Best AI for Music Creation in 2026: 6 Generators Ranked by Quality and Value

AI music generation crossed a threshold in 2025 that nobody expected this soon. Tools like Suno and Udio are producing full songs — with vocals, instrumentation, and production polish — that genuinely sound like they belong on a playlist. Meanwhile, established platforms like AIVA and Soundraw continue to dominate the royalty-free background music space.

I tested six AI music creation platforms over the past several months, generating hundreds of tracks across genres ranging from lo-fi beats to orchestral scores to pop songs with lyrics. This guide breaks down each tool by audio quality, ease of use, pricing, and the specific use case where it shines.

Quick Picks: Best AI Music Creators at a Glance

Best overall AI music generator: Suno — produces the most impressive full songs with vocals, covering a wide range of genres with remarkable quality.

Best for professional-sounding instrumentals: Udio — slightly cleaner audio production than Suno, with strong instrumental capabilities.

Best for film and game scoring: AIVA — purpose-built for orchestral and cinematic compositions with granular control over structure and instrumentation.

Best for content creators: Soundraw — simple interface for generating customizable background music with full commercial licensing.

Best for beginners and casual creators: Boomy — the easiest way to create and distribute music with zero musical knowledge.

Best for enterprise and stock music: Amper Music (Shutterstock) — integrated into Shutterstock’s platform for professional media production workflows.

AI Music Creation Tools Comparison Table

Tool	Starting Price	Best For	Vocal Generation	Commercial Rights	Free Plan
Suno	Free / ~$8/mo (annual)	Full songs with vocals	Yes (high quality)	Paid plans only	Yes (50 credits/day)
Udio	Free / $10/mo	Instrumentals & songs	Yes	Paid plans only	Yes (limited)
AIVA	Free / ~$15/mo	Film & game scoring	No	Pro plan only	Yes (3 downloads/mo)
Soundraw	~$12.99/mo	Background music	No	All paid plans	Limited
Boomy	Free / $9.99/mo	Easy music creation	Limited	Paid plans	Yes (5 saves)
Amper Music	Via Shutterstock	Enterprise media	No	Via license	No

1. Suno: Best Overall AI Music Generator

Suno is the platform that made people sit up and pay attention to AI music. Its v4.5 and v5 models produce full songs — complete with vocals, lyrics, instrumentation, and production mastering — that are often indistinguishable from independent artist releases. Whether you want a country ballad, a hip-hop track, or an orchestral piece, Suno handles it with a consistency that is genuinely surprising.

Audio Quality Assessment

Suno v5 (available on paid plans) represents a significant leap in quality. The vocals sound natural with appropriate emotion and phrasing. Instrumentation is layered and well-mixed. Production quality — the balance between elements, the clarity of the mix, the mastering — is at a level where tracks could pass for independent releases on Spotify.

During testing, I generated 50 tracks across different genres. The standout results were in pop, rock, folk, and electronic genres, where Suno produced tracks I would genuinely listen to outside of testing. The weaker spots were in jazz (phrasing can feel rigid) and classical (lacks the dynamic nuance of real orchestral performance).

How It Works

You can create music in two ways. Text prompts let you describe the song you want: “upbeat indie rock song about road trips, male vocals, guitar-driven.” Suno interprets this and generates a complete track. Custom lyrics mode lets you write your own lyrics (or paste in AI-generated lyrics from ChatGPT), choose a genre and mood, and Suno composes the music and performs the vocals around your words.

The generation process takes about 30-60 seconds per track, and you typically get two variations to choose from. If neither hits the mark, you can regenerate or adjust your prompt. I found that specific, detailed prompts consistently produced better results than vague descriptions.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 50 credits per day (approximately 10 songs). Access to v4.5-All model. Non-commercial use only.
• Pro Plan: 2,500 credits per month. Access to v5 model. Commercial rights for songs created while subscribed. Approximately $8/month billed annually.
• Premier Plan: 10,000 credits per month. V5 plus Suno Studio features (stems, early access). Full commercial rights. Approximately $24/month billed annually.

