Beat directory

Beat marketplaces and producer stores

Every place on this list sells instrumentals you can license for your own songs. Browse a marketplace, buy direct from a producer's store, or hire someone to make a beat from scratch.

9 places to find beats

BeatStars

Marketplace

The largest beat marketplace. Search by genre, mood, BPM, key or "type beat", then buy a lease or exclusive rights directly from the producer.

Best for
The widest selection
How you buy
Leases and exclusives
Genres
All genres
Visit beatstars.com (opens in a new tab)

Airbit

Marketplace

A large beat marketplace (formerly MyFlashStore). Many producers sell here as well as on BeatStars, so it's worth checking both.

Best for
Hip-hop and R&B
How you buy
Leases and exclusives
Genres
Hip-hop, R&B, pop
Visit airbit.com (opens in a new tab)

Traktrain

Marketplace

A cleaner, more curated catalog with a simple checkout. Popular with producers making modern rap sounds.

Best for
Trap, drill and alternative rap
How you buy
Leases and exclusives
Genres
Trap, drill, rap
Visit traktrain.com (opens in a new tab)

SoundClick

Marketplace

One of the oldest beat stores online, with a huge back catalog and plenty of budget-friendly leases.

Best for
Low-cost leases
How you buy
Leases and exclusives
Genres
All genres
Visit soundclick.com (opens in a new tab)

Soundee

Marketplace

Producer-run storefronts with an Explore Beats section. Smaller and less crowded, so you'll find producers who are harder to spot on the big sites.

Best for
Discovering lesser-known producers
How you buy
Leases and exclusives
Genres
All genres
Visit soundee.com (opens in a new tab)

YouTube "type beat" search

Find producers

Search "[artist name] type beat" to hear beats in a style you like. Producers put their beat store link in the video description, and buying direct often gets you a better deal.

Best for
Finding a specific sound
How you buy
Through the producer's store link
Genres
All genres
Visit youtube.com (opens in a new tab)

SoundBetter

Custom beats

A marketplace of vetted music professionals. Hire a producer to make a beat from scratch for your song, alongside mixing and mastering engineers.

Best for
Professional custom production
How you buy
Hire per project
Genres
All genres
Visit soundbetter.com (opens in a new tab)

AirGigs

Custom beats

Hire producers and session musicians online for custom work, from full productions to single instrument parts.

Best for
Custom beats plus live instruments
How you buy
Hire per project
Genres
All genres
Visit airgigs.com (opens in a new tab)

Fiverr

Custom beats

The budget route to a custom beat. Quality varies a lot, so listen to samples and read reviews before you pay.

Best for
Low-budget custom work
How you buy
Hire per gig
Genres
All genres
Visit fiverr.com (opens in a new tab)

Your beat store here

Producer store

We're adding independent producers' own beat stores to this directory. Sell beats? Send us your store and get in front of artists looking for their next beat.

Get listed

Before you buy

Four things to check on any beat

Lease or exclusive?

A beat lease is cheaper but non-exclusive, so others can use the same beat. An exclusive license takes it off the market.

Stream and sales caps

Most leases limit streams, sales or video views. Check the cap and upgrade before you go over it.

Publishing split

Producers usually keep a share of the song's publishing. Agree it in writing with a split sheet before you release.

No free beats on Spotify

"Free for non-profit" beats can't be released on streaming services. Buy a lease first, then see what streams could earn with the Streaming Royalty Calculator.

For producers

Sell beats? Get your store listed

We add independent producers' beat stores to this directory for free. Email us with:

  1. Producer name
  2. Beat store link
  3. Genres
  4. Price range
  5. Licenses offered
Email us to get listed info@nxtnowmusic.com

FAQ

Buying beats: common questions

Where can I buy beats online?

The biggest beat marketplaces are BeatStars, Airbit, Traktrain, SoundClick and Soundee. You can also buy straight from producers' own beat stores, often found through YouTube "type beat" videos, or hire a producer for a custom beat on SoundBetter, AirGigs or Fiverr.

What's the difference between leasing a beat and buying it exclusively?

A lease is a non-exclusive license: you can release a song on the beat within set limits, such as a stream or sales cap, while the producer keeps selling it to others. An exclusive license gives you sole use of the beat, and the producer stops selling it.

Can I release a song with a leased beat on Spotify?

Usually yes, as long as your lease allows distribution to streaming services and you stay within its limits. Check the stream cap, whether the producer keeps a publishing share, and whether you need to credit them in the title, such as (prod. by Name).

Can I use a free beat for a song on streaming services?

Not usually. Beats marked "free for non-profit" or "free download" only cover non-commercial use. To release the song on Spotify or Apple Music, you need to buy a lease or get written permission from the producer.

How do producers get listed in the NxtNow beat directory?

Email info@nxtnowmusic.com with your producer name, beat store link, genres, price range and the licenses you offer. We review every submission and add producers that fit the directory.

Last updated October 21, 2026. NxtNow Music isn't affiliated with the sites listed and doesn't earn from purchases.