Ultimate List Of Free Music For eLearning Development

34 Site to Download Free Music for Online Courses

Music is an important aspect of the eLearning development. Online teachers, educators, facilitators, instructional designers, and generally eLearning developers are struggling to find Free music for their courses. I hope that with the Ultimate List of Free Music for eLearning Development I will make your professionals lives easier.

If you would like to add your favorite website where you can download Free Music please leave a comment and it will be added at the top of the list!

I highly recommend you to read The use of music and animation in eLearning 

34 Websites to Download Royalty Free and Creative Commons Music for Free 

Royalty free means that you do not have to pay royalties or license fees. Also, all of the creative commons licenses require that you give credit to the original creator. However, I highly encourage you to take a look at the license that each site has to get a proper idea of which of the Six Creative Commons licenses is in practice.

1. Archive's audio and MP3 library

This library contains over two hundred thousand free digital recordings ranging from alternative news programming, to Grateful Dead concerts, to Old Time Radio shows, to book and poetry readings, to original music uploaded by our users. Many of these audios and MP3s are available for free download.

Pros

• Completely free with no sign-up required; open directly in any browser, including school Chromebooks.
• Over 200,000 recordings covering music, spoken word, old radio shows, and public domain audio.
• All downloads are legal and free, with most files available under open licensing.

Cons

• Interface feels dated and can be challenging to navigate, especially for younger students.
• Audio quality varies significantly depending on the age and source of the recording.
• With a limited search function, finding specific tracks can take effort.

2. TuneIn - Best Free Unblocked Music Site

TuneIn gives you access to over 100,000 live radio stations from every corner of the world; local news, sports talk, music stations, and podcasts all in one place. Because it streams real radio stations rather than on-demand tracks, school filters often leave it alone. You can listen directly in a browser without downloading anything, which makes it a practical pick for school Chromebooks. The free version carries ads, and a premium tier removes them and adds sports commentary and audiobooks.

Pros

• Works in any browser; no app or download needed, fully functional on school Chromebooks.
• Access to real radio stations means fresh, varied content rather than the same playlist on repeat.
• No sign-up required to start listening.

Cons

• The free version includes audio ads between songs and programs.
• No on-demand playback, you listen to whatever the station is currently broadcasting.
• Some stations may still have restrictions on stricter school networks.

3. Spotify

Spotify is one of the most widely used music platforms in the world, with tens of millions of tracks across every genre. Of all the free music websites for school, this platform lets you stream music with occasional ads, though on mobile, they limit skips and force shuffle. The browser version works reasonably well on Chromebooks. Schools frequently block it, so access depends heavily on your network. Students and teachers can search for subject-specific playlists, classical music collections, or ambient focus music for studying.

Pros

• Massive library spanning virtually every genre, era, and language.
• The browser version works on Chromebooks without requiring an app install.
• Student discount plans are available for those who want ad-free premium access.

Cons

• Often, blocked access to school networks is not reliable in a classroom setting.
• The free tier includes ads and limits the number of skips, which interrupt focus during study sessions.
• Requires a sign-up account even for free use.

4. AccuRadio

AccuRadio is an online radio service with hundreds of carefully curated channels, each built around a specific genre or mood. From jazz and classical to focus music and holiday playlists, every track has been hand-picked. You do not need an account to start listening, just open the site and pick a channel. It works well in a browser and tends to slip past school filters because it streams audio like a radio station rather than an on-demand service. Ads appear occasionally in the free version.

Pros

• No sign-up is necessary; it works instantly in any browser, including school Chromebooks.
• Hundreds of curated channels covering niche genres and moods not found on mainstream platforms.
• Radio-style streaming is less likely to get blocked by school network filters.

Cons

• The free version includes audio ads that periodically interrupt playback.
• No on-demand selection; you cannot choose specific tracks, only channels.
• No offline access or download option on the free plan.

5. Hungama

Hungama Music is a streaming platform built primarily for South Asian music fans, covering Bollywood, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and international tracks across millions of songs. This free music website for schools is ad-supported and offers streaming access without downloads. Premium plans add offline downloads and HD audio. It requires a sign-up to use most features. Note that as of April 2025, Hungama Music shut down its streaming service, so educators should verify current availability before recommending it to students.

