If you’re looking for a reliable and constant supply of high-quality, royalty-free stock footage with unlimited downloads, your choice might end up being Storyblocks vs Envato.
These two companies are popular among videomaking professionals, marketing creatives, and businesses. They both offer unlimited downloads of diverse content types, with licensing that covers commercial use. However, their pricing schemes vary, and each has some distinct characteristics the other doesn’t provide.
Today we will delve into an in-depth analysis comparison of both providers' prices, media types, licensing options, and bonus features in a comparative guide to help you make a well-informed decision about which platform is best suited for your specific creative needs. Let’s get started!
What is Envato Elements?
Envato is a stock multimedia service where you can find royalty-free stock footage, stock music, video templates, stock images, logos, graphics, and more elements to complete your creative projects, all in one place and with one unified subscription.
This service operates with unlimited downloads, meaning you pay a fixed membership fee and get to download as many digital assets as you wish.
It's offered by Envato, a long-standing company with extensive experience in media licensing. Previously, they operated a large platform with separate, media-specific marketplaces; today, those independent hubs have rebranded under the Envato Market.
Great news: we have an exclusive, amazing Envato coupon code that will save you a huge 10% off your first month of subscription!
Do you wonder how this service compares to other premium stock footage sites? Our Envato vs Motion Array comparative guide is a good way to know!
What is Storyblocks?
Storyblocks is a digital media licensing platform offering stock videos, motion graphics, music, templates, still images, and more valuable materials to produce creative content. It's a membership-based service and offers plans with unlimited downloads.
This company started life as Videoblocks, once dubbed the “Netflix of stock footage” due to its fixed-rate membership with unlimited access. Later on, it expanded to include audio and image content to its offer and rebranded into the Storyblocks that is popular today.
Common Features of Storyblocks and Envato Elements
As a video creator, you're always searching for resources to help make your projects come alive in less time, with less investment and effort and ensuring good quality.
Enter Storyblocks and Envato, two popular platforms offering unlimited downloads of stock footage, photos, music, sound effects, graphic templates… basically, everything you need to produce high-quality videos in one place.
But what sets these two apart? Let's dive into their common features first.
Note: If you want to see more similar services, check this useful list of the best Storyblocks alternatives.
Pricing and Plans: Which Subscription Offers the Best Value for Your Money?
| Plan | Price (Yearly) | Price (Monthly) | Features | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envato Individual Plan (Yearly) | $178,2 ($14.85/month billed annually) | $14,85/month in the first year. | Stock video, video templates, music, sound effects, graphic templates, graphics, presentation templates, photos, fonts, add-ons, web templates, and more | 10% Discount in the First Year. |
| Envato Individual Plan (Monthly) | N/A | $35,10 for the first month, $39 for subsequent months | Stock video, video templates, music, sound effects, graphic templates, graphics, presentation templates, photos, fonts, add-ons, web templates, and more | 10% Discount on First Month |
| Storyblocks Starter Plan (Yearly) | $180 ($15/month billed annually) | Not available for monthly billing | 5 Total Monthly Downloads: HD Footage, Music, and Photos, Vectors, Illustrations | |
| Storyblocks Unlimited All Access (Yearly) | $360 ($30/month billed annually) | Not available for monthly billing | Unlimited Downloads: HD Footage, 4K Footage, AE Templates, Music, Sound Effects, Photos, Vectors, & Illustrations | |
| Storyblocks Pro Plan (Yearly) | $420 ($35/month billed annually) | Not available for monthly billing | Unlimited Downloads: HD Footage, 4K Footage, AE Templates, Music, Sound Effects, Photos, Vectors, & Illustrations; Storyblocks Plugin for Adobe CC |
The most significant selling point of both Storyblocks and Envato is their promise of unlimited downloads. No longer having to fret about reaching the download limit or adding up from on-demand charges when tackling multiple projects simultaneously is desirable for many users. Whether it's high-quality stock footage, stunning images, or catchy tunes – these platforms have got you covered.
- Stock Footage: Both services offer a vast library with thousands of HD and 4K videos across various categories like nature, technology, sports, etc., perfect for all kinds of video production needs.
- Photos: Access extensive collections of still images ranging from landscapes to lifestyle shots and even illustrations and graphics to complement your footage.
- Music & Sound Effects: Create immersive audio experiences by adding diverse music genres, such as cinematic scores or upbeat jingles, along with essential sound effects like footsteps or door creaks.
- Motion Graphics Templates: Elevate your video content with customizable animations, including title sequences and lower thirds, in formats compatible with Adobe Premiere Pro & After Effects.
