A full Storyblocks review and its unlimited stock footage subscription
Countless YouTube creators and video producers are looking for an honest Storyblocks review to be sure it’s still worth it in 2020. After all, is it really the best stock footage agency? And are there any alternatives to Storyblocks?
Let’s find it out.
Why are stock video subscriptions growing so much? It’s amazing how simple it has become to produce video narratives without even needing a camera sometimes. Countless YouTubers and YouTube channels are hitting millions of views without even showing their faces on camera.
Most of it because people learned to use stock footage in their content. Especially after this crazy post-COVID-19 era. Media companies had to find a way to keep producing content from home offices!
And that’s where websites like Storyblocks comes in. A subscription service allowing creators to browse among millions of video files that can be used to represent their content.
So here’s a full Storyblocks review. How to use it, how much it costs, and way more.
This is how I’m organizing this Storyblocks Review:
- What is Storyblocks
- Why should I get a Storyblocks subscription?
- What is Storyblocks Pricing? How much does a subscription cost?
- PROS & CONS: My PERSONAL Storyblocks review & opinion as a video creator
- How does Storyblocks work and how to use it?
- Can I earn money selling on Storyblocks?
- Are there alternatives to Storyblocks?
1. What is Storyblocks?
Basically, Storyblocks is a website that allows its users to make unlimited downloads of stock videos, music, and photos. All there files are royalty-free, meaning you can use them as you wish in your own video productions, YouTube channels, freelance projects, and more, without the worry of getting a copyright strike.
Videoblocks was founded in 2009 by Joel Holland but got really popular in 2015 when it reached 100,000 paying subscribers. From then on it was always known as the biggest stock video library that offered unlimited downloads for a fixed monthly fee.
“The Netflix of Stock Agencies”
Unlike most stock agencies (like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock), Storyblocks was one of the first agencies to offer a subscription model with a fixed monthly fee.
Think of Storyblocks as Netflix of the stock agencies world. Instead of renting movies one by one, spending a huge amount of dollars by the end of the month, Netflix offers a fixed monthly fee that allows you to watch as many movies as you want.
Just the same way, instead of selling each file separately, Storyblocks allows its users to download media files from their library unlimitedly.
And by the end of the month, it makes a huge difference, considering that a video file downloaded from a website like Shutterstock costs around $79 for EACH DOWNLOAD.
Storyblocks vs. Videoblocks – Review
Lots of people keep referring to the service as Videoblocks, confusing new users.
As a matter of fact, the company used to own 3 websites that separately sold each kind of media:
- VideoBlocks: unlimited royalty-free video (stock footage)
- Audioblocks: unlimited royalty-free audio downloads
- Graphicstock: unlimited graphics downloads
Since that time, videoblocks.com already offered fixed monthly subscriptions and unlimited downloads. But with the new strategy, the 3 websites were merged offering unlimited footage, audio, and image (royalty-free, of course) under one website.
2. Why should I get a Storyblocks subscription?
Unlimited stock media downloads for a fixed monthly fee
A Storyblocks subscription gives you unlimited access to a library of more than 1.5 million stock files (like videos, AE templates, songs, sound effects, images and graphics) that can be downloaded and used in your productions.
– YouTubers searching for footage, songs, and photos that are free of copyrights
– Freelancers/filmmakers that need a footage library for their video creations
– Publishers in need of media files to visually represent the matters they work on
– and even huge media companies like Hollywood or Netflix use stock footage in their movies.
Using content you don’t own or haven’t usage rights will probably get you a copyright strike. Which might mean anything from having your video demonetized until being sued by the owner of that content.
Simply put, if you don’t own the rights, even 1 sec of video can waste your whole work. And that’s why so many people and companies use stock agencies to get media that can be safely used.
3. How much does Storyblocks cost & what’s included?
At the time I write this Storyblocks Review, the pricing changes according to their 5 different plans offered in monthly or annual billings:
- Basic Video is priced at $8,25/mo (annual) and includes 5 HD video downloads per month
- Basic Audio is priced at $8,25/mo (annual) and includes 3 music downloads per month
- Unlimited Video is priced at $16.58/mo (annual) and includes unlimited downloads of royalty-free HD footage, 4K footage and After Effects Templates.
- Unlimited Audio price is set at $12.42/mo (annual) and includes unlimited downloads of royalty-free music, sound effects, and loops.
- And finally, the “Unlimited ALL Access” plan. Which is priced at $29.08/mo (annual) and includes unlimited downloads of the whole website. That includes all audio & video files plus photos, vectors, and illustrations.
Just like most subscription services, Storyblocks’ price can be billed monthly or annually. If you choose to go with the annual contract, you’ll save up to 50%.
Since the stock agency can change the pricing at any time I suggest you check their current pricing:
Storyblocks Review – Which plan/subscription is the best for me?
Here’s the obvious answer: it depends.
