If you require the use of videos, audios, images, graphics or other creative assets but have a low budget, then Envato Elements is for you. Envato elements is a database containing 12M+ customizable digital assets with 70,000 more being added weekly. It can be a great alternative to specialized websites that only provide one type of asset, such as Motion Array which only has video editing templates and nothing else.
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Download FREE AEjuice PluginsSince 2021, Jack & I have spent upwards of $1500 on templates from both Envato Market and Envato Elements. This review will be covering Envato
Elements only, but since there are identical products on the Envato Market, we thought we'd mention the quality of those products too.
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Envato Elements is a platform where users can then sign up for a monthly or yearly subscription to download unlimited assets such as graphic design templates, website themes, royalty free audio, and video templates. The assets found on Elements are uploaded by digital creatives who must pass a stringent testing procedure before they can qualify to be uploaded onto the website for paid users to access.
As a professional VFX artist, I have always been on the lookout for new tools and resources to help me create even better visual effects. That's why I recommend the after effects video templates found on Envato Elements to my fellow artists and filmmakers. I work with clients in different industries so I produce a wide variety of videos. Envato Elements lets me test out different templates before settling on one that I'll take inspiration from in the final project.
The video templates available on Envato Elements are a huge time-saver for me. I love the variety and quality of the templates, and I often use them as a starting point for my VFX work. This allows me to focus on the creative aspects of my work and deliver high-quality visual effects to my clients.
We've been using Envato Elements since 2021 mainly because it has everything we need to edit our client's videos for a cheaper price than other platforms. Its subscription-based model is accessible to other freelancers, small businesses, and students alike.
Envato Elements is an absolute no-brainer for digital creatives on a budget. With its vast library of resources, it literally has everything you need to bring your vision to life. It's also significantly cheaper than purchasing digital templates individually. Just take a look at Envato Market for a comparison.
Not only is Envato Elements affordable, but it's also incredibly user-friendly. With its commercial license, it's versatile enough to suit almost any project, making it the perfect choice for students and professionals alike.
In fact, subscribing yearly instead of monthly can save you more than 50%, and students can save an additional 35% with a student plan. It's no wonder that Envato Elements is our number-one choice for unlimited stock footage subscriptions.
And let's not forget, Envato Elements is better than most similar platforms out there. We'll delve deeper into this topic further into this article.
Envato Elements is a great choice for students, freelancers, digital creators and anyone who combines photos, videos and audio into their work or day-to-day activities. If you're a regular user of Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription or a similar bundle of softwares, then you could also greatly benefit from an Envato Elements subscription. If you're still indecisive as to whether Envato Elements is for you, below is a list of their most common customers:
Graphic designers: A majority of the assets on Envato Elements are PSD files and mockups for graphic designers.
Video professionals: Videographers and editors have access to plenty of video templates and stock footage which are compatible with all softwares including After Effects, sound effects, Premiere Pro templates, and stock footage.
Students: More specifically, design, photography, engineering and art students. The resources on Envato Elements are perfect for learners of creative programs.
Website developers and front end designers: Developers can also benefit from Envato with its wide selection of over 1,600 popular WordPress themes, 760 plugins, and 2,500 template kits. Both developers and graphic designers can take advantage of the library's 20,000 fonts to use in their websites or designs, as well as icons that developers can use for apps.
If you plan on using designs found on Envato Elements on merchandise which you plan to sell, then try Canva, Shutterstock or Design bundles instead. Envato Elements does not allow their creative assets in this type of product.
Here are 2of the best websites like Envato Elements.
For video editing, the closest alternative to Envato Elements is Motion Array. There are no other websites that offer unlimited downloads of video editing resources at a low monthly cost.
Motion Array stands out as the better choice for video creators, thanks to its focus on video-related assets. The platform provides a vast library of video templates, motion graphics, and royalty-free music. With Motion Array, you get unlimited downloads of all these resources for a monthly fee of $29.
Envato Elements, on the other hand, offers a broader range of digital assets, including graphic design templates, fonts, and web templates, in addition to video-related assets. With Envato Elements, you get unlimited downloads of all these resources for a monthly fee of $16.50.
With Storyblocks, you'll have access to an unlimited supply of high-quality stock videos, audio tracks, and images. Say goodbye to mediocre content and hello to endless creative possibilities. From stunning landscapes to captivating close-ups, Storyblocks has it all.
Unlike other stock media providers, Storyblocks offers royalty-free content with no expiration date. This means you can use their digital assets for any commercial or personal project without worrying about additional fees or time limitations.
