Epidemic Sound vs. Soundstripe

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Epidemic Sound vs. Soundstripe
Epidemic Sound vs. Soundstripe

Choosing the right music licensing platform is crucial for content creators. This article compares two popular options: Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe. We'll examine their libraries, pricing, licensing terms, and features to help you decide which service best fits your needs.

Library Size and Content

The size and variety of a music library can significantly impact your creative options. Let's see how Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe stack up:

Epidemic Sound

  • Over 35,000 tracks
  • 90,000+ sound effects
  • 26 main music categories with about 100 subgenres

Soundstripe

  • Over 9,000 royalty-free tracks
  • 60,000+ sound effects
  • 100,000+ stock video clips
  • 20+ genres

Epidemic Sound boasts a larger music library, offering nearly four times as many tracks as Soundstripe. This extensive collection provides more options for finding the perfect sound for your project. However, Soundstripe counters with a substantial stock video library, which could be valuable for creators who need both audio and visual content.

Both platforms offer high-quality, curated music across various genres, ensuring that quantity doesn't compromise quality.

Search and Filtering

Efficient search and filtering tools are essential for finding the right track quickly. Here's how the two platforms compare:

Epidemic Sound

  • Three main filters: genres, moods, and artists
  • 34 mood options
  • Additional filters for vocal, BPM, and length

Soundstripe

  • 12 different filters including instrument type, genre, mood, key, and BPM
  • More granular search options

Soundstripe edges out Epidemic Sound in this category with more diverse and specific filtering options. This granularity can save time when searching for tracks that meet precise criteria.

Licensing and Usage Rights

Understanding licensing terms is crucial for using music legally in your content. Both Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe offer royalty-free music, but there are some key differences:

Epidemic Sound

  • Licenses remain valid for content published during the subscription period, even after cancellation
  • Allows use in sponsored and branded content (Personal plan)
  • Different usage rights for different subscription tiers

Soundstripe

  • Provides unlimited licenses to members
  • Licenses remain valid for life, even after subscription cancellation
  • Consistent licensing terms across all subscription levels

Soundstripe's licensing model is more straightforward and flexible. They offer perpetual licenses across all subscription levels, allowing use for multiple projects and client work without restrictions. Epidemic Sound's tiered approach may require upgrading to higher plans for certain uses, potentially leading to additional costs.

Both platforms allow continued use of music in projects published during active subscriptions, even after cancellation. However, neither permits using downloaded tracks in new projects after ending a subscription.

Pricing

Cost is often a deciding factor when choosing a music licensing service. Here's a breakdown of the pricing structures for both platforms:

Epidemic Sound

  1. Personal plan:
    • $9.99/month (billed annually) or $15/month (billed monthly)
    • Allows publishing anywhere online
    • Monetization for 1 channel per platform
  2. Commercial plan:
    • $24.99/month (billed annually) or $49/month (billed monthly)
    • Everything in Personal plan
    • Monetization for up to 3 channels per platform
    • Can use for client work and commercial productions

Soundstripe

  1. Creator plan: $9.99/month
    • Unlimited access to music and sound effects
    • Publishing to all social platforms
    • Monetization for 1 YouTube channel
  2. Pro plan: $19.99/month
    • Everything in Creator plan
    • Post-production features (Premiere Pro/Frame.io extensions)
    • Monetization for up to 5 YouTube channels
    • Access to stems for every track
    • For commercial use (digital ads, broadcasts)
  3. Pro Plus plan: $33.99/month
    • Everything in Pro plan
    • Access to 100K+ stock video clips

Both platforms offer competitive pricing, with Soundstripe being slightly more affordable for equivalent features. Soundstripe also provides more granular plan options, allowing users to choose a tier that best fits their needs and budget.

User Interface and Experience

A platform's user interface can significantly impact your workflow efficiency. Here's how Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe compare:

Epidemic Sound

  • Interface reported to be somewhat dated and clunky
  • Endless scrolling possibilities

Soundstripe

  • Praised for its intuitive search bar
  • User-friendly interface

Soundstripe appears to have the edge in terms of user experience, with a more modern and intuitive interface. This can save time and reduce frustration when searching for the right track.

Additional Features

Both platforms offer unique features to enhance the user experience:

Epidemic Sound

  1. Soundmatch: An AI-powered music discovery tool that analyzes frames within a creator's video and recommends tracks suited to each visual scene.
  2. Epidemic Audio Reference (EAR): An audio-based search tool that allows users to find tracks with similar tones and sounds.
  3. Stem files: Access to stem files for every song, allowing users to use just the bassline, drums, or vocals of a track.

Soundstripe

  1. Adobe Premiere Pro integration: Users can preview, license, and import royalty-free music directly into their Premiere Pro timeline.
  2. Frame.io integration: Allows users to send watermarked versions of Soundstripe songs to Frame.io projects to try out before licensing.
  3. Twitch extension: Brings royalty-free music to streamers with curated playlists and removes stress about DMCA strikes.
  4. Mobile app: Enables on-the-go music selection.

Soundstripe focuses more on integrations with popular content creation tools, while Epidemic Sound emphasizes AI-powered discovery and customization options. The choice between these feature sets will depend on your specific workflow and needs.

Target Audience

While both platforms cater to content creators, they have slightly different focus areas:

Epidemic Sound

  • Suitable for a wide range of creators, from YouTubers to large enterprises
  • Tiered plans cater to different levels of commercial use

Soundstripe

  • Particularly popular among video content creators
  • Strong appeal to those using Adobe Premiere Pro due to integration

Your choice may depend on your primary content type and the tools you use in your creation process.