Important 2026 update: Suno announced a licensing partnership with Warner Music that will introduce more advanced licensed models and monthly download caps on some plans.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Vocal quality is the best in the AI music space
• Handles a remarkably wide range of genres convincingly
• Free plan with 50 daily credits is generous for experimentation
• Custom lyrics mode gives you creative control over song content
• Pro plan pricing is very affordable for the quality delivered

Cons:

• Free plan songs are non-commercial — you need a paid plan for any business use
• Some genres (jazz, complex classical) still lack nuance
• Generated songs are limited in length (typically 2-4 minutes)
• The Warner Music deal may introduce new restrictions going forward
• You cannot fine-tune individual instrument tracks on basic plans

Best for: Content creators, indie artists, filmmakers, and anyone who needs complete songs with vocals. Suno is the clear leader for full song generation, and the free tier makes it risk-free to explore.

2. Udio: Best for Professional-Sounding Instrumentals

Udio occupies a similar space to Suno but with a slightly different character. Where Suno excels at vocals and full song production, Udio produces instrumentals with a cleaner, more polished sound that appeals to producers and musicians looking for AI-assisted composition.

Audio Quality Assessment

Udio’s instrumental output is where it truly shines. The production quality is clean and well-separated — you can hear individual instruments clearly, the stereo imaging is wide, and the overall mastering is competitive with professionally produced tracks. During testing, Udio’s electronic and ambient tracks were particularly impressive, with rich textures and dynamic progression that felt intentional rather than random.

Vocal generation is capable but slightly behind Suno in naturalness. Udio vocals can occasionally sound over-processed, though the gap has narrowed significantly with recent updates. For tracks where instrumentation is the focus, Udio is often the better choice.

How It Works

Udio’s interface is straightforward. Enter a text description of the music you want, optionally specify a genre, mood, and tempo, and Udio generates a track. You can also provide lyrics for vocal tracks. The generation time is similar to Suno (30-60 seconds), and you get multiple variations.

Udio’s editing tools let you extend tracks, create transitions, and adjust the arrangement after generation. This post-generation editing is more developed than Suno’s, giving you greater control over the final output.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Limited daily generations with basic features.
• Standard Plan: $10/month. 1,200 credits, high-quality downloads, and advanced editing.
• Pro Plan: $30/month. Higher credit allocation, professional features, and priority generation.

Important note: During Udio’s 2025-2026 licensing transition (related to Universal Music partnership), audio/video/stem downloads are temporarily disabled across all plans. Check Udio’s website for current download availability before subscribing.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Instrumental quality is among the best available
• Clean, well-mastered production output
• Post-generation editing tools offer more control than competitors
• Electronic, ambient, and cinematic genres are particularly strong
• Standard plan at $10/month is reasonably priced

Cons:

• Download restrictions during the current licensing transition
• Vocal quality slightly below Suno
• Free plan is more limited than Suno’s
• Fewer genre-specific strengths outside of electronic and ambient
• The licensing situation creates uncertainty for commercial users

Best for: Musicians, producers, and content creators who prioritize instrumental quality and want more post-generation control over their tracks. Udio is the better choice when the music itself is the focus, rather than a complete song with vocals.

3. AIVA: Best AI for Film and Game Scoring

AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) takes a completely different approach from Suno and Udio. Instead of generating complete songs from text prompts, AIVA is a composition assistant designed for cinematic, orchestral, and structured musical compositions. It is the tool that film composers, game developers, and media producers reach for when they need scored music that fits a specific emotional arc.

Audio Quality Assessment

AIVA’s output quality depends heavily on the rendering method. Using AIVA’s built-in synthesis, the audio is good but clearly synthesized — functional for demos and rough cuts. The real power is in exporting MIDI files and rendering through professional virtual instruments (like those from Spitfire Audio or Native Instruments), which produces output that is nearly indistinguishable from a live orchestra recording.

The compositional quality — the structure, harmonic progression, and emotional development — is where AIVA genuinely excels. It understands musical form in ways that Suno and Udio do not. A cinematic cue from AIVA has an introduction, development, climax, and resolution that feels composed rather than generated.

