Stock footage strengthens a campaign when the clip fits the story, the licence, the format and the audience. The licence and the release paperwork matter more than the thumbnail.
How this guide was produced
Documented licensing and catalogue information reviewed on 10 September 2026. Licence terms change, so read the item-specific licence before you publish a paid campaign.
Twelve options at a glance
| Library | Best for | First thing to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Stock | Creative Cloud teams | Licence type and model releases |
| Shutterstock | Large general library | Subscription download rules |
| Pond5 | Specialist footage and archives | Item-specific licence |
| Artgrid | Cinematic story collections | Use after cancellation |
| Storyblocks | High-volume production | Plan and client-work terms |
| Envato Elements | Mixed creative assets | Project registration rules |
| Motion Array | Video production toolkits | Application compatibility |
| Getty Images | Premium editorial and commercial use | Rights-managed restrictions |
| iStock | Credit and subscription buyers | Collection and licence differences |
| Filmsupply | Curated cinematic campaigns | Quote and territory |
| Pexels | Free social and web content | Identifiable people and brands |
| Pixabay | Free general footage | Licence and third-party rights |
How we assessed them
We considered library range, search quality, releases, commercial and editorial rights, project registration, team use, client work, resolution and codecs, cancellation terms and how easily you can document a licence months later.
Keep a licence record
- Save the asset URL, contributor, download date, licence and receipt
- Record the project the clip was licensed for
- Check trademarks, artwork, locations, music and recognisable people
- Transcode a working copy rather than re-encoding the master repeatedly
Video is the heaviest thing on a page
Self-hosted background video wrecks mobile performance. Compress hard, avoid autoplay where you can, and measure the result.
Read next
- Blogging statistics - what content formats actually earn attention
- Themes for affiliate marketing - where campaign media usually lands
- Run a live speed test - check page weight after adding video
Where to get these
Direct links to the official plugin, theme and store pages for everything named above. Prices and plans are set by the vendor, and some links may earn us a commission.
- Get it
Adobe Stock
Service · Adobe · Premium
- Get it
Shutterstock
Service · Shutterstock · Premium
- Get it
Pond5
Service · Pond5 · Premium
- Get it
Artgrid
Service · Artgrid · Premium
- Get it
Storyblocks
Service · Storyblocks · Premium
- Get it
Envato Elements
Service · Envato · Premium
- Get it
Motion Array
Service · Motion Array · Premium
- Get it
Getty Images
Service · Getty Images · Premium
- Get it
iStock
Service · Getty Images · Premium
- Get it
Filmsupply
Service · Filmsupply · Premium
- Get it
Pexels
Service · Pexels · Free
- Get it
Pixabay
Service · Pixabay · Free
Common questions
Is free stock video safe for commercial use?
A free licence can allow commercial use, but third-party rights may still apply. Review each asset and the context you plan to use it in.
Can I use editorial footage in an advertisement?
Usually not without additional rights. Follow the item-specific licence.
Which resolution should I download?
Take a master that supports your final crop and delivery size, then create optimised web versions from it.
Fast WordPress editorial
Independent research edition · Published 10 September 2026. We update field guides when a plugin's documented capabilities change.
