. Those who need advanced music search and discovery tools
  5. Video editors who would benefit from the Adobe Premiere Pro integration

When to Choose Envato Elements

Envato Elements is better suited for:

  1. Creators needing a wide range of digital assets beyond just music
  2. Users on a budget who want access to various creative resources
  3. Those who can navigate more complex licensing terms
  4. Creators who don't need music-specific features like stems or plugins
  5. Users who value a large music library and don't mind variable quality

Conclusion

Both Epidemic Sound and Envato Elements offer valuable services for content creators, each with its own strengths and limitations.

Epidemic Sound stands out for its high-quality music library, simple licensing model, and advanced music-specific features. It's an excellent choice for creators who prioritize audio content and want a hassle-free experience.

Envato Elements offers a broader range of creative assets at a competitive price point. While its music library is extensive, the quality can be variable. It's ideal for creators who need access to various digital resources beyond just music.

Your choice between the two will depend on your specific needs, budget, and the types of projects you typically work on. Consider trying both services to see which better fits your workflow and content requirements.

Remember to always stay informed about licensing terms and usage rights to ensure your content remains copyright-compliant across all platforms.