Is Envato Elements Worth It In 2024?
I Tried All Of The Alternatives
When it comes to online subsription, we often tend to act like kids in a candy store. There's so much out there, we think there’s always something better. We dig, compare, and do mental gymnastics until we’re too worn out to remember why we started. This is the modern dilemma of choice, especially when it comes to platforms like Envato Elements.
What Is Envato Elements?
Envato Elements, founded in 2006, is a powerhouse in the digital asset space, providing an extensive library of stock photos, videos, audio tracks, and more. It's a legit platform that, for $16.5, offers unlimited downloads of millions of assets in its library. With its roots in Australia, Envato has grown to be the world's largest digital marketplace.
Concerns About Envato Elemens
Quality vs. Quantity: Some argue that alternatives offer better quality or more content. But let’s be real: does having a million mediocre options beat a curated selection of top-notch assets?
Pricing Wars: Yes, there are cheaper, even free alternatives. But remember, you often get what you pay for. Free doesn’t always mean good.
Copyright Concerns: Worrying about copyright strikes for commercial projects? Understandable. But with Envato Elements' licensing, you’re covered, provided you play by the rules.
Commitment Issues: Thinking you’ll just dabble and then bail due to a lack of content? Envato Elements' ever-expanding library might just surprise you.
In my experience, hunting for the right stock items on multiple platforms is a creative buzzkill. Envato Elements offers a one-stop-shop with its massive, well-organized library and sensible filters. While it’s great to have free options like MixKit and Reshot, a more seamless integration would be the icing on the cake. Yet, for the variety and volume of content it offers, Envato Elements stands out as a solid choice for creatives.
Quality Of Content
Envato Elements is like a giant warehouse of digital assets, stocking over 1.3 million videos, 52 million images, and a half-million audio tracks. It's a huge amount of assets. In contrast, platforms like Storyblocks, Artlist, Motion Array, and Adobe Stock might have fewer items, but they're often more curated and targeted. Envato Elements is the place if you want endless choices; for more refined selections, look at the others.
The quality at Envato Elements is a mixed bag. You can find some top-notch stuff, but there's also plenty of average content. It's like shopping at a huge market; you need to sift through to find the gems. Storyblocks and Artlist, as I've already mentioned, might offer fewer items, but they often have a consistent quality level. Motion Array and Adobe Stock are also known for their high-quality content, especially in specific niches like video editing or professional graphics.
Variety of Content
Envato's strength lies in its variety. From graphics and videos to music and web templates, it's vast. Comparatively, Storyblocks focuses more on video and audio, Artlist on music and sound, and Motion Array on video assets. Adobe Stock offers a broad range too, but with a focus on high-quality imagery and video. Envato Elements is the jack-of-all-trades in this arena, offering a bit of everything.
Who Is Envato Elements Worth It For?
Envato Elements is a good choice for users who need a wide array of assets and prefer to have many options at their disposal, like freelancers juggling various projects or agencies needing diverse content types. If you're someone who values quality over quantity and needs specific types of assets, you might find more value in the specialized offerings of Storyblocks, Artlist, Motion Array, or Adobe Stock.
Envato Elements Price
For an individual, it's $33 monthly or $198 annually, breaking down to $16.50/month. There's a sweet deal for students - a whopping 30% off the annual plan, making it just $11.50/month. Teams can dive in at $10.75 per member monthly, with price adjustments based on team size.
Comparatively, Motion Array's annual subscription, with a special discount, is slightly less expensive than Envato at $189.88 and $30 monthly. Storyblocks $420 per year and Artlist $480 per yea have their own charms but tend to be pricier, especially for those eyeing high-quality footage or extensive music libraries. Adobe Stock, a heavyweight in the arena, plays in a different league with its asset quality but at a higher subscription cost, but it does offer a 30-day free trial.
Unlimited Downloads
Envato's unlimited downloads are a goldmine for heavy users. But, if you're here for just a couple of assets, rethinking that yearly subscription is wise. The model is suited for those deep in continuous projects needing a diverse asset pool.
Refunds, Trials, and Discounts
Envato Elements doesn;t offer a fre trial anymore, as of March 2023, but keep an eye out for those 12 free monthly files. Refunds? Tough luck unless you've got a solid case within 14 days of purchase. Discounts? Students rejoice with 30%, and occasionally, usually for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there might be seasonal deals worth snagging.
As you can see, when it comes down to pricing, Envato Elements' annual plan is competitively priced, especially against Storyblocks and Artlist, where prices can quickly scale based on your subscription choice. The absence of a free trial could be a setback for some, but the student discount and the option for a smaller, monthly financial commitment keep it appealing.
Who Gets the Best Bang for Their Buck?
Creatives With Lots Of Projects: If your day-to-day involves dipping into a vast asset pool, Envato Elements' annual plan is your best bet.
Students: With that 30% off, it’s a no-brainer for those in academia.
Teams: The scaling discount based on team size makes collaborative projects more economical.
