No matter what kind of video you edit or need, a professional resource of stock videos is essential for success. Clients and viewers want your videos to be beautiful and informative. That’s why it’s important to use a stock footage site that lets you build your video editing career and easily access professional video assets.
Envato Elements and Storyblocks are two popular options for stock footage, and both are solid choices for anyone looking to get videos, audio, and SFX. Here’s how they compare, so you can decide which is best for you.
Envato Elements vs. Storyblocks: At a Glance
Envato Elements offers a much larger collection of stock assets available at half the price of Storyblocks. Many video editors prefer having such variety and affordable prices.
Storyblocks is designed to be an all-in-one solution with its own video editing app, although it doesn’t measure up to the industry standards like Adobe Premiere Pro.
| Envato Elements | Storyblocks | |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Rating: | 4.7/5.0 | 4.1/5.0 |
| 💵 Pricing: | From $11.50/month | $30–$70/month |
| 📹 Videos: | 4.2 million | 1.5 million |
| 🎵 Music: | 145,000 | 19,440 |
| 🕪 SFX: | 629,000 | 43,000 |
| 📝 Templates: | 461,000 | 25,000 |
| 🔥 Coupons | Envato Elements discounts 71% OFF | – |
| 💁🏻Support | Help Center, FAQs, email | Help Center, FAQs, email |
| Photutorial reviews | Envato Elements review | Storyblocks review |
Pricing
Both Envato Elements and Storyblocks operate on the premise of unlimited subscriptions. This means that for a fixed monthly fee, you can download an unlimited number of media assets. What sets Envato Elements apart and makes it an attractive option for many video editors are its remarkably affordable monthly fees.
On a monthly basis, Envato Elements may not seem inexpensive at $39/mo. However, the annual plan introduces a substantial 57% discount, bringing the monthly rate down to just $16.50. Eligible students can avail themselves of an extra 30% discount, making their cost a mere $11.50 per month.
Moreover, Photutorial readers can enjoy a special offer – a hefty 70% off their first month when opting for the monthly plan, also reducing their first payment to just $11.50.
On the flip side, Storyblocks maintains a fixed pricing model with no discounts. The Unlimited All Access plan costs $30/mo, while the Pro plan is priced at $35/mo. Alternatively, there’s the Starter plan for $15/mo, although it restricts users to only 5 monthly downloads and limits video quality to HD.
» More discounts? Learn how to get Envato Elements up to 70% off
Volume of videos & audio
Every video editor appreciates a diverse array of videos, music, and sound effects, particularly after they’ve gotten used to a specific video library. In this domain, Envato Elements shines brightly, providing a much larger volume of assets compared to Storyblocks.
Take, for example, the stock videos. Envato Elements’s collection is robust with around 4.2 million offerings, with an impressive addition of approximately 100,000 new ones every week. In contrast, Storyblocks features a more modest collection of about 1.5 million stock videos, with a few thousand being added weekly.
When it comes to music and SFX, Envato Elements also outperforms with more than tenfold the number of assets as Storyblocks. This essentially translates to a tenfold increase in variety and selection with Envato Elements, a feature always appreciated by creatives.
Quality
In terms of quality, most video editors find minimal differences between Envato Elements and Storyblocks. Both platforms provide assets ranging from HD to 4K footage, while 8K footage is unique to platforms like Artlist and Pond5.
Similarly, both platforms show little variation in the quality of video templates and audio. The only notable distinction is that Envato Elements includes a larger pool of lower-quality assets. However, when it comes to high-quality assets, Envato Elements still holds the upper hand.
As a satisfied customer of Envato Elements, Ken, states, “Envato has whatever video, picture, template you want. I’m amazed at the highly specific things I search for and get dozens of options each time. Very nice.“
Licensing
Storyblocks excels in the licensing terms offered. For starters, Storyblocks covers up to $20,000 of legal fees, whereas Envato Elements only covers indemnity equal to your last six monthly payments. This is one of the more notable drawbacks of Envato Elements and is significantly lower than the industry standard.
Licensing from Storyblocks may also offer greater benefits for streaming platforms. Some users have reported copyright issues with Envato Elements media on YouTube, which can usually be resolved by submitting a license to YouTube.
Bottom line
Both Envato Elements and Storyblocks stand as reliable sources for licensing royalty-free stock footage, music, and SFX, with each also offering a substantial number of images. However, Envato Elements’ library proves to be significantly larger and more comprehensive.
Your choice between the two hinges on your specific project needs. If you’re working with enterprise clients, Storyblocks might be a better fit due to its comprehensive licensing.
However, if you’re a freelancer or an entrepreneur in need of a wide spectrum of assets, Envato Elements could be the optimal choice, thanks to its extensive library and affordable pricing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which is better Storyblocks and Envato?
The main differences between Envato Elements vs. Storyblocks lie in the size of their asset libraries and pricing structure. Envato Elements (get 57% off) has a more expansive library and offers significant discounts, particularly for students and annual subscribers. Storyblocks, while having a smaller collection, stands out for its licensing terms, which are particularly beneficial for enterprise clients.
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