best stock footage sites for filmmakers and video creators

If you’re a video creator who wants high-quality stock videos for your projects, stock video sites can offer you the footage you need for commercial or personal use.

We put together 15 of the best stock footage sites where you can find royalty-free stock videos as well as other licensed content to realize your vision. They include free and paid options so you can get what you need at every price point.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

What is Stock Footage?

Stock footage is video clips that are pre-shot and edited to be included in other projects. The use of stock media extends to online content (YouTube & TikTok), commercial projects (TV & film), or other uses, like news reels and B-roll in movies.

What Are the Best Stock Footage Video Sites?

When deciding the best stock video sites to subscribe to, you’re looking for stellar stock footage archives, good customer care, and competitive pricing for team and enterprise subscriptions. The most popular stock footage sites include Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Pixabay.

Here are our picks for the best stock video sites to find great stock videos for your film and video projects:

1. Shutterstock

Stock-Video-Footage-Royalty-Free-HD-4K-Video-Clips-Shutterstock

Overview 

Shutterstock is a leading site for stock images that dominates Google image search results. What you might not know is that Shutterstock also ventured into the world of stock video, with an impressive library of millions of stock video clips to choose from.

Top Features 

  • The video library contains over 28 million stock videos.
  • The stock videos are categorized by genre, such as Animals/Wildlife, Buildings/Landmarks, Backgrounds/Textures, etc.
  • HD and 4K footage for use in commercial projects.
  • Standard and Enhanced video use licenses.

Pricing 

Video-Clips-Stock-Footage-Pricing-Plans-Shutterstock

Shutterstock offers different pricing for video content based on whether you buy a pack of yearly downloads or get an All-in-One subscription.

The packs offer options of 5, 10, or 25 video downloads per year. They start at $299 for 5 SD video clips under their Standard license and go up to $2,669 for 25 Enhanced-license 4k videos.

As for the individual subscriptions, they’re either monthly, annually upfront, or annually with monthly billings. They start at ten credits per month and up to 750, with each video costing you ten credits.

You can get the cheapest credit packs by paying annually upfront. For the 750 credit pack, you pay $1,999, which sets you back $2.6 per credit. However, the All-in-One subscription only covers the Standard license and not the Enhanced license for videos.

For Enterprise subscriptions, the rates are offered by contacting Shutterstock directly.

Shutterstock Pros

  • Their search feature is fantastic – you can easily find the type of video you need!
  • There is a free trial available.
  • You can download images, videos, and music with the same subscription from the same place.
  • Get high-quality videos with up to 4k resolution.

Shutterstock Cons

  • Shutterstock is expensive.
  • You can’t buy stock videos one at a time.

Bottom Line 

A Shutterstock video subscription is quite pricey, but in return, you get high-quality stock footage you can use in any project. It makes more sense if you belong to a company that can get an Enterprise subscription, which allows Enhanced video licensing at lower rates.


2. Artgrid

Royalty-Free-Stock-Footage-Artgrid-io

Overview 

Artgrid is a relatively new stock video site that also offers music and sound effects as part of its extensive collection. It’s quickly becoming a strong competitor for other, more established stock video websites that’ve been around for longer.

Top Features 

  • A large library that has been categorized by collection for easier browsing.
  • Available 4K and 8K video clips even in the intermediate subscription tier.
  • All plans offer unlimited video downloads, lifetime use, coverage for all platforms worldwide, and YouTube monetization.
  • Competitive pricing compared to other stock video sites.
  • If you are a filmmaker, selling stock footage to them is an option too!

Pricing 

Artgrid pricing

The Junior HD Plan for Artgrid gives you access to unlimited downloads of HD/H.264 videos for $19.99/month or $239.99/year

The Creator 4K Plan includes unlimited downloads of 4K/8K and Pro Res/DNxHR videos for $29.99/month or $359.99/year

The Pro RAW/LOG Plan gives you unlimited downloads of 4K/8K RAW/LOG videos in Pro Res/DNxHR for $49.92/month or $599/year

Artgrid Pros

  • Has high-quality video clips.
  • Related videos are suggested with each video clip.
  • The pricing model allows for unlimited downloads.
  • New video footage is being uploaded each day!
  • Lots of unique and emotion-filled videos.
  • Many clips are part of a collection, so you can get different angles of the same scene.
  • You can download preview clips and try the program out for free!
  • Search videos by shot type, time of day, framing, camera movement, and more!

