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Royalty-Free Music for Mobile Apps: How and Why Use it?

Submitted by legismusic on Tue, 07/15/2025 - 04:10

Creating a new paid mobile app for your brand? You need to ensure that every aspect of it is legal. The code, content, design elements, and even the music used.

And if you've researched affordable, legal possibilities, you've probably discovered royalty-free music for mobile apps.

But you might be wondering whether it's possible to use royalty-free tracks on a paid app. To be precise: yes you can. Here are some crucial things to know. Let’s begin.

Not All Royalty-Free Licenses Are the Same

Royalty-free doesn't mean "free" in the actual sense. It most often means you pay once (or even sometimes nothing), and you get to use the music without paying recurring royalties.

Nevertheless, the terms of the license differ. While some royalty-free sites allow commercial use of music in commercial works, such as paid mobile applications, others restrict use to only non-commercial or personal purposes unless you pay for a pricier license.

So, make sure you always read the license. If you wish to sell your app, it's necessary to go for a license that allows commercial usage.

Commercial Use Is the Key Factor

The biggest issue with using royalty-free music for mobile apps isn't whether it's permitted—it's whether the license permits commercial use.

A commercial license will usually include:

Apps sold for a fee
Apps with in-app purchases
Apps with supported ads
Does your app fall into any of these categories? Probably it would be. Make sure the license that you use allows commercial usage.

One-Time Payment Model or Subscription Models: What to Choose?

Some royalty-free sites provide two payment models:

One-time licenses — You purchase the track once and use it indefinitely.

Subscription licenses — You pay a monthly or yearly fee and receive access to a library of music.

For mobile apps, either model is fine as long as:

The license is valid when you release your app.

The license permits the distribution of paid products.

Some subscriptions depend on your license being active even after you've released your app, particularly if you re-release or update it. That might lead to issues. But if you choose one-time licenses, you won't have to worry about recurring or subsequent payments.

You Might Still Need Attribution

Do you already have a royalty-free license? Chances are, some license providers might need attribution. Attribution means acknowledging the original music creator either in the app settings or the credits or maybe in the about sections.

The chances of attribution demand are higher if it is a free license. So, be careful to choose a license that does not ask for attribution.

What Happens If You Use Unlicensed Music?

Using music without an authentic license will get your app pulled out of the App Store or Google Play. You might even get copyright claims.

It's not worthwhile.

Apps are businesses. You wouldn't avoid licensing your app's back-end framework or avoiding app store rules. The same caution needs to be applied to music and sound elements.

Wrap up

You can use royalty-free music in paid mobile apps. But do it correctly. Not all royalty-free licenses are equal. They're created for different purposes. Some are for hobby projects. Others are designed for commercial products.

Always review the license. Check if it explicitly addresses commercial use, distribution through a mobile app, and any conditions for updates or re-releases. Don't download blindly.

If unsure, opt for a reputable music platform with transparent, flexible commercial licensing.

In search of excellent royalty-free music that's safe for your paid apps?

Explore Legis Music—a trusted site with straightforward licensing, no legal uncertainty, and no surprise clauses.