Pros and Cons

To summarize the comparison, here are the main pros and cons of each platform:

Epidemic Sound

Pros:

  1. Larger music library with over 35,000 tracks
  2. Extensive sound effects collection (90,000+)
  3. AI-powered music discovery tools
  4. Stem files available for all tracks

Cons:

  1. More complex licensing model with restrictions on lower-tier plans
  2. User interface reported as somewhat dated and clunky
  3. Fewer integrations with content creation tools

Soundstripe

Pros:

  1. More straightforward and flexible licensing terms
  2. User-friendly interface with intuitive search
  3. Strong integrations with video editing tools
  4. Stock video library included in highest-tier plan
  5. More affordable pricing for equivalent features

Cons:

  1. Smaller music library compared to Epidemic Sound
  2. Fewer AI-powered discovery tools

Use Cases

To help you decide which platform might be best for you, let's consider some common use cases:

YouTube Content Creator

If you're a YouTuber producing regular content, both platforms could work well. Epidemic Sound's larger library might give you more options, but Soundstripe's straightforward licensing and YouTube-friendly features (like monetization for multiple channels) could be more valuable.

Professional Videographer

For professional videographers working with clients, Soundstripe's Pro plan might be more suitable. It allows for commercial use across all plans and offers useful integrations with professional tools like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Podcaster

Both platforms offer music and sound effects suitable for podcasts. Epidemic Sound's larger library might give you more options, but Soundstripe's intuitive interface could make finding the right track easier.

Twitch Streamer

Soundstripe's Twitch extension gives it an edge for streamers, providing easy access to royalty-free music and protection against DMCA strikes.

Corporate Video Producer

For corporate video production, either platform could work well. Epidemic Sound's Commercial plan caters specifically to this use case, while Soundstripe's Pro plan offers similar features at a lower price point.

Making Your Decision

When choosing between Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe, consider these factors:

  1. Library size: If having the largest possible selection of tracks is crucial, Epidemic Sound has the advantage.
  2. Licensing terms: If you value simplicity and flexibility in licensing, Soundstripe's straightforward approach might be preferable.
  3. Budget: Compare the pricing plans and consider which features you're getting for your money. Soundstripe tends to offer more features at a lower price point.
  4. Workflow integration: If you use Adobe Premiere Pro or Frame.io, Soundstripe's integrations could be a significant advantage.
  5. Content type: Consider whether you need just music, or if you could benefit from Soundstripe's stock video library as well.
  6. User interface: If you value a modern, intuitive interface, Soundstripe seems to have the edge.
  7. Discovery features: If AI-powered music discovery tools appeal to you, Epidemic Sound offers more in this area.

Conclusion

Both Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe are strong contenders in the music licensing space, each with its own strengths. Epidemic Sound offers a larger library and innovative discovery tools, while Soundstripe provides a more user-friendly experience, flexible licensing, and valuable integrations for video creators.

Your choice will ultimately depend on your specific needs, workflow, and budget. Consider taking advantage of free trials offered by both platforms to get hands-on experience before making your decision.

Remember, the best platform is the one that provides the music you need, fits your budget, and integrates smoothly into your creative process. Whether you choose Epidemic Sound or Soundstripe, both platforms can provide high-quality, legally safe music for your content.

FAQs

To wrap up this comparison, let's address some frequently asked questions about Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe:

1. Can I use music from these platforms on multiple channels?

Epidemic Sound: Yes, but the number of channels depends on your plan. The Personal plan allows monetization for 1 channel per platform, while the Commercial plan covers up to 3 channels per platform.

Soundstripe: Yes, all plans allow use across multiple channels. The Creator plan allows monetization for 1 YouTube channel, while the Pro plan covers up to 5 YouTube channels.

2. What happens to my licensed tracks if I cancel my subscription?

For both platforms, any content you've published using their music during your active subscription remains licensed and protected. However, you can't use downloaded tracks in new projects after cancelling your subscription.

3. Do these platforms offer video content?

Epidemic Sound: No, Epidemic Sound focuses solely on audio content.

Soundstripe: Yes, Soundstripe's Pro Plus plan includes access to over 100,000 stock video clips.

4. Can I use music from these platforms for commercial projects or client work?

Epidemic Sound: Yes, but only with the Commercial plan.

Soundstripe: Yes, all Soundstripe plans allow use for commercial projects and client work.

5. Do these platforms offer refunds?

Both Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe have specific refund policies. It's best to check their current terms on their respective websites for the most up-to-date information.

6. Can I download tracks for offline use?

Both platforms allow you to download tracks for use in your projects. However, remember that your right to use these tracks in new projects ends if you cancel your subscription.

7. Do these platforms offer sound effects?

Yes, both Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe offer sound effects libraries. Epidemic Sound has over 90,000 sound effects, while Soundstripe offers more than 60,000.

8. Are there any hidden fees?

Neither platform appears to have hidden fees beyond their subscription costs. However, Epidemic Sound's tiered licensing model might require upgrading to a higher plan for certain uses, potentially resulting in additional costs.

9. Can I try these platforms before subscribing?

Both Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe typically offer free trials. Check their websites for current offers.

10. How often is new music added to these platforms?

Both platforms regularly add new music to their libraries. However, the exact frequency can vary. You can usually find information about newly added tracks on their websites or within the platforms themselves.

By considering these questions and answers alongside the detailed comparison provided earlier, you should have a comprehensive understanding of what Epidemic Sound and Soundstripe offer. This information should help you make an informed decision about which platform best suits your needs.