Best Stock Video Sites

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 22, 2024
Free stock footage can be great at times. However, it seldom delivers in the quality department. These stock video sites, however, ...Read more
PROS

The site offers free stock footage. In addition to video footage, the platform hosts images, 3D loops, motion graphic templates, and vector files. You can explore, test, edit, and license different media elements to use in your designs without ever leaving Photoshop or any of the Creative Cloud editing applications. 

CONS

No audio files. 

OUR VERDICT

Adobe Stock strikes the perfect balance between quality and price. The company's footage selection is wide enough not to be limiting. Their plans are flexible. The company pays creators more than just about any stock video site. The layout is straightforward and accessible. 

detailed parameters
Free Trial

30 days / 10 videos

Average HD Clip Price

$49

Additional Media Elements

Images, 3D loops, motion graphic templates, vector files

Footage Quality

HD, FullHD, 4K

Download Limit

N/A

Customer Support

User guide, tutorials, phone, email

PROS

The company gives you access to many free editing tools, including but not limited to grunge brushes, neon animated typeface, film grain overlays, etc. There's an iPhone, iPad, and Android application available for free that you can use to search and download media files on the go.

CONS

Doesn’t send auto-renewal notices for subscriptions. 

OUR VERDICT

Shutterstock will prove particularly suitable for agencies, publications, and companies that need/often rely on high-quality footage, photos, and illustrations for presentations and such. Plus, there are many different subscription plans to meet various users’ needs and preferences. 

detailed parameters
Free Trial

N/A

Average HD Clip Price

$51

Additional Media Elements

Images, music, 3D loops, motion graphic templates, vector files

Footage Quality

SD, HD, FullHD, 4K, 8K

Download Limit

N/A

Customer Support

Phone, email

PROS

Besides numerous categories, the advanced search engine is able to look for/recognize keywords, color, size, photographer, and orientation. You can switch between two filters: adult content and licensing. The engine's functionality includes reverse image search capabilities.

CONS

No custom packages. 

OUR VERDICT

Depositphotos isn't necessarily as extensive as Shutterstock but the company's products and services are flexible, affordable, and particularly customer-friendly. The platform is equally practical and suitable for personal and commercial use. The FAQ section is massive but, at the same time, easy to navigate. 

detailed parameters
Free Trial

N/A

Average HD Clip Price

$40

Additional Media Elements

Images, vector files, photos, illustrations

Footage Quality

WD, SD, HD, FullHD

Download Limit

N/A

Customer Support

Live chat, phone, email, mobile app, FAQ

PROS

The Adobe Photoshop add-on will allow you to search, purchase, and design without leaving the titular program. The Google add-on can be used to quickly search and add images into G documents. It syncs with your G Form and features full-on G Spreadsheet integration. Corporate+ offers multi-user management tools, tailor-made licensing, and advanced sharing features.

CONS

Not too many filters for photo search results. 

OUR VERDICT

123RF is a reliable and particularly affordable platform for various needs. It is as good for customers as it is for contributors. The corporate subscription plans make the website especially attractive for major companies. All in all, an excellent alternative to its more expensive big-name competition. 

detailed parameters
Free Trial

N/A

Average HD Clip Price

$59

Additional Media Elements

Images, audio files, vector files, photos, illustrations

Footage Quality

WD, SD, HD, FullHD, 4K

Download Limit

N/A

Customer Support

Live chat, phone support

PROS

Half the content available on the platform is completely original. The credits do not expire and roll over onto the next month. The company offers a free image every week. The platform's low-resolution image selection is massive. 

CONS

Low commission for contributors. 

OUR VERDICT

iStock is a little different compared to every other platform on the list. That said, there's enough here to supply most personal and entry-level professional projects. The website offers an expansive 4K footage collection at competitive prices. The credit system makes iStock great for occasional use. 

detailed parameters
Free Trial

N/A

Average HD Clip Price

$60

Additional Media Elements

Images, audio files, vector files, photos, illustrations

Footage Quality

SD, HD, FullHD, 4K

Download Limit

N/A

Customer Support

Live chat, phone support

The Adobe Approach

Adobe wears many hats and has its hands in many pies. In many fields, the company is the biggest name in the business. However, it is not quite as popular in the stock footage business and, as far as we're concerned, it is a shame because the company's professional, methodical, but, at the same time, creative and innovative approach is as evident here as it is in other projects. Plus, as far as we can tell, Adobe Stock is up there with the most extensive stock footage resources on the web market today.