Artgrid Cons

  • The website is not optimized for use on mobile devices.
  • Need to buy the Creator plan to get access to 4k/8k videos.

Bottom Line 

Artgrid is a wonderful option whether you’re:

  • Still starting with basic videos
  • A creator who wants a steady stream of high-quality, royalty-free stock video
  • Part of a corporation with more sophisticated needs

You’ll likely find what you need at a reasonable subscription price.

To see my full review of this program, check out this article: Artgrid Review: Powerful Cinematic Stock Footage


3. FilmPac

FILMPAC-–-Cinematic-Stock-Footage-and-Music

Overview

FilmPac is a great source of cinematic stock video footage, offering high-quality clips across various genres and styles. With its diverse library of unique and professional footage, FilmPac has something to offer filmmakers of all skill levels.

Top Features

  • A searchable library of unique and professional footage provides something for filmmakers of all skill levels.
  • File types are compatible with any editing software program.
  • Clips are royalty-free and can be used in commercial projects.
  • Easy downloads make it simple to get the content you need quickly and efficiently.

Pricing

Footage-Pricing-–-FILMPAC

Creator Plan (good for YouTubers and Video Content Creators): $299 per year

Pro Plan (good for creative professionals): $499 per year

Team Plan: $999 per year

Bottom Line

High quality video content creators and filmmakers should consider FilmPac for their stock footage needs. With a wide selection of quality cinematic clips, easy downloads, and flexible pricing options, it’s an ideal resource for anyone looking to find the perfect video clips to add impact to their projects.


4. Adobe Stock

Royalty-Free-Video-Stock-Footage-HD-Video-Loops-Clips-Adobe-Stock

Overview 

Adobe is known for its industry-dominating software. However, it’s also becoming a sizeable player in the stock footage market through Adobe Stock, offering its own website of HD stock videos and other assets that you can access right within the Adobe Creative Cloud.

Top Features 

  • Royalty-free licensing, which allows for immediate use upon download.
  • Creative Cloud integration for searching, previewing, and licensing stock video footage within Adobe apps.
  • The search function is powered by Adobe Sensei, an artificial intelligence tool that matches your search terms with available stock videos.

Pricing 

Adobe Stock offers credit packages that cost as follows:

  • 5 credits for $49.95
  • 16 credits for $149.99
  • 40 credits for $359.99
  • 80 credits for $669.99
  • 150 credits for $1,200.00

Where an HD video costs 8 credits and a 4K video costs 20 credits under the Enhanced license.

You can also get an annual subscription for

  • $29.99 (paid monthly) for 10 standard assets or 1 HD video and a rollover of up to 120 unused credits
  • $49.99 (paid monthly) for 25 standard assets or 3 HD videos and a rollover of up to 300 unused credits
  • $199.99 (paid monthly) for 750 standard assets or 25 HD videos

Adobe Stock also offers Team and Enterprise subscriptions and credit packs with adjusted rates.

Adobe Stock Pros

  • This is a great option for people who already pay for Adobe Creative Suite.
  • The search feature is helpful and accurate.
  • Videos and images are high-quality and high-resolution.
  • There is a large variety of videos.
  • Try three videos for free to check the quality.

Adobe Stock Cons

  • The cost of the videos is high.
  • Some videos are a bit dated.

Bottom Line 

Adobe Stock is a serious option to consider if you have a team or a company that heavily relies on Adobe Creative Cloud apps. Although the pricing is quite high, you can get better deals with Adobe Stock when you’re sharing a Team or Enterprise subscription or credit pack.


5. Envato Elements

Envato-Elements-Unlimited-Stock-Videos-Music-Photos-Graphics

Overview 

Envato Elements is one of the best stock video sites you can find because of its vast collection of media assets under one umbrella. It’s quickly become a leading stock media site thanks to the competitive pricing, versatility, and flexibility it offers to its customers.

