Today we’re going to review the best stock video footage sites right now.
Stock footage is one of the easiest ways to enhance your video content. But there are a ton of different sites out there, all with different levels of quality, licensing restrictions and pricing models.
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So we’ve tested all the top options and narrowed it down to the best stock footage sites that we recommend.
We’ll start off with the free sites first so you can see what’s out there. Then we’ll work our way up to the paid options.
If you’re looking specifically for free stock footage, we still recommend hanging around to hear out the paid options. You might find that they’re going to be a much better fit for you!
Here’s exactly what we’ll cover:
- Top Free Stock Video Sites
- Best Paid Royalty Free Stock Video Footage Sites
- Our Top Recommendations & What We Use
Let’s get started.
Top Free Stock Video Sites
Our top recommendations for best free stock video sites are Pexels and Pixabay. Both of these are standouts in terms of the size of their footage libraries. They also make licensing really easy.
The best free stock video sites in this roundup are Pexels & Pixabay
Usually licensing for stock footage is a difficult thing. There are different processes for different uses. Sometimes you even have to go through different processes on a clip-by-clip basis.
So it’s awesome that both Pexels and Pixabay make this straightforward. You can use the clips pretty much wherever you like. But, we still recommend checking the requirements before you download each clip.
The most important thing to check with any stock video footage is the licensing and permissions
While both these sites are awesome free options, there are three big reasons we think it’s worth the extra cash to go with a paid site:
- The stock footage library is usually way bigger
- The search function is generally much better
- There’s a much lower chance of having licensing issues with copyright claims
Even the top free stock video sites generally have a smaller content library
Having said that, let’s check out our top recommended paid options.
Best Royalty Free Stock Video Footage Sites
In this category we’ve narrowed it down to our three top royalty free stock video sites. Plus we’ve included one that deserves an honorable mention!
Option number one is Storyblocks.
Storyblocks
This is one that we’ve talked about a lot on this channel. We’ve been flying the Storyblocks flag high for years!
Storyblocks is a top contender when it comes to the best stock video websites
They have an all-you-can-eat subscription based model. This means that with your monthly or annual fee, you’re able to access the entire library of 1 million plus HD and 4k video clips.
Possibly the biggest thing we love about Storyblocks is that it’s not just stock video footage that you get. You also have access to their Adobe Premiere and After Effects templates, motion backgrounds, music tracks, sound effects, stock photos and illustrations as well.
It’s not just royalty free stock footage you have access to!
The licensing is really straightforward. You can sign up as an individual or as a business, and they outline where you can and can’t use everything based on those two models.
We also love how fast and easy it is to find the stock footage clips you’re after. Good search functionality is key to a stock footage site. There are times when you could spend days going through all the different sites trying to find the perfect clip – it can be a nightmare!
It’s easy to find the perfect video clip and you even have HD or 4K stock footage options
But Storyblocks makes finding that perfect footage super easy, especially given how large their content library is.
Pricing
You used to be able to pay for a subscription solely for stock footage or solely for stock music, based on what you wanted. But StoryBlocks recently made a change to their pricing model.
There’s only one subscription option and it gives you access to everything on the platform
Now the only option is a subscription that covers everything on the platform. Obviously this means it’s now a bit more expensive. But we think it’s a bit of a no brainer given what you get access to.
A lot of those extra resources like the templates and the music are going to come in handy when you’re creating videos anyway.
There are two different pricing options for individual content creators:
- Starter: $15/month and gives you 5 total monthly downloads of HD Footage, Music and Photos, Vectors & Illustrations
- Unlimited All Access: $30/month and gives you access to unlimited access to all of the resources.
You can choose between the Starter subscription and the Unlimited All Access subscription
Now let’s check out option number two – Motion Array.
Motion Array
This is one that’s been on our radar for quite a while and it’s awesome to see how far it’s come. Motion Array is now a really solid solution and an incredible offer.
Motion Array is an amazing option for royalty free video
Just like with Storyblocks, Motion Array gives you access to more than just stock footage. You also get video templates, photos, royalty free music, sound effects and video editing plugins for software like Adobe Premiere.
There’s even a built-in video feedback and collaboration tool as well. So if you’re working with teams or clients and you want to upload a video and get feedback – this is an amazing way to do it. If you’ve ever used Frame.io, this tool is the equivalent of that just built-in to this subscription
Working with teams is really easy thanks to the collaboration tool
The stock footage is pretty much on par with what you’d find in Storyblocks. But if you ask us, the motion graphics, templates, and effects are next level.
