A stock video trial is a great way to test a stock video site without committing to a lengthy subscription. It also allows you to get some unwatermarked stock footage for free.
Some of the best stock footage trials are Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, and Artlist. Adobe Stock lets you download any 3 HD or 4K videos from their collection, Shutterstock has a curated selection of 40 free videos, and Artlist gives you 2 months free.
Stock footage free trials at a glance
| Stock footage free trial | Free videos | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Stock | 1 or 3 (of your choice) | 30 days |
| Shutterstock | 40 (preselected) | One time |
| iStock | 3 (preselected monthly) | Every 30 days |
| Artlist | Unlimited (of your choice) | 2 extra months |
| Envato | 12 media files (preselected) | Every 30 days |
| Motion Array | 100s (free collection) | One time |
1. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock trial pro:
- Up to three HD or 4K videos of your choice
- You can also download images and audio
Adobe Stock trial cons:
- Trial converts to a paying subscription if you forget to cancel
If you want to download any free 4K video, the Adobe Stock free trial is the best stock footage free trial to do that right now. It’s available with two Adobe Stock subscriptions: 10 Assets (1 video) and 25 Assets (3 videos), which otherwise cost $29.99 and $49.99 per month, respectively.
During the 30-day trial period, you can download 1 or 3 standard assets HD and 4K videos. Alternatively, you can use the downloads to get 10 or 25 royalty-free images, illustrations, music tracks, motion graphics, and design templates.
You can cancel the free trial before it ends and keep everything you’ve downloaded. If you don’t download anything, you can cancel and get a full refund up to 14 days after the first payment.
The videos you download using Adobe Stock’s free trial come with a commercial royalty-free license called Adobe Stock Enhanced License, which allows unlimited use and reproductions, including on YouTube and social media.
Read more: Adobe Stock review
2. Shutterstock
Shuttertock trial pro:
- 40 free videos
- No credit card information required
Shutterstock trial cons:
- The free videos are preselected and the same for everyone
If you’re looking for a way to find high-quality stock footage without a subscription, the Shutterstock free footage offer is a great option. While the Shutterstock free trial is no longer available, this curated collection provides 40 free, unwatermarked video clips.
To get the free footage, you simply need to create a free Shutterstock account. This doesn’t require any payment information and gives you instant access to the downloadable clips. The videos are hosted on Dropbox and organized into three folders based on aspect ratio: 16×9 (standard widescreen), 1×1 (square), and 9×16 (vertical, ideal for social media).
The videos you download through this offer come with the Shutterstock Video License, permitting their use in web and multimedia projects with audiences of up to 500,000. But don’t forget that you can’t choose the specific videos included in the free collection; they are pre-selected by Shutterstock. For access to the full library, a paid video subscription or credit pack is required.
Read more: Shutterstock review
3. iStock
iStock trial pro:
- 3 free videos every month
- No credit card information required
iStock trial cons:
- The free videos are preselected and the same for everyone
To download free videos every month, iStock’s free video offer is a great choice. Unlike a one-time Shutterstock trial, iStock provides access to 3 free, pre-selected videos every month from their premium “Signature” collection.
To download your free videos, you’ll need to create a free iStock account. This simple signup gives you monthly access to these complimentary clips. While you can’t choose specific videos, the selection is updated monthly and offers high-quality footage from their sought-after Signature library.
The videos you download through this program come with iStock’s standard royalty-free license, allowing for broad commercial use in your projects. This includes web, digital, and even monetized content. It’s a fantastic way to regularly enhance your video projects with professional stock footage without any cost.
Read more: iStock review
4. Artlist
Shuttertock trial pro:
- 40 free videos
- No credit card information required
Shutterstock trial cons:
- The free videos are preselected and the same for everyone
Artlist offers a unique approach to a “free trial.” Instead of a traditional trial period, they provide two extra months free when you sign up for any of their annual plans. This effectively gives you 14 months of access for the price of 12. This offer is accessed via a special invitation link.
