Best Stock Video Footage Sites

What separates the best stock video sites?

Three subscriptions sit at the top of this page, and the scores come from the same 20 briefs judged blind. Envato Elements scored 9 and filled 18 of 20 briefs, with templates, motion graphics and music doing the heavy lifting. Storyblocks scored 7.8 and filled all five video and audio briefs, with 4K included. Shutterstock scored 7.7 and filled 17 of 20 briefs, leaning on the widest photo choice on niche subjects.

Price is the other divider. Envato Elements runs $16.50 a month on one flat price with no download counting. Storyblocks is $30, and that monthly price doubles without the annual commitment. Shutterstock is $29, but video and music are separate subscriptions.

What should I check before buying a stock video subscription?

Licence and protection carry 20 of the scoring weight, so read the terms before the library. Envato Elements covers everything under a single commercial licence, but assets must be registered to a project to stay licensed after cancelling. Storyblocks writes its licence for monetised YouTube and broadcast, and Content ID claims are cleared. Shutterstock offers an enhanced licence up to $250,000 indemnity.

Then match the library to the work. Library breadth and quality is 30 of the score, and value is 25. Search and tools take 15, integrations 10.

• Envato Elements: photography is broad but shallower than Adobe or Shutterstock at the top end.
• Storyblocks: photos and vectors are weak — 12 of 20 briefs overall.
• Shutterstock: per-image plans are pricier than Adobe once you need video.

Check integrations too. Storyblocks ships Adobe and Premiere plugins, which matters if you cut in Premiere.

Envato Elements

For editors who need templates, motion graphics and music alongside footage at one flat price. Best for mixed-asset projects where the download count never comes up.

Storyblocks

For video-first work: unlimited 4K footage, After Effects templates, music and sound effects, with a licence written for YouTube and broadcast. Best for channels that monetise.

Shutterstock

For photo and vector-heavy jobs, editorial and news images, and an unlimited-image tier for heavy users. Best when the stills library decides the buy.

Pick Envato Elements if you want templates, motion graphics and music at one flat price. Pick Storyblocks if your work is video-first and needs 4K footage with a licence written for monetised YouTube and broadcast. Pick Shutterstock if photo and vector choice, editorial images or an unlimited-image tier matter most.