Pixabay Music vs YouTube Audio Library:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, YouTube Audio Library had more branded searches than Pixabay Music among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand. YouTube Audio Library had about 720 branded searches, while Pixabay Music had 590. YouTube Audio Library made up 12.9% of all royalty-free music library searches we track, and Pixabay Music accounted for 10.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about royalty-free music libraries, Pixabay Music appeared in four of the five answers and YouTube Audio Library in two. Pixabay Music was mentioned before YouTube Audio Library in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
YouTube Audio Library, about 22% more searches than Pixabay Music
Who does AI mention more?
Pixabay Music, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, YouTube Audio Library in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Pixabay Music, named ahead of YouTube Audio Library in 3 of 5 answers
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Top royalty-free music libraries in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pixabay Music was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. YouTube Audio Library was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Pixabay Music was listed before YouTube Audio Library in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Epidemic Sound5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Artlist4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Pixabay Music4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Musicbed3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- YouTube Audio Library2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Soundstripe2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
PremiumBeat1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about royalty-free music libraries
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which royalty-free music library should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best royalty-free music library in New Zealand for video creators?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“royalty free music library”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best royalty free music”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Pixabay Music or YouTube Audio Library more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pixabay Music and YouTube Audio Library by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven royalty-free music libraries we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for YouTube Audio Library, Pixabay Music. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Artlist | Epidemic Sound | YouTube Audio Library | Pixabay Music | Musicbed | Soundstripe | PremiumBeat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 49.9% | 21.2% | 14% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.5% | 24.1% | 13% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 0.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.7% | 26.3% | 14% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 2.1% | 0.58% |
| Jan 2026 | 43.8% | 24.7% | 16.3% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 2.6% | 0.56% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.8% | 26.2% | 14% | 6.2% | 5% | 2.1% | 0.58% |
| Mar 2026 | 47.6% | 26.4% | 11.6% | 6.3% | 5.1% | 2.3% | 0.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 41.3% | 24.2% | 16% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 2% | 0.55% |
| May 2026 | 43.5% | 24.6% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 5.8% | 1.6% | 0.55% |
| Jun 2026 | 40.9% | 29% | 12.7% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 2.5% | 0.71% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.6% | 24% | 34.9% | 7% | 3.8% | 1.3% | 0.44% |
| Aug 2026 | 27% | 19% | 42% | 6.9% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 0.35% |
| Sep 2026 | 40.3% | 29.2% | 12.9% | 10.6% | 5.7% | 0.9% | 0.36% |
How has the Pixabay Music and YouTube Audio Library comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- YouTube Audio Library was ahead of Pixabay Music in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pixabay Music’s share of searches among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand moved from 6.2% to 10.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 390 to 590.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YouTube Audio Library’s share of searches among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand moved from 14% to 12.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 880 to 720.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand royalty-free music libraries in September 2026?
4 changes

In September 2026, Artlist overtook YouTube Audio Library to become the leader among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, with 40.3% of the searches.

In September 2026, Epidemic Sound overtook YouTube Audio Library to rank 2nd among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, with 29.2% of the searches.
In September 2026, Pixabay Music gained share of searches among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, from 6.9% to 10.6%.
In September 2026, YouTube Audio Library lost share of searches among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, from 42% to 12.9%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pixabay Music’s and YouTube Audio Library’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Pixabay Music
1 branded search term
- pixabay music
YouTube Audio Library
1 branded search term
- youtube audio library
Other head-to-heads among royalty-free music libraries

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