Should you get an Adobe Stock subscription or credit packs?

That depends on what content you need. Subscriptions are a great way to save money as they offer savings of up to 90% off. They work best for creators who need standard assets (images, templates, and 3D assets). There are some plans that offer videos as well, but if you need more videos, premium assets, and many extended licenses, then credit packs might be a better option for you.

Do Adobe Stock credits expire?

If you buy credit packs, you have one year from the purchase date to use them until they expire. The only exception to this rule is Japan, where Adobe Stock credit packs expire after 6 months.

If you buy an Adobe Stock subscription, then your unused licenses will roll over to the next month as long as your subscription remains active. If you decide not to renew your license, then you will no longer be able to use any unused licenses. This applies to 10-asset/month (allows rollover of up to 120 unused licenses) and 25-asset/month (allows rollover of up to 300 unused credits) subscriptions. With a 750-asset/month subscription, unused licenses do not roll over.

Adobe Stock free trial

Adobe Stock offers a 30-day free trial on two of its annual plans. During this time you can download either 10 standard assets a month or 25 standard assets or 3 HD videos a month (depending on the plan you choose) and then decide whether you want to continue with your subscription. You won't be charged anything if you cancel your subscription within these 30 days.

How to get Adobe Stock for free?

Adobe Stock has a whole free collection of videos, photos, illustrations, vectors, templates, and 3D assets. You can use them for your personal or business projects as all assets come with a standard commercial license. Of course, a free collection is not as big as a paid one, but it's still a good option for creatives on a very tight budget.

Adobe Stock Library

What digital assets are available on Adobe Stock?

There are over 200 million photos in the Adobe Stock Library and millions of other digital assets. Yes, the library is huge, and new assets are added every day. So if you always need new and unique content, then that's the place to look.

The assets are divided into several categories:

Photos

Illustrations

Vectors

Videos

Audio

Templates

Fonts

Plugins

3D

Is Adobe Stock royalty-free?

Yes, Adobe Stock assets are royalty-free, which means that the license fee is paid just once no matter how many times the asset is being used. All the assets can be used worldwide, and with the exception of editorial use content, you are free to use them for any of your projects (after you purchase the appropriate license).

Who Is Adobe Stock Best For?

Adobe Stock caters to a wide range of users, from professionals to hobbyists. Whether you need a stock photo, template, or vector image, Adobe Stock has you covered. Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud (Adobe CC), the platform provides seamless access to assets for users of Photoshop, Illustrator, and other Adobe CC programs.

If you're a Creative Cloud subscriber, you'll find that Adobe Stock offers high-resolution, royalty-free images, 3D models, and more at your fingertips. It's especially convenient for those who use Adobe CC regularly and want a streamlined experience in accessing stock assets.

Adobe Stock Pros and Cons

Adobe Stock makes it easy to find the perfect standard images, templates, and other assets for your projects. One of the biggest pros is the platform's integration with Adobe CC, allowing you to use the stock assets directly in your favorite Adobe programs.

However, there are some cons. While the platform offers a vast collection, you may notice that certain niche categories lack depth. Additionally, some users might find the subscription plans limiting if they require only occasional access to stock assets. Of course, the price might also seem too high to creators on a budget (although the quality is exceptional, so you really get what you pay for).

What To Know Before You Subscribe: Negative Reviews

While many people are raving about Adobe Stock, there are some negative reviews. A few users have complained about the annual subscription's inflexibility and difficulty in canceling credit packs. It's essential to pay attention to the terms and conditions before committing to a subscription plan to avoid any misunderstandings.

The main complaints from the negative reviews of Adobe Stock include:

1. Unexpected charges and hidden fees: Some users reported being charged for services they didn't sign up for, including annual contracts, early cancellation fees, and penalty charges.

2. Poor customer service: Users complained about unhelpful or evasive customer service representatives who were unable to resolve their issues or only tried to upsell them on more services.

3. Difficult cancellation process: Many users found it challenging to cancel their subscription or trial, with some even being charged after they thought they had successfully canceled.

4. Loss of assets upon cancellation: Users who canceled their subscriptions were upset to discover that they would lose any unused assets they had paid for.

5. Deceptive "free trial" offers: Several users claimed that they were misled into signing up for a free trial, only to be charged for a subscription when the trial ended.

Adobe Stock License

When you subscribe to Adobe Stock, you'll receive a royalty-free license, which means you can use the assets in various projects without worrying about additional fees. However, note that the standard license has some limitations, and for certain uses, you may require an extended license.

There are three types of licenses available on Adobe Stock.

Standard License 

Most photos, illustrations, and vectors come with a Standard license. It allows: 

• Use of the asset in social media, email marketing, mobile advertising, and broadcast programs (except for assets that are labeled "Editorial Use Only")

• Unlimited web views

• Modify the assets (except for assets that are labeled "Editorial Use Only")

• Up to 500,000 copies or views of the asset

• Transfer the license to one client

Enhanced License

• Use of the asset in social media, email marketing, mobile advertising, and broadcast programs (except for assets that are labeled "Editorial Use Only")

• Unlimited web views

• Modify the assets (except for assets that are labeled "Editorial Use Only")

• No restriction on the number of copies or views of the asset

Extended License

• Use of the asset in social media, email marketing, mobile advertising, and broadcast programs (except for assets that are labeled "Editorial Use Only")

• Unlimited web views

• Modify the assets (except for assets that are labeled "Editorial Use Only")

• No restriction on the number of copies or views of the asset

• May be used in templates, merchandise, and other products for resale (except for assets that are labeled "Editorial Use Only")

Is Adobe Stock Worth it for Creators?

Yes, Adobe Stock is worth its price. The integration with Adobe Creative Cloud, high-quality assets, and competitive pricing make it a valuable resource for creators. The assets come with a standard commercial license, which makes it easy to use them in a variety of projects.