Envato Elements and Envato Market are two distinct products offered by Envato, which provide creative assets and materials to users. The key difference between the two platforms is their pricing models and asset selection. Envato Elements provides an unlimited subscription model that allows users to download an unlimited number of assets for a fixed price starting at $16.50 per month. In contrast, Envato Market offers assets on-demand, and their prices range from $1 to $300+.
Although both platforms offer similar assets, it is essential to select the platform that best suits your needs. If you require a large volume of downloads consistently, then Envato Elements with its unlimited subscription model may be the better option. However, if you only need occasional downloads, Envato Market's on-demand pricing model may be more appropriate. Ultimately, both platforms offer a valuable resource for designers and creatives, and the choice between the two depends on individual requirements.
There are some other websites which compete with Envato Elements. Some of them include:
Envato Elements does offer a free trial for 7 days where you'll have full access to their entire library of digital assets with no charge. There are no Envato Elements free alternative websites that offer this type of deal.
While Envato Elements contains practically any type of digital creative resource you could imagine, the platform does not specialize specifically on a certain type of creative asset.
For instance, we are going to use Motion Array as the specialized website example, but the same concept goes for practically any other specialized digital asset download/subscription website. On Motion Array, there are hundreds of thousands of video presets and templates made for all different video editing programs. The quality and quantity of these assets are much higher than those found on Envato Elements, although there are a few identical assets found on either platform.
Envato Elements however, has a smaller quantity and variety of video templates and presets, and most of which are not as high quality as those found on Motion Array.
The benefit of this is that Envato Elements also has other assets available at no extra cost, making it great for a larger variety of digital creatives who demand different types of assets.
With Envato Elements, you can enjoy unlimited downloads for a monthly or annual fee, depending on your subscription plan. Teams and students can also enjoy discounts of up to 35% and 30%, respectively.
If you would just like to try the platform before you subscribe, Envato Elements Also offers a free 7 day trial which is fully cancelable if you are not satisfied.
Envato Elements doesn't offer refunds for canceled subscriptions. So, once you cancel your subscription, you will not receive a refund for any unused portion of your subscription - which is fair since all downloads are completely uncapped.
If you decide to cancel your monthly subscription, you can do so at any time. However, your subscription will still remain active for the remainder of time you paid for i.e. If you cancel 3 days after renewing, you'll still have 27 days remaining. During this period, you can still access and download all the assets included in your subscription. After your subscription ends, you will lose access to the Envato Elements library, but will still have usage rights over what you have already downloaded.
When you upgrade from a monthly to an annual subscription on Envato Elements, you only pay for the remaining days of your current monthly subscription, and not for the full annual subscription fee. For instance, if you have a monthly subscription (which costs $39.50 per month), and you have 20 days left before it expires, the cost of the upgrade will be adjusted based on the number of days remaining on your current subscription if you decide to upgrade to annual ($16.50/mo). Therefore, the cost of your annual subscription will only be a one-time payment of $171.67.
This system is an effective way for Envato Elements to ensure that its subscribers only pay for the services they require, which is both fair and transparent. If you plan to use Envato Elements for a longer period, then upgrading from a monthly to an annual subscription is more cost effective than paying monthly.
Upon becoming a member, users of Envato Elements gain full access to the library and are free to download as many assets as they require. Furthermore, each item in the library is covered by a simple commercial license that grants broad commercial rights to the user.
The simple commercial license provided by Envato Elements streamlines the licensing process and eliminates any concerns creators may have regarding complicated licensing terms.
apart from the obvious, here are the 3 rules you must follow when using assets from Envato Elements:
One common violation of these terms is re-uploading assets to other platforms, such as Code Canyon. You do not have author rights over the assets you download on Envato, therefore, you cannot share or resell them in any way.
Let's say you download a graphic from the library and then make significant alterations to it before printing it on a T-shirt for sale. In this case, the graphic has been changed enough to be considered a new creation, and therefore, fair-use guidelines may apply.
Regardless of fair use guidelines, It's always a good idea to consult with a legal professional if you have any doubts or concerns about the licensing terms or fair-use guidelines for a particular asset.
A sublicense is basically an extension of the original license that you received when you downloaded the asset. If you're unsure of how to obtain a sublicense, don't worry - it's a simple process. All you need to do is go to your "Downloads" page and follow the steps provided to obtain the sublicense.
