Quality & variety of samples

For music producers and beatmakers, quality and variety are key. There's comfort in knowing that a platform offers high-quality audio content, audio files in the right formats, and a wide variety of licensed sounds and ready-to-use sample libraries.

Pricing (subscription vs. one-time purchase)

Are you a producer who sees a digital audio workstation more than your partner? Or are you a one-time hobbyist playing around with music loops and audio samples for a one-off project? Choosing for a subscription-based model or a one-time purchase of an individual sample pack depends on your skill level and ambitions.

If you want to build up a career in music production, having a go-to subscription-based sample library that offers everything you need is definitely recommended. The best platforms offer all types of samples for music producers. All so you can find everything in one place.

Integration with DAWs & workflow flexibility

A smooth workflow is key. Consider if a platform offers integration with DAWs, such as Tracklib’s desktop app, which allows you to sync samples and integrate them in your digital audio workstation of choice. Digging on Splice is also possible through their desktop app on Windows and iOS.

Licensing & copyright considerations

Clearly, any producer wants to stay out of trouble when using samples. For that reason, many producers even decide to go for strictly royalty-free sample packs. However, various cases (such as the recent video below) show that for isn’t completely foolproof. That’s why it’s important to select a sampling platform that is guaranteed free from copyright issues.

Paid Alternatives:

Tracklib (Best coverage of samples)

Aside from Tracklib, there’s no other sampling platform out there that offers both royalty-free sample packs and records to legally sample for music producers. That sounds like a promotional flex, but it isn’t: it’s simply a fact. Dubbed “the home of sampling,” Tracklib offers access to any kind of sample, and its sample clearing track record lists the likes of Kendrick Lamar, KAYTRANADA, Nas, Kenny Beats, Drake, and more. Tracklib cares about artistry and creativity, and that shows in the expertly curated music catalog and sample packs. All put together for producers who want an advanced creative flow, but a super simple licensing process.

Loopcloud (Best for DAW integration & AI-assisted browsing)

With over four million of sounds and music loops, AI-based searching and tags help users navigate to find what they’re looking for. Loopcloud operates with a monthly credits system. Each billing cycle, you get new 'points' that can be used to download sounds, presets, and plugin expansions. After playing and producing with up to eight tracks of royalty-free sounds and music loops, you can drag a full audio mixdown or individual stems straight into your DAW.

Sounds.com (Best for Native Instruments users)

Sounds is recommended for users of software and hardware by Native Instruments, such as Komplete 15 or the Maschine. Powered by Native Instruments, the website offers a wide range of synths, sound packs, expansions, instruments, effects, one-shots, music loops, and keyboard sounds ranging from "warm organic tones of a vintage tube-driven electric piano" to "funky Rhodes."

Free Alternatives:

Sample Focus (Best free alternative for categorized samples)

Sample Focus brings together a free download model for samples with community-created sample libraries and audio samples. That makes Sample Focus a fit if you're looking for a free alternative to Splice. For a deeper dive into their user-generated audio samples, read this overview and comparison of Sample Focus versus Tracklib.

Freesound.org (Best for royalty-free & experimental sounds)

What's in a name? Freesound prides itself on free-spirited sounds for free download, ranging from experimental music to soundscapes and atmospheres. All music on Freesound is royalty-free and user-generated. The website is actively addressing generative AI and sampling in the age of AI. Freesound is a great alternative to Splice if digging on Splice feels too generic for you.
Instead, Freesound offers leftfield sounds such as horror, field recordings, indian percussion, and experimental sounds. A quick browse through the experimental music tag already shows Jurassic World sound effects, a washing machine, and a wobbly helium balloon.