Personally, I don’t see many reasons to get the Basic Video or Basic Audio plans. Being limited to 3-5 downloads per month might not be worth the $8 saved. These plans don’t include AE templates, nor loops or Sound Effects. So it only makes sense if you’re totally sure that’s all you’ll need in a month.
Most people reading this Storyblocks review will be more likely to choose among:
- “Unlimited video” is the plan for you if stock footage and After Effects templates are what they’re searching for.
- “Unlimited audio” works if stock music and sound effects are what they’re looking for
- While “Unlimited All Access” is the right one if you want a full package including stock video, audio & graphics.
How to pick the best Storyblocks plan?
I believe there’s only one way to evaluate these plans and be sure you’re getting the Storyblocks plan that better fits your needs:
I’d navigate their library and check the quality of their files for the searches I’m more likely to make. You don’t need an account to perform searches and check their results.
How can I get Storyblocks for free?
Is Storyblocks free?
No. Storyblocks works as a paid subscription. Once you subscribe to an annual or monthly plan, you’ll have unlimited access to their download library.
Needless to say, but the biggest reason why Storyblocks is not free is that they pay artists every time their files get downloaded.
Can I get a free trial of Storyblocks?
You can create a free account on their website and you don’t need a credit card for that. It is still very limited, but a Free Account on Storyblocks allows you to:
- Select & organize creative assets in folders
- Share your folders with your team or clients
- Download previews (watermarked) so you can try them in your project
Can I download Storyblock videos for free?
As just mentioned in this review, it is possible to download videos from Storyblocks for free, BUT they are meant for preview uses only and will have Storyblocks watermark on it. The only way to remove it is by
4. My PERSONAL review about Storyblocks
PROS & CONS – My personal Storyblocks Review
| PROS | CONS |
| Super-low cost. Storyblocks’ fixed plans make stock footage super accessible for YouTubers, freelancers, and content companies with low budgets. | Library Size. Although in constant growth, Storyblocks library is still small compared to the traditional agencies. So it might be though to find files that match the quality and style you’re trying to achieve. |
| More than video files. Unlike other similar websites, Storyblocks allows you to download music, photos, graphics, and even video templates. | Low Artist Earnings. There’s no public disclosure on how much stock artists receive from Storyblocks. It’s also known that subscription-based agencies pay their artists way less than the standard model. |
| Decent website & platform. Stock agencies come and go, but Storyblocks has been around for a decade making it more trustworthy. |
5. How does Storyblocks work?
How to use Storyblocks (review)?
Using and downloading from Storyblocks is super simple to do. And if you’re still unsure about getting a subscription, you can still test their platform with a free account. That’s also a good way to find out if their library contains the type or style of file you’re looking for.
In a step-by-step explanation:
- Access Storyblocks’ home page
Go to storyblocks.com
- Choose the type of file you’re looking for:
– Stock Video Files: Footage, Background or After Effects Files
– Stock Audio Files: Music, Loops or Sound Effects
– Stock Image Files: Photos, Vectors or Illustrations - Make your search.
Write whatever you’re looking for, just as in Google
- Choose your files.
Once the results show up, choose the files you wish to download and click the download button. You can also click the favorite button to save that item to a collection.
The results page also allows you to filter the results by Resolution, Frame Rate, Duration, and other details. - Choose what format to download.
In video, for example, you’ll get to choose resolutions (4k, 1080p (FullHD), 720p (HD), etc) and formats/compressions (MOV, MP4, prores, h264, mjpeg, etc)
- Get your download started.
Click the download button again and the download should start immediately. Just as simple.
How to use Storyblocks After Effects Templates?
Storyblocks has also a library of 9,000+ After Effects files you can download (in unlimited plans).
These are projects like openers, typography, titles, animations, transitions, and on it goes… Once you download these files you’ll be able to open them inside After Effects and edit them how you want to.
6. How can you sell footage & photos in Storyblocks Review?
Can I make money selling my creative assets on Storyblocks?
Yes, you can earn money selling music, footage & photos on Storyblocks. Your content can be used by YouTube creators and freelance editors.
Although this Storyblocks review is focused on stock footage buyers, Helping creators make revenue from their creativity is actually the main reason this blog exists. You can find a lot of content on how to sell stock footage & stock photos here.
The cool thing is that the content you upload to Storyblocks (or any other stock agency) is non-exclusive. That means you can still use it in your own projects or submit it to other stock agencies.
Is it profitable to sell stock footage & stock photography on Storyblocks?
Because of their subscription model, Storyblocks is far from being the most profitable stock agency to sell your photos, videos or songs.
Our members pay a monthly or annual fee to access content within our subscription library, the Member Library. Contributors are then paid out based on how much of their content is downloaded within the Member Library.
Sounds exciting but practically speaking, you might earn no more than a couple dollars per download in the end. So you need a good quantity of downloads to make some money in the end.
What stock agency should I sell my content then?
Because earnings are too low, my personal choice is not to sell my content on Storyblocks.