The company's moral compass is in the right place too. Committed to paying at least 35 percent of the sale price to the footage creator, Adobe allows you to support not just the huge corporation behind the sales team but the artist too. All that being said, there really isn't that much to cover here.

As it is usually the case, the company's website presents an excellent layout. It is about as clear, straightforward, and accessible as they come, so you shouldn't have any issues finding the right footage. All the tools, menus, and resources are right there at your fingertips.

Not Just Footage

Of course, Adobe Stock's biggest appeal isn't just its footage collection. You can always find quality footage elsewhere. The biggest difference between these "elsewhere" places and Adobe Stock is all the additional resources that the company is able to offer. Naturally, in addition to the huge footage selection, Adobe offers access to the largest stock image library around, with over 100 million available images.

What is more, these images, footage, 3D loops, templates, vector files, and many other "goodies" are available right at your fingertips. You can explore, test, edit, and license different media pieces to use in your designs without ever leaving Photoshop or any of the Creative Cloud editing applications.

All that being said, Adobe Stock will prove useful enough for people who don't really care about other media elements too. As we've said earlier, the footage library here is as extensive as they come. You'll be able to choose from HD clips, 4K clips, motion graphics templates, video loops, etc.

The Right Balance Between Quality and Price

Adobe Stock's selection is staggering too. There's ample everyday people footage with many modern lifestyle clips. The space stock footage is breathtakingly beautiful. The aforementioned motion graphic templates will let you transform your videos. The aerial footage selection is nothing to complain about too, both quantity- and quality-wise. There's footage for every occasion there, from artsy visual trends to active lifestyle stock footage.

As far as the pricing is concerned, the company is flexible, as per usual. The people behind Adobe Stock offer a free 30-day trial that will let you download 10 videos free of charge. In addition to free stock footage, there are many different credit packs that you can choose from. The monthly plans, as well as annual commitments, include lots of additional bonuses, so we would definitely recommend browsing through these.

To sum it all up, Adobe Stock strikes the perfect balance between quality and price. The company's footage selection is wide enough not to be limiting. Their plans are flexible. The company pays creators more than just about any stock video site. The layout is straightforward and accessible. Definitely one of the best stock video sites for our taste.


Enough Footage to go Around

Shutterstock is about as synonymous with stock images and stock footage as Photoshop is with graphics editors. The company is an absolute behemoth as far as footage selection is concerned. There are almost a million and a half video files available at their website right now. As you would imagine, a collection like that means you are pretty much guaranteed to find the perfect footage for just about any project. Every week, the company's contributors add over 100,000 (that's one hundred thousand) new stock video clips. These clips range from lifestyle footage to technology, from rapid stock footage to nature, business, and animation.

We really like the company's website. Despite the increasing content variety, its layout isn't clunky at all. Everything is simple, straightforward, and accessible. The search algorithm is about as fast and accurate as it gets. More often than not, you'll be able to find the right video clips in seconds. As it is usually the case, you can download footage in SD, HD, 4K, and even 8K quality.

Every Digital Media Piece

All that being said, we all know Shutterstock for its image selection first and foremost. As impressive as the company's footage collection is, it pales in comparison to its image counterpart. You'll be able to find over 40 million images there, from news and sports to entertainment and archival photos. The selection includes editorial images, celebrity photos, and more. The extremely high-resolution pictures cover all basics and there's enough there for literally any conceivable project.

At the same time, it isn't just about the images nor is it as much about footage as one might think. The website is about it all. Shutterstock boasts over 263 million royalty-free images, vectors, illustrations, icons, stock footage clips, and music tracks. There's practically no digital media piece that you won't be able to find there. The 28 available categories include but aren't limited to food and drink, medical/healthcare, nature, abstract, vintage, the aforementioned sports and entertainment, the list goes on.

Additional Resources Too

Shutterstock definitely banks on its media selection but it's not like the company's resources end there. Among other things, the people behind Shutterstock offer a free basic photo editor, file converter, and collage maker. This software piece is easy to navigate and we would recommend it to just about any beginner looking to put a presentation together. Other than that, the company gives you access to many free editing/videography tools, including but not limited to grunge brushes, neon animated typeface, film grain overlays, etc.

The customer support, available via email and phone, is usually on point. The company has a strong international presence with sites in 9 languages. Last but not least, there's an iPhone, iPad, and Android application available for free that you can use to search and download media files on the go.