Pros

• An extensive catalog of underrepresented South Asian and Indian-language music on Western platforms.
• The free tier allows streaming without a paid subscription.
• Useful for culturally diverse classrooms and world music projects.

Cons

• Since April 2025, services have stopped. Check the current status before use.
• Requires account creation to access most features.
• Primarily aimed at Indian regional music, limiting appeal for broader classroom use.

6. LiveOne

LiveOne is a music and podcast streaming platform with hundreds of expertly curated stations across more than 30 genres. The free tier lets you stream stations with ads, while paid tiers unlock ad-free listening, unlimited skips, and on-demand playback. It works in a browser and is available as an app. Schools may block it depending on their filters. The platform also live-streams concerts and artist events, which adds something different for music-aware educators.

Pros

• Free browser-based access to hundreds of genre-based music stations.
• Works on Chromebooks without requiring a native app.
• Live concert streaming offers a unique educational angle for music lessons.

Cons

• The free tier includes ads and limits the number of skips, which can disrupt the listening flow.
• On-demand track selection requires a paid subscription.
• May get blocked on stricter school networks.

7. Last.fm

Last.fm is a music discovery and social platform that learns your listening habits and builds personalized recommendations around them. It tracks what you listen to across other platforms and records your plays to build a profile of your taste over time. You can stream radio stations by artist or genre and discover new music through its recommendation engine. A free account allows you to use this service. For eLearning developers, it works better as a discovery tool than a direct source of downloadable tracks.

Pros

• Smart music recommendation helps teachers and developers find tracks that match a specific mood or theme.
• Free to use with a basic account.
• Browser-based and functional on Chromebooks.

Cons

• Requires sign-up to access most features.
• Not a direct source of royalty-free or downloadable music; best used for discovery.
• Some streaming features are only available to paid subscribers.

8. BlueBeat

BlueBeat is a free music streaming site that allows users to stream a wide range of tracks directly in a browser. It continues to appear on lists of school-accessible music sites due to its relatively simple interface and browser-based access. The library leans toward mainstream and popular music. It does not require downloading an app, which helps with Chromebook compatibility. Sign-up requirements and ad levels vary, so check the site directly for current terms before using it in a classroom.

Pros

• Browser-based access, with no app installation required, is useful on school Chromebooks.
• A wide range of mainstream tracks is available to stream for free.
• 3D audio features offer an immersive listening experience with headphones.

Cons

• Not royalty-free music source; tracks are unlicensed for use in school projects or eLearning content.
• May include ads or require sign-ups, depending on the current site status.
• Support and updates are inconsistent compared with those on larger platforms.

9. StreamSquid

StreamSquid is a free online music player that lets you search for and stream tracks from YouTube without visiting YouTube itself. It acts as a cleaner, audio-focused front end, useful in schools that block YouTube, but the underlying audio content is still what you need. It requires no sign-up and works in a browser. However, since it pulls from YouTube, none of the music is royalty-free or licensed for use in educational projects or eLearning content.

Pros

• No sign-up required; open and use immediately in any browser.
• Useful in schools that block YouTube but permit audio streaming.
• Clean, simple interface with no distracting video elements.

Cons:

• Music is not royalty-free and is not for use in school projects or eLearning content.
• Relies on YouTube, so availability depends on what is on YouTube.
• No download option; streaming only.

10. Audionautix

Jason Shaw created all the music in this online collection. Released under Creative Commons license 3.0, you are free to use the music (even for commercial purposes) as long as you credit "Music from - audionautix.com" OR provide a link to this website from yours. Music must be part of some other created works. No further permission is necessary.

Pros

• Completely free; all tracks available for download with no account needed.
• Usable in commercial and educational projects with a simple attribution credit.
• Searchable by genre and mood, making it easy to find the right track for a course or lesson.

Cons

• The library comprises music by a single composer, a narrower selection than on larger platforms.
• No sound effects or spoken word; music only.
• The library is relatively small compared to larger royalty-free platforms.

