Licensing matters as much as the sound
With AI music, what you are allowed to do with a track can matter as much as how it sounds. Terms vary by plan and have been changing as labels strike deals with AI companies. Read the current license before you publish, particularly for film, TV, games or streaming distribution.
Suno
The fastest way to make a complete song.
Suno turns a prompt into a complete song with vocals very quickly, and its results keep setting the standard for consumer tools. It is the most fun place to start.
Commercial use requires a paid plan, and downloads are capped, at 20 a month on Pro.
- Fast, complete songs
- Strong vocals
- Download caps
- Free plan is non-commercial
ElevenLabs Music
Licensed music with clear commercial terms.
ElevenLabs Music pairs good quality with clearer licensing than most, which is valuable for brands and creators. Credits are shared with its voice products.
Self-serve plans exclude film, TV and studio games, and it has fewer presets than music-first tools.
- Clear licensing
- Low entry price
- Exclusions on self-serve plans
- Fewer presets
Udio
Clean audio and detailed refinement.
Udio is known for clean output and clip-by-clip extension that gives you more control over a track.
There is a major catch: downloads were disabled under its UMG partnership at the time of writing, so check the current status if you need to use tracks elsewhere.
- Clean sound
- Detailed control
- No downloads at the time of writing
- Learning curve
AIVA
Film, game and orchestral scores you can edit.
AIVA focuses on composition, with MIDI export and an editor that lets you rework the music, making it a favorite for film and game scores.
It is narrowly focused and weak at vocal pop.
- MIDI export and editor
- Pro grants full copyright
- Narrow focus
- Weak at vocal pop
Soundraw
Royalty-free background tracks you can shape.
Soundraw generates instrumental tracks and lets you edit them section by section, which is ideal for fitting music under a video.
It is instrumental only, so it will not write you a song.
- Section-level editing
- Good for video creators
- Instrumental only
Soundful
Template-based tracks with a consistent sound.
Soundful uses templates to produce tracks that feel consistent, and includes a royalty-free license with each download, which is useful for brands.
It is less flexible for one-off songs.
- License with each download
- Consistent brand sound
- Less flexible for one-off songs
Mubert
Continuous generative streams for streamers.
Mubert creates continuous generative streams that work well behind live streams and in looping ambient settings.
Note that its Creator plan is non-commercial, with commercial rights starting on Pro, and that the music is functional rather than memorable.
- Continuous streams
- Free tier with attribution
- Commercial use needs Pro
- Functional, not memorable
How to choose
Use Suno for songs, ElevenLabs Music when licensing clarity is the priority, and Soundraw for tracks under your videos. Composers should try AIVA.
Copyright rules for AI music are still evolving, so get legal advice for high-value commercial projects.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI music generator?
Suno is the best for complete songs with vocals. ElevenLabs Music is our pick for clear commercial licensing.
Can I use AI music commercially?
Often on paid plans, but it depends on the tool, plan and use. Always read the current license.
Can AI music tools make instrumental tracks?
Yes. Soundraw and AIVA specialize in instrumentals and scores, and tools like Suno can also generate them.