# Freesound

> Collaborative database of over 700,000 Creative Commons audio samples and effects

Freesound is a long-running community platform hosting hundreds of thousands of Creative Commons-licensed audio samples, field recordings, and foley effects. It provides creators with a searchable, open library of sound design assets with waveform previews and clear licensing terms. It serves as a go-to alternative to commercial sample libraries for unconventional textures, ambience, and raw audio.

Website: https://freesound.org/

## What it is for

- Source environmental field recordings and ambient background noise for music production
- Find raw foley and sound effects for video editing or game development
- Download drum loops, synth hits, and impact samples under Creative Commons licenses
- Explore geotagged sounds from around the world using interactive map browsing

## Features

- Over 700,000 community-uploaded audio samples and sound effects
- Creative Commons licensing system (CC0, CC-BY, CC-BY-NC)
- Interactive waveform visualizers and audio preview player
- Search filtering by tags, duration, sample rate, and geotags
- Sample packs and user-curated sound collections
- Community forum and rating system for audio assets
- API access for integrating sounds into third-party tools

## Pricing

Free to search and download with an account; accepts donations

## Details

- Type: Website
- Category: [Design](https://xiry.app/topics/design.md)
- Open source: no
- Platforms: Web, API
- For: Music producers, sound designers, video editors, and game developers looking for free sound assets.
- Alternative to: Splice, Sounds.com, BBC Sound Effects, Sonniss
- Tags: audio, samples, sound effects, foley, creative commons, music production

## Why it was saved

- [@dotmvsic, 3 February 2026](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUTxRblj38x/): A premier free source for foley, environmental ambient recordings, impacts, and sound design elements.
- [@benkaluza, 25 November 2024](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCzxkrYuZiq/): Hosts over 650,000 audio files contributed by a global community with waveform previews and detailed technical tags.

## Compare

- [Alternatives to Splice](https://xiry.app/alternatives/splice.md)

## Related

- [BBC Sound Effects](https://xiry.app/resources/bbc-sound-effects): Searchable archive of historical and modern BBC sound effects and field recordings (Website, Freemium)
- [freeSFX](https://xiry.app/resources/freesfx): Categorized library of free sound effects and royalty-free music tracks. (Website, Free)
- [NASA Image and Video Library](https://xiry.app/resources/nasa-image-and-video-library): Searchable archive of NASA imagery, videos, and mission audio recordings. (Website, Free)
- [Zapsplat](https://xiry.app/resources/zapsplat): Online library of royalty-free sound effects and music tracks. (Website, Freemium)
- [Myinstants](https://xiry.app/resources/myinstants): Online soundboard platform for meme sounds and audio effects (Web app, Free)
- [Pixabay Sound Effects](https://xiry.app/resources/pixabay-sound-effects): Catalog of royalty-free sound effects for video and multimedia projects (Website, Free)

Updated 3 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/freesound

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