Envato Elements vs. Artlist Max Review: Which One Is Better In 2025?

Envato Elements vs. Artlist Max Library

Now, let's move on to the library. Envato Elements has a huge library. There are over 12 million creative assets. As far as I know, no other stock footage subscription service that offers unlimited downloads comes even close to Envato Elements in terms of library size. It also offers a very wide array of assets, like stock videos, video templates, music, sound effects, graphics templates, graphics, presentation templates, and fonts - you name it. For me, it's perfect since video creation is not the core of my business and I always work on a variety of different projects, so having unlimited access to all of these assets is a huge bonus. What I don't like about Envato Elements is that not all footage in the library is high-quality which I guess is expected given its size. The good news is that the library is constantly updated with new content, and there are plenty of options available for those who are looking for professional-grade videos. Also, if you are making videos for local businesses like roofing work, tree removal service, locksmith, etc it is best to go with Envato Elements because you won't find as much niche-specific content on Artlist Max.

Stock Videos

But even though Artlist Max features a smaller library compared to Envato Elements, the quality of the stock footage, music, and SFX is much higher. So whenever I need to create a more professional video, I use Artlist Max because of the quality and uniqueness of its content. I will show you some of Artlist Max's video clips along with music so that you can see for yourself how awesome it is.

And yes, as I said, the library is not as big but do you really need millions of videos? I know I don't. Artlist doesn't, however, offer such a wide variety of assets as Envato Elements does, so if you need, let's say, web templates or WordPress plugins, you might want to look elsewhere.

Video Templates

When it comes to video templates, Envato Elements has countless options for creators, whereas Artlist's selection is much more limited. Additionally, Artlist Max does not support Apple Motion or Davinci Resolve and lacks motion graphics as well. The quality on both platforms is great. but the search function on Artlist Max is not as user-friendly as that of Envato Elements. So for all these reasons, Envato Elements is a clear winner here.

Both Envato Elements and Artlist Max offer quite a variety of plugins for Premiere Pro, After Effects, FinalCut, Davinci Resolve, and more to enhance your projects. Envato Elements has more plugins but the quality on both platforms is pretty much the same.

One thing that I like about Artlist Max is that it offers two apps to help creatives produce high-quality videos and audio.

Apps

The first one is HitFilm Pro. It is a powerful editing software that enables users to mix multiple layers of media, as well as edit and color-grade videos. It features a host of VFX tools, including 3D compositing and titling, engaging 3D animations, stunning visual effects, and an intuitive timeline editor, allowing users to quickly assemble scenes and create beautiful transitions.

The second app is Imerge which is an advanced image editor designed to provide users with powerful tools for creating and customizing images. With Imerge, you can easily adjust the color, tone, and correction of your photos with a few simple clicks. You can also apply different brushes, styles, and stylized effects to your images. Additionally, Imerge allows you to add blur effects, lights, and flares to further enhance the visuals of your photos. Imerge also has a keying feature that allows you to quickly and easily remove elements from your photos that don't fit in with the overall composition.

HitFilm and Imerge are both great tools that are easy to learn. The only problem is their monthly pricing. Sure, it is included in the Max Pro plan but if you decide to cancel your subscription you won't be able to use the tools anymore. I know that many creators who use Envato Elements prefer Davinci Resolve, and it seems like a good option. I'm planning to dive into Davinci Resolve myself this year.

License

And what about the license, which service is a better one? Envato Elements offers a single-use commercial license. You can use all assets in both your projects and when you create content for your clients. Everything is royalty-free but every asset downloaded from Envato Elements needs to be licensed before it can be used in any project. The license allows fair use, meaning you can license assets for active projects that you are working on, so no stockpiling. Additionally, bots and other automated methods are not allowed, and you must be an active paying customer in order to create new projects. There are no other restrictions when it comes to unlimited downloads but rumor has it that if you download more than 100 assets per day, the Envato Elements team might manually look into your account to check that you are not violating any terms of use.

Artlist Max Social and Pro plans come with different licenses. The Max Social license allows you to use assets in your own social media accounts. You are given the freedom to use whichever platforms you prefer as long as you don't have more than one account per platform. Monetization and sponsorship are allowed under this license, however client work and paid and promoted videos are not. With this license, you can create quality content that will engage your followers and help you grow your online presence. Max Social license allows you to download up to 40 songs, 100 sound effects, 20 templates, and/or 100 clips per day which in my experience, is more than enough. Max Pro plan comes with a much better license than Max Social. It is similar to the Envato Elements license. Max Pro license covers any personal or commercial video project worldwide, and the end product is forever covered. But keep in mind, that you won't be able to create new projects using Artlist assets if you cancel your subscription. 

Both services do not allow lifestreaming or the use of music in static videos. You are also not allowed to use the files as a standalone end product, meaning they must always be customized or incorporated into a larger design first. Overall, both Envato Elements and Artlist Max Pro have simple commercial licenses, and that makes it so much easier for me to use footage and other assets in pretty much any of my projects.

Okay, so what's the verdict? Is Envato Elements better than Artlist Max or not? For me, there is no clear winner here because the answer depends on your needs.

Envato Elements vs. Artlist Max: Which Is Better?

Envato Elements and Artlist Max are great services for anyone looking to find high-quality digital assets. I like using both of them, but if you are on a budget and starting out, then Envato Elements would be a better fit for you. Envato Elements has many advantages, the main one it being a one-stop shop for creative assets. And not only does it offer more assets of different categories such as graphics, photos, music, templates, and more, but the search filters are really good, too. You can easily find exactly what you need with just a few clicks. The prices are also very reasonable compared to other services so you get great value for your money. All in all, if you want to have unlimited access to quality digital assets without breaking the bank, then Envato Elements is an excellent choice.

But if you want to surprise your audience with higher-quality videos, better soundtracks, and unique visuals, and you don't mind spending a bit more on a subscription, then Artlist Max Pro is a great option, too. It provides access to royalty-free music and videos from top artists, composers, and filmmakers. Artist Max also offers video and image editing apps as a part of its subscription. With all these features combined, Artlist Max Pro is a good choice if you are looking to take your work to the next level. And if you don't need all of the features of Artlist Max, you can purchase music and special effects, or footage and templates separately.