How It Works

AIVA offers several composition methods. You can choose a musical style (cinematic, electronic, pop, jazz, classical, and many more), set parameters like duration, key, and tempo, and let AIVA compose. Alternatively, you can upload a MIDI file or audio reference and ask AIVA to create something in a similar style.

The most powerful feature is influence-based composition: upload an existing piece of music as a reference, and AIVA creates an original composition influenced by its structure and style. This is invaluable for film scoring, where you need music that evokes a specific feeling without copying an existing work.

After generation, you can edit the composition in AIVA’s editor — adjusting individual instruments, changing sections, modifying dynamics. This level of granular control sets AIVA apart from every other tool on this list.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 3 downloads per month. Tracks up to 3 minutes. MP3 and MIDI formats. Non-commercial use with credit required.
• Standard Plan: ~$15/month (EUR 15). 15 downloads per month. 5-minute tracks. Limited monetization on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and Instagram.
• Pro Plan: ~$49/month (EUR 49). 300 downloads per month. 5.5-minute tracks. Full copyright ownership and unrestricted monetization. All file formats including WAV.

Students and educators receive 15% off monthly plans and 30% off annual plans.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Compositional quality and musical structure are superior to prompt-based generators
• MIDI export enables professional rendering with high-end virtual instruments
• Influence-based composition is powerful for scoring to a reference
• Granular editing control over individual instruments and sections
• Student and educator discounts are generous

Cons:

• No vocal generation capability
• Built-in audio rendering sounds synthesized without external instruments
• Steeper learning curve than Suno or Udio
• Requires musical knowledge to fully leverage editing features
• Pro plan at $49/month is expensive for casual users

Best for: Film composers, game audio designers, media producers, and musicians who need structured compositions with professional-level control. AIVA is not a “type a prompt and get a song” tool — it is a composition assistant that rewards musical knowledge and creative direction.

4. Soundraw: Best AI Music Generator for Content Creators

Soundraw occupies the practical middle ground between full song generators and professional composition tools. It produces customizable background music — the kind of music that content creators, podcasters, and video producers need every day. No vocals, no experimental compositions — just clean, professional background tracks with remarkable customization.

Audio Quality Assessment

Soundraw’s output quality is consistently good across all genres. The tracks sound professional, well-mixed, and ready for use in video content without additional processing. They do not reach the creative heights of Suno or the compositional sophistication of AIVA, but that is not the point. Soundraw produces reliable, broadcast-quality background music every single time.

During testing, I generated tracks for YouTube videos, podcast intros, and social media content. Every track was immediately usable — no awkward transitions, no jarring instrument choices, no mixing issues. This consistency is Soundraw’s greatest strength.

How It Works

Soundraw’s interface is designed for speed. Choose a genre, mood, tempo, and duration, and the platform generates multiple track options. Each track is fully customizable — you can adjust the energy level of individual sections, change instruments, modify the arrangement, and fine-tune the duration to fit your content exactly.

The section-by-section editing is what sets Soundraw apart. Need a low-energy intro that builds to a high-energy chorus? Drag the energy slider for each section. Need to cut 15 seconds from the middle without losing the ending? Adjust the section structure. This level of customization means you can tailor each track to fit your content perfectly, rather than cutting your content to fit the music.

Pricing

• Creator Plan: Starting at approximately $12.99/month. Unlimited MP3 downloads with royalty-free rights for videos, podcasts, ads, and client work.
• Artist Plan: Higher tier for musicians who want to distribute modified Soundraw tracks on streaming platforms like Spotify. Pricing goes up to approximately $64.99/month for the Artist Pro subscription.

All paid plans include full royalty-free commercial licensing for background music use.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Consistently professional output quality
• Section-by-section customization for perfect content fit
• Full royalty-free commercial licensing on all paid plans
• Fast generation — tracks ready in seconds
• Clean interface designed for non-musicians

Cons:

• No vocal generation
• Tracks are good but rarely exceptional or emotionally complex
• Limited genre depth compared to Suno or Udio
• Cannot create songs — strictly background music
• Artist plan pricing is high for streaming distribution use

Best for: YouTubers, podcasters, video editors, and content creators who need reliable, customizable background music without the complexity of full music production. If you produce content regularly and need a constant supply of fresh, licensable background tracks, Soundraw is the most practical choice.

