MusicGen
MusicGen: A flexible open model for local music generation, with commercial-use limits. Ranked #102 of 123 in AI Music Generators by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Open source; best for developers building self-hosted music tools.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forDevelopers building self-hosted music tools
- Paid fromFree
- Commercial useNo
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports text-to-music and melody-guided generation
- Offers mono, stereo, long-sequence, and WAV output workflows
- Includes local Python inference, training, and fine-tuning pipelines
Where it doesn't
- Commercial use is marked false
- Released model weights use a CC-BY-NC 4.0 license
- It does not provide verified vocal generation
Our verdict on MusicGen
MusicGen is Meta AI’s open music-generation model for creating audio from text descriptions and, through melody variants, an uploaded audio melody. It fits developers and researchers building self-hosted tools, local Python workflows, or web and API experiences around generated music. Multiple model sizes—small, medium, and large—support different implementation needs, while AudioCraft provides inference, training, fine-tuning, and Python API code for local use.
Its open-source setup is a central strength. The released code is MIT licensed, and the model supports local inference rather than limiting workflows to a hosted interface. Developers can work with text-to-music generation, melody guidance, mono or stereo output, long-sequence generation using windowing, and WAV audio output. The documented online demo also provides a web-based route, while the listed platforms include web, API, and self-hosted use. This combination makes MusicGen a practical foundation for teams that want to integrate generation into their own applications or experiment with model training.
MusicGen is narrower than a general song-creation product. Commercial use is marked false, and the model weights are licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0 and intended primarily for research, so commercial product teams should review that constraint before adopting it. The available capabilities center on instrumental music generation, melody conditioning, and developer workflows rather than verified vocals. Choose MusicGen for research, prototyping, and self-hosted music tools that value control over the generation pipeline. Choose an alternative if commercial deployment or vocal song creation is a core requirement.
Your product? Our editors can test MusicGen in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
MusicGen pricing
MusicGen fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Commercial use | No |
| Vocal generation | No |
| Audio upload | Yes |
| Stem export | Not verified |
| Maximum track length | Not verified |
| Audio export formats | Wav |
| Supported platforms | Web |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | audiocraft.metademolab.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to MusicGen
- SunoA broad AI music workspace with complete songs, editing, stems, and mobile apps.9.3
- Eleven MusicA flexible AI music studio with detailed song editing and producer-focused exports.9.1
- MurekaA broad AI music workspace for generating, editing, and exporting complete tracks.9.0
See all MusicGen alternatives →
Used MusicGen? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used MusicGen for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
MusicGen is listed in our AI Music Generators directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/musicgen/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/musicgen.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update