The 20 Best Free Sound Effects Websites to Make the Perfect Video

If you want a video marketing strategy that truly delivers your message and has a positive effect on your audience, you need to put some thought not only into their visual components but also their auditive counterparts. I know what you’re probably thinking now, but don’t worry —you don’t have to blow your video budget on this! The best free sound effects websites can be found with a quick Google search.

However, there are dozens of websites offering freeware sounds that advertise themselves as the crème de la crème of audio, so deciding which one is actually the best option for your business can be a bit hard. I want to help you with that, so I’ve compiled a list of 20 free sound sites that can be extremely valuable.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

20 Best Free Sound Effects Websites You’ll Love

I know that looking for freeware sounds that perfectly match your marketing video’s vibes isn’t an easy task since you may have to download files from different sites to craft the perfect piece. That’s why I’ve listed not ten, not fifteen, but twenty websites bound to cater to all your needs!

1. ZapSplat

This site offers virtually everything you could ask for and more! The library contains tens of thousands of the best free sound effects you can find, along with a range of themed sound packs and royalty-free music tracks (most of which pair really well with animated explainer videos!). Additionally, around 200 new sfx files are uploaded each day, so the repository is constantly kept up-to-date for all your audio needs.

If you value exclusivity, I have good news for you—the majority of ZapSplat’s files are exclusive to their library, so you won’t find them anywhere else—making them ideal for animated video production.

Pros:

• All files can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.
• The site’s exclusive library is updated daily, so fresh content is always ensured.
• The website is very user-friendly and easy to navigate.

Cons:

• You must give attribution on all platforms where your content will be uploaded.
• Files are only available in MP3 format for free account members.

2. Videvo

Although Videvo’s main focus is stock footage and video templates, it’s also one of the best sound effects websites out there. Their royalty-free music can be browsed by genres and moods, and you can also opt to click a “Surprise Me” button to discover tracks you hadn’t thought of!

While the free library is somewhat restricted if you’re not a Premium account member, it’s still very useful if you’re just starting on your marketing video production journey and don’t need a ton of files.

Pros:

• Downloads are available in MP3 and WAV formats.
• Unless specified otherwise, their files can be used for commercial purposes.
• No need to sign up for free downloads.

Cons:

• The free library is quite limited for both sound effects and music tracks.
• The focus is on stock video footage, so there’s no guarantee that new sound effects will be uploaded regularly.

3. SoundEffects+

This Finland-based provider has been in the industry for several years, recording and designing the best free sound effects with their own team of seasoned sound professionals.

With up to 100 free downloads per month, SoundEffects+ is one of the most complete libraries out there, making it an asset even to established promotional video companies. Moreover, since everything is recorded and edited by the team itself, you can rest assured that the sound quality will be top-notch and free of background noise or interference.

Pros:

• 100 free downloads per month.
• No need to sign up or give attribution when you use their files.

Cons:

• The library doesn’t offer a filtering option for searches, so you must rely on keywords to find what you’re looking for.

4. Sample Focus

According to this free sound site, it has “the world’s most organized sound library.” I can’t say if it’s truly the most organized, but it’s sure one of my top choices when it comes to finding the best free sound effects for training video production!

Sample Focus works on a credit basis, which means you get three download credits every Monday, and you can get four more if you upload your own files to share with others. Additionally, if you use your invite link to refer a new user, you’ll both get twenty credits.

Pros:

• Completely free, credit-based system that gets topped up weekly.
• Attribution isn’t required.
• The material can be used for all purposes, and you can also edit or remix it as you like.

Cons:

• Currently, downloads aren’t available for mobile.
• You must sign up for a free account.

5. Sound Jay

No, you haven’t traveled back in time to 2007 —this is Sound Jay’s landing page. And although it looks a bit dated, it’s nevertheless one of the best sound effects websites you’ll find.

In addition to sound effects, you can also find a royalty-free music library. However, finding is the key term here —there’s no search bar to navigate the page, so you have to check every category to discover what the site offers. This might be a bit time-consuming, but exploring their varied portfolio can often help you find the right mood when working on difficult pieces, like animated ads.

Pros:

• All files can be used for any purpose you want, even commercially.
• Giving credit is encouraged but not required.

Cons:

• The website’s design is outdated, so navigation can be a bit of a challenge.

