Free Ambient Sounds: The Best Free Resources to Create Immersive Atmospheres
When it comes to sound design, few categories are as versatile as ambient sounds. From natural soundscapes to synthetic textures that evoke distant worlds, ambient sounds are a powerful tool for composers, sound designers, lo-fi artists, video creators, and podcasters alike.
Whether you’re scoring a film, building tension in a game, or just adding subtle texture to your track, finding the right atmosphere can make all the difference. And the good news is — you don’t always need to pay to get high-quality sounds.
Here are some of the best platforms offering free ambient sounds for your creative projects:
BBC Sound Effects Archive
A treasure trove of over 16,000 sounds, including field recordings, ambiences, and environments. All available for personal, educational, or research use.
https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk
Freesound.org
A collaborative database of Creative Commons sounds. Just type “ambient” in the search bar and you’ll discover thousands of user-uploaded samples.
https://freesound.org
Soundly Free Library
Although Soundly is a commercial software, it also offers a curated library of free ambient sounds accessible directly from their platform.
https://getsoundly.com
99Sounds – Sound Design Collections
99Sounds offers beautifully crafted sound packs, including ambient textures, drones, and atmospheres — all free to download.
https://99sounds.org
Sonniss Game Audio GDC Packs
Every year during GDC, Sonniss releases a massive collection of high-quality free game audio — many of which are ambient in nature.
https://sonniss.com/gameaudiogdc
Pixabay Sound Effects
Pixabay offers a vast collection of royalty-free ambient sound effects, including nature sounds, atmospheric textures, and more, all free to download and use in your projects.
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/search/ambient/
ZapSplat
With over 150,000 free sound effects, ZapSplat provides a wide range of ambient sounds, from natural environments to synthetic textures, suitable for various creative applications.
https://www.zapsplat.com/sound-effect-category/ambient/
Mixkit
Mixkit offers a curated selection of free ambience sound effects, perfect for setting the scene in your videos or audio projects.
https://mixkit.co/free-sound-effects/ambience/
Uppbeat
Uppbeat provides a collection of free ambient sound effects and audio clips, safe for use on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts.
https://uppbeat.io/sfx/category/ambient
myNoise
myNoise offers customizable ambient soundscapes and noise generators, allowing you to create the perfect audio environment for focus, relaxation, or sleep.
https://mynoise.net/
PremiumBeat Free Ambient Background Tracks
PremiumBeat has a selection of 15 free ambient background noise tracks, ideal for adding depth and atmosphere to your scenes.
https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/free-ambient-background-tracks/
Acoustic Atlas
Hosted by Montana State University, the Acoustic Atlas is a repository of sound recordings from the Western United States, including ambient recordings of environments and wildlife.
https://acousticatlas.org
British Library Sounds
The British Library offers free online access to a diverse range of environmental sounds from its extensive sound archive, including wildlife and nature recordings.
http://sounds.bl.uk
Why use ambient sounds?
Ambient sounds are not just background noise — they shape the emotional landscape of your project. A soft hum, a distant thunder roll, or the crackle of a vinyl loop can add depth and mood, often without a single note played.
And with ONE Instrument®?
If you’re using ONE Instrument®, you can import and layer your own ambient textures, combine them with our curated library of free virtual instruments, and even build evolving sonic landscapes using the integrated layering and control tools. All from a single interface.
Ambient is not silence — it’s what gives space its shape.