Are you a video editor and need some awesome royalty-free footage for your project? No problem. We’re going to show you the best options out there!
Whether you’re editing content for an advertising client or working on a full Hollywood movie, stock video is an important part of every editor’s toolkit.
As filmmaking experts, we’re often asked if we know of any good stock video sites for last-minute projects. Luckily, over the last few years, the number of websites that sell quality footage has increased.
Here are the best stock video sites we’ve tested. We evaluated each website based on the following:
- Quality. Perhaps the most important: How’s the content? Is it high-quality and usable for professional editors?
- Pricing. Are users getting a good-quality and sufficiently large library for the price?
- Licensing. Is licensing unlimited or single-use?
- Ease of use. Is the website easy to navigate? What is the learning curve like for a new user?
Quick Comparison
If you’re in a rush then here is a quick breakdown of each site and what’s included so you can make a decision. To make it easy, we’ve tried to compare similar pricing plans on each site.
| Website | Video Library | Subscription Price | Downloads | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artlist | 160,000+ | $29.99/month (paid annually) | Unlimited | No |
| Envato Elements | 5.8M+ | $16.50/month (paid annually) | Unlimited | No |
| Soundstripe | 100,00+ | $33.99/month (paid annually) | Unlimited | No |
| FILMPAC | Unknown | $24.92/month (paid annually) | Unlimited | No |
| RawFilm | Unknown | $58.65/month (paid annually) | 1000 clips/year | No |
| Shutterstock | 35M+ | $119/month (paid annually) | 30 videos/month | No |
| Adobe Stock | 33M+ | $199.99/month (paid annually) | 25 videos/month | No |
| Pond5 | 43M+ | $199/month (paid annually) | 10 videos/month | No |
| iStock | 18M+ | $165/month (paid annually) | 25 videos/month | No |
| Depositphotos | 16M+ | $16.66/month (paid annually) | 25 videos/month | No |
1. Artlist
💰 Get 2 months free at Artlist! 💰
You might remember the website Artgrid, which was created as a separate site for stock videos. Artlist was launched in 2019 and is one of the world’s best royalty-free music sites.
Features we like:
- Unlimited downloads
- A yearly subscription comes with full access to their library
- Licenses that cover use on any platform
- Any clip you download is yours forever
- Pro subscribers get access to Raw and LOG files
- Most of the stock footage comes in 4K & 8K
However, everything now lives under the name Artlist. This means you can buy a subscription for footage only or go for an Artlist Max subscription, which includes music and SFX.
This resource is set apart by its easy licensing and high-end footage. Although, despite only having 160,000 video clips they are all handpicked so the quality is high.
If you’re looking for affordable curated footage and want an unlimited license that covers everything, then Artlist might be for you.
Read our full Artlist review. 🔎
2. Envato Elements
💰 Get 57% off at Envato Elements 💰
Envato Elements is a collection of marketplaces including VideoHive, PhotoDune, AudioJungle, and GraphicRiver. It’s a powerhouse of stock media content with over 11 million creative assets.
Features we like:
- More than 5.8 million videos
- Unlimited downloads
- One license for access to the full library
- Footage is of great quality (HD & 4K)
- Search clips by keywords, resolution, frame rates, or length
As a video editor, it can take a lot of time to find different content if you have to trawl through different sources. But with Envato Elements, you’ll get access to everything for one monthly fee, with one simple license, and all under one roof.
Check out our full Envato Elements review. 🔎
3. Soundstripe
Soundstripe was the first company to offer unlimited access to royalty-free music on a subscription basis. Now, it’s launched a new stock video section, which brings everything creators loved about its music library.
Features we like:
- Unlimited downloads
- Licensing process is simple and protects your work forever
- Soundstripe’s library includes over 100,000 videos
- Videos are carefully curated by an in-house creative team
- The standard of the stock footage is outstanding (available from HD to 8K)
Also, Soundstripe’s website is super simple to navigate. You can check out their handpicked playlists or filter videos by artist, frame rate, shot detail, and theme.
Check out our full Soundstripe review. 🔎
4. RawFilm
💰 Get 15% off at RawFilm! 💰
RawFilm is a subscription-based stock video platform full of cinematic 8K content. Advertising agencies and experienced filmmakers use RawFilm for its quality.
Features we like:
- Cinematic video clips are shot on high-end cameras
- Unlimited downloads
- All clips are available in 4K & 8K (RAW + ProRes)
- Story-driven footage collections
- Unlimited, hassle-free worldwide use licensing
- Simple website layout
If you’re looking for real, authentic footage at a high standard, then RawFilm is a great option.
5. FILMPAC
💰 Get 10% off at FILMPAC! 💰
FILMPAC is a premium stock video site featuring a solid library of world-class content. Notably, it offers curated, condensed collections of footage designed to help streamline your editing process.