Top Features 

  • A huge library of 3.5 million stock videos and over 500K motion graphics templates.
  • Affordable subscription bundles.
  • One subscription gives you access to all Envato Elements assets for your projects. These include music tracks, sound effects, photos, graphics, and web templates.

Pricing 

Envato-Elements-Unlimited-Stock-Videos-Music-Photos-Graphics Pricing

Envato Elements offers an individual plan starting from $16.50, offering unlimited downloads of all assets on the website with a simple commercial license. Students get a 30% markdown for $11.50 per monthly subscription.

It also offers a Teams plan for 2–5 people that can get as low as $10.75 per person in a 5-member team.

As for Enterprise subscriptions, you should contact Envato Elements directly to get a quote.

Envato Elements Pros

  • Has a clear licensing structure.
  • The stock videos are high-quality.
  • There is a great “suggest a video” button if you can’t find something.
  • Great value for money!
  • Motion and Final Cut Pro assets and templates are included.
  • You can download stock videos in different sizes and with different qualities.
  • Includes stock images, video templates, music, fonts, and 3D templates, along with stock videos.

Envato Elements Cons

  • The search function may show unrelated videos.
  • Many videos are drone shots.
  • Some people find that their customer service is sub-par.

Bottom Line 

Envato Elements is best for creators looking for a stock video site that also offers other assets to have a comprehensive toolbox for their projects. If you’re a web designer, web developer, or freelancer with such requirements, it’s worth checking out.


6. iStock by Getty Images

Stock-Video-Footage-Royalty-Free-Videos-4K-HD-iStock

Overview 

Getty Images is the largest stock and editorial image company in the world. Its subsidiary, iStock, currently offers stock video footage as well, giving it a larger share of the market and a chance to expand its user base even more.

Top Features 

  • Millions of stock videos to choose from in SD, HD, and 4K.
  • Flexible download options.
  • Commercial royalty-free licensing is protected by iStock with a $10,000 guarantee.
  • AI-backed search for precise results that match your terms closely.

Pricing 

iStock offers two modes to download HD stock videos, either with a monthly subscription or credit packs.

A premium photo + video subscription costs:

  • $99/month for 10 downloads
  • $165/month for 25 downloads
  • $265/month for 50 downloads

As for the iStock credits, you can get an Essentials video clip for 6 credits (~$60) or a Signature video clip for 18 credits (~$170). The best value for credit packs is 300 credits for $2,400, coming in at $8 per credit instead of the usual $12.

iStock Pros

  • Lots of diverse videos.
  • Has many different pricing options, so you only pay for what you need.
  • The search function works well – it’s easy to find what you want.
  • The dashboard is well-organized.

iStock Cons

  • Not a lot of graphics, compared to competitors.
  • Can be expensive for what you get.

Bottom Line 

As you can see, iStock is best for creatives looking for a high-quality experience with many diverse videos, no matter how much it costs. Choosing an iStock plan or credit pack, although a bit more expensive than other options, gives you access to an immense source of royalty-free stock clips for any application.


7. Depositphotos

Royalty-free-Images-Photo-Stock-Video-Music-Depositphotos

Overview 

Depositphotos is a great option for creatives looking for high-quality, royalty-free videos. Founded in 2009, it’s just like other stock image sites that expanded lately to include stock video footage, making it a worthy contender of more established names in the game.

Top Features 

  • Over 12 million high-quality uploaded videos.
  • Competitive pricing includes HD and 4K clips, which usually cost more.
  • Options for on-demand purchases, offering more flexibility without a long-term commitment.

Pricing 

You can either get a monthly or a yearly subscription for Depositphotos videos or buy each video on demand.

A monthly subscription can cost you:

  • $89 for 5 Videos/month ($17.80 per video)
  • $149 for 10 Videos/month ($14.90 per video)
  • $239 for 25 Videos/month ($9.56 per video)

A yearly subscription costs:

  • $899 for 5 Videos/month ($14.98 per video)
  • $1,499 for 10 Videos/month ($12.49 per video)
  • $2,399 for 25 Videos/month ($8.00 per video)

On-demand videos are priced based on the quality and the number of video clips you’re purchasing. They start from $19 for a single 240p video and reach $2,069 for a 25-pack of 4K video clips.