Casual Users: Consider the cost. For one-off projects, the monthly plan or even competitors might serve better.
Straightforward Licensing With A Catch
Envato Elements offers a simple license that covers all assets, which sounds great initially. However, there's a catch: you must license every asset you plan to use. The main drawback? If your subscription ends, you can't use these assets for new projects. Yet, the end product created with these assets during your subscription remains licensed forever.
Commercial Use and Limitations
The license covers commercial use, but with strict limitations. You can't resell or redistribute the assets, and using them directly for merchandising, like slapping a logo on a T-shirt, is off the table. These restrictions align with industry standards but are essential to understand, especially if you consider unconventional uses like creating NFTs.
License Suitability
This licensing model is ideal for continuous subscribers. If you regularly need a diverse range of assets, keeping your subscription active is a no-brainer. However, for those with sporadic needs or who require assets for one-off projects, this model may not be the most cost-effective.
Comparison with Industry Standards
Envato Elements’ licensing is not unique in the digital asset industry. Competitors like Motion Array, Artlist, Adobe Stock, and Storyblocks have similar licensing terms, where the use of assets is tied to an active subscription, and the end product is forever licensed. This approach has become the standard, ensuring creators get consistent value from their subscription.
Envato Elements Licensing Overview
License Registration: Every asset needs to be licensed for specific use, ensuring creators don’t misuse the subscription model.
Commercial Use: The license allows commercial use but prohibits direct resale or merchandising of the assets.
Client Work: Licensing for client work is possible but involves providing a sublicense to clients, underlining the asset's origin from Envato Elements.
Unlimited Downloads with Fair Use: While downloads are unlimited, Envato encourages fair use, meaning assets should be licensed for ongoing projects, not stockpiled.
Envato Elements Pros And Cons According To Users
What People Like
Affordability: Users appreciate the low cost, especially the yearly subscription option, making it accessible for continuous use.
Asset Variety: There's a significant emphasis on the vast array of assets available, catering to diverse creative needs.
Quality: The quality of assets, especially for WordPress themes and video content, is highlighted positively.
Educational Add-ons: Free access to Envato Tuts+ with subscription is a big plus, offering valuable learning resources.
AI Features: The introduction of AI ImageGen and AI Search is seen as innovative, enhancing the user experience.
Licensing Flexibility: The commercial license covering the use of assets in various projects is highly praised by users..
What People Don't Like
Licensing Complexity: Users find the licensing terms confusing and restrictive, especially regarding the usage of assets post-subscription cancellation.
Quality Inconsistency: Some users feel that the quality of stock photos and vectors doesn't match up to other platforms like Adobe Stock.
Subscription Dependency: The need to maintain an active subscription to reuse assets for new projects is a common concern.
Limited Updates and Support: Lack of clarity on theme updates and customer support is a downside for some users.
Niche Limitations: Envato Elements might not be the best for those needing specialized, high-end assets or extensive legal indemnification.
Envato Elements Innovations
Envato Elements continues to grow, not just in numbers but in innovation. With new features like AI-generated images, it’s stepping into a futuristic approach to content creation. Tuts+, part of the package, serves a dual purpose: it provides educational content and keeps you updated with the latest trends. Expect daily updates and fresh categories, making it a resource that evolves with the needs of its users.
Is Envato Elements The Right Choice for You?
Here’s why it might be a smart investment:
YouTubers and Social Media Creators: With an extensive library of film and video resources, it’s a haven for creators looking to enhance their visual content.
Graphic Designers: A treasure trove of high-quality images, fonts, and design templates awaits to inspire and facilitate creative projects.
Developers & Coders: With an array of coding resources, templates, and plugins, it’s a good choice for web developers.
Website Creators: From themes to complete web templates, everything you need to build professional-looking websites is at your fingertips.
Who Should Steer Clear?
Subscription Averse Users: If you don’t need a large volume of assets regularly, a subscription service like Envato Elements might not be for you. Consider free resources like MixKit and Reshot.
Is Envato Elements Worth It?
Yes, Envato Elements is worth the money, particularly if you’re a content creator or designer needing a diverse range of high-quality assets. Its $16.5/month all-in-one subscription model provides incredible value, saving time and money. For this price, you get unlimited access to millions of videos, images, music tracks, templates, themes, and more.
Envato Elements is more than a digital asset library; it's a comprehensive tool for creative professionals, offering everything from AI-driven image creation to educational resources. Its continuous growth and adaptation to new technologies make it a valuable asset for anyone in the creative field.
FAQ
Does Envato Elements include everything? Yes, with Envato Elements' subscription, you can download anything from the library.
Beginner-Friendly? Absolutely. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to beginners.
Refunds and Free Trials: Envato Elements generally doesn’t offer refunds, and the free trial has been replaced with free monthly files, allowing you to test the service.
Post-Cancellation Access: You retain access to previously licensed assets, but you can't license new assets once your subscription ends.
