# Free laser and zap sound effects

> Free laser, zap and blaster sound effects: retro sci-fi pews, synth zaps and glitchy shots for music, games and video, with a licence verdict on each.

19 samples from 3 sources (Openverse 14, Strudel sample banks 3, OpenGameArt 2), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=laser+zap&category=fx.zap
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=laser+zap&category=fx.zap"`
- Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below.
- Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md

## Zaps in music

Zaps and lasers are not only for games. Dubstep, drum and bass and dancehall use them as fills and ear candy, and a short zap on the last beat of a phrase is a classic transition. In hip hop and trap, a quick zap can replace a hi-hat roll or announce a beat switch.

Short zaps work like percussion: keep them tight and tune them to the key. Longer laser sweeps behave more like risers and can lead into a drop.

## Where they come from

Game sound libraries are rich in zaps, and many of them are public domain. You will also find synth zaps in producer packs and Creative Commons archives. Each card shows whether the sound is cleared for a commercial release.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [laser zap 2.wav](https://freesound.org/people/.Andre_Onate/sounds/135118) | `openverse:6fec77a1-f086-4bba-a4ae-77805c9e51e2` | Zap, One-shot, 7.2 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Laser Zap High.wav](https://freesound.org/people/Lynx_5969/sounds/418224) | `openverse:95d48d41-2f5a-4d7f-8e44-824a47bcf8a6` | Zap, One-shot, 0.04 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Laser 1](https://opengameart.org/content/laser-1) | `opengameart:laser-1` | Zap | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Laser Zap Low.wav](https://freesound.org/people/Lynx_5969/sounds/418223) | `openverse:29fd2cf0-fd7b-407d-87d6-9faaf4471eda` | Zap, One-shot, 0.09 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [63 Digital sound effects (lasers, phasers, space etc.)](https://opengameart.org/content/63-digital-sound-effects-lasers-phasers-space-etc) | `opengameart:63-digital-sound-effects-lasers-phasers-space-etc` | Zap | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [S40-27 Laser zaps from War of the Worlds.wav](https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/675394) | `openverse:d154c29a-34bc-4a69-becb-e4d76e4026c5` | Zap, One-shot, 10 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Warbling harsh laser zap - zaps_2b](https://freesound.org/people/ani_music/sounds/219621) | `openverse:4d287047-b9f1-42b5-9dd7-76446660c6f8` | Zap, One-shot, 1.3 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [LASRGun_Retro Laser Zap Synth_Funky Audio_Sonic Spices](https://freesound.org/people/Funky_Audio/sounds/729389) | `openverse:713d6f26-2827-4cbf-bf92-2c5fd8c77ca3` | Zap, 20 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Heavy Laser Cannon.wav](https://freesound.org/people/waxsocks/sounds/500546) | `openverse:4a3e7303-4aea-4425-a108-c32b5f76c63b` | Zap, One-shot, 5.5 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Zap 2.wav](https://freesound.org/people/Sea%20Fury/sounds/48970) | `openverse:1f303fba-bcee-4eb3-910c-f87dc2a96ea0` | Zap, 20 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Laser short 2.wav](https://freesound.org/people/Defunct3/sounds/77088) | `openverse:a284caea-ae5f-40a1-98da-f97a90824b5f` | Zap, One-shot, 0.85 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Laser blast x3](https://freesound.org/people/peridactyloptrix/sounds/214990) | `openverse:e16487d7-3051-48aa-9d80-ef40f917d2b4` | Zap, One-shot, 5.6 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [laser3](https://freesound.org/people/nsstudios/sounds/344276) | `openverse:e81ccd0b-b327-413e-9a98-b9d8df1a0f97` | Zap, One-shot, 0.32 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [laser1.wav](https://freesound.org/people/nsstudios/sounds/321102) | `openverse:0dba69e7-67b7-4aae-99b8-36aa7454342a` | Zap, One-shot, 0.27 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [PolysixSlowingLaser2.wav](https://freesound.org/people/JimPurbrick/sounds/11153) | `openverse:b7c7764d-d93e-49fb-abe1-4268639aad05` | Zap, One-shot, 3.8 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [PolysixSlowingLaser1.wav](https://freesound.org/people/JimPurbrick/sounds/11152) | `openverse:2990a820-7156-4b24-979c-49ddfa8cf7b7` | Zap, One-shot, 2.1 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · flazer · 0](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/flazer/2_lazer.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/flazer/0` | Zap | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · flazer · 1](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/flazer/0_lazer.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/flazer/1` | Zap | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · flazer · 2](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/flazer/1_lazer.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/flazer/2` | Zap | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |

## Questions

**How are laser sounds made?**

Most start as a synth tone whose pitch falls quickly, sometimes with noise or ring modulation on top. A fast downward pitch envelope on a simple oscillator gets you surprisingly close, which is why so many of them are made on synths rather than recorded.

**Can I use these zaps in a game I sell?**

Many are CC0 or royalty free, which allows that. CC BY sounds need a credit in the game, and NC ones can't be used in a commercial game. The verdict on each card is the quick answer, and the detail view links to the full licence.

## Related collections

- [Free impact sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-impact-sound-effects.md): Free impact and hit sound effects: cinematic booms, sub drops, braams and slams for drops, trailers and transitions, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free riser sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-riser-sound-effects.md): Free riser and uplifter sound effects for build-ups before a drop: white noise sweeps, pitch risers and tension builds, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free vinyl crackle samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-vinyl-crackle.md): Free vinyl crackle, record noise and tape hiss samples for lo-fi beats and warm, worn mixes, as loops and long takes, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free downlifter sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-downlifter-sound-effects.md): Free downlifters and falling sweeps that release tension after a drop or lead out of a section, for EDM, trap and film edits, each with a licence verdict.
- [Free glitch sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-glitch-sound-effects.md): Free glitch effects: stutters, digital errors, buffer repeats, bit-crushed bursts and data noise for electronic music, UI and video, with licences.
- [Free tape stop sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-tape-stop-effects.md): Free tape stop and record stop effects: the slowing, falling pitch of a stopping deck, used before drops and at song ends, with a licence verdict.

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Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-laser-zap-sound-effects