Depositphotos Pros

  • Tons of high-quality stock videos.
  • Particularly great for social media videos.
  • You can find great discounts online if you search!
  • Video and image matching is great (related videos are shown to you).
  • Customer service is excellent!

Depositphotos Cons

  • Monthly credits don’t roll over.
  • Can be expensive.

Bottom Line 

Depositphotos is a reasonable option for creatives with a constant demand for paid stock videos that are both affordable and high-quality. The website also rewards larger purchases with much better pricing and comprehensive clip packs.


8. Pond5

Stock-Video-Royalty-Free-Music-Pond5

Overview 

Pond5 has the edge of being one of the best stock video websites that actually started in the stock footage business. It boasts a large library and features that make navigating the website a breeze, not to mention the fuss-free subscription options.

Top Features 

  • Over 35 million premium and royalty-free clips to choose from.
  • Great customer service with a 4.8 Trustpilot rating.
  • Direct downloads outside of subscriptions at competitive prices.

Pricing 

Pond5 offers two options for video subscriptions that give you 10 downloads per month; either you choose:

  • A monthly subscription for $199.90 (at $19.90/video)
  • A yearly subscription for $999 (at $8.32/video)

You can also buy video clips directly from the site at $25–$450/clip for HD and 4K videos.

If you run a team or a company, contact Pond5 directly to get a quote on team subscription fees.

Pond5 Pros

  • The videos are super high-quality.
  • Easy to use and find videos.
  • Has quality video stock, music, After-Effects files, and 3d for 3d animation-related projects.
  • Customers love the fact that independent filmmakers are compensated for their work when they submit to the platform!
  • Flexible payment options (subscription, per video, or credit packs).
  • Has a free collection!

Pond5 Cons

  • Pond5 is pricey!
  • The licensing model can be confusing.

Bottom Line 

Pond5 is best for video creators who want to download HD stock videos at a great price point while supporting independent filmmakers.


9. Pixabay

Pixabay Homepage

Overview 

Free stock video sites are hard to come by, but Pixabay is one of them, and it offers excellent material at that.

Top Features 

  • A completely free stock video website with free HD stock footage.
  • A simple commercial license with few limitations.
  • HD and 4K video clips are available for free.

Pricing 

Pixabay is one of the few stock video sites that are entirely free with a license that covers the inclusion of stock videos in commercial projects and noncommercial use.

The only instances where use isn’t allowed are:

  • Selling or redistribution of Pixabay content to other stock websites
  • Selling physical copies of unaltered content from Pixabay
  • Using the stock video to portray the subjects in a bad light or misleadingly sell a product or service

Pixabay Pros

  • Great free stock video clips for video creators to use!
  • Videos have no watermarks.
  • Has great free photos, illustrations, and vectors as well as videos.

Pixabay Cons

  • Not as easy to search for specific videos.
  • It is sometimes hard to distinguish between free videos and sponsored paid videos.
  • The app doesn’t work as well as the desktop version.

Bottom Line 

Pixabay is best for anyone looking for a free stock video website with decent-quality material and a royalty-free license.


10. Filmsupply

License-Premium-Cinematic-Stock-Footage-Filmsupply

Overview 

Filmsupply closes a gap in the market for royalty-free footage aimed at corporations for internal and commercial purposes.

Top Features 

  • Unique marketplace for corporate training material.
  • Several licensing options for different uses.

Pricing 

Filmsupply-Pricing

Filmsupply is a commercial video platform, so the pricing reflects the different licensing tiers that companies could use. They are:

  • Internal (Starting at $109 per clip), which covers internal meetings, training, and shareholder meetings
  • Industrial (Starting at $219 per clip), which covers events, sales meetings, tradeshow displays, and in-store promos
  • Web/Digital (Starting at $219 per clip), which covers website, social media, and web ads
  • Extended Use (Priced per project based on a personalized quote), which covers TV/Broadcast, film, VOD, theatrical, video games, and the like

Filmsupply Pros

  • Filmsupply is great for filmmakers and corporations.
  • Has footage with multiple clips from the same shoot (as opposed to single random clips).
  • The video clips are high-quality and cinematic.
  • The framing and coloring are well thought out.

