The safest royalty-free music for Instagram is Meta's own Sound Collection, which Meta licenses for commercial and non-commercial use in content on its apps. Instagram's licensed music library is a different thing: it is for personal, non-commercial use, and some business accounts cannot open it. Outside Meta, use only sources whose written licence covers the post you are making, and expect unlicensed songs to be muted or blocked.
The safest royalty-free music for Instagram is Meta's Sound Collection: Instagram describes it as over 14,000 royalty-free songs and sounds you can use in Reels and Stories, including for commercial purposes like ads. The popular songs in Instagram's licensed library are not royalty-free; Meta licenses them for personal, non-commercial use, which is why some business accounts cannot see them.
Checked October 2026 against Instagram's Help Center on access to the licensed music library, problems with audio, replacing muted audio, adding music to a reel and adding audio to a post, Meta's Sound Collection Terms (last modified 16 March 2022) and Music Guidelines (effective 26 March 2024), and the licence pages linked in the sources table.
This page covers what each account type can use, what "royalty-free" actually lets you do, which outside sources hold up for a commercial post, and the exact taps to add music. It is part of our Instagram Reels guide. If a song already shows as unavailable on your account, go straight to our Instagram audio not available fix.
What Instagram's music library allows by account type
Instagram runs two music libraries, and they come with different rules. Mixing them up is the root of most muted reels on brand accounts.
- The licensed music library holds the chart songs. Instagram says Meta must uphold its agreements with rights holders and that "the music available in our library is intended for personal, non-commercial use."
- Meta's Sound Collection holds royalty-free music and sound effects that Meta licenses for commercial use on its own apps.
To keep the licensed library out of commercial use, Instagram says "certain business accounts and certain types of posts do not have access to the library," and licensed music may not be available in some countries or regions. It does not publish which business accounts or post types are affected, and it does not say a creator account is treated differently. If your account cannot open the licensed library, Instagram points you to the Sound Collection.
Source: Instagram Help Center and Meta Sound Collection Terms, checked October 2026
Can business accounts use music on Instagram?
Yes. A business account can always use Sound Collection tracks, audio it recorded itself, and music it holds a licence for that covers commercial social content. What it may lose is the licensed library of popular songs.
Branded content counts as commercial even when it is posted from a personal or creator account. Meta's Music Guidelines say that using music "for commercial or non-personal purposes in particular is prohibited" unless you have the appropriate licences, and that taking part in Music Revenue Sharing does not by itself make a video commercial. So a paid partnership, a product launch or a promo reel should run on Sound Collection, original audio or a licence that names brand work. Our guide on getting brand deals on Instagram covers the rest of a sponsored post.
- 01Is the post selling, sponsored or an ad?
Paid partnerships, product promos and boosted posts all count.
- 02Yes: Sound Collection, own audio or a commercial licence
Check the licence names Instagram and the kind of post.
- 03No: the licensed library is an option
Only if your account type and region can open it.
- 04Posting the same video elsewhere?
Sound Collection covers Meta apps only. Use a licence that names every platform.
- 05Add the credit the licence asks for
In the caption, before you share.
What "royalty-free" actually means
Royalty-free means you do not pay a royalty each time the track plays. It does not mean copyright-free. The track still belongs to someone, and the licence decides where, how and for what you can use it.
Meta's Sound Collection shows the gap. Its terms grant "a non-exclusive, royalty-free license" for "commercial or non-commercial purposes in content you create, upload, and distribute on the Meta Company Products", and say you may not use the audio separately from those products. A track that is fine on Instagram is not licensed for the same video on TikTok or YouTube.
- Royalty-free means anyone can use it anywhere
- Free to download means free for ads
- No credit needed on any free track
- If Instagram offers the song, a brand can use it
- No per-play royalty, but the licence sets where it can go
- A NonCommercial licence rules out promotional posts
- Creative Commons Attribution tracks need a credit and licence link
- The licensed library is for personal, non-commercial use
From the Sound Collection Terms, Creative Commons licence deeds and Instagram Help Center, checked October 2026.
Credits work the same way. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 lets you use a track "for any purpose, even commercially", but you must give appropriate credit, link the licence and say if you changed it. The NonCommercial version adds that you "may not use the material for commercial purposes", defined as use primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation. On a brand account, treat NC tracks as off limits.