When you use assets from Envato Elements in your projects, it's important to keep in mind that you didn't create those assets, and therefore they are not your intellectual property to copyright. To ensure that you are being fair to Envato Elements and staying within legal boundaries, it's best not to attempt to copyright the final products that you create using their assets.
to download a digital asset from Envato Elements, select the "Download" button. Next, you will be given the option to license the file for Project Use or Trial Use. If you choose to license it for Project Use, you will need to provide a name for the file before clicking "Download."
We should also mention that some files (especially video templates) on Envato can be quite large, usually beyond 500mb each. This can result in longer download times and may require additional time to convert the files after download.
Absolutely, Envato Elements is a reputable online marketplace that has been around since 2006. It has a large and active community of creative professionals who use the platform to access and download high-quality digital assets.
Envato Elements also has a rigorous quality control process that ensures that all digital assets meet the platform's high standards. All assets are reviewed by a team of experts to ensure that they are of the highest quality and are suitable for use in professional projects.
Some of these questions are answered in specific sections of this article, but incase you missed them, here are some of the questions we get asked about Envato Elements:
Regrettably, the window for free trials has recently closed in March 2023, after having been accessible for a period of time. While it's true that this offer is no longer available in any country, it's worth noting that there are still some free offerings that users can take advantage of. Specifically, users are eligible to receive 12 hand-selected files every month for free, including items such as fonts, presentations, videos, and other valuable resources. Although it's not the same as a free trial, it's definitely better than having no access to any free materials at all.
The pricing for Envato Elements varies depending on the plan selected, with individual plans ranging from $16.50 to $39.00 per month. It's worth noting that the cost may also include additional fees for local taxes based on the user's location. For teams, the monthly cost falls between $29.00 and $107.50 per month, depending on the size of the team and the features required.
For those who are unsure about committing to a yearly plan, it's recommended to start with the monthly subscription to test out the platform and its features before upgrading to an annual plan.
Yes, Envato Elements is a trustworthy and reliable service, which is why millions of users turn to it each month. The platform has been around for years, and during this time, it has operated without any significant issues, earning a solid reputation in the industry.
To further assure users, Envato Elements has implemented robust security protocols to protect their users' privacy and assets. They prioritize user security and have taken appropriate measures to ensure that their platform remains secure and safe for users to navigate.
Of course, as with any online service, it's always wise to remain vigilant and take measures to safeguard one's online security. By using strong, unique passwords and keeping an eye out for phishing scams and fraudulent activities, users can feel confident that they are getting excellent bang for their buck value with Envato Elements.
Another common question which frequently gets asked by potential customers of Envato. Yes, once you sign up, there is no cap or limit for what you download. You can download absolutely you want, even the entire library if you have enough storage space!
As stated in the licensing section of this article, Envato Elements offers a single, comprehensive commercial license that applies to all items available on the platform. This license grants users broad commercial rights, allowing them to use any assets they download with confidence for both personal and work-related projects.
Envato Elements is primarily geared towards freelancers and hobbyists, who may require more flexible licensing options to suit their needs. Consequently, the platform's licensing terms are designed to be straightforward and easy to understand, with a focus on providing users with maximum creative freedom and flexibility.
Given the breadth of the commercial license, users can leverage Envato Elements' extensive library of assets for a wide range of purposes, including commercial projects. The license is designed to be as comprehensive as possible, meaning users can use the assets they download from Envato Elements for almost anything they can imagine.
Upon cancellation of your Envato Elements subscription, you will no longer have access to new downloads or the ability to create new licenses for any items on the platform, even if you have previously downloaded or licensed them.
Fortunately, canceling your subscription is a quick and easy process. Simply log in to your Envato Elements account and select your subscription plan. From there, locate the small text that reads "Cancel My Envato Elements Subscription" and click on it to initiate the cancellation process.
Creators and businesses who are interested in selling their digital creative resources on Envato Elements can easily submit an application by filling out the form available on the Envato website. To increase the chances of being accepted, it's important to have relevant experience in the digital creative field and ensure that any resources submitted are of high quality and meet Envato Elements' selection criteria.
To learn more about what Envato Elements is looking for, prospective sellers are advised to review the selection criteria outlined in section 4 of the website.
Whether or not Envato Elements is worth it is up to you to decide. Since we've been using it since 2021, we can say for sure that it's worth it for us personally. But that's mainly due to the fact that we edit different types of videos professionally. If you also edit videos and want to get creative, we think that Envato Elements would also be a great option for you. If you're still unsure, we recommend trying it for free for 7 days, then canceling it if you find it unhelpful.