All things considered, Shutterstock is easily one of the best stock video sites for agencies, publications, and companies that need/often rely on high-quality footage, photos, and illustrations for presentations and such. Plus, there are many different subscription plans to meet various users’ needs and preferences.


The Stock Image Prince

Depositphotos is a well-established stock photo agency that's been around for over a decade now and has consistently placed amongst the top platforms in the market. As it is usually the case with these companies, Depositphotos is less known for its ventures into the stock footage world. The company's initial and primary goal was building the biggest, most comprehensive image selection and they've been able to more or less achieve that goal.

There isn't much that Depositphotos does not offer. The company's platform features an extensive library that includes high-quality stock images, vectors, videos, and graphics.

Again, we're not necessarily here to review its stock image game but it is worth mentioning regardless. The images that the company offers are royalty-free. You can use them for commercial purposes, both online and print.

There are over 60 million images available on the company's website. The company's platform is still trailing a little behind Shutterstock but, other than that, there aren't too many websites that are able to match Depositphotos' image selection. You'll be able to find the right picture/illustration for just about any project/occasion.

Customer-Friendly Services

Now, as much as its primary product is royalty-free images, the company's motion video, vector art, stock photography, illustration, and footage is impressive in its own right. The site is being constantly updated with images, original artwork, and videos for use by bloggers, advertisers, designers, and publishers. You can use the company's media property in articles, brochures, product packaging, and/or advertisements.

What we really like about Depositphotos is just how customer-oriented their practices and services are. The website works equally well with just about every major browser out there, including but not limited to Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer. On top of that, there's an app available for free for Android and iOS. The app is more or less as practical and easy to navigate as the website. The modules aren't difficult to figure out. The dashboard is straightforward and intuitive. The search engine there is as quick and effective as its desktop counterpart.

The Most Advanced Search Engine

The company's massive and extensive search engine is probably its biggest selling point. As it is more or less always the case, you can use the engine to search by categories (way too many to mention), keywords, color, size, photographer, and orientation. You can switch between two filters: adult content and licensing. At the same time, Depositphotos' engine incorporates reverse image search and numerous advanced features that its competition is unable to match.

The subscription plans that the company offers are various, flexible, and affordable. You can gain many different bonuses through subscription purchases. You're able to choose between on-demand acquisition, monthly, and annual plans. There's no limit to how many images you're allowed to download on a daily basis. The same goes for footage, vectors, photos, and illustrations.

In other words, Depositphotos isn't necessarily as extensive as Shutterstock but the company's products and services are flexible, affordable, and particularly customer-friendly. The platform is equally practical and suitable for personal and commercial use. The FAQ section is massive but, at the same time, easy to navigate.


Extensive and Comprehensive Category List

123RF isn't the most polished website on the market. Its media file collection is massive but it does not necessarily rival Shutterstock and other big-name brands. At the same time, the platform is packing over 110 million images video, audio, vector files. Its subscription programs are as affordable as they come. Plus, the company ensures a 100% money-back guarantee, meaning that you'll definitely be getting your money's worth.

Of course, let's start with the company's footage library. As far as we're concerned, there are more than enough video clips here for various projects. 123RF offers you access to over a million different clip. The company's search engine is not necessarily its standout feature but it is definitely up there. This thing is powerful and advanced, incorporating reverse image search functionality and inventive algorithms to simplify and streamline customer interactions with the website.

However, the company's extensive category list will often render the search engine obsolete. You can choose from Abstract, Animals, Beauty, Celebration, Babies, Family, Communication, Business, Education, Concept, Fashion, Fitness, Landscape, Healthcare, Food, Technology, Lifestyle, People, Romance, Texture, Wedding, Vintage, Travel, Transportation. As you would imagine, these categories cover just about every conceivable subject. You shouldn't run into any issues finding the right footage for your needs. You likely won't have to dig too deep too.

EVO Format Images

Though the company's platform does not really disappoint in the quantity department, for our taste, it is really the media files' quality that is the biggest contributor to the platform's success. We're not just talking about footage here. No, the footage collection is nothing to scoff at. But, first and foremost, it is the beautiful lifestyle, editorial, and non-cheesy photos that set the platform apart from its competition. In addition to regular high-resolution images, the platform hosts EVO format images, which are premium images that come at a higher price.

You can choose between royalty-free license usage rights for a low, one-time fee or extended licenses for additional usage rights that, naturally, come at a higher price. Other than that, the editorial use license is available too.