5. Boomy: Best AI Music Creator for Beginners

Boomy is the most accessible AI music creator on the market. If you have never touched a musical instrument or opened a DAW, Boomy lets you create complete tracks in seconds and even distribute them to streaming platforms. It has democratized music creation to the point where the barrier to entry is essentially zero.

Audio Quality Assessment

Let me be honest: Boomy’s audio quality is the lowest on this list. The tracks sound like AI-generated music — competent but lacking the polish and character of Suno, Udio, or AIVA output. The production is clean enough for casual listening and social media use, but it does not hold up next to professionally produced music.

That said, Boomy has improved significantly over the past year. Recent tracks show better instrument separation, more dynamic arrangement, and improved mastering. For its target audience — casual creators and people exploring music for the first time — the quality is more than sufficient.

How It Works

Boomy’s creation process takes about 30 seconds. Choose a style (electronic, rap beats, lo-fi, relaxing, custom), optionally add a brief description, and Boomy generates a complete track. You can then customize the track with simple editing tools — adjust the tempo, swap instruments, and modify sections.

The streaming distribution feature is Boomy’s unique selling point. Once you have a track you like, Boomy handles distribution to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and other platforms. You earn streaming royalties from plays, and Boomy takes a revenue share. Several Boomy creators have reportedly earned meaningful streaming income from high-volume catalogs.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Unlimited track creation, 5 song saves, 1 track release to streaming platforms.
• Creator Plan: $9.99/month. 500 song saves, 3 monthly releases, full platform features.
• Pro Plan: $29.99/month. Unlimited song saves, 10 monthly releases, advanced analytics, comprehensive monetization tools.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Easiest music creation tool available — literally zero musical knowledge required
• Built-in distribution to major streaming platforms
• Revenue sharing model lets creators earn from streams
• Free plan allows unlimited creation with 1 release
• Fun and accessible for experimentation

Cons:

• Audio quality is noticeably below Suno, Udio, and AIVA
• Limited customization compared to other platforms
• Creative control is minimal — you are mostly accepting what the AI generates
• Revenue from streaming is typically very small per track
• Not suitable for professional music production or commercial media use

Best for: Complete beginners, hobbyists, and people who want to explore music creation without any technical barrier. Boomy is also interesting for creators who want to experiment with passive streaming income by generating and distributing a large volume of tracks.

6. Amper Music (Shutterstock): Best for Enterprise and Stock Music

Amper Music, acquired by Shutterstock in 2020, is now integrated into Shutterstock’s creative platform as their AI-powered music generation tool. It is positioned for enterprise media production — agencies, production houses, and corporations that need licensed music at scale.

Audio Quality Assessment

Amper produces professional-grade background music that is indistinguishable from traditional stock music library tracks. The output is clean, well-mixed, and production-ready for broadcast, advertising, and corporate media. It does not attempt the creative ambition of Suno or the compositional depth of AIVA — it produces reliable, professional background music that checks every box for commercial media use.

How It Works

Amper generates music based on mood, style, and duration parameters within Shutterstock’s platform. You specify what you need — an upbeat corporate track, a dramatic cinematic underscore, a gentle acoustic piece — and Amper creates it. The output comes with full commercial licensing through Shutterstock’s standard license agreement.

The integration with Shutterstock’s broader creative platform (stock photos, videos, and illustrations) makes Amper particularly convenient for agencies and production teams that already use Shutterstock for other assets.

Pricing

Amper Music is not available as a standalone product. It is accessed through Shutterstock subscriptions, which use a credit-based system. Enterprise customers receive custom pricing based on volume and usage requirements.