So if you think you’ll be using those extra resources, then Motion Array could be the best pick for you. Overall, it’s a really solid option with some awesome extras like the video collaboration tool.
Pricing
There are three pricing options:
- Monthly: $29.99/month
- Annual: $249.99/year (this works out to $20.83/month)
- Team: $18.75/month per user
There are three pricing options depending on your specific needs
Now let’s check out option number three.
Artgrid
This was one of the top picks in last year’s roundup of the best stock video websites and it’s one our top picks again! Artgrid is awesome.
If you’re looking for professional stock footage, Artgrid might be for you
The quality of footage is second to none. It uses professional video formats with resolutions up to 8K and raw. So if you’re looking for the most professional footage, then Artgrid is your pick.
In terms of the library size, it’s definitely not as big as the previous two options. So if you are looking for something really specific or really niche, you might not find it in here.
Artgrid is an awesome option if you’re looking for niche, professional stock footage
But if you’re looking for the most cinematic footage around, that’s what you will find.
Pricing
There are three pricing options available:
- Junior HD: $24.92/month and gives you access to HD Clips and a H.204 format
- Creator 4K: $39.92/month and unlocks the 4K to 8K and the ProRes format
- Pro RAW/LOG: $49.92/month and gives you access to everything
This is a fair bit more expensive but it could be worth it if you want pro-level footage
So this is a lot more expensive than the previous options but it’s really for that specific use case of pro-level footage.
Those are our top options for best stock footage sites. Now let’s take a look at the honorable mention.
Shutterstock
This one didn’t make the cut for BEST stock video sites but it is worth an honorable mention.
Shutterstock is another great stock video footage site
Shutterstock is a different type of offering. They don’t have an all-you-can-eat subscription model like the previous options. Instead, you purchase footage on a clip-by-clip basis.
The biggest upside of Shutterstock is just how big and awesome their content library is. If you’re looking for something super niche or really random, you’re more likely to find it on Shutterstock than any of the other options. But you will likely be paying a premium for that clip!
It has a massive library featuring lots of specific clips but you will pay a premium for them
Another awesome feature is how powerful their search functionality is. Shutterstock does a really good job of helping you find your clip quickly. You can easily find those really specific, niche clips in their massive content library.
Pricing
There are lots of different pricing options for Shutterstock.
For individual clips:
- Single 4K clip: $179
- 5 SD clips: $299
- 5 HD clips: $359
- 5 4K clips: $599
You have a bunch of different pricing options depending on your needs
Or you can go on one of their monthly subscriptions (keep in mind they’re billed annually):
- 5 clips: $99/month
- 10 clips: $159/month
- 20 clips: $199/month
So, what’s our top recommendation? And what do we use here at Primal Video?
Our Top Recommendations & What We Use
Keep in mind, there isn’t one solution that’s going to be right for everyone.
The most important thing is to find whichever service is going to have the types of clips that you want to use in your videos.
Check out each of the sites to see which one has clips that you would use in your videos
So we strongly recommend going to each of the websites and browsing through their catalog. Have a look through the library at the type of clips they have. This should be the biggest indicator as to which one is right for you.
Our top picks right now are Motion Array and Storyblocks.
We love how much value you get for the monthly or annual fee. And it’s awesome how much extra stuff you’re getting outside of the stock footage as well, with access to music tracks and stock templates.
The winner for best stock video websites in this roundup is Motion Array
But in terms of the overall package and which one is the best value for money right now, the winner is Motion Array.
For the price and all the extra stuff they throw in, it’s an amazing deal. But Storyblocks is a very close second!
So which one do we use here at Primal Video?
The stock footage site that we use most here at Primal Video is Storyblocks
We use Storyblocks for the bulk of the stock footage in our videos. We also have an Artgrid subscription, which we only use from time to time for some specific, really niche shots.
Now You Know The Best Stock Video Sites in 2022
There you have it – the best sites for accessing both paid and free stock video.
But remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all perfect solution. The one you go with (whether it’s paid or free) really comes down to which site offers the clips you need within your content.
Once you’ve found the right stock video site for you, why not check out our review of the Best Sites for Video Background Music so you can get some great tracks for your videos.
Interested in learning more tips and tricks for creating quality video content? Check out our guide on the ULTIMATE Process for Editing Videos Faster. This free download provides you with tons of video editing tips and tricks that can take your videos to an entirely new level.
Links
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BEST Stock Video Websites:
Best FREE Stock Video Websites:
Recommended Gear & Resources
Check out an up-to-date list of all the gear, software & tools we use and recommend right now at Primal Video on our resources page here!
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