Royalty-free music for Instagram: sources whose licences we checked
These are the sources whose terms we read in October 2026, with what each licence allows for commercial social video. Plans and terms change, so open the licence again before a paid campaign.
| Source | Licence in short | Fits on Instagram | Credit needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Sound Collection | Royalty-free licence for commercial or non-commercial use in content on Meta's products | Reels, Stories and ads on Instagram and Facebook. Not other platforms | No |
| Instagram licensed music library | Not royalty-free: Meta licenses it for personal, non-commercial use | Personal posts where it is offered. Some business accounts and post types have no access | Artist and track name, per Instagram |
| Pixabay Music | Pixabay Content License: commercial or non-commercial use, modification allowed | Social video, including promotional posts. No selling the track on its own | No |
| Epidemic Sound (paid) | Subscription licence; the plan decides what is covered | Creator plan: sponsored content on your own channels, not brand ads. Pro plan adds digital ads | No |
| Creative Commons BY tracks | Use for any purpose, even commercially | Any post, if you credit correctly | Yes: credit, licence link, changes |
| Creative Commons BY-NC tracks | No commercial purposes | Personal posts only. Not branded, sponsored or promotional posts | Yes |
| YouTube Audio Library | Documented for YouTube videos | YouTube does not document Instagram use, so skip it there | Some tracks |
Sources: Sound Collection Terms, Instagram licensed library, Pixabay Terms of Service (last updated 18 November 2024), Epidemic Sound plans, the Creative Commons deeds linked above and YouTube's Audio Library help page. Checked October 2026.
A few notes the table cannot hold:
- Pixabay. The licence bars selling or distributing the audio on a standalone basis, meaning with no creative effort applied. Setting it under your own video is the intended use. Its licence summary also says it is your responsibility to check whether you need a third party's consent.
- Epidemic Sound. Its plans page says the Creator plan covers sponsored or branded content on your own channels but not digital advertising, marketing or promotion for a brand or company. For ad campaigns it points to the Pro or Business plan. Check the current plan wording before a client job.
- YouTube Audio Library. YouTube says its tracks are copyright-safe on YouTube and won't be claimed through Content ID there, and that it cannot give guidance on issues that occur off the platform. With no written permission for Instagram, pick another source.
How to add music to an Instagram post or reel
Adding music happens inside the app, and the steps differ slightly between a photo post and a reel. Both pull from whichever library your account can open.
- 1Tap Create, then Post
Take a photo or choose one from your phone's library.
- 2Tap Next, then Next again
Expected: the screen with the caption and post options.
- 3Tap Add audio
Pick a song from the list or search the music library.
- 4Choose the part of the song
Drag the sliding bar at the bottom to the section you want under the photo.
- 5Tap Done, then Share
Expected: the post is shared with the section of the song you chose.
Source: Instagram Help Center, checked October 2026
For a carousel, Instagram has a separate article on adding music to a post with multiple photos, and music cannot be added to a carousel that includes a video. If your account is public, Instagram notes that anyone can reuse your original audio; making the account private stops that.
For a reel, Instagram's Help Center says the tool menu on the left of the camera includes Music, where you search the library and choose which part of the song plays. If lyrics are available, you can also style them on screen. You can record with your own audio instead. In Stories, the same royalty-free tracks sit behind the Music sticker.
- Open the Reels camera and tap Audio (or Music) in the left tool menu.
- Search for a track. If your account has no licensed library, Instagram says Sound Collection tracks are found under Audio in the Reels camera.
- Drag to the part of the song you want, then record or add clips.
- Keep any voiceover on its own track so a muted song does not take your words with it.
- Post, then play the reel once from your profile to confirm the audio stuck.
Picking which track to use is a separate skill. Our guide on finding trending audio on Instagram covers reading an audio page and spotting a sound early.
Will Instagram mute my video?
It can, and Meta documents when. Instagram's audio problems page lists three reasons audio on your content is muted: you do not have access to the licensed library, Meta's licensing agreements with rights holders changed, or the rights holder blocked your content because it contains content they own.
Meta's Music Guidelines go further. Music used without authorisation may be "blocked, muted or removed", music may not be available in some countries, and "the greater the density of music in content, the more likely it may be limited." The guidelines recommend shorter clips, a visual component, and that recorded audio should not be the main purpose of the content. A page, profile or group that builds a music listening experience may be deleted.
