VickyFinding the right composer can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially when you need to hire a music composer online and move fast.
Whether you’re scoring a film, producing a standout ad campaign, or building a game soundtrack, the right composer elevates emotion, pacing, and brand recall.
This guide breaks down the best websites to find professional music composers, when to use a custom composer vs a licensing library, and how to shortlist talent with confidence.
Custom Composer vs Music Licensing Libraries
Before you pick a platform, decide what you’re buying.
- Hire a composer when you need a custom theme, adaptive game music, brand sonic identity, or tight sync to picture. You’ll get original compositions, revisions, and stems tailored to your edit.
- Use a licensing library when you need fast, budget-friendly tracks for content at scale. You’ll typically choose from pre-made music with straightforward licensing, but limited customization.
If your project needs a signature sound or scene-specific timing, hiring a composer usually beats searching a library for “close enough.”
Best Websites to Hire a Music Composer Online
Let’s look into some of the best websites available for finding talented individuals in this field. Each of these platforms offers unique features and benefits that cater to different needs and preferences.
1. Twine
Twine is a top choice for anyone looking to hire a music composer online or connect with talented professionals worldwide. This platform connects clients with skilled freelance composers from all over the world, offering a wide range of styles and expertise to suit any project. Whether you’re working on a film, game, or commercial, Twine makes it easy to browse portfolios, review past work, and hire the perfect composer for your needs.
One of Twine’s standout features is its focus on quality. Each freelancer is vetted, ensuring that you’re working with professionals who have the experience and talent to deliver exceptional results.
Additionally, Twine’s intuitive platform allows you to post a project for free, outline your requirements, and receive tailored pitches from composers eager to collaborate. With its strong emphasis on creative industries, Twine is an excellent resource for bringing your musical vision to life.
Best for: Custom composition for film, games, ads, trailers, podcasts, and brand themes.
What to ask for in your brief: references, length, usage (broadcast, web, paid ads), deadlines, and deliverables like WAV, stems, loopable versions, and alt mixes.
💡Tip: If you’re budgeting, start with our guide on music composer rates before you post your project.
2. MusicBed
One of the most well-known platforms for music composers is Musicbed. This website is a marketplace filled with a wide range of original tracks from various composers. It provides filmmakers and content creators with licensed music to use in their projects. The user-friendly interface allows for easy navigation through genres, moods, and instrumentation, making it a valuable tool for professionals looking to find the perfect match for their projects.
Furthermore, Musicbed often promotes collaborations with renowned artists, making it a reputable source for high-quality compositions. From cinematic pieces to indie tracks, this platform covers it all. It also offers exclusive tracks that set it apart from other libraries.
Best for: High-end film and branded content where music quality is the priority
Pricing Model: Track licensing
Good to know: Licensing varies by usage, confirm ad spend and broadcast needs
Not ideal if: You need fully custom cues timed to picture
3. Epidemic Sound
Another excellent resource is Epidemic Sound, which stands out for its subscription-based model. It provides unlimited access to a vast library of royalty-free music, allowing users to create without worrying about individual track costs. This accessibility can be a game-changer for small creators and large productions alike.
What makes Epidemic Sound particularly appealing is its user-generated playlists and curated collections that fit various themes and emotions, making it easier for clients to find exactly what they need without sifting through an overwhelming amount of content.
Best for: Content at scale
Pricing model: Subscription
Licensing note: Subscription library
4. Soundstripe
Soundstripe also deserves a mention for its focus on simplicity and ease of access. With a subscription, users can download unlimited tracks from its extensive library, which is particularly attractive to video creators. Soundstripe’s unique feature is its commitment to consistently updating their library with new music, ensuring that clients have access to fresh sounds regularly.
Moreover, Soundstripe offers perks such as sound effects and a team of in-house composers who contribute regularly. This blending of resources makes it a top choice for many video production companies.