To get extended access, you’ll need to use the invitation link, select an annual plan, create an account, and enter your payment information. Artlist offers various plans, including audio-only, video-only, and the “Artlist Max” plan, which combines all its offerings. The pricing varies depending on the plan you choose.
Regardless of your chosen plan, you have unlimited downloads of any assets. This includes stock footage, music, sound effects, and even templates, depending on your subscription. All assets are covered by Artlist’s universal license, which allows for broad commercial use, including monetization on various platforms.
Alternatively, Artlist offers a “forever free” account. This allows you to browse their entire library and download unlimited watermarked previews of music and footage. These previews are useful for testing assets in your projects before committing to a paid plan.
Read more: Artlist review
5. Envato
Envato pros:
- Free account gives access to 12 curated files a month and 5 ImageGen credits
- Includes commercial project license (but no indemnity)
Envato cons:
- No way to test the full service before purchasing
Envato ended its 7-day free trial in March 2023. The company shows no signs of bringing it back, but offers other options to experience parts of the service without payment.
You can get 12 free files each month with a free account. These curator-selected assets include videos, fonts, templates, and images. To access them, create a free account, go to the free files page, and download what you need. Remember that all free users get the same files, making them less valuable for unique projects.
Free accounts also receive 5 AI ImageGen credits and full access to AI Search and InspoGen tools. This gives you a taste of Envato’s AI features before buying a subscription.
For full access, plans cost $16.50 per month with annual billing ($198 upfront) or $39 monthly. Photutorial readers get 10% off, lowering the annual rate to $14.85 per month. Students pay around $10 monthly with proper verification.
Read more: Envato review
6. Motion Array
Shuttertock trial pro:
- 40 free videos
- No credit card information required
Shutterstock trial cons:
- The free videos are preselected and the same for everyone
Just recently, Motion Array changed its special discount from $50 flat on any annual plan to two extra months with each annual plan. It’s now identical to the Artlist offer and is a legitimate stock video free trial.
To get it, you need an invitation link, click Subscribe Now, pick a plan, and complete the purchase. This will add two extra months to your annual plan for a total of 14 months (you pay for 12).
Alternatively, you can create Motion Array’s free account to download hundreds of free assets, including video templates, music, sound effects, and graphics.
To get started, simply create a free account by selecting “Start Free Now” on their website. No credit card is required. This gives you immediate access to a curated selection of free downloads. You can easily find these by using the “Free assets” filter on any marketplace page. Look for the “FREE” label next to product titles.
The free assets you download from Motion Array come with a license that allows for use in your projects. The specific terms may vary, so it’s always a good idea to review the license details for each asset. The free account also allows you to browse Motion Array’s extensive catalog of over 2 million assets, giving you a taste of what’s available with a paid subscription. New free assets are also sent to your email regularly.
Read more: Motion Array review
Stock video trial: FAQs
What exactly is a stock footage free trial?
A stock photo footage trial allows you to download a limited number of royalty-free stock videos for free during a trial period or download from a free collection when you sign up for a free account. It’s a way to test a stock footage platform before committing to a paid subscription. The videos can typically be used in commercial projects even after the trial ends.
What is the best stock footage free trial?
The Adobe Stock free trial is currently the best, providing 1 or 3 HD and 4K videos over 30 days. Shutterstock and iStock both give you a few premium 4K videos every month, while Artlist gives you two months free.
How to get stock footage for free?
You can get free stock footage by signing up for free trials from Adobe Stock (1-3 videos), iStock (3 videos per month), or Shutterstock (40 free videos). Envato gives 12 free curated images monthly with a free account. Public domain and Creative Commons sites also have free images.
How to get stock footage without a watermark?
Signing up for free trials from Adobe Stock and Artlist or for free accounts at Shutterstock, Motion Array, Envato, and iStock will allow you to download stock footage without watermarks.
Related reading:
- The best stock footage sites
- The best stock video subscriptions
- The cheapest stock video sites
- The best stock photo free trials
