Adobe Stock license, explained

How does Adobe Stock licensing work?

When you pay for an Adobe Stock image or other media asset (video, audio, etc.), you’re not actually buying the asset itself. You’re buying the right to use it in some way, and that’s what we call a license. So in stock photography lingo, we use the verbs “to buy” and “to license” interchangeably.

You get a license automatically whenever you download any file from Adobe Stock. You don’t have to do anything about it.

All Adobe Stock licenses are royalty-free, which means you only have to pay once and then you can use the file as much as you want. For example, if you license an image and use it in a social media graphic, you don’t have to pay again to use it on your blog.

Is Adobe Stock copyright free

No, Adobe Stock is not copyright free. All of their media files are copyrighted and cannot be used for free. However, their licenses are royalty-free.

Adobe Stock licenses at a glance

Standard License: You receive the Standard license each time you download a photo, illustration, vector, or audio file with an active subscription plan or with credits. (Audio files come with a slightly modified version of the license called the Audio Standard License. More on this later). This license permits up to 500,000 copies in all media, including product packaging, marketing materials, and software. There is no view limit on a website or social media site.

Enhanced License: You get the Enhanced license with every video, 3D, and template, as well as with every file you download from the Premium Collection. It’s basically the same as the Standard license, but you can reproduce assets beyond the 500,000 copies/views restriction.

Extended License: You can buy the Extended license for any file. It’s different from the Standard/Enhanced licenses in that you can create merchandise or products for resale, like mugs or t-shirts (where the asset itself is the main value of the product).

Adobe Stock Standard vs Extended License

The Adobe Stock Standard License is suitable for general commercial use, including web views, marketing materials, and packaging, but limits reproductions to 500,000 copies. It’s ideal for projects where the asset is part of the design, but not the main feature.

The Extended License, on the other hand, offers greater flexibility, allowing unlimited reproductions and enabling the creation of products such as T-shirts or mugs where the asset itself is the central selling point. This makes the Extended License a better choice for businesses focused on merchandise or mass distribution.

The Standard License costs between $0.26 and $9.99 when bought through subscriptions and between $8.00 and $9.99 if bought with credits. The Extended License costs $79.99 when bought with credits and 20% cheaper with subscriptions.

How much do Adobe Stock licenses cost?

How much Adobe Stock licenses cost depends on how you buy them (read more about Adobe Stock pricing). The Standard License is available through subscriptions, costing from $0.26 to $9.99 per license, depending on the size and duration of the subscription. For more flexibility, you can get the Standard License also with credits, costing from $8.00 to $9.99 per license, depending on the credit pack size you bought.

The Enhanced License (comes with premium images and 4K videos) costs between $96 to $400, based on the premium status of the asset and the credit pack. The Extended License costs a flat $79.99 fee.

The assets you download during your 30-day free trial are licensed under the Standard License. They are yours to keep even if you cancel the trial.

What is “Editorial Use Only”

Media files that depict other brands (logos, packaging, etc.) or recognizable people are labeled with an “Editorial Use Only.”

Editorial files come with all the restrictions of their license (Standard, Enhanced, Extended) as well as the restriction of commercial use.

Here’s how you can find “Editorial” media:

You may use “Editorial Use Only” files only in connection with newsworthy events or topics, such as newspaper or magazine articles or news blogs. You may not use them for commercial purposes, such as promotions, advertising, merchandise, or commercial blogs, even with an Extended license.

“Editorial Use Only” files may also not be modified other than some cropping or resizing and must be appropriately credited, such as: “Agency Name/Contributor Name – stock.adobe.com“.

Audio Standard/Extended License

With every audio track you download through a subscription or credit pack, you get the Audio Standard License, which is similar to the Standard License but tailored for audio files. You can use these files for social media, digital advertising, websites, and presentations.

You will need the Audio Extended License for projects that will be distributed via TV or radio, theaters, streaming video, pay-per-view, apps, or video games.

Neither license permits standalone distribution—each audio file must be synchronized with an image or narration. You may not create remixes or mashups, nor may you incorporate them into templates or logos.

Limited License (Adobe Express)

If you’re an Adobe Express user, you get access to about half of the Adobe Stock library, free of charge, included in the subscription.

These premium Adobe Stock assets have a little crown when searching within Adobe Express app, like in the screenshot below:

You can use these assets within Adobe Express and include them in projects that you can download and publish outside of Adobe Express.

However, you may not download or export a stand-alone file—it must be part of a project. You may not use the asset in a new Adobe Express project after your paid subscription has expired, nor may you use it for resale. It’s essentially the same as a standard license, but tied to Adobe Express.

How to get an Adobe Stock license

Each asset you download comes with a license that sets you a certain set of rights dictating how you may use the license. You can choose which license you get at the checkout by picking the right buying option.

1. Go to Adobe Stock: You can click this link for a safe redirect to Adobe Stock.
2. Go to the pricing page: Find and click the “Pricing” button in the top right corner.
3. Pick the right buying option: Based on your requirements, pick either subscriptions or credits to get the right Adobe Stock license. You can also make single-file purchases by finding the asset first, but this is the most expensive option.
4. Complete your order: After you find the plan for yourself, head to the checkout, enter your payment information, and confirm.
5. Download assets: Now that you have an active plan or credits, find the assets you want (images, videos, etc.) and download them. Along with the file, you will also receive the license, which grants you the right to use that asset.

You may also switch the order and do points 5 before 3 and 4, but we found that our way is easier and more clear for new customers.

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Matic Broz

Matic Broz is a stock media licensing expert with over 10 years of experience using and testing creative platforms for his own creative work. He has personally licensed over 5,000 stock assets and helped 20,000+ creators choose the right subscription services through his work at Photutorial.

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