For teams already paying for Shutterstock, Amper adds AI music generation at no significant additional cost. For new customers, the total cost depends on the Shutterstock subscription tier.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Professional-grade output suitable for broadcast and advertising
• Full commercial licensing through Shutterstock’s established framework
• Integrated with Shutterstock’s creative asset ecosystem
• Enterprise-grade reliability and support
• No copyright or licensing ambiguity

Cons:

• Not available as a standalone product
• Requires Shutterstock subscription (which can be expensive)
• Less creative flexibility than Suno, Udio, or AIVA
• No vocal generation
• Limited appeal for individual creators or musicians

Best for: Agencies, production houses, and enterprises that need licensed background music as part of a broader creative asset workflow. If your team already uses Shutterstock, Amper is a natural addition. For individual creators, the other tools on this list offer more value.

Choosing the Right AI Music Tool: Use Case Guide

For YouTube videos and podcasts: Soundraw offers the most practical workflow with customizable, royalty-free tracks that fit your content perfectly.

For complete songs with vocals: Suno is the clear leader. The free tier lets you experiment, and the Pro plan’s commercial rights cover most creator needs.

For film, game, and media scoring: AIVA provides the compositional control and MIDI export capabilities that professional scoring demands.

For social media content: Suno’s free tier (50 credits/day) generates enough content for daily social media posts. Boomy is the simplest option if you just need quick background tracks.

For professional music production: Udio’s clean instrumentals and post-generation editing tools give producers the most control over the final output.

For enterprise media production: Amper Music through Shutterstock provides the licensing certainty and production quality that commercial projects require.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AI-generated music commercially?

It depends on the platform and plan. Suno and Udio grant commercial rights on paid plans. AIVA’s Pro plan includes full copyright ownership. Soundraw includes commercial licensing on all paid plans. Boomy allows distribution to streaming platforms. Always check the specific licensing terms of your plan, as they vary significantly between platforms and can change.

Will AI music get flagged on YouTube or Spotify?

AI-generated music from legitimate platforms (Suno, Udio, Soundraw, Boomy) generally does not get copyright-flagged because the platforms own or license the underlying models. However, if you use a free tier track commercially, or if the AI generates something too similar to a copyrighted work, flags are possible. Paid plans with explicit commercial licensing provide the safest protection.

Can AI replace human musicians?

For background music, stock tracks, and content creation needs — AI tools are already a viable replacement. For artistic expression, live performance, and music that carries genuine emotional depth and cultural significance, human musicians remain irreplaceable. The most productive approach is using AI as a collaboration tool: generate ideas and rough drafts with AI, then refine with human creativity and performance.

Which AI music tool has the best audio quality?

For full songs with vocals, Suno v5 currently leads. For instrumentals, Udio produces the cleanest production. For orchestral and cinematic compositions (especially when rendered through professional virtual instruments), AIVA delivers the most sophisticated results. Soundraw offers the most consistent quality for background music, even if it is rarely exceptional.

How do music licensing deals affect AI music generators?

The 2025-2026 licensing deals between AI music companies and major labels (Suno-Warner Music, Udio-Universal Music) are reshaping the landscape. These deals legitimize AI music generation but may introduce new restrictions — Suno has announced upcoming download caps, and Udio has temporarily disabled downloads during their transition. These partnerships should ultimately provide more legal clarity for commercial use, but the terms are still evolving.

Final Verdict

The AI music creation space in 2026 is divided into two clear tiers.

For full song creation, Suno is the standout choice. The quality of its vocal and instrumental output, combined with a generous free tier and affordable Pro plan (~$8/month annually), makes it the most impressive and accessible AI music generator available. Udio is the strong alternative, particularly for instrumental-focused work.

For background and functional music, the choice depends on your workflow. Content creators should start with Soundraw for its customization and commercial licensing. Professional media producers should look at AIVA for scoring work or Amper Music (via Shutterstock) for enterprise licensing. Beginners and hobbyists will find Boomy the simplest entry point.

The technology is advancing rapidly, and the licensing landscape is shifting. Whatever tool you choose, verify the current terms of service and commercial licensing before using AI-generated music in professional projects. The platforms listed here are the legitimate, industry-recognized options — and they each excel at a specific slice of the music creation process.