Freesound: free sounds and recordings, with licence rules
Freesound is a collaborative collection of sounds you can download under Creative Commons licences. Its FAQ says it is free if you follow each licence, and many sounds need a credit.
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What it is
Freesound is a collection of sounds: recordings, samples and effects shared by its users. Its homepage says it is "a collaborative collection of 737,839 free sounds" (the count we saw on 16 October 2026). Its FAQ says it was started in 2005 at the Music Technology Group of Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, and is maintained by the Freesound team. It is not an AI tool. We included it as a free resource for anyone who needs a sound for a video, a school project or a game.
Is it free?
Mostly yes, with conditions. The FAQ asks "Wait... This is all... free?" and answers: as long as you follow the legal guidelines in the Licenses section, yes. It adds that some sounds cannot be used commercially, and many need a credit to the author. We saw no price or paid plan on the pages we read.
How the licences work
- cc0: the FAQ says you can do pretty much what you want, but you cannot claim you are the author.
- Attribution (by): you should always mention the original creator when you use the sound.
- Attribution noncommercial (by-nc): same credit rule, and you cannot earn money with the work you make.
- Older Sampling+ sounds also exist, with their own rules, per the FAQ.
The FAQ gives a credit format: the sound name, the user, the sound link and the licence. Check the licence on each sound page before you use it. The FAQ says it is not legal advice.
What you can do with it
- Search and browse. The FAQ says you can browse by keyword and with a "sounds-like" search.
- Download. The FAQ says you must be logged in to a registered account, then use the download button on a sound's page.
- Upload your own. Uploaders choose one of the three licences. We did not upload anything.
How to get started
- Search Freesound for the kind of sound you need.
- Open the sound's full page and read its licence before using it.
- If you are 18 or older, register and log in to download.
- Use the download button on the sound page.
- Save the sound link, creator name and licence. Add the required credit to your project, and do not use noncommercial sounds in commercial work without separate permission.
What to watch out for
- Account and age. The FAQ says to log in to download. The website terms say you must be at least 18 to register.
- Users upload the sounds. The FAQ says users must not upload copyrighted material, but some illegal content may still get through. It asks you to use the "Flag it!" link if you find any.
- Sounds in YouTube videos can still get claimed. The FAQ explains that Content ID can match sounds reused in someone else's song. It suggests disputing a mistaken claim with supporting evidence, such as the original Freesound page and dates.
Privacy and data
- An account is needed to download. We did not read the privacy policy.
- On AI training, the FAQ says that since July 2026 uploaders can set Gen AI preferences on top of each sound's Creative Commons licence.
India
- We found no region limit on the pages we read, and no rupee price is involved. We did not test downloads from India.
Frequently asked questions
Is Freesound free?
Yes, per its FAQ, if you follow each sound's licence. Some sounds are not for commercial use and many need credit.
Do I need an account?
To download, yes, per the FAQ.
Can I use a sound in a YouTube video?
Depends on its licence. The FAQ also covers what to do if a video gets a copyright claim.
Sources: Freesound, Freesound FAQ, website terms. Checked 16 October 2026.
What changed since this post?
First published 16 October 2026. No later update has been recorded.
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