I spent weeks bouncing between the biggest stock footage subscriptions—Artlist, Envato Elements, Motion Array, and Shutterstock—because most “best stock footage” lists don’t match what actually matters when you’re editing for real clients or publishing on YouTube. In this video, I break the comparison down the same way I tested it: quality vs. quantity (what you actually get when you search), download formats (so you’re not stuck with weird codecs), and the overall user experience (search, filters, collections, and how fast you can find something usable). The biggest thing I wanted to solve is licensing—because stock footage is only “cheap” until you get a claim or a client asks for proof. I do a licensing deep-dive, then I finish with pricing so you can pick based on your workflow and budget. My final picks are simple: Artlist is my best overall for creators who want a clean, dependable library and licensing, Shutterstock is my “pro” choice when you need depth and high-end options, and Envato/Motion Array are the budget-friendly plays if you want the most stuff bundled together.