Here’s a full review (that I’m updating constantly) of what are the most profitable stock agencies to sell stock footage & stock photography.
How to be a Storyblocks Contributor
If it’s still your desire to sell your content on Storyblocks, here’s the link to apply as a Storyblocks contributor.
7. Alternatives to Storyblocks (Review)
Storyblocks is not the only stock agency that offers unlimited downloads for a flat, fixed subscription fee.
If video is the main reason of your interest on Storyblocks, this review of Unlimited Stock Video Websites might interest you.
So here are a few websites like Storyblocks:
7.1 Envato Elements vs. Storyblocks Review
The number 1 alternative to Storyblocks is Envato Elements.
They might not be the best similar website if you’re intending to focus on Stock Video but, just like Storyblocks, they offer unlimited downloads to multiple kinds of files. Even more than Storyblocks, to be honest:
- Video: Stock Footage, Backgrounds, After Effects Templates, Adobe Premiere Templates, Final Cut Templates, etc
- Audio: Sound Effects & Music
- Graphics & Graphics Templates
- Presentations Templates
- Photos
- and even WordPress Templates
(Use the links above to check the quality & quantity of their library)
In my opinion, Envato Elements has a better library when it comes to Templates, but a poor collection of stock footage.
7.2 ArtGrid vs. Storyblocks Review
If you haven’t heart about ArtGrid yet. It is a stock footage agency launched by the same company that runs Artlist, which is maybe the biggest stock music website at the moment.
| Artgrid PROS: | Artgrid CONS: |
| PROS: Artgrid’s collections are way WAY waaaay better than Storyblocks’ library. Simply because they curate filmmakers (instead of letting anyone in like Storyblocks. | CONS: They are a Video/Footage only website. But you can still check their music service: Artlist. |
7.3 Shutterstock vs. Storyblocks Review – Video Subscription
Hmm… Yeah. Gimme a few more days so I can write more about this.
7.4 Traditional Stock Agencies
Here are other websites also similar to Storyblocks, except of their business model which is not based on a fixed subscription.
Since these websites pay higher revenues to the artists, the main advantage against Storyblocks is the quality of their collections.
Stock agencies similar to Storyblocks, but no subscription:
3 Comments
There is something wrotten, that i can still use the downloaded stuff when the subscription expires.
Does that mean, that I can subscribe for a month, download like 20 videos and then use them in any new video I make even after my subscription expired?
Storyblocks do NOT send out reminders…
Storyblocks do NOT send out reminders on renewals or invoices with their auto payment system
Its the only service I have seen that fails to warn people of renewals
I have been charged for 4-5 years and didn’t even know it.
I wanted to take a moment to share an experience I recently had with Storyblocks, and why I made the difficult decision to move my business elsewhere. If you are unfamiliar with Storyblocks, it is a subscription-based collection of exclusive, royalty free stock content. HD and 4K Stock Videos.
As a professional who values efficient solutions and excellent customer service, my encounter with Storyblocks left me disappointed and seeking alternatives. Here’s why:
Lack of Timely Support: In a fast-paced industry, time is of the essence. I found myself in a situation where I required prompt assistance for a time-sensitive project. Unfortunately, after waiting for days to hear back from Storyblocks’ tech support, I had no choice but to explore other software options to meet my immediate needs.
Disinterested Support: When I finally received a response from tech support, I was taken aback by their lack of interest in truly understanding my inquiry. It felt as if my concerns were being brushed aside rather than addressed professionally.
Communication Mishap: To my astonishment, the tech support representative even admitted to replying to the wrong customer at one point during our interaction. Such lapses in communication only added to the frustration and further eroded my confidence in their support system.
Unresolved Issue: Despite reaching out for help, my issue was never resolved. Instead of making an effort to rectify the situation and retain me as a customer, I felt that the response I received indicated a lack of concern for my business. This left me with no choice but to cancel my subscription.
Opaque Pricing Model: From the very beginning, I found Storyblocks’ pricing model perplexing. While they offer a monthly plan, obtaining the pricing details required jumping through hoops. It was only after a long engagement with customer service that I was able to determine the cost of the monthly plan. This unnecessarily convoluted approach to pricing left me questioning the transparency of their business practices. I wanted to try for a month (paid) before buying for a year…and glad I did!
As a professional who values not only the quality of a product but also the quality of the customer experience, I believe it’s important to share both positive and negative experiences. While I acknowledge that challenges can arise in any business, it’s crucial for companies to handle these situations with empathy, transparency, and a genuine desire to provide solutions.
Moving forward, I’ve chosen to invest my time and resources into a service that aligns more closely with my expectations. I hope this feedback can serve as a constructive point of reference for both Storyblocks and other businesses aiming to enhance their customer relationships.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please feel free to reach out.
Addendum – the tech said he would speak with a supervisor, who would get back to me in 2-3 days. Once again, showing any lack of interest in customer retention.