Artgrid REVIEW: Still worth it in 2022?

Almost 3 years have passed since we published our comparison of unlimited stock footage websites, one of the most popular articles of our website.

The process of creating videos of all kinds has changed a lot since the launch of footage websites like Artgrid and other websites offering unlimited downloads of royalty-free video footage.

Before Artgrid, the only option to using stock footage would be paying something like U$79 for each HD stock video you downloaded. Stock videos used to be a privilege of high budget projects only, This isn’t a fact anymore.

Artgrid 2022 Review

Spoiler alert: Artgrid was definitely our winner back in 2019. But the question now is: is Artgrid still worth the investment in 2022? And how does it compare to other alternatives?

That’s what we’re focusing on today in our 2022 Artgrid Review.

In this review, we’ll talk about:

How to get 2 FREE months of Artgrid?
Artgrid contacted us with a special link that will add 2 months free on any subscription, making Artgrid even more worth it.

If you’re still not sure about subscribing to the service yet, you can use the same link and click on “Try free sign up” at the bottom of the page. This allows you to organize your collections and download preview clips for free.

What is Artgrid.io and what is it used for?

Artgrid.io is a subscription-based website that allows unlimited licensing of stock videos that you can use in video projects of your own or for your company.

What’s the main reason to use Artgrid (instead of Shutterstock)?

To make it clear and simple, the main reason creators prefer Artgrid vs. Shutterstock is the cost.

  • In Shutterstock (like any other traditional stock agency), you’re going to pay U$79 for each HD clip that you download (U$179 for 4K clips)
  • While in Artgrid, you’ll only pay one single annual fee for unlimited downloads (see pricing here).

Artgrid is designed to provide creative freedom to filmmakers, content creators, YouTubers and anyone else who’s involved in video and film production.

Who’s behind Artgrid?

Artgrid was launched in 2019 by Artlist, one of the largest stock music agency at the moment, and works in a very similar way: subscribers pay a fixed annual fee in trade of having unlimited access to their giant royalty-free music library. (Oh yeah, an Artlist review is coming soon).

What makes Artgrid the best stock footage site in our opinion?

Artgrid was this blog’s choice back in 2019 – and keeps being it today. Here are our reasons:

#1 Catalog quality

I’m sure we all agree this is the most important spec. Quantity, pricing or anything else would mean nothing if there is no quality in the first place.

I’m an Artgrid’s customer since 2019 and I keep getting amazed with the quality of their catalog. It is made of nothing but high-end content produced by professional authors all over the globe, usually with cinema cameras.

Well… words would never be enough to describe visual quality. See it for yourself.

#2 The power of Stories

At Artgrid, every single clip is part of a bigger family – named Stories. As a stock footage buyer myself, that’s my favorite feature by far, so much that I almost placed it at #1 in this Artgrid review.

One of the toughest challenges of creating video content with stock footage is achieving uniformity on your final video. After all, you selected files from multiple authors with different cameras, lightings, and scenarios.

One of Artgrid’s stories created by author Brad Day.

In Artgrid that’s different. While other sites usually present stock videos independently, Artgrid shows groups of clips called “stories”. That means every stock footage file is part of a bigger collection of 3-100 stock videos that were shot by the same author, usually at the same scenario and camera. So once you find a file you’re happy with, you can be sure there will also be more files of the same shooting session to complement your story. That allows you to create way better content.

Here’s a trailer made with one single collection:

#3 RAW, LOG, 4K-8K

Different from what you’ll see in websites like Envato Elements, Artgrid offers only super high quality footage that was shot with cinema cameras. It’s not only awesome shots, but quality files as well. Depending on the plan you choose, you can have access to RAW and LOG files. Resolutions can go up to 8K and you can also download ProRes / DNxHR formats.

Artgrid Review: Specs list of one of Artgrid’s video files

#4 Super simple to license & download

Downloading from Artgrid couldn’t be any easier. Once you got your subscription, all you need to do is pick your files and add them to the cart. Once you’re done choosing files, you simply click “checkout” and done. Those files are now licensed to you and ready to be downloaded.

#5 The Search Experience

I’m also a big fan of how Artgrid allows you to be very specific in your search filters. More than just keywords, you can use technical filters to get better results in your search.

  • Video Themes: standard categories like animation, business, food, travel, etc
  • Shot Type: camera movements, time of day, location, speed, format, etc
  • People: Ethnicity, Age, Gender, Number, etc

All video files in their website is organized by the own company (instead of authors, like most stock agencies)

#6 Wide, Square, and Vertical modes

One final feature I wanted to highlight is the the preview modes. With one click of your mouse you’ll be able to preview any footage file if used in a Square or Vertical aspect. Pretty cool, uh?

via GIPHY

Artgrid Review: What is the pricing?

At the moment of writing, Artgrid offers 3 different plans.

All plans include unlimited downloads, lifetime usage, YouTube monetization, and worldwide coverage for all platforms.

Does Artgrid offer a monthly plan?

At this moment, Artgrid offers annual plans only. You can get 2 extra months for FREE with this link.

How to create an Artgrid Free account

Creating a free account at Artgrid is extremely easy. Simply head over to their website, click on the “Start Free Now” button and create your account.

What can you do with a free Artgrid account?

The free account has its limitations and you won’t be able to license any video content with it.

What else is offered by Artgrid?

The company behind Artgrid is named Artlist and they actually offer many other solutions for content creators:

  • Artlist: unlimited music licensing
  • Artgrid: unlimited stock video downloads
  • Motion Array: everything for video creators (templates, photos, presets, plugins, revision tool, etc)
  • FXhome: free video editing software

Are there alternatives to Artgrid?

Although Artgrid is our favorite stock video website for all reasons listed above, you might have specific needs that could make other platforms more interesting for you.

So how does Artgrid compare to its competitors? The most known alternatives to Artgrid are:

  • Artgrid vs Envato Elements: Cheaper, offers more than footage, but very inferior quality when it comes to video content.
  • Artgrid vs Storyblocks: Same pricing, but lower quality of video content. Continuous complaints by users.
  • Artgrid vs Shutterstock: Bigger library but doesn’t offer unlimited downloads.
  • Artgrid vs. Filmpac: More expensive, similar quality of video content

If you’re looking for something different than what Artgrid offers, we suggest you read our Unlimited Footage article. You’ll find a full comparison of all known platforms over there and deeper info on how they compare to Artgrid.

FAQ – Most frequently asked questions about Artgrid

Does Artgrid offer a monthly plan?

At the writing moment, Artgrid offers annual plans only. You can get 2 extra months for FREE with this link.

How to get a Free Artgrid Account?

Anyone can create a free account at Artgrid to start saving their favorite files into collections. It’s important to remind that a free account has its limitations and you won’t be able to license (or download) any video content with it. So there’s no such thing as “Artgrid Free Download”. All you can do is navigate their files and store your favorite ones into collections that you can later download once you have a subscription.

Is Artgrid beneficial for stock artists?

As a stock artist myself, I have to admit this kind of subscription business model might hurt stock artists by decreasing their earnings per download. On the other hand, a service like this opens a door to smaller creators (like freelancers and YouTubers) that wouldn’t be your customers before (due to the high price of traditional stock footage).

Unlike most stock agencies, Artgrid works with selected high end cinematographers only. That tends to reduce competition among portfolios and might end up being beneficial to their contributors. Artgrid’s commission rate is not public.

Recommended Posts

[2022 UPDATE] Artgrid vs. Storyblocks (and alternatives)
Storyblocks REVIEW: Is it worth the investment?

1 Comment

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published.