6. Unity Asset Store

If you’re part of the gaming world, you may be acquainted with Unity, an engine used to create video games. However, more and more industries are using its Editor and Asset Store to create other content types, like video pieces!

Unity’s Asset Store isn’t just a free sound site —in addition to audio files, you can also find 3D and 2D characters, animations, props, and more, as well as add-ons, templates, tools, and even AI solutions. This varied array of assets makes them a treasure trove to live-action and animation companies alike.

Pros:

• Every asset has user ratings and reviews you can check before deciding to download it.
• The page is easy to navigate, and you can filter results according to reviews, release dates, and more.

Cons:

• You must use Unity’s Editor engine to download the assets you acquire into your computer, which has a bit of a learning curve.

7. SoundsCrate

Some of the best free sound effects can be found at SoundsCrate. With no attribution required, you can get Hollywood-level audio and visual content to step up your game and make your videos—from classic ads to whiteboard animations—stand out.

The modern website is a breeze to navigate, and you can explore dozens of different, unique categories, such as Epic, full of orchestral compositions, or the classic Fight sound effects that every good action piece needs.

Pros:

• The libraries are updated weekly, so new, fresh files are always coming in.
• In addition to sound effects, you can also find 3D animations, motion graphics templates, plugins, and more.

Curious about motion graphics styles? Watch this piece by Yum Yum Videos, our animated explainer video company:

Cons:

• Free downloads are limited to 5 per day.
• Signing up for an account is mandatory.

8. PremiumBeat

According to the website, PremiumBeat’s stock music and sound effects “give you the polished feel of the big production companies” thanks to its team of professional composers and designers, who strive to share their passion with the world.

Most of their content requires a license purchase, but you can find many freeware sounds and tracks by searching their blog.

Pros:

• Professionally produced, world-class quality music tracks and sound effects backed by its parent company, Shutterstock.
• Their free packs can be used as many times as you like for personal or commercial purposes.

Cons:

• You’ll have to browse their blog to check if they’ve shared a free pack of the type of sound effects you’re looking for.

If you’re considering subscribing to a premium platform, make sure to check out Envato Elements. Unlike PremiumBeat, it offers unlimited downloads of not only sound effects and royalty-free music tracks but also video templates, stock videos, and much more.

9. Free Sound Effects

Sometimes, less can be better. The team behind this website sure knows about that, since they offer some of the best free sound effects on a page where the only content you’ll find is their audio files —not even a FAQ section!

With dozens of subcategories to browse and new files uploaded every week, Free Sound Effects is a go-to option if you want a simple, ad-free experience.

Pros:

• Files can be downloaded in MP3 or WAV format.
• No attribution required.

Cons:

• You have to browse each subcategory individually —clicking on the top menu buttons leads nowhere.

10. PacDV

Once again, we’re boarding Doc Brown’s Delorean and visiting another sound effects site that gives a cozy, early 2000s vibe. With over 20 years in the game, PacDV has a wide selection of sound effects and royalty-free music for all types of projects—even those requiring more sober and unobtrusive tunes like we often see in the healthcare video production niche.

What I like about this page is the Miscellaneous category, where you can find interesting sound effects that you can’t fit in a specific box.

Pros:

• Simple, old-school layout.
• Files can be used for all kinds of personal and commercial video production projects.

Cons:

• There’s no search bar, so you’re stuck browsing each category to find a specific sound.

11. Free Sounds Library

This website delivers exactly what its name promises —a collection of free sounds, no more and no less. The design might look a bit clunky and outdated, but this time, we get a search bar, so you can browse your heart out looking for the best free sound effects! While hardly a full-suite solution, their portfolio is robust enough to brighten even the more challenging educational video production projects.

Do keep in mind that, as long as your business has an online presence, you need to give credit to them.

Pros:

• Search bar provides a superior navigation experience.
• “Most Wanted” and “Popular” sections to stay on top of trends.

Cons:

• Attribution required.
• Ads can be a nuisance.

12. Clipchamp

Clipchamp’s mission is simple: empowering creators to craft amazing video content. As such, they’re not only one of the best sound effects websites —you can also access a video editor, screen recorder, GIF maker, subtitle generator, and many more tools.

Their range of sound effects is fresh and innovative, with special categories for holiday-themed sounds and even a Star Wars pack!

Pros:

• Completely free, all-in-one tool.
• One-of-a-kind categories you don’t usually find elsewhere.