Filmsupply Cons

  • Video organization and search are not ideal.
  • Pricy.

Bottom Line 

Filmsupply is best for corporations looking for a consistent source of good-quality footage.


11. Storyblocks

Storyblocks Stock footage

Overview 

Storyblocks offers more than stock videos. It also offers the building blocks for visual storytelling all under the same roof.

Top Features 

  • HD Stock videos, music, photos, and other assets under one subscription.
  • Competitive pricing for unlimited downloads.

Pricing 

For individual users, you can get one of three subscription tiers that fit your needs. These are:

  • Starter for $15, giving you five monthly downloads and access to HD footage, music, photos, vectors, illustrations, and Maker Video Editor. 
  • Unlimited All Access for $30, giving you unlimited downloads and access to HD footage, 4K footage, After-Effects templates, music & sound effects, photos, vectors, illustrations, and Maker Video Editor. 
  • Pro for $35, giving you unlimited downloads and access to the previous tier’s perks, plus an Adobe Premiere Pro Plugin.

Storyblocks Pros

  • Pricing is very reasonable, making it a great budget option for creative projects.
  • Get videos, photos, music, vectors, and illustrations with your subscription.
  • Unlimited downloads with a subscription plan!
  • Works great with Adobe After Effects.

Storyblocks Cons

  • As this is a new site, they are still building their library of video clips and images.
  • Note that billing is on an annual basis for most plans.
  • Fewer cinematic videos than on some other platforms.

Bottom Line 

For beginners and veterans alike, Storyblocks is a one-stop shop for all your visual creator’s needs at competitive rates.


12. Videohive

VideoHive-Stock-Footage-Video-Effects

Overview 

As part of the Envato Marketplace, Videohive is another decent website for royalty-free stock videos with an extensive library.

Top Features 

  • One subscription for unlimited video and other asset downloads.
  • Access to Envato Elements as part of the subscription.
  • Competitive rates for teams and enterprises.

Pricing 

Videohive was acquired by Envato, so currently, it has the same subscription options as the Envato Elements site. That means the unlimited individual plan starts at $16.50 ($11.50 for students) and $10.75 for teams. For enterprise pricing, contact Envato Elements directly.

Videohive Pros

  • Best for those with some previous technical experience with videos.
  • Easy to find, high-quality videos.
  • A good low-cost option.

Videohive Cons

  • The website design is dated.
  • Some customers say that the customer support is not great.

Bottom Line 

If you think Envato Elements is for you, then Videohive also won’t disappoint!


13. Videvo

Videvo

Overview 

A newcomer to the game, Videvo is a less-established website for stock footage and royalty-free assets. It’ll likely either grow large or get acquired by one of the big shots in the industry.

Top Features 

  • A library of over one million video clips, motion graphics, Adobe Premiere Pro templates, After Effects templates, royalty-free music, and sound effects.
  • Different subscription tiers to fit all your needs.

Pricing 

Videvo has several options you can choose from when it comes to royalty-free videos:

  • Videvo Lite: $7.99 per month (billed monthly) and offers 5 video downloads per month
  • Videvo Plus: $14.99 per month (billed monthly) or $12 per month (billed annually) and offers 25 video and template downloads per month
  • Videvo Pro: $24.99 per month (billed monthly) or $20 per month (billed annually) and offers 50 video, audio, and template downloads per month

Videvo Pros

  • Free or budget option.

Videvo Cons

  • Limited library of clips.

Bottom Line 

A Videvo subscription is an alright decision if you’re after affordable stock video downloads, but the limited library leaves a lot to be desired.


14. BigStock

Stock-Photos-Images-Vectors-Stock-Videos-Footage-Bigstock

Overview 

BigStock is a website that offers some of the best stock videos and image options at an incredibly low price.