The Add-Ons aren't too bad Either

Now, let's talk about additional features. First off, the company offers an Adobe Photoshop add-on that will allow you to search, purchase, and design without leaving the titular program. The add-on will also let you keep track of the images used in Photoshop to repurpose them in other designs through your 123RF account.

The company's Google add-on is a slightly different but equally useful animal. It will enable you to search and add images into G documents without having to open a new tab each and every time. On top of that, the add-on synchronizes with your G Form and features full-on G Spreadsheet integration.

Finally, the people behind this image, vector, illustration, audio, and stock video subscription platform offer excellent corporate subscription bonuses that include multi-user management tools, tailor-made licensing, and advanced sharing features.

Simply put, 123RF is a reliable and particularly affordable platform for various needs. It is as good for customers as it is for contributors. The corporate subscription plans make the website especially attractive for major companies. All in all, an excellent alternative to its more expensive big-name competition.


More Than Enough Categories

iStock is a little different from every other platform on the list. Technically speaking, the website belongs to Getty Images, meaning that it is not necessarily that different from the financial/logistical/business perspective. At the same time, the platform is different because it was designed with footage in mind first and foremost, unlike every other website on the list that was built around stock images and introduced other media content later on. Now, because iStock was designed with stock videos in mind, the platform is able to offer more footage variety and, generally speaking, makes it a lot easier to find the right footage compared to its competition.

Let's look at the categories, for instance. There are abstract stock videos. There are excellent science and technology stock videos. You can choose from numerous sports and recreation stock videos from the eponymous collection. The business and finance stock videos are sharp and to the point. The always cinematic time-lapse stock videos can be hauntingly beautiful and the selection is no joke too. We can extend the same sentiment towards the slow-motion, cloud, water, nature and landscape, aerial, and architecture stock video categories. At the same time, we do not have any issues with healthcare and medicine stock videos. The food and drink stock videos are nothing to complain about. Other than that, there're fitness and wellness, travel, adventure, hipster, New York, transportation, pet and animal, and family categories that all have something to offer too.

Royalty-Free Footage

All in all, iStock offers an excellent royalty-free, high-definition stock footage collection and quality curated content. Considering the aforementioned categories and, with millions of SD, HD, Full HD, and 4K footage to choose from, the platform makes it particularly easy to find and download the right movie clips for your project or the perfect footage for your presentation. Plus, the previously specified "royalty-free" part means that you'll be able to use the footage in practically any project, as often and as much as you want, without paying for each additional use.

Of course, the platform offers images, vector files, audio files, and illustrations too. It doesn't specialize in this stuff as much as every other platform on the list but the company's collection doesn't necessarily come up short either. There's enough here to choose from, especially as far as low-resolution images for websites and/or e-newsletters are concerned.

Credit System

The biggest standout feature is probably the company's search engine functionality though. You can easily narrow down your search results to find that perfect picture that you've been looking for. There are many search categories to choose from, including keywords, image type, file size, price range, color, and photographer/contributor name.

After that, you're able to further narrow your search results, filtering your images by best match, age, downloads, contributor, rating, size, and title. Considering that more than half the content available on the platform is completely original, there's something for everyone here.

The credit payment system is alright too. The difference is that these credits do not expire and roll over onto the next month.

In closing, iStock is a little different compared to every other platform on the list. That said, there's enough here to supply most personal and entry-level professional projects. The website offers an expansive 4K footage collection at competitive prices. The credit system makes iStock particularly attractive for occasional use.


What Is a Video Stock Site?

It doesn't always make sense to shoot your own short video. At the same time, your presentation will likely fall flat without video accompaniment. You want to put together an awesome project. At the same time, you're seldom able to shoot the footage necessary to make that project truly awesome. That is where these video stock sites come in.

There's enough difference between them but every site on the list hosts an extensive stock footage collection. There are clips pertaining to many different themes and subjects, from nature and food to architecture, sports, entertainment, etc. There's always enough material there for various businesses, agencies, publications, as well as personal use.

The difference between these platforms is minute and huge at the same time. It isn't just about the footage quality and quantity. It is also about the additional media content, different subscription plans, as well as various additional tools and resources. Make sure you keep these things in mind and you should be able to make the right choice.

Certain platforms offer editing software as part of the package. However, it is seldom that impressive. We would much rather recommend any program from these video, audio, and image editing software reviews. With these apps, you'll be able to take your project to the next level.

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