Finding high-quality stock video online can be an essential component of transforming a good project into a great one. But with so many choices out there, it can be hard to pick the best site for your needs. Read on for our guide to the best stock video sites in 2024, which includes both free and paid options.
What are the criteria we used to determine best stock video sites?
Content creators today have more options than ever when it comes to telling richer, more engaging stories through the use of stock footage. But so much choice can sometimes be overwhelming. Ahead, we’ll attempt to identify what makes a stock video site rise above its peers.
Stock video websites break down along two distinct lines: free and paid. Paid sites typically offer a handful of options, from subscription-based models where users can download as many videos as they want for a monthly or annual fee, to pay-per-video plans where users select and pay for clips a la carte. Paid sites often have more extensive content libraries, but that doesn’t necessarily make them the best option for all creators. A lot of paid sites offer some free selections as well, but their business models are usually ultimately geared towards subscriptions or fees.
Many sites provide vast galleries of free, high-quality video clips that are license-cleared to use both commercially or personally, without paying royalties. Photographers and videographers often upload their work to these sites, offering license-free use of their creations in exchange for the exposure boost. Understanding the licensing rules for the stock footage you use is important to avoid getting hit with a costly copyright penalty.
Many free sites release footage under Creative Commons Zero, which means users don’t have to seek permission to alter the original, or even credit the creator (though it’s always appreciated). These clips can be found in almost any category you can think of, from travel and lifestyle, to business, sports, and even animation and aerial drone footage. Sites offering a wider variety of stock video categories tended to rank higher on our list.
Factors considered
When determining which stock video sites made the cut for our list, we looked at a combination of factors. For instance, the size of their content libraries. Some sites have millions of stock video clips available, while others’ take a narrower, more focused approach. We also looked at how much variety sites have in their clip selection, both in subject matter and quality. Flexibility in use and licensing was another important factor that weighed on our decision making.
The rise of stock video sites means it’s never been easier or more affordable for creators to find just the footage they need to make their project shine. Read on for some of the very best.
Advantages of Stock Video Sites
When it comes to creating engaging, attention-grabbing content, video is king. But shooting original footage is costly and time consuming, and requires a skilled practitioner to do well, so it’s not always in the budget. Stock video sites provide access to high-quality clips, often created by professionals, which can be seamlessly incorporated into any type of project for a fraction of the cost of camera equipment and a crew to operate it.
Stock footage can also be a timesaver, allowing users to get a shot of something that would have been impossible to create on their own. Let’s say you need footage of a shooting star. One option is to wait outside every night with your camera pointed towards the sky and hope for the best. Or, you can scroll countless pages of pre-made, royalty-free video clips of exactly what you’re looking for, uploaded by professional creators.
Much of the content found on stock video sites is up to professional standards, including HD, 4K, and even 8K, which means no matter what sort of look you’re attempting to achieve, there should be ample options at your disposal.
Top 10 paid stock video site list
The following 10 paid stock video websites are the ones we felt had the most to offer when it comes to selection and quality. Some offer one-off pricing as well as subscriptions, and many also offer large royalty-free content libraries of their own.
1. Storyblocks
With over a million royalty-free stock videos in 4K or HD spanning multiple categories and over 2 million total stock assets in total, Storyblocks is one of the best one-stop-shops for your stock footage needs. From aerials to green screens and more, you’ll find everything you need to create professional quality videos. And to simplify your editing workflow, the Storyblocks plugin for Adobe Creative Cloud brings our entire library right into Premiere Pro or After Effects. On top of all that, Storyblocks also offers a huge array of time-saving pre-made custom templates for DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Apple Motion.
Their demand-driven library prioritizes adding the types of content users want to see. Through Storyblocks’ Re:Stock initiative, they prioritize curating a diverse stock library that’s reflective of the world around us, with more than 25% BIPOC representation in the footage of people in their library. As a bonus, all of Storyblocks’ stock music is 100% exclusive to our library to help give your videos the perfect soundtrack you won’t hear anywhere else.
Storyblocks offers plans based on Individual or Business licensing needs, with a number of subscription plans available to suit any budget. Plans also include access to Storyblocks’ own video editing tool, Maker.
2. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the oldest and most popular stock video platforms, boasting one of the largest libraries of professionally-created videos on our list. It offers one-time purchases and monthly subscription plans for 5, 10, or 25 video downloads per month, but unfortunately there’s no unlimited plan option. With each subscription, users can choose between SD, HD, and 4K clips in a dizzying array of footage categories, including aerial, time-lapse, and animation.
Shutterstock subscriptions are specific to single-users only and include their standard license. This means it only covers social media and websites with an audience of 500,000 people or less. However, it wasn’t clear whether this means daily, weekly, monthly etc., so reach out to Shutterstock support for clarification as it’s an important distinction.
3. Pond5
Shutterstock sub-brand Pond5 offers more than 42 million stock video clips for personal and professional use, with simple licensing and worldwide distribution. Pond5 offers a number of payment options, including per-download, monthly or annual subscription plans. But be aware: access to the video library specifically is only available in their highest-tier subscription plan. Also available are pre-paid “credit packs” that can be spent like cash and include bonus discounts on future purchases. Worth noting is an interesting feature which lets you upload a video file and view search results of available similar footage.
4. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock’s massive library includes over 31 million high-quality video clips from HD to 4K, spanning just about any category of footage you could name. It provides curated asset collections around various themes to spark inspiration and showcase its offerings in a unique way. Clips can be purchased individually, and paid plans are available for individuals, teams, or enterprise users on an annual or month-by-month basis. Users can also purchase prepaid credit packs for additional savings.
5. iStock
Founded in 2000 and called iStockphoto until its 2013 acquisition by Getty Images, iStock has a large and growing library of royalty-free stock video footage. It has a global network of content contributors including over 300,000 curators and creators. Its premium “Signature” collection includes trending visuals exclusive to iStock. Pricing is available annually or via monthly plans ranging from 10 all the way up to 750 downloads per month. You can also search its library for similar content by uploading your own image or video file.
6. Artgrid
Artgrid’s royalty-free stock footage library is far from the largest on our list, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up with quality, featuring footage and clips made by cinematographers and professional filmmakers. Its search function is highly granular, allowing users to dial in their results with dozens of keyword filters. Its three-tiered monthly subscription plan includes unlimited downloads, with the “Pro” tier offering downloads in a variety of cinema-quality formats, including RAW/LOG clips, 4K-8K, and ProRes/DNxHR.
Artgrid’s sister site, Artlist, offers multi-asset plans instead of just video. Check out our blog post comparing Storyblocks and Artlist to learn more.
7. Videvo
Videvo offers a considerable variety of high-quality stock video at no cost, with over 110,000 free clips, motion graphics, and animated backgrounds available. Even its subscription plans focus on affordability: Its lowest-tier membership ($24.99/month, billed monthly) includes 50 premium downloads per month, or unlimited downloads for a $240/year annual plan. Premium members gain access to over 2 million royalty-free stock videos from HD to 4K quality.
8. Dissolve
Geared more towards the upmarket or professional creator segment, Dissolve focuses on providing nothing but the highest-quality cinematic stock video content. It offers exclusive collections produced by renowned filmmakers with an emphasis on storytelling. Its website curates gallery collections of footage with themes like Nature’s Tones, Sweater Weather, and Mood Lights. Dissolve offers flexible licensing, and prices its 2 million clips starting from $29 on the low end. Standard-def clips run $29 apiece, while HD and 4K footage ranges from $29 up to $549.
9. Envato Elements
Envato Elements offers a large library containing more than 5 million stock footage clips with resolutions ranging from HD to 4K. Its individual plan includes unlimited downloads, however users are required to register assets every time they use them. To learn more about Envato, check out this deep dive comparing Envato Elements and Storyblocks.
10. Motion Array
Motion Array’s subscription-based library contains a generous selection of footage in 2K, 4K, and 5K+ resolutions. Its subscription plan for individuals, available either monthly or annually, gives users unlimited downloads. This blog post comparing Storyblocks to Motion Array goes deep into detail about all the differences and similarities you need to be aware of.