11. Brainy Betty

Free Sound Clips and Music for Presentations!

Pros

• Free to use with no sign-up required; opens directly in a browser.
• Sound clips and short music loops are ideal for PowerPoint presentations and short videos.

Cons

• The library is small compared to dedicated royalty-fee platforms.
• The site has a dated design and may feel limited to students used to modern interfaces.

12. Bump Foot

Bump Foot is a non-profit netlabel in Japan. There are two main branches. Bump side: techno and house, or based on them. Foot side: ambient, IDM, etc., other than bump side. You can Share (copy, distribute, and transmit the work) and Remix (adapt the work).

Pros

• All music is freely downloadable and shareable under Creative Commons, safe for school projects.
• The techno, ambient, and IDM genres are less common on general royalty-free sites.

Cons

• Niche genres may not suit every classroom project or age group.
• The site is Japanese-based, and the interface may feel unfamiliar to some users.

13. Cash Music

CASH Music is a non-profit organization that hosts digital tools for musicians and labels to share their music. The digital tool allows for uploading and downloading of songs, and sharing is easy.

Pros

• Artists choose to share their music here, so licensing intent is clear.
• Easy to share and download tracks for educational use.

Cons

• Library size depends on which artists upload content, and it may not have a large catalog.
• Requires checking each track's individual license before use.

14. ccMixter

Looking for music for a video, a school project, a game you're developing, a podcast, or just for listening in your cubicle or on your mobile music device? Find exactly the music you're looking for, podsafe and liberally licensed, using dig. ccMixter's Music Discovery tool.

Pros

• Explicitly licensed music for podcasts, videos, games, and school projects; the licensed terms are clear and reliable.
• The discovery tool makes it easy to find tracks by mood or genre.

Cons

• Requires checking each track for specific license conditions.
• Sign-up is necessary to upload or remix content, though browsing is free.

15. CCTrax

All showcased music is available under one of the six Creative Commons licenses. They authorize free music download and enable the artists to promote their music while protecting their rights.

Pros

• All music carries a Creative Commons license, a clear legal basis for educational purposes.
• Free to download and browse without signing up.

Cons

• The interface is basic and less intuitive than modern platforms.
• Has a smaller library size than larger royalty-free libraries.

16. DanoSongs

Hi, I'm Dan-O and I post my original music as free MP3 downloads here on DanoSongs.com. You can listen to the songs online or download the tracks. It's also legal to use the music royalty free in your video, game, film, presentation, slideshow or website.

Pros

• All music is free to download and use in videos, presentations, and school projects with no sign-up required.
• Attribution is straightforward; credit the site, and you can use its assets.

Cons

• The library is small and limited to one composer's output.
• Mostly upbeat and background-style tracks, which may not suit every project.

17. FMA

The Free Music Archive is an interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads. The Free Music Archive is directed by WFMU, the most renowned freeform radio station in America. Radio has always offered the public free access to new music. The Free Music Archive is a continuation of that purpose, designed for the age of the internet.

Pros

• High-quality, legal downloads curated by a respected radio station; a reliable source of eLearning developers.
• An immense variety of genres and moods is available for free.

Cons

• Some tracks require attribution or have non-commercial restrictions; always check the license.
• The site can be slow to navigate on older school Chromebooks.

18. Freeplay Music Library

Freeplay's first product, the Freeplay Music Library, is a comprehensive collection of High End Broadcast production music spanning all the popular musical genres, available for download either on-line or via our Portable Hard Drive.

Pros

• Broadcast-quality music across a wide range of genres; suitable for professional-level eLearning projects.
• A well-organized catalog makes track selection efficient.

Cons

• Has limited free access; many tracks require a paid license for use beyond listening.
• May require sign-up to download.

19. FreeSFX

Download free sound effects. Stuart Duffield has been creating audio professionally for 18 years. Having worked predominately in the Games Industry, he has produced a wide range of audio for various worldwide clients and numerous high profile projects. Based in the UK, Stuart has a history of synthesising, recording, designing, processing and editing audio of all types. Having worked in-house for a number of major Game Developers, Stuart currently works on a freelance / contract basis. This involves audio design, music composition and voice production in various forms - for Games, Animation, TV and Film.

