Where to get free stock footage

Finding the right royalty free stock footage can be a pain, and finding completely free footage, with no payment or attribution required, can be even worse. So we decided to dive into the murky waters of the internet to bring you the lowdown on the best stock video sites.
Person with curly hair holding a camera up to their face, taking a photo at sunset.

Video is awesome. We use it to share our stories, make dazzling ads, capture customer testimonials, or show off our latest products.

Finding the right royalty free stock footage can be a pain, and finding completely free footage, with no payment or attribution required, can be even worse. So we decided to dive into the murky waters of the internet to bring you the lowdown on the best stock video sites.

The best royalty free stock footage sites

The internet is bountiful. With a bit of digging you can find stock video of almost anything to suit your budget and vision.

Free stock footage sites

Solopreneurs, small business owners, artists and bloggers can’t always afford high premiums. Luckily, plenty of artists have generously allowed others to use their work.

1. Pixabay

A screenshot of a stock image website offering a variety of beautiful free images, including photos and vector graphics, with a search bar for users to find images.

All content on Pixabay is listed under the Creative Commons 0 license. This means you can use their content in personal and commercial videos without asking permission or giving attribution. You’ll find a variety of stock footage, from breathtaking natural scenes to cool graphics in different resolutions, including 4k (i.e. quite high resolution)!

2. Videezy

Website homepage offering free hd and 4k stock video footage, with a selection of featured video thumbnails displayed.

Part of the Eezy content network, Videezy lets you search for HD and 4k stock footage you can use in various projects.

You can use their content for personal and commercial purposes as long as you add “Videezy.com” to your video credits. If you want to use their footage for other projects, you can find the licensing info next to each video.

3. Distill

River flowing through a forest with a website interface overlay advertising curated hd videos for creatives.

Even though it’s still in beta, Distill has plenty to offer. Creatives can download up to 10 HD videos for free every 10 days. You can search for the perfect footage by keywords or browse the different categories.

4. Videvo

A website section showcasing a collection of thumbnails for "most popular videos" with filters for 'all', 'motion graphics', and 'footage'.

Videvo’s got cool footage in a few different resolutions. They use two types of license: the standard Videvo license and a Creative Commons 3.0 license.

You can use footage under the Videvo standard license in any way you want without attribution. However, if the video you want is under the CC3 license, you need to credit the creator. You’ll find the type of license next to each video.

5. Pexels Video

Website homepage for pexels videos featuring a search bar and thumbnails for popular videos, including a blurred bokeh video, an aerial shot of a mountain and ocean, and a coffee cup.

All Pexels videos are under the CC0 license, so use them as you will (within legal reason.) They’ve got a relatively small collection at the moment, but it’s growing steadily. Use the search bar to find the perfect clip or scroll through the popular searches to find some inspo.

Premium stock video sites

While the free stock footage sites have plenty to offer, there are times you might want something very specific, and the free sites just don’t have it. Let’s take a look at some options.

1. Pond 5

A screenshot of a stock footage website showcasing various categories of videos such as underwater and fireworks, along with images of a videographer recording and a vintage-looking photo under an 'archival collection' section.

Looking for something a bit offbeat or obscure? With the world’s largest collection of royalty-free footage, the Pond 5 archives can surely help. You can search for specific types of footage (including historical) or browse the different sections. If 4k is your thing, they’ve got a pretty large selection available.

Prices start at $50USD for a standard license and you can buy enhanced and premium licenses as well. If you need new footage on the reg, membership will set you back $99USD a month (or $499USD for the year), and you’ll get 10 downloads and preferred pricing on 4k video.

2. Getty Images

A website header banner for getty images showcasing a cityscape, a colorful mountain sunset, and a river valley view, advertising 4k footage.

Stock giant GettyImages has plenty of HD, 4k and 360° video footage to choose from. Use the search bar or browse their extensive custom collections and choose the type of license you want. A 4k video is around $575USD. This is definitely a pricier option and much better suited for high-end ads and campaigns.

3. Film Supply

Three thematic panels created with Biteable video maker representing different video categories: a close-up of a ladybug on a leaf labeled "spring," a smiling couple captioned "lifestyle," and a scenic

When you first sign up for an account with FilmSupply, you get 3 free clips that can be used for any commercial project. This footage has a majestic, cinematic kind of feel. You can search clips by keyword, category, or mood. The price depends on your business type and intent for the footage, with discounts available for nonprofits.

4. Istock

A website offering a variety of hd and 4k video clips and stock footage across categories like abstract, science and technology, sports and recreation, and business and finance.

Looking for HD and 4k stock footage that takes things to the next level? At iStock you can even find a hipster section full of footage featuring beanie hats, skateboards, and the back of people’s heads. It really has something for every audience! Use the iStocks credit system to buy footage and choose between a standard and extended license.

5. Shutterstock

Homepage of a stock media website featuring a search bar, options for different types of content, and sample images including a bird and illustrated fruit.

Shutterstock has over 8 million footage clips, with something for every taste! Search their extensive database for the perfect footage. Prices start at $79USD for HD footage and $199USD for 4k quality. Bear in mind, though, that Shutterstock clips are available directly through the Biteable app (they’re in the ‘Footage’ section, under ‘Marketplace’).

The Biteable advantage

At Biteable, we want to help you create content that persuades, delights, and inspires. That’s why a Premium account will give you access to a library of over 85,000 completely free stock video clips. We’ve got a piece of footage for just about anything you can think of.

And that’s not all! To give you even more options, we’ve partnered up with Shutterstock, so Premium members can search Shutterstock’s extensive library through the Biteable app and buy stock footage for just $18USD instead of the usual $79USD a pop.

Creating videos that work

An effective video has a lot of moving parts working together to make it all happen. It’s not just about the footage. You need great royalty free images. Royalty free music. Great copy. When all these parts come together, that’s when the magic happens.

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