Top 10 free stock video site list
When people hear the word “free” they tend to expect a catch, but there’s no catch to be found with these sites offering royalty-free stock videos at no cost. In some cases their libraries are merely smaller versions of a site’s premium offering, but many contain millions of clips and don’t even offer a premium tier.
1. PixaBay
Canva sub-brand PixaBay’s use of the Creative Commons Zero License gives downloaders total freedom to use or manipulate footage in any way they see fit. With a library of over 27,000 royalty- and attribution-free HD and 4K videos generously provided by its large creator community, PixaBay is a great hassle-free place to meet your stock footage needs.
2. Dareful
If totally free 4K stock video clips are what you seek, Dareful invites you to comb through its library of content, all of which was shot by Joel Holland, founder of popular stock video platform Storyblocks. Dareful offers unlimited downloads of its royalty-free footage, which it encourages creators to use any way they want, anywhere they want, for any type of project they can think of.
3. Pexels
Initially launched as strictly a stock photos site, Pexels has been acquired by Canva and expanded to include an impressive library of stock video clips. All content on the site is under Creative Commons Zero, giving users free rein to edit or alter the videos, and use them for commercial purposes for free without even crediting the creator (though throwing a credit their way is always encouraged.)
4. Coverr
Created by filmmakers, for filmmakers, Coverr actually pays creators to produce content for its site, which it then gives away for free under an irrevocable, non-exclusive copyright license. The website includes a range of curated galleries, and has categories including fitness, nature, and Zoom virtual backgrounds.
5. Splitshire
All of the royalty-free video on Splitshire was filmed by web designer Daniel Nanescu, who wanted to create a repository of free stock videos available to anybody. His work is beautiful, mostly including high-definition nature and outdoor footage captured by drone-mounted camera. Splitshire is another quality-over-quantity choice, with comparatively few options compared to others on this list. However with over 2 million downloads on the site to date, it’s clear Nanescu’s work has struck a chord.
6. Cute Stock Footage
Don’t let the name fool you, Cute Stock Footage’s gallery is actually quite large, including more than 3,000 free HD videos. Footage is available across a wide spectrum of categories like nature, aerials, greenscreens, backgrounds and many more. They also offer free photos, fonts, icons and more to give videos an extra pop.
7. Freestock
Freestock offers a selection of stock video assets carefully curated by creative industry experts. Its library includes a number of collections around themes such as nature, industrial, green screen, and corporate video. Freestock prides itself on keeping creators in mind as it continually grows its collection.
8. Mazwai
With all stock footage on the site hand-picked by a team of video experts, Mazwai offers a wide selection of free cinematic video clips, most ranging between 2-3 minutes in length. A relative newcomer in the free stock video space, Mazwai’s mission is to help every artist, designer, and other creative person access the video content they need for personal and professional use, and always for free.
9. Mixkit
Mixkit’s website contains thousands of free High Definition stock videos spanning a diverse range of categories and themes, from travel and fashion to technology and performing arts. Its website is well organized, each category tab at the top opening into numerous subcategories. Videos downloaded from Mixkit can be used for commercial purposes under its Video Free License.
10. Vidsplay
Vidsplay has a large collection of stock footage available for free download, including a selection of hand-curated galleries sorted into a variety of themes from animals to religious to time-lapse. Quality can sometimes vary, but with new clips added every week, creators will have no shortage of options when browsing their extensive library looking for footage to give their next project some extra pizzazz.
How Storyblocks helps people tell better stories
Storyblocks pioneered the unlimited stock subscription service download model, ensuring individuals and businesses have all the assets they need to tell better stories through video. We provide a massive high-quality, creative sandbox that gives creators the freedom to let their imaginations run wild. At the same time, we strive to accurately reflect the diversity of our world and meet the demand of what creators are searching for, prioritizing representation of all communities in our content library.
Through one subscription, Storyblocks offers footage, motion graphics, templates, music, SFX, images and more. With Storyblocks, you can stand out and create better videos, faster than ever. It’s the most affordable all-inclusive stock subscription plan available online today—even ChatGPT agrees.
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to include additional information. It was originally published on April 28, 2022.
