7 Best Storyblocks Alternatives for Any Budget

Storyblocks includes a lot of high-end video and audio files, pictures, including graphics, animated assets etc. This stock photography site does not include a free version, and selecting the €15/month subscription plan may be challenging, due to free trial removal, thus, a lot of users look for Storyblocks alternatives.

Top 7 Storyblocks Alternatives for Everyday Use

  1. Adobe Stock - ($29.99/mo) – Over 100 million pictures
  2. Shutterstock - ($29.00/mo) – Easy search
  3. GettyImages - (from €150,00/download) – Comprehensible website
  4. iStock - (€29,00/mo) – Offers hi-end editor
  5. PixaBay - (Free) – Unbounded downloads
  6. Pexels - (Free) – Preview mode
  7. Pond5 - (from $25/mo) – Wide range of audio and video

There exist a lot of Storyblocks alternatives, some of which can be utilized via various gadgets, and OSes. In addition, you’ve got to explore an advanced interface, a wide range of pictures and their quality, videos, sounds, sharing features, client support functioning, editing facilities, format compatibility, etc.

1. Adobe Stock – Our Choice

More than 100 million images
  • Easily accessible
  • Immediate cooperation with Stocksy
  • AI-supported smart search
  • Constant updates
  • Subscription system

Verdict: Adobe Stock includes a splendid collection of top digital media facilities for pictures and video files of standard quality.

Moreover, you will also use a premium digital asset that will facilitate your image enhancement. The content available in Adobe Stock's main library includes royalty-free photos, sketches, and vector graphics, all in high resolution and appropriate for professional use (all photos are available in JPEG, rather than JPG).

The service also involves extra metrics like “Undiscovered” that present to you the assets not used before and ingenious filters like color and depth of field. The cost for Adobe Stock begins at $29.99 per month.

adobe stock storyblocks alternative interface

2. Shutterstock

Easy search option
  • Music and audio effects are also present
  • Vector & editorial materials component
  • The limitless collection of digital assets
  • Decent customer support system
  • High cost
  • Separate video plan is required to manage videos

Verdict: Shutterstock as well as Storyblocks, features the top-quality, royalty-free stock images, pictures, vectors, sketches, footage, video, and music for almost any platform. Their extensive range of stock footage and audio are the perfect choice to establish the scene in your next short or feature film.

Although it includes a gripping collection of digital assets, you will definitely adore the user interface. It includes over one billion assets, therefore, it is a splendid Storyblocks alternative for enterprises. Its customers network all over the world is spread across 150 countries. The cost for Shutterstock starts at $29.00/mo.

shutterstock storyblocks alternative interface

3. GettyImages

Well-arranged website
  • It offers great editorial content
  • Offers access to elite collections
  • Excellent filter
  • Hi-end images
  • Price higher than average
  • Сustomer support could be better

Verdict: GettyImages as Storyblocks aims at a different sphere audience, involving media, users, experts, and businesses. The videos and pictures come with 2 diverse types of standard editorial rights and a usage plan. Thus, its licensing pattern and the premium content are the main reasons that put its digital assets in great demand.

GettyImages offers a wide range of content, including editorial images, historical stock photos, celebrity shoots, footage, and music tracks. The website poses an extensive collection of more than 200 million pictures available for license and application in different media and marketing assets. The company’s materials are used by publishers, advertisers, broadcasters, and other corporations in the whole world. The initial cost begins from €150,00.

gettyimages storyblocks alternative interface

4. iStock

High-tech editor available
  • Editor instrument is easily approachable
  • Customer-friendly software
  • High-end digital assets and various themes
  • Free 4k resolution videos
  • Non-efficient support
  • No audio available
istock storyblocks alternative logo
iStock

Verdict: iStock is a plain royalty-free licensing platform that is much cheaper than Storyblocks. You will be offered high-quality digital assets that illustrate various topics. You can see pictures in full res at 300 DPI and videos that can be downloaded in UHD 4K or even higher.

The platform offers incorporations for multiple services like Adobe Creative Cloud, Dropbox, Illustrator and InDesign etc.

With smart media search option (left-hand side), you are able to apply filters and look into plenty of photos rapidly to select the most appropriate one for your purpose. You are able to choose among license type, picture size orientation, number of participants, and main color. For video assets, you can make a choice among different filters like duration, resolution, number of people, and ethnicity. The minimum price is €29,00/mo.

istock storyblocks alternative interface

5. PixaBay

Limitless downloads
  • Custom-friendly interface
  • Over than 50k new pictures monthly
  • Access to GIFs
  • License terms easily explained
  • Community not available
  • B2B based stock images are to be improved
pixabay storyblocks alternative logo
PixaBay

Verdict: PixaBay is an online service that offers plenty of high-end pictures, posters and sketches. Unlike Storyblocks, the platform is free of charge. It functions on the desktop version, and is also supported by Android gadgets with the help of its app. On PixaBay you can find more than 1.7 million stock photos and videos. These are shared by other members of PixaBay.

The tool is extremely easy to use. You just need to visit PixaBay’s website, and put the topic you are searching for pictures or videos. All pictures and videos are published under the Creative Commons CC0, so you can apply them for almost any need without asking for permission and without giving attribution.

pixabay storyblocks alternative interface

6. Pexels

Preview mode available while hovering
  • Automatic backups
  • It is available for business and personal
  • Notifications if backups fail
  • Easy restore process
  • Weak functionality
  • Expensive subscription
pexels storyblocks alternative logo
Pexels

Verdict: Pexels is a free of charge images and stock video site aiming at realizing creative ideas. The platform features an exquisite compilation over 500k free stock pictures. As distinct from Storyblocks, Pexels’s search feature involves special functions, such as by color. The instrument also features the option to discover pictures based on topics, such as fashion, journeys, technology, abstract art, etc.

All pictures on Pexels are included in a list regulated by a creative commons zero licenses, which means that they are free for personal or commercial needs, without no attribution requests. Pexels provides us with a “Heroes” program for their best content contributors.

pexels storyblocks alternative interface

7. Pond5

Vast video and audio selection
  • 32 million videos, and 54 million pictures
  • Trending content availability
  • Adobe Stocks incorporation for video content improvement
  • Audio effects extensive library
  • Certain videos are extremely expensive
  • Subscriptions provides access to tiny part of content
pond5 storyblocks alternative logo
Pond5

Verdict: In comparison with Storyblocks, Pond5 offers a splendid collection of Photoshop PSD 3D objects, sketches, and vectors. It also includes the category of trending video materials with Media of the Moment from where you can quickly approach the 4K resolution videos. This collection gives you an opportunity to manage files and share them personally with friends or customers.

Filter functions enable you to clarify if media is part of a Pond5 subscription, for business or editorial needs, whether it's free, or in the public sector. Some more filters supplement the service, involving the number of people depicted and orientation of the camera. The cost starts from $25/mo.

pond5 storyblocks alternative interface

Why People Stop Using Storyblocks?

Although Storyblocks is a perfect choice for both experts and non-professionals, the platform can sometimes be very slow, expensive and of low-quality Ultimate Collection.

Licensing is quite complex. Storyblocks library is still tiny. Certain video titles can be strange and make it more complicated to find out exactly what you're searching for.

FixThePhoto Choice

As the global top service for audiovisual technologies production, Adobe Stock is a better option to Storyblocks. I advise Adobe Stock to a person who needs stock images, videos, audio, or fonts, but it’s especially appropriate for graphic designers and other creatives who can make use of all the benefits of its integration with Creative Cloud (i.e., Photoshop, Illustrator.

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