Licensing and Usage Rights: Which Platform Provides the Most Flexible Licensing Options for Creative Assets?
Another essential aspect of both Storyblocks and Envato is their licensing terms. These platforms provide royalty-free licenses that cover commercial work, ensuring hassle-free usage in various projects without worrying about copyright infringement or legal issues. You can use their assets for your client's projects, eCommerce stores, marketing campaigns, and more with complete peace of mind.
Licensing Differences in Envato Elements and Storyblocks
While both license agreements are similar, each one of these providers has specific terms that are unique to their offer. The most important ones to keep in mind are:
- Envato’s is a single-use license: each time you download an asset, you must register in which project you’ll use it, and the license will cover only that specific use. To use the same asset in a different project, you must re-download and register it again. Storyblocks does not have this requirement; each file you download can be used in unlimited projects.
- Storyblocks doesn’t guarantee model releases for all its content. Some clips containing recognizable people might require you to contact the models to get authorization to use their likenesses (particularly important for commercial use).
In a nutshell, both Storyblocks and Envato offer an impressive array of resources to help creators produce stunning content while saving time and money. However, some differences between these two platforms might sway your decision on which one to choose – so keep reading as we explore pricing variations and unique features each service offers.
Pricing and Plans: Which Subscription Offers the Best Value for Your Money?
While both platforms aim to be an all-in-one toolbox for creators, there is a significant difference in their pricing structure. Gaining knowledge of the price disparities between these two services can aid you in picking which platform is most suitable for your financial plan.
Annual plans comparison and difference
If you're considering investing in a yearly subscription, comparing what each platform offers is essential.
Storyblocks has three annual pricing tiers:
- Starter – $180/year – Download only video content
- Unlimited All Access – $360/year – Download all media types: videos, audio tracks, images, motion templates, and more
- Pro – $420/year – Downloads of all media types plus access to an enhanced plugin for Adobe Creative Cloud and a few extra features for professional videographers
All but the Starter plans come with unlimited downloads. Additionally, there is an Enterprise service whose price is quoted according to your company’s creative needs.
Envato, on the other hand, offers one straightforward annual plan for individuals:
- Monthly plans that come with our exclusive 10% discount on the first month
- Individuals – $178,20/year (billed monthly at $14.85/mo) – now also with 10% discount in the first year. That means only $14.85/month in the first year. Access its entire library of assets, including stock footage, music tracks, graphic templates, etc.
You may also find a Teams subscription option, which costs $10.75/member/month to $14.50/member/month for 2 to 5 members. For teams of 6 or more, you need a special quote for an Enterprise solution.
Monthly Subscription Costs
If you prefer monthly subscriptions over long-term commitments, let's dive into how much each service charges monthly.
Envato also keeps it simple by offering a single monthly subscription plan, granting access to their entire library of creative assets. This makes it an attractive option for those who need diverse content types without worrying about upgrading or downgrading plans.
When it comes to Storyblocks, they don’t offer month-to-month plans. So if this is what you are looking for, this agency might not be the best fit for you.
Overall, Storyblocks and Envato offer different pricing options that can be beneficial to users depending on their needs. Therefore, it is essential to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each platform before making a choice.
Unique Features Offered by Each Platform
Apart from their similarities in providing essential resources for creators like stock footage or music tracks, each platform has unique features that set them apart. Exploring these exclusive offerings will enable you to determine which service caters better to your specific needs as a creator.
Custom Fonts and Presets are Available on Envato
If you're in search of a multitude of custom fonts and presets, then Envato could be the perfect selection for your needs. With thousands of options available, finding the perfect font style or preset effect to enhance your projects' visual appeal is easy.
Web Templates and Tutorials Provided by Envato
Beyond just offering assets, Envato also provides access to premium website templates, making it simple for businesses and individuals alike to create stunning websites and web pages without breaking a sweat. Additionally, they offer various tutorials covering design techniques, coding practices, and marketing strategies – all aimed at helping users make the most out of their subscriptions.
Web-Based Video Editor Offered by Storyblocks
Storyblocks has an attractive bonus offer included in all their subscriptions: Their Maker online video editor. This is a user-friendly and intuitive tool to produce simple yet eye-catching video content, parting from customizable templates and easy-to-use editing features. It’s ideal for creating marketing videos for social media platforms.
A Business version of Maker is also available as part of a Business subscription only.
Essentially, both platforms have unique offerings catering to different creative requirements. By exploring these exclusive features offered by each service provider – from custom fonts on Envato to a video maker on Storyblocks – you can decide which platform best suits your needs as a creator.