Top Features 

  • High-quality video footage at some of the lowest rates on the market.
  • Flexible download bundle for one-time project needs.

Pricing 

BigStock has three pricing plans for stock video subscriptions:

  • $79/month: Gives you a limit of 5 videos/day, which is 150 videos per month. The cost is $0.53 per video.
  • $99/month: Gives you a limit of 10 videos/day, which is 300 videos per month. The cost is $0.33 per video
  • $79/month: You can also get 50 videos/month but with no daily limit. This option is more flexible but less cost-effective at $1.58 per video

BigStock Pros

  • Wide range of video and image content.
  • A budget option for video clips.

BigStock Cons

  • Some customers say that the customer service is not good.
  • Not as wide a range of videos as other platforms.

Bottom Line 

Honestly, there are likely better budget options out there for those who need low-cost video clips.


15. RawFilm

RawFilm-8K-Cinematic-Royalty-Free-Stock-Footage

Overview 

RawFilm is one of the best stock video sites for commercial purposes thanks to its extensive license and overall versatility.

Top Features 

  • Offers 8K footage, a rarity in the stock video world
  • One licensing option to cover all your needs
  • Collection-based browsing for visual coherence

Pricing 

RawFilm has one option for footage licensing that all the videos fall under, which gives you permission to use the footage for YouTube, TV, film, and streaming services, like Netflix.

The pricing is as follows:

  • Single Clip: $49 for one clip
  • Yearly: 1000 clips/year $69 per month ($828 paid annually)
  • Monthly: 50 clips/month $79 per month

Bottom Line 

RawFilm is best for commercial video creators and video editors looking for consistent quality and straightforward licensing.


16. Pexels

Pexels Free Stock Footage

Overview 

Another free stock video site with great quality finds Pexels offers video footage you can use for school projects as well as huge commercial projects.

Top Features 

  • Offers completely free stock video clips under a simple commercial license.
  • Unlimited access to all assets with no paid subscriptions.
  • HD clips and 4K premium clips are available.

Pricing 

Pexels offers all of its royalty-free content, even HD footage, for free.

The license that covers the free stock video footage on Pexels allows personal and commercial use but draws the line at:

  • Selling one of Pexels free stock videos to other stock video sites as your own
  • Selling unaltered photos or videos as a digital or physical product
  • Using the people in a free stock video to sell a product or service

Pexels Pros

  • Features diverse people in their videos and photos.
  • Lots of free videos to use.

Pexels Cons

  • Lacks videos on newer topics (i.e., tech).
  • Be careful around kids, as some content may be inappropriate.

Bottom Line 

Beginner content creators and online video editor specialists could greatly benefit from a free stock video website like Pexels for free clips of all qualities.


What Are Stock Footage Video Sites?

You’ve probably heard of stock images hosted on sites where you can search for the image you want and download it. Stock video sites have the same concept, where you search for clips you need for your project and download them for use in your content.

The great footage you find on stock video sites can either be free to use in a personal or commercial project or require a special license. The license can be limited to a single use, or you can get an extended license to reproduce the video and make money from it.

Common Questions About Stock Video Sites

What is the Best Stock Footage Site?

The best stock video site is the one that fits your requirements and matches your budget.

What is the Largest Stock Footage Library?

The current largest stock video footage library belongs to Pond5 with a whopping 35 million high-quality video clips.

What is the Cheapest Stock Footage Subscription?

At under $8 per month, Videvo is the cheapest stock video site subscription, not counting free sites like Pixabay and Pexels.

Where Can I Find Free Footage?

You can find free stock clips on websites like Pexels and Pixabay, as well as free downloads from paid video sites.

Wrap-Up: Best Stock Video Sites

Any video creator wants a large library where they can find great quality footage as well as templates for special effects to aid their visual storytelling. That’s why finding the best stock video websites can be such a gold mine for your creative process.

Whether you go for a big name like iStock, Shutterstock, and Adobe Stock or root for an underdog like Storyblocks and Videvo, you can find what you’re looking for on our list!

Love film and video production? Check out these other great articles:

9+ Best AI Video Editor Software Tools [Reviewed]

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