Features we like:
- Unlimited video and music downloads
- Hand-picked collections with regular weekly updates
- Watermarked previews
- Royalty-free forever
- Affordable subscription plans
- Full coverage on any platform worldwide
FILMPAC keeps things nice and simple by offering two main subscription plans — one for individuals and one for studios, agencies, and brands. This means from Youtubers to commercial productions, you’ll find one that will fit perfectly within your budget. You can also license individual assets without a membership.
6. Shutterstock
💰 Get 15% off at Shutterstock! 💰
In addition to subscriptions, Shutterstock offers simple on-demand pricing, which makes it ideal whether you want multiple video clips or just one. You’ll pay slightly more for HD and 4K footage than SD video clips.
Currently, Shutterstock’s on-demand rates for footage are:
| Footage | Pricing |
|---|---|
| 5-pack | From $299 |
| 10-pack | From $549 |
| 25-pack | From $1,299 |
Features we like:
- Huge library of over 35 million videos
- Stock footage on Shutterstock is of extremely high quality
- You can search video clips by resolution, frames per second, & length
- Wide range of categories like buildings, wildlife, art, and more
- New videos are added every week
- You can browse the library before you pay
Also, the pricing is very reasonable, and users have the ability to buy a monthly subscription or clip packs.
Check out our full Shutterstock review. 🔎
7. Adobe Stock
With a clear layout, good-quality video options, and friendly pricing, Adobe Stock is one of our favorite stock video sites.
Features we like:
- Huge library of stock footage, with over 33 million videos available
- The right balance between quality and price
- A mix of media types for any project
- Every video clip is handpicked
- Offers affordable individual pricing for freelancers
- Adobe Stock continually updates its website to make it easier to use
Adobe Stock also offers a 30-day free trial, which allows you to download 10 free images and then cancel within the first month!
Check out our full Adobe Stock review. 🔎
8. Pond5
💰 Get 20% off at Pond5! 💰
With almost 43 million HD video clips on offer, Pond5 is a big marketplace for stock videos.
Features we like:
- Thousands of videos are added daily
- You can upload your own video to see similar footage
- Add-on for Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro
- Wide variety of stock footage in categories like celebration, lifestyle, animal, business, and more
- Nice split search with the catalog at the top
We enjoy finding content on Pond5 as it offers a good selection of stock videos and is reasonably priced. Also, the membership pricing is simple and clear: Pricing is $199/month for the monthly membership and $999/year for the annual membership.
Check out our full Pond5 review. 🔎
9. iStock
💰 Get 15% off at iStock! 💰
iStock was originally known as iStockPhoto but changed its name to account for the range of content on the site. Video editors, bloggers, brands, and filmmakers flock to iStock to find quality stock videos.
Features we like:
- iStock is one of the most well-known and reputable sites on our list
- Flexible payment options (purchase a subscription or credit packs)
- Use the search filters to select quality, aspect ratio, and keywords
- Free HD video clip to download per month from the site
Importantly, iStock is a trusted brand and a well-established company so you’re sure to find high-quality stock videos in its library of over 18 million.
Check out our full iStock review. 🔎
10. Depositphotos
Depositphotos is a great stock media platform with over 16 million videos. It also features clever AI-based search filters and collections, which makes finding the right footage in the Depositphotos library quick and easy.
Features we like:
- Royalty-free footage under Standard and Extended licenses
- Hand-picked collections with regular weekly updates
- Fresh high-quality videos from over 100,000 contributors from around the world
- Content available for personal and commercial use
- AI-based search filters
- The website is available in 26 languages
If you don’t want a subscription, Depositphotos also offers on-demand pricing, which is handy if you only need a few clips. If you do opt for a subscription, you’ll get unlimited access to HD and 4K videos and the ability to transfer unused downloads to the next month.
FAQ
What Are Stock Videos?
Stock video, also known as B-roll, is pre-filmed footage that can be licensed for projects. It often saves filmmakers the time and money associated with filming their own footage.
What Does Royalty-Free Mean?
Royalty-free means that after paying a one-time fee, you can use the footage you’ve purchased as many times as you want. Depending on the usage license (which can vary) you may not have to pay additional fees.
Royalty-free doesn’t mean the footage itself is free! 😉
How Does Stock Video Licensing Work?
Stock video licensing is exactly what it sounds like – it’s the legal process of paying to license video content for another project. Luckily, all stock video sites sell footage with a usage license.
Getting a usage license means you can use the footage you buy without having to pay the original artist every time it’s used. In other words, it’s a fixed license that determines where you can use the footage and how many times it can be used.
Sites can vary slightly in the number of usages they allow (and where you’re permitted to use the footage) so it’s best to check the site’s own licensing page. 🤓