Best for: Simple licensing workflow
Pricing model: Subscription
Licensing note: Subscription library
5. Artlist
Artlist is another major player in the music licensing industry, especially favored among filmmakers and content creators. Its simple licensing model allows for unlimited downloads and a one-time fee that covers the music for all uses, making it budget-friendly.
The platform is also known for its quality music. Artlist carefully curates tracks and collaborates directly with artists to provide music that elevates storytelling across visual content. This dedication to high quality is a significant reason why many professionals rely on Artlist for their sound needs.
Best for: Filmmaker-friendly licensing
Pricing model: Subscription
Licensing note: Subscription library
6. AudioJungle
AudioJungle is a part of the Envato Market and works slightly differently than others. It allows composers to sell their work individually, which can lead to a vast range of choices, but also variability in quality. While some may find the wide selection daunting, it provides an opportunity to discover unique tracks that may not be available elsewhere.
The downside, however, is the potential for confusion in terms of licensing and the varying quality of submissions. Nevertheless, AudioJungle remains popular because of its affordability and diverse offerings.
Best for: Budget track variety
Pricing model: Pay per track
Licensing note: Marketplace library
7. Pond5
Pond5 is another platform worth exploring. Beyond just music, it offers a wide array of stock footage, images, and sound effects, making it a one-stop-shop for multimedia creators. The music library is extensive, providing a rich selection for those on the hunt for the perfect score.
Pond5 allows users to easily filter music by mood, style, and tempo, making it user-friendly. Additionally, the ability to purchase credits in bulk can be highly beneficial for regular users, helping reduce overall costs.
Best for: One-stop media assets
Pricing model: Per item or credits
Licensing note: Asset marketplace
8. PremiumBeat
The final website to consider is PremiumBeat, which is known for its high production values and quality music selection. Positioned towards professional creators, PremiumBeat offers a curated library that eliminates a lot of the clutter users might find on larger platforms.
Additionally, they provide comprehensive search functions, allowing users to filter by genre, instrumentation, or mood to find exactly what fits their project. Their focus on quality over quantity is what sets them apart in the music licensing space.
Best for: Curated pro tracks
Pricing model: Per track
Licensing note: Licensing library
How to Choose a Music Composer Online
Now that you have a solid understanding of where to find music composers, it’s equally important to know how to choose the right one for your project. Here are some essential tips to guide you.
- Start with use case: film score, trailer, ad, game loop, podcast theme, brand mnemonic
- Ask for relevant samples: not just “best work,” ask for similar pacing, genre, or instrumentation
- Request the right deliverables: full mix, stems, 15s and 30s cutdowns, loopable versions, alt mixes
- Define revision rules upfront: number of revisions, feedback rounds, and what counts as a “revision”
- Confirm rights and usage: online ads, TV, theatrical, apps, games, streaming, territories, duration
- Run a paid test (optional): a short 10–20 second cue to confirm communication and direction
Music Composer Rates and Budget Checklist
Composer pricing usually depends on project length, complexity, usage rights, turnaround time, and whether you need live musicians. To budget accurately, outline:
- total minutes of music needed
- reference tracks and style targets
- deadlines and milestones
- licensing scope, paid ads vs organic, broadcast vs web
- deliverables, stems, cutdowns, loopable cues
- whether you need implementation support for games (middleware, loops, adaptive layers)
For real numbers and typical ranges, see our music composer rates guide. Transparency about music composition costs prevents any misunderstandings later on.
Final Thoughts
The right composer or library choice depends on whether you need a signature sound or fast licensed tracks. If you want music built around your story, timings, and brand, it’s usually worth hiring a composer who can deliver stems, revisions, and a polished final mix.
Ready to move forward? Post your brief on Twine to connect with vetted music composers, review tailored pitches, and hire the best match for your film, game, or campaign.
Related Reads:
- Music composer rates, what clients typically pay and what affects price
- Video game composer pricing, budgeting for adaptive soundtracks
- How much does audio post-production cost, mixing and mastering basics
- How to write a creative brief for hiring a music composer
Raksha