- MutedAudio unavailable shows on the reel
Instagram says the reel can still be viewed while its audio is muted.
- NoticeYou may see a prompt to replace the audio
The replacement comes from the Instagram audio library.
- ReplaceTap Audio unavailable, then Replace audio twice
Choose a track and its section, then tap Done.
- OnceA muted track can be replaced one time
Pick the replacement carefully, from a track your account is cleared to use.
- DisputeUse the notification if you hold the rights
Meta says options can include contacting the rights holder or a review by its teams.
Source: Instagram Help Center and Meta Music Guidelines, checked October 2026
Meta does not publish a reach penalty for using library music. The documented outcomes are muting, blocking and removal. If a reel plays fine but nobody watches it, that is a distribution question; start with why Reels stop getting views.
Free music for Instagram Reels: a routine that stays playable
The working routine is simple: decide whether the reel is commercial, pick a source whose licence covers it, and build the reel so the message survives without the song. Some viewers watch muted anyway, so on-screen text earns its place twice; our guide to Reels text overlays shows how to put the hook on screen.
- Is this reel selling something, sponsored or going to be boosted? Then skip the licensed library
- The track comes from Sound Collection, your own recording or a licence that names Instagram
- If the video also goes to TikTok or YouTube, the licence names those platforms too
- Any credit the licence requires is in the caption
- NonCommercial tracks stay off brand, sponsored and promo posts
- Voiceover sits on its own track, not baked into the song
- On-screen text carries the message if the audio is muted
- You saved the licence page or receipt for paid tracks
Music is one layer of a reel that gets watched. If you want the full production system, from Instagram Ignited's scripting and CapCut editing lessons to its lesson on brand deals and negotiation, that is where this page stops and the program goes deeper.
Royalty-free music for Instagram: FAQ
Where can I get royalty-free music for Instagram?
The safest source is Meta's Sound Collection, which Instagram describes as over 14,000 royalty-free songs and sounds that can be used in Reels and Stories, including for commercial purposes like ads. Reach it from Audio in the Reels camera or the Music sticker in Stories. Outside Meta, Pixabay's licence and paid services such as Epidemic Sound also cover social video, within their own terms. Checked October 2026.
Can business accounts use music on Instagram?
Yes, but not always from the licensed music library. Instagram says that library is for personal, non-commercial use, so certain business accounts and certain types of posts do not have access to it, and it does not publish the full list. Every account can use Meta's Sound Collection, original audio it recorded, or music it holds a licence for that covers commercial social content.
Will Instagram mute my video for using a song?
It can. Instagram lists three reasons audio on your content gets muted: you lack access to the licensed library, its licensing agreements changed, or a rights holder blocked content that contains their work. Meta's Music Guidelines add that unlicensed music may be blocked, muted or removed, and that the more music a video contains, the more likely it is to be limited.
Is royalty-free music the same as copyright-free music?
No. Royalty-free means you do not pay a royalty each time the track is used; the music is still copyrighted and comes with a licence. Meta's Sound Collection licence, for example, only covers content posted on Meta's products. Creative Commons tracks may need a credit, and a NonCommercial licence rules out promotional posts. Read the licence before you post.
Can I use Sound Collection music on TikTok or YouTube too?
Not under Meta's licence. The Sound Collection Terms grant use in content you create, upload and distribute on Meta Company Products only, and say you may not use the audio separately from those products. If one video goes to several platforms, use music whose licence names all of them, such as a paid plan that lists each platform, or your own audio.
How do I add music to an Instagram photo post?
In the Instagram app, tap Create, then Post, and pick or take a photo. Tap Next twice, then tap Add audio and pick a song from the list or search the music library. Use the sliding bar to choose the part of the song, tap Done, then Share. Instagram notes music cannot be added to a carousel that includes videos.
Do I have to credit royalty-free music on Instagram?
It depends on the licence. Meta's Sound Collection Terms and Pixabay's licence do not require a credit. A Creative Commons Attribution licence requires appropriate credit, a link to the licence and a note of any changes, so put that in the caption. For tracks from Instagram's own library, Instagram says licensed audio must be attributed or linked to the artist and include the name of the track.