Pros

• Large library of professionally produced sound effects; ideal for eLearning modules, games, and animations.
• Created by an experienced audio professional with game and film industry credits.

Cons

• Focused primarily on sound effects rather than background music.
• May require complete checking of individual track licenses before use in published content.

20. Freesound

Freesound aims to create a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps, ... released under Creative Commons licenses that allow their reuse.

Pros

• Massive collaboration database of audio snippets and samples under Creative Commons; notable variety in one place.
• Free to browse and download with a free account.

Cons

• Sign-up required to download files.
• Quality varies widely as the content is user-uploaded; previewing before use is essential.

21. Incompetech

Incompetech hosts a wide variety of royalty-free music. You can browse their selection by genre or feel. "Feel" would include things like: action, relaxed, intense, or humorous; you can select a combination of 'Feels' and it will check its database for selection matches. You can play clips on the website and instantly download them.

Pros

• Easy to search by genre or mood, highly practical for quickly finding the right background track.
• All music is royalty-free and free to download with attribution.

Cons

• All the music is by a single composer, which limits variety over time.
• Attribution is necessary for every use, adding a step to the workflow.

22. Jamendo

370,000 tracks. Free music for all. Enjoy unlimited music, it's completely free and legal.

Pros

• Over 3,70,000 tracks from independent artists, an enormous variety for free.
• Legal and completely free for personal and educational use.

Cons

• Commercial use of tracks requires a paid license; check the terms carefully.
• Some tracks have limited preview quality in the free version.

23. Josh Woodward

Yes, you can freely download, share, and use all 180+ songs by Josh Woodward.

Pros

• All 180+ songs are free to download, share, and use with no sign-up.
• Covers various acoustic and folk-influenced styles useful for softer eLearning content.

Cons

• Limited to one artist's catalog, variety is inherently narrow.
• Style may not suit every type of eLearning module or student demographic.

24. Kompoz

Kompoz is an online community that prides in collaboration between artists from all over the world. Artists post their clips on the website where anyone can download it and use it for their own productions. They can also add their own instruments or creative mix to the original clip and upload it on the website again.

Pros

• The collaborative model means tracks are community-built and creatively diverse.
• Open to remixing and building on others' work, ideal for hands-on creative projects.

Cons

• Requires sign-up to participate.
• Not a straightforward royalty-free library: license terms vary by contributor and track.

25. Soundzabound

Soundzabound has been the go-to royalty-free music library for K-12 schools and universities since 1998. Built by educators specifically for educational use, it covers all the licensing requirements that are important in a school setting. This capability is something that royalty-free platforms rarely offer. The library includes music across genres, audio themes, and sound effects, all suitable for school videos, podcasts, digital storytelling, broadcasts, and presentations. Access requires a school subscription, but a single login covers both teachers and students, keeping things simple.

Pros

• Built exclusively for educational purposes, all tracks meet school-level licensing requirements with no copyright risk.
• One school subscription covers all students and teachers with a shared login.
• Works on school Chromebooks via browser.

Cons:

• Requires a paid school subscription, not free for individual use.
• Students cannot access it from a personal account at home unless the school has that setting configured.
• Music updates may lag behind current trends as the focus is on classroom-appropriate content.

26. Musopen

Set music FREE. Musopen (www.musopen.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on improving access and exposure to music by creating free resources and educational materials. We provide recordings, sheet music, and textbooks to the public for free, without copyright restrictions. Put simply, our mission is to set music free.

Pros

• Classical music recordings and sheet music with no copyright restrictions, genuinely free and legal for educational purposes.
• Non-profit mission means the library keeps growing without commercial pressure.

Cons

• Focused entirely on classical music, not suitable for courses that need contemporary or genre-diverse audio.
• A sign-up is necessary to download some content.

27. Orphan Songs

The Orphan Songs website is running by Carl-Otto Johansson. Most of the music here is free to download and use. (Creative Commons).

Pros

• Most music is free to download under Creative Commons licenses, a basis for school use.
• A personal, indie curation with a relaxed atmosphere.