Cons:

• Finding the sound effects library takes a bit of digging through their site.
• Signing up is required.

13. Airborne Sound

Boasting over 50,000 sound effects, this website is one of the very best free sound sites you can encounter.

Elite film studios and gaming companies have partnered up with Airborne Sound throughout its decades-long experience in the field, so you know you’ll be getting the highest-quality audio from a team of real pros.

Pros:

• One of the most extensive sound libraries you can find.
• You can get additional free sounds from some of their blog posts.

Cons:

• The sounds come in bundles, so you must download the whole file, even if you’re just looking for a single sound effect.

14. Free to Use Sounds

The couple behind this website has a gift for immersive, movie-like creations. Their freeware sounds are awesome on their own, but the photos that accompany their page and the overall design truly deliver a great navigation experience!

While their Premium library hosts the majority of their sound effects, they’ve also selected over 140 free bundles everyone can access through their Bandcamp.

Pros:

• MP3 and WAV formats available.
• Unique country-themed ambiance sound bundles.

Cons:

• You must download the bundles through Bandcamp by typing “0” in the Name Your Price box.

15. Bluezone Corporation

Some of the best free sound effects can be found at Bluezone Corporation, which offers special bundles and libraries for composers, producers, content creators, and anyone else who needs good SFX.

There are twelve different free sample packs to choose from, as well as over twenty sound effects libraries, all of them available for personal and commercial uses.

Pros:

• Diverse libraries curated by professionals.
• No attribution required.

Cons:

• You can’t browse the libraries and download individual files —you must download them as a pack.

16. Motion Elements

Promising a fully localized experience for video creators around the world, Motion Elements offers more than freeware sounds: stock videos, 3D models, and After Effects templates are just some of the solutions it can provide.

If the ample selection of the best free sound effects isn’t enough, it also offers pay-per-item and subscription options.

Pros:

• No attribution required.
• WAV format for all files.

Cons:

• Some content is labeled for Editorial use only, so be sure to check if the file you chose can be used for commercial purposes.

17. BigSoundBank

This free sound site doesn’t have a vast selection of files like other sites on this list since you’ll “only” find 3,002 results when you click the “All Sounds” button. However, if you need only a simple, common sound effect, then this page is perfect for you.

Even if it’s not a shining example of web design and audio assets, BigSoundBank has an amazing “Museum of Missing Sounds” for the nostalgic ones like me. How long has it been since you’ve heard a 56k modem and its characteristic beeps and bops?

Pros:

• Completely free for all usage types.
• MP3 and WAV formats available.

Cons:

• Small library with basic sound effects.

18. Soundgator

Soundgator’s premise is simple: you can use their freeware sounds for any purpose, with no registration or attribution required.

There are no hidden fees, Premium-exclusive sounds, or download limits —the whole library is at your fingertips, and it’s updated regularly with fresh content.

Pros:

• No need to sign up for an account or give credit to Soundgator.
• Unlimited downloads.

Cons:

• There’s not a wide variation of sounds (no animal sfx, for example).

19. Chosic

Chosic is the happy place for the audio passionate: in addition to the best free sound effects, you can also take advantage of their song finder, similar artist or song finder, playlist generator, and more music-related tools.

Their sfx library is small but thorough, with all the “common” sounds an amateur video editor may need.

Pros:

• Easy to navigate and browse.
• Wide array of categories to choose from.

Cons:

• MP3 files only.

20. Partners in Rhyme

Our last best sound effects website, but certainly not least, is Partners in Rhyme. I know the website design might be a bit confusing, but trust me, their library makes up for it!

From ambient sounds to human and animal ones, royalty-free music, and even an advice hub, this website is a fine choice for all your freeware needs.

Pros:

• MP3 and WAV formats are available, as well as a “Save in Dropbox” option.
• No need to sign up.

Cons:

• The web design can be a strain on the eyes when you browse for too long.
  

Wrapping Up

The power of video resides in its communion between visual imagery and audio, so don’t make the latter an afterthought!

Have you ever watched an indie film and felt weirdly uncomfortable at the lack of background music and sounds? We may not notice them when they’re used, but we surely do when they’re not. This applies to your video content as well —which is why using the best free sound effects available is a must to give your piece a polished, professional feel that delights audiences and doesn’t feel awkward.

After reading this comprehensive list, you’re all set up to start browsing free sound sites until you find your favorite companion!