Dr.DIO · Alternative to Epidemic Sound

A smaller, cheaper alternative to Epidemic Sound for creators

Epidemic Sound offers a large owned library of music and sound effects by subscription. Dr.DIO is one studio's catalog of electronic and ambient music, with a free account and paid plans from $2.99 a month.

Epidemic Sound Creator: $17.99 a monthDr.DIO free: 10 tracks a monthDr.DIO Creator: $9.99 a month

Choose a track Club: no credit line

Epidemic Sound and Dr.DIO side by side

	Epidemic Sound	Dr.DIO
Price	Creator $17.99 a month or $119.88 a year (US)	Free; Club $2.99 a month; Creator $9.99 a month
Free plan	No; free trial of paid plans	Yes, 10 tracks a month with a credit line
Catalog	Own catalog of music and sound effects	2,298 original tracks from one studio, electronic and ambient
Sound effects	Yes	No
Downloads	Unlimited on all plans	10, 30 or 100 tracks a month by plan
Ad campaigns	Pro or Enterprise plans	Not covered
Good fit for	Creators who need volume, variety and SFX	Electronic and ambient videos on a small budget

When Epidemic Sound is the better choice

Epidemic Sound has unlimited downloads and use on all plans, plus a sound effects library. Dr.DIO has neither: downloads are counted per month and there are no sound effects.

Epidemic Sound states that content published during an active subscription stays cleared after you cancel, as long as the channel was safelisted. Its Pro and Enterprise plans also cover ad campaigns, which Dr.DIO does not.

When Dr.DIO fits better

If your videos use downtempo, ambient, house, synthwave or lounge music, Dr.DIO covers that sound at a lower price: Club is $2.99 a month and Creator is $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

Dr.DIO has a free account with 10 tracks a month for your own videos, with the credit line "Music: Dr.DIO · track title · drdio.studio". Epidemic Sound has no free plan, and tracks downloaded during its trial are cleared only for use during the trial.

Dr.DIO does not run Content ID and none of its tracks is registered with a collecting society.

How to try Dr.DIO

Listen to the free radio on drdio.studio and note the tracks that fit your videos.
Sign in with Google or Apple for a free account and use up to 10 tracks a month with the credit line.
Move to Club ($2.99 a month, 30 tracks without credit) or Creator ($9.99 a month, 100 downloads in FLAC and MP3) when you need more.

Checked in October 2026

The facts about Epidemic Sound on this page come from its own website, its terms and public sources as they stood in October 2026. Prices and terms change, so check the current ones on the Epidemic Sound site before you decide.

Picked from the catalogue

Tracksfor it

All tracks

Slow Sunrise

Downtempo bass at first coffee. Your eyes follow distance on the horizon

102 bpmF minor3:34

Clouded Summit

A clouded piano over new age air. You hold still on the summit as the dark leans

59 bpmC minor3:08

Moonlit Glade

You lean into the moonlit glade. A piano folded into slow synthwave

107 bpmE minor2:50

Dark Curve

A bass under your ribs in the dark. You hold the curve as it passes

76 bpmF minor2:28

Storm Forest

You lean into the stormy forest before dawn. Deep house bass under a whisper of keys

97 bpmG minor3:18

Starry Dome

Your gaze follows the starry dome and holds. Downtempo air in a bass under the moon

97 bpmD major3:49

Empty Stadium

Synthwave piano in an empty stadium. Your legs run through the frosted light

100 bpmD minor2:49

Cobblestone Rain

Deep house bass under wet cobblestones. You lean into the falling rain

120 bpmE minor3:18

Dusty Summer

A low pulse in dusty summer air. Deep techno you lean into and follow

125 bpmD minor4:19

Far Drums

Your chest leans into deep space glass. Downtempo guitar with the drums far back

98 bpmC minor3:52

Stellar Lift

It lifts you out of your chair. Stellar synths and a piano running warm

122 bpmD minor3:08

Silent Path

Glass light on a silent urban path. You hold the first cup over downtempo piano

104 bpmF minor3:58

Questions

Is there a cheaper alternative to Epidemic Sound?

Epidemic Sound's Creator plan is listed at $17.99 a month or $119.88 a year in the US. Dr.DIO has a free account with 10 tracks a month, Club at $2.99 a month and Creator at $9.99 a month. The Dr.DIO catalog is much smaller and covers only electronic and ambient music.

What happens to my videos if I cancel Epidemic Sound?

Epidemic Sound says content published during an active subscription stays cleared forever if your channels were safelisted. Music used in content published after the subscription ends gets claimed and monetized by Epidemic Sound.

Does Epidemic Sound have a free trial?

Yes, it offers a free trial of paid plans, but tracks downloaded during the trial are only cleared for use during the trial. There is no free plan.

Epidemic Sound vs Artlist: where does Dr.DIO fit?

Both offer music and sound effects by subscription. Dr.DIO is narrower: original electronic and ambient tracks, no sound effects, with a free account and lower monthly prices.

Can I use Epidemic Sound for in store music?

Epidemic Sound sells in store music as a separate product through partners, not through its creator plans. Dr.DIO Business covers public playback at $14.99 a month per venue.