Buying beats, explained.
Costs, licenses, file formats and the fine print — everything you need to know before you buy a beat in 2026.
How much do beats cost?
Individual beat leases usually run $20–$50, while exclusive rights or unlimited licenses can be $200–$2,000+ depending on the producer. Beat packs and subscriptions are far cheaper per beat — APOLLO packs start at $39.97 for 100 beats, and the subscription is $25/month for the entire catalog.
What is a beat lease?
A beat lease is a license to use a beat without owning it outright. The producer keeps ownership and can license the same beat to others, but you get the right to release your song under the terms of the lease (streams, sales, videos). Leases are the cheapest way to release music legally.
What is the difference between MP3, WAV and stems?
MP3 is a compressed, tagged or tagless preview file. WAV is the full-quality uncompressed master — what you want for release and distribution. Stems (or trackouts) are every instrument exported as a separate file, so you can mix, remix and master from scratch. APOLLO gives you all three on every beat.
What is an unlimited license?
An unlimited license removes the caps a basic lease has — unlimited streams, sales, videos and monetization — without buying full exclusive ownership. A single unlimited license usually costs $199+ per beat; the APOLLO subscription includes it on every beat for $25/month.
Exclusive vs non-exclusive beats — what is the difference?
A non-exclusive (leased) beat can be licensed to multiple artists at once, which keeps it cheap. An exclusive beat is sold to one artist and taken off the market, which is why it costs much more. Most released songs use non-exclusive or unlimited licenses.
Can I use free beats commercially?
Only if the producer explicitly allows it — "free for profit" beats can be released commercially, usually with credit ("Prod. by ...") and sometimes with a cap you can lift by buying a license. Always check the terms; a beat marked free for non-profit only cannot be monetized.
What are royalty-free beats?
Royalty-free means you pay once and owe no ongoing royalties to the producer on your streams or sales. Every APOLLO beat is royalty-free — you keep 100% of your earnings; the license is a one-time or subscription cost, never a cut of your revenue.
Do I keep my songs if I stop paying?
Yes. Anything released under the unlimited license stays licensed forever. Cancelling an APOLLO subscription only stops new downloads — it never affects music you already released.