Choosing the Right Platform Based on Your Needs
Now that we've explored the commonalities, pricing differences, and unique features of both Storyblocks and Envato, it's time to decide which one aligns with your requirements as a creator. Considering factors such as asset variety or ease of use when downloading assets may lead you toward selecting either Storyblocks or Envato.
Comparing Asset Availability Across Different Categories
The first step in choosing between these two platforms is to compare their asset offerings across various categories. Both services provide stock footage, music tracks, sound effects, and graphic templates; however, there might be some subtle differences in quality and quantity.
- Videos: If you're looking for a vast library of high-quality video clips for your projects, both platforms got you covered. However, Envato has the edge over Storyblocks due to its larger collection: 3.6+ million clips on Envato vs 1M+ videos on Storyblocks. Both companies add freshly new content to their libraries regularly, though.
- Music & Sound Effects: Regarding audio resources like music tracks and sound effects – again, both platforms offer plenty of options, but depending on your specific needs (e.g., genre preferences), one platform might cater better than the other.
- Templates & Graphics: For those requiring design elements such as templates or graphics for their projects – Envato takes the cake with its extensive range, including custom fonts and presets unavailable on Storyblocks.
Ease-of-Use
Another crucial factor to consider when choosing between Storyblocks and Envato is the ease of use during the download process. You want a platform that lets you quickly find, preview, and download assets without hassle.
- Search Functionality: Both platforms offer advanced search options for finding specific content types or categories; however, some users have reported that Envato' search functionality is more intuitive than Storyblocks'.
- Preview & Download: When it comes to previewing assets before downloading them – both platforms provide easy-to-use interfaces with quick access buttons for immediate downloads. However, one unique feature offered by Storyblocks is their loopable video clips – making it easier for creators who need seamless loops in their projects.
- Licensing & Usage: As mentioned earlier, both services provide licensing covering the commercial use of their assets, ensuring hassle-free usage across various projects. But while Envato requires project registration for each asset usage, Storyblocks gives unlimited project coverage, for example. It's essential to review each platform's licensing terms carefully to be confident your chosen service aligns with your needs as a creator.
Pricing Points and Options
As we reviewed earlier, both stock footage agencies have plans with unlimited downloads, making them much more affordable than other providers and a lot more flexible and convenient. However, they don’t cost the same, nor can they be accessed in the same way
Envato has a one-only subscription but lets you opt between annual or month-to-month commitments, with the annual plan being the lowest-priced. Plus, with our exclusive 10% discount, on the first month of the monthly subscription or 10% discount in the first year of the yearly subscription, you are off to a great start.
Storyblocks gives you more options regarding plans, so you can decide how much access you need and how much to pay based on that. However, they don't have a monthly subscription, so you must commit for a whole year.
As for cost, Envato’s unified plan is only slightly pricier than Storyblocks’ most basic plan –which doesn’t have full access to media content–. The latter’s more complete memberships are at higher price points than Elements.
By weighing these aspects against each other, you'll be well-equipped to select either Storyblocks or Envato.
Frequently Asked Questions Storyblocks vs Envato Elements
Let's now address the most asked questions regarding Envato vs Storyblocks as stock footage providers.
Is Envato Elements better than Storyblocks?
Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses. Envato offers a wider range of assets, including website templates and tutorials, while Storyblocks provides unique loops without project linking requirements. The choice between the two depends on your specific needs and preferences.
What is better than Storyblocks?
If you're looking for an alternative to Storyblocks, consider Envato. Another good option is Artgrid.
Is Storyblocks a good site?
Storyblocks is a reputable stock media platform offering high-quality video footage, audio tracks, images, and more with affordable subscription plans. Their unlimited downloads feature and commercial use licenses make it an attractive option for many professionals.
What happened to Envato Elements?
Envato is the evolution of Envato's different stock media markets (PhotoDune, VideoHive, GraphicRiver, AudioJungle, etc.). In 2016, the company launched Elements as a mixed-media service incorporating curated content from each marketplaces. Later, they rebranded the separate hubs into one Envato Market, which continues to operate successfully today, where you can still access each media type individually and buy on demand.
Envato remains one of the leading digital asset marketplaces providing various creative resources such as graphics templates, fonts, presets, website themes, tutorials, and more under a single subscription plan.
Envato Elements vs Storyblocks: Almost the Same, But Not Quite
When it comes to stock footage and video, both Storyblocks and Envato offer relatively similar services. While they have many common features, differences in pricing structures and unique offerings make each platform suitable for different types of users.
Ultimately, the decision between Storyblocks vs Envato depends on your needs as an individual or business – so take the time to consider what you need before making a choice.
Storyblocks has a monthly subscription. You have to click on the package you’re interested in and then it will give you the option to go monthly.