The Best Stock Video Footage Sites Right Now
Whether you're creating YouTube content, social media ads, or professional video projects, finding high-quality stock footage is essential. In this guide, we’ll explore the best royalty-free video sources, from free options to premium paid subscriptions. We’ll also introduce a top AI video generator tool that can help produce short video clips for B-roll or overlays.
Top Free Stock Video Sites
If you're looking for free stock footage, two standout platforms offer excellent quality and easy licensing:
1. Pexels
Pexels provides a vast collection of royalty-free videos that are simple to access and download. Users can refine their searches using keywords and select from different resolution options. Licensing is straightforward—videos are free for personal and commercial use without the need for attribution, although credit is appreciated.
2. Pixabay
Similar to Pexels, Pixabay offers a broad range of stock content, including images, vectors, illustrations, videos, music, sound effects, and GIFs. While some sponsored content appears at the top of search results, the royalty-free videos are clearly marked. Users can preview clips and select the desired quality before downloading. The licensing terms allow modification and adaptation, ensuring flexibility for creators.
Best Paid Stock Video Sites
While free resources are great, paid stock video services typically offer more extensive libraries, higher-quality footage, and advanced search filters. Here are three top recommendations:
1. Envato Elements
Envato Elements is more than just a stock footage site—it’s a comprehensive creative resource. The platform offers stock videos, templates, photos, royalty-free music, sound effects, and even 3D assets. With a library of over 5.8 million clips, users can search by category, resolution, frame rate, and duration. A subscription starts at $16.50 per month, granting unlimited downloads with a lifetime commercial license. Subscribers can also access video templates for software like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere.
2. Artlist
Originally a music licensing platform, Artlist now includes a high-quality stock footage library, sound effects, and video templates. The search functionality allows users to filter clips by theme, shot type, and presence of people. Artlist’s footage is known for its cinematic quality. Licensing is simple, and plans include:
- Social Plan: Covers one social media channel per platform.
- Pro Plan: Allows usage across multiple platforms, including client work and broadcast projects.
- Artlist Max: Bundles music, sound effects, AI voiceovers, and footage for $39.99 per month.
3. Storyblocks
Storyblocks is a versatile platform offering stock footage, animated backgrounds, video templates, music, and sound effects. A key feature is its Adobe Premiere plugin, which allows seamless integration of stock assets directly into video editing projects. Pricing plans include:
- Starter Plan: Five monthly downloads of HD footage.
- Unlimited All Access: $30 per month, granting unlimited downloads.
- Unlimited All Access + Adobe Plugin: $35 per month, including the Creative Cloud plugin for streamlined workflow.
Choosing the Right Stock Video Platform
If you’re on a budget, Pexels and Pixabay offer great free options. For premium content, Envato Elements and Storyblocks provide extensive libraries, while Artlist is ideal for high-end cinematic footage. The best choice depends on the type of content you create and the additional assets you need, such as music and templates.
AI-Powered Video Generation: Runway ML
In addition to stock footage, AI tools are revolutionizing video creation. One standout is Runway ML, which allows users to generate stunning videos from text prompts or images. This tool is useful for creating B-roll, overlays, and even full-length clips without traditional filming or editing. Runway ML also includes additional creative tools for content enhancement.
Final Thoughts
Stock footage plays a crucial role in video production, whether you’re a content creator, marketer, or filmmaker. Free options like Pexels and Pixabay provide accessible resources, while Envato Elements, Artlist, and Storyblocks offer professional-grade content with advanced search capabilities. For those interested in AI-powered video creation, Runway ML is a game-changer. Explore these platforms to find the right footage for your next project!