We know you laughed at those awkward, overexposed stock videos of people shaking hands or smiling a little too creepily. We did too! Now, welcome to 2025, where stock video sites offer everything from insane drone shots to authentic, modern stories that are nothing short of epic. But where do these clips “live”?
We’ve taken the role of Dora the Explorer to browse the Internet and bring you 2025’s best stock video sites, so you can find the footage that makes your next project monumental.
10 Best Stock Video Sites
We’ve handpicked the 10 best stock video sites based on what actually matters to creators: top-notch video quality, fair pricing, flexible licenses, and tools that make finding and editing footage easy-peasy. These sites have you covered with stunning, ready-to-use clips, regardless of what you’re creating:
1. Podcastle
You might know Podcastle as the go-to tool for creating and editing podcasts, videos, and audio content, but it’s also one of the best stock video sites for finding millions of HD and 4K stock videos that don’t feel unnatural or generic.
Podcastle integrates these videos with the rest of its audio and editing tools. Need to record a voiceover for your stock video, drop in background music, or edit everything in one place? Podcastle makes it possible, cutting down your production time and letting you focus on telling a great story.
Besides, with its AI features like automatic speech-to-text transcription, AI voice cloning, eye contact corrector, and background noise removal, you can polish your videos faster than ever.
2. Pond5
Acquired by Shutterstock in 2022 for $210 million, Pond5 has carved out a reputation as the world’s largest video-first marketplace, now hosting more than 44 million HD and 4K video clips, plus music, sound effects, images, and more. What makes Pond5 special? It’s laser-focused on video. Whether you're hunting drone shots, cinematic nature, vertical content, or rare archival footage, you can find anything here.
On Pond5, every purchase comes with a royalty-free license suitable for worldwide use in commercial or editorial projects, from YouTube promos to broadcast TV. You can buy credit packs (with bonus credits), go for flexible monthly subscriptions, or, for hard-core users, pay $199 monthly for “Footage Plus”, which includes access to thousands of videos, plus music and images.
3. ShutterStock
Shutterstock is a giant in the stock video world, and for good reason. Founded in 2003, it’s grown into one of the most recognizable names for royalty-free footage, images, and music. Today, it boasts over 28 million video clips in its library, including 4K and HD options, covering everything from cinematic nature shots to quirky lifestyle scenes.
Shutterstock offers several licensing options, but it’s mostly straightforward: you get worldwide usage rights with royalty-free terms. Shutterstock pricing can feel a bit premium compared to some competitors, but the sheer quality, variety, and legal peace of mind often make it worth every penny.
4. Adobe Stock
For many creative professionals, Adobe Stock is the obvious choice, and not just because it’s from Adobe. The real magic lies in how effortlessly it connects with apps like Premiere Pro and After Effects. Each video is carefully curated to fit everything from sleek brand promos to vertical social reels.
What really sets Adobe Stock apart is how it supports contributors. Its AI-assisted tools rolled out in 2024, help video creators generate better keywords and titles, giving them a fair shot at standing out. This constant influx of new, diverse clips keeps the library feeling fresh and relevant.
5. Pexels
Pexels is one of the best stock video sites available today, offering tens of thousands of free HD and 4K clips you can use freely for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Unlike many free sites, you don’t need to worry about complicated restrictions or hidden fees, there’s no requirement for attribution (though giving credit is encouraged), and you can edit or remix the videos however you like.
The platform focuses on clips that feel cinematic and fresh. And because it’s owned by Canva, you can also integrate Pexels videos directly into Canva projects, streamlining workflows for everything from social media posts to presentation videos.
6. ArtGrid
Artgrid offers a library that stands out for its high production value: you’ll find footage shot on professional cameras like RED and ARRI, available in resolutions up to 8K, and even RAW/LOG formats if you’re on a higher-tier plan. A key advantage of Artgrid is its universal license. With any subscription, you get unlimited downloads, lifetime usage rights (even after your subscription ends), and coverage for commercial, online, and broadcast projects worldwide.
Artgrid offers several plans, all of which are billed annually, with no option for monthly subscriptions or one-off purchases. This is something to consider if you only need occasional clips.
7. Pixabay
If you need stock video on a budget, or no budget at all, Pixabay is one of the best stock video sites for you. Pixabay’s videos are released under a simple license, which lets you use clips freely for commercial or personal projects, modify them as needed, and distribute them across platforms like YouTube, social media, websites, or even broadcast.
The platform also offers a smooth user experience, with quick downloads, straightforward search, and filters for resolution, orientation, and category. Along with videos, Pixabay hosts millions of free photos, music tracks, and illustrations, all under the same hassle-free license, making it a one-stop shop for multimedia projects.
8. Envato
Envato is one of the most impressive all-in-one platforms for stock videos and beyond. It offers unlimited downloads of HD and 4K stock footage, along with a massive library of assets like music, graphics, fonts, website templates, and more, all under a single subscription.
For filmmakers and content creators, the standout feature of Envato is its unlimited download model. Instead of paying per clip, you pay a flat monthly or annual fee (starting around $16.50/month when billed annually) and can download as many assets as you want.
9. Filmsupply
Unlike traditional stock libraries, Filmsupply works with top-tier directors and cinematographers to offer carefully curated scenes shot on professional cinema cameras like RED and ARRI. The library focuses on emotional storytelling, with full sequences and matching shots that help editors maintain visual continuity throughout their projects. It’s especially popular for commercial campaigns, trailers, documentaries, and high-end branded content.
Instead of flat-rate or subscription pricing, users get a custom quote based on project type, distribution, and audience size, whether it’s for web use, national broadcast, or global theatrical release. Every license includes legal clarity and protection, which is critical for big-budget or client-facing productions.
10. StoryBlocks
Storyblocks is a subscription-based stock video platform known for its budget-friendly unlimited download model, making it one of the best stock video sites for YouTubers, freelancers, and small businesses that need lots of footage without breaking the bank. The library includes over 1 million HD and 4K clips, covering a wide range of categories from lifestyle and business to nature, technology, and animations.
In addition to stock videos, Storyblocks subscriptions also include access to motion backgrounds, After Effects templates, music, and sound effects, providing a complete toolkit for multimedia projects.
Find the Best Stock Footage with Podcastle
Stock footage today looks a lot different than it used to. It’s sharper, more versatile, and easier to work with. Whether you’re building out a full video or just looking for the right background or cutaway, having the right assets makes the process smoother.
With Podcastle, you get access to a huge library of stock videos, colorful backgrounds, GIFs, and images you can use across all kinds of content. Everything is built into the same platform where you record, edit, and export, so you don’t have to jump between different tools to get the job done.
Start a free 7-day trial and see how it fits into your workflow.