Cons

• Small library run by a single individual, not a large or regularly updated catalog.
• It may not suit projects that need professional broadcast-quality audio.

28. PacDV

This is a small database of free audio clips organized by mood or emotion such as: Warm, Loving, Serious or Lonely.

Pros

• Free audio clips organized by mood and emotion, usually practical for matching music to eLearning time.
• No sign-up needed to browse and download.

Cons

• Very small library, limited options in each mood category.
• Not updated frequently, the selection may feel dated for modern courses.
• The site is not regularly updated and may feel dated compared to other platforms.

29. Partners in Rhyme

Royalty free music libraries for you to download and start using right away in your commercial projects. These high quality music tracks will make your projects more effective and sound more professional.

Pros

• High-quality royalty-free tracks ready for immediate commercial use, no extra license steps.
• Clean, professional sound that works well in presentations and online courses.

Cons

• Has limited free access; the full library requires a paid license.
• Not suitable as a free resource for all school contexts.

30. Public Domain 4U

Great Historical Music Recordings, Free to Download, Play, and Share. Our musical heritage is our culture. The Past should be appreciated, not neglected. These artists are so unique, they should never be forgotten. This site is designed for your musical edification. This site can not grant any commercial uses of this material.

Pros

• Historical music recordings that are genuinely in the public domain have no licensing concerns at all.
• Ideal for courses covering music history or cultural heritage.

Cons

• Content is historical,  which limits its use to specific subject areas.
• Commercial use in any published eLearning module isn't permitted.

31. Purple Planet

Free Collection of Royalty Free Music available for download, composed and performed by Geoff Harvey and Chris Martyn Music can be used free of charge for web-based projects e.g. YouTube (see 'Us'ng Our Music' f'r more info) in exchange for a link to our site. Donations are welcome!

Pros

• Free for web-based projects, including YouTube, is practical for eLearning content posted online.
• Professional-quality composition spans a wide range of genres.

Cons:

• Requires a link back to the site in exchange for free use, adds an attribution step.
• Broadcast and other commercial uses may require a paid license.

32. Royalty Free Music Library

Royalty Free Music Library is proud to offer one of the largest offerings of online broadcast-quality royalty free music anywhere on the web. Download royalty free music from 3 of the top royalty free catalogs online:

• Royalty Free Music Revolution - The definitive royalty free music catalog with over 1000 songs from some of the top composers in the industry.
• Radical Music Library - Royalty free music with cutting edge productions and "in" ie" a" titude. Created by professional composers with a long list of film and television credits.
• Mojo Music Library - An offering of top- notch royalty free music with broader coverage on each CD for those who need a bit wider coverage for their budget.

Pros

• Three separate catalogs in one place, a tremendous variety of styles and production levels.
• Broadcast-quality track suitable for professional eLearning production.

Cons

• Most tracks require a purchase or subscription and are not available within school budgets.
• Free reviews are available, but full downloads are behind the paywall.

33. SampleSwap

Creative Commons Licensed Electronic Music for Commercial and Non-Commercial Royalty-Free use(Free professional-quality MP3s for DJ'DJ'ingilm scores, radio, TV, video games, podcasting, etc.). These pre-cleared songs were uploaded by artists at sampleswap.org under a variety of Creative Commons licenses. Please be sure to read the licensing information for each track carefully before using any of this music.

Pros

• All tracks carry a Creative Commons license cleared for commercial and non-commercial use.
• Electronic and DJ-oriented styles add variety not found on acoustic-focused platforms.

Cons

• Read each tratrack'sdividual Creative Commons license before use.
• Niche electronics styles may not suit every course context.

34. SoundCloud

SoundCloud is a website where artists share their new tracks to the world. There is a section under Creative Commons license where you can download other peopeople'sacks. You can stream the available clips and it takes just a simple click to get the MP3 file without any registration.

Pros

• Substantial community of independent artists sharing tracks with a wide variety across every genre.
• No sign-up needed to stream; users can download Creative Commons tracks with one click.

Cons

• Not all tracks are Creative Commons; carefully filter before downloading anything for educational use.
• Quality varies significantly across the user-uploaded library.

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