How to Create Music with AI in 2026 (Free Tools & Guide)

AI Music Creation: Anyone Can Make Music Now

You don’t need instruments, music theory, or years of practice to create music anymore. AI music generators produce professional-quality songs, beats, and soundtracks from text descriptions. Whether you need background music for videos, podcast intros, or want to create complete songs, AI handles it.

Best AI Music Generation Tools

Tool	Free Tier	Quality	Best For
Suno	10 songs/day	Excellent	Full songs with vocals
Udio	10 songs/day	Excellent	Realistic vocals & genres
AIVA	3 downloads/month	Very Good	Classical & film scores
Soundraw	Limited preview	Good	Royalty-free background music
Boomy	Unlimited creation	Good	Quick beats & instrumentals
Stable Audio	20 tracks/month	Very Good	Sound effects & instrumentals

What AI Music Can Do in 2026

• Full songs — Vocals, lyrics, instruments, production (Suno, Udio)
• Instrumentals — Background music, beats, loops (Soundraw, Boomy)
• Film scores — Orchestral, cinematic compositions (AIVA)
• Sound effects — Custom audio for games and videos (Stable Audio)
• Podcast music — Intros, outros, transition music
• Karaoke/backing tracks — Remove or add vocals to existing songs

Step-by-Step: Create Your First AI Song

Using Suno (Easiest for Complete Songs)

1. Sign up at suno.com (free account gets 10 songs/day)
2. Click “Create” and choose a mode:
   • Simple mode: Describe the song in plain English
   • Custom mode: Write your own lyrics and specify genre/mood
3. Example prompt: “An upbeat indie pop song about starting a new adventure, energetic guitar, catchy chorus”
4. AI generates 2 variations — listen and pick your favorite
5. Extend or remix the song if you want it longer
6. Download in MP3 format

Prompt Tips for Better AI Music

• Specify genre — “indie rock”, “lo-fi hip hop”, “cinematic orchestral”
• Describe mood — “melancholic”, “energetic”, “peaceful”, “dark”
• Mention instruments — “acoustic guitar”, “piano”, “synth pads”
• Set tempo — “slow ballad”, “fast-paced”, “medium groove”
• Reference era — “80s synth pop”, “90s grunge”, “modern trap”

Commercial Use & Licensing

Licensing varies significantly between platforms:

• Suno Free — Personal use only; Pro plan ($10/mo) allows commercial use
• Udio Free — Non-commercial; paid plans allow commercial use
• AIVA Free — Must credit AIVA; paid plans remove requirement
• Soundraw — All plans include commercial licensing
• Boomy — Can distribute to streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music)

Use Cases for AI Music

• YouTube videos — Create custom background music (no copyright strikes)
• Podcasts — Generate unique intro/outro music
• Social media — Original music for TikTok and Reels
• Games — Dynamic soundtracks and effects
• Presentations — Professional background music
• Relaxation — Custom ambient and meditation music

Can You Publish AI Music on Spotify?

Yes, through distributors like DistroKid, TuneCore, or Boomy’s built-in distribution. Some platforms have specific AI disclosure requirements. Revenue is earned through streams, though per-stream rates are low ($0.003-$0.005/stream on Spotify).