Stock assets like images, videos, audio, templates, and more are always crucial for content creators to enhance their content’s quality and visual appeal. And using stock assets can save a lot of time and money as you don’t need to create the content from scratch. These assets are very useful for creators who have limited resources or need more specialized graphic design or video production skills. Overall, stock assets play an important role in elevating the quality of content and helping content creators to succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape.
The internet is full of free and paid platforms when finding these stock assets. But the most vital and struggling part is the asset’s affordable Pricing and perfect licensing. Today we’re reviewing a platform that has a massive library of royalty-free content that you can buy and use forever.
The platform is called Pond5 which aims to be the go-to marketplace for filmmakers, content creators, and marketers to find what they need for any project. In this article, we will demonstrate its Pricing, licensing, pros n cons, Content quality, and features. Let’s start our article and see if pond5 is worth it.
Review Summary
Pond5 is a valuable resource for anyone in need of high-quality media assets for their projects. With a vast library of stock footage, music, sound effects, stock photos, and 3D models, Pond5 is one of the big and leading media asset marketplaces worldwide. The platform is user-friendly, with powerful search and filtering options, making it easy to find the right asset for any project.
Pros
- Huge Collection of assets
- Flexible pricing
- Easy to use
- Bonus credits every month
Cons
- Huge Collection of assets
- Flexible pricing
- Easy to use
- Bonus credits every month
- Expensive Multimedia
- No free Trial
- Non exclusive assets
Creativevault.net
Website
Images
Pricing
Free Trial
License
Pond5.com
67 million
$25/ mo
Unavailable
Royalty-Free
Overall Rating
Table of Contents
Introduction to Pond5
Pond5 is one of the world’s largest leading stock marketplaces, founded in 2006. Pond5 launched the first royalty-free video marketplace but began to expand into other media assets.
Pond5 has 70 million stock assets, including 31 million+ stock videos and 50 million+ stock photos that you can subscribe to or buy whenever you want. It is not the cheapest stock footage site, but it is the best and first option for many media houses, filmmakers, and advertising agencies due to its massive stock library and quality content.
Type of Content Offered by Pond5
Pond5 is an extensive marketplace for Stock footage and the best site for stock photos. But in addition, you can get many other media assets like 3D models, illustrations, after-effects, sound effects, and Music.
| 33 million (16+ million 4K videos) |
| 1.6 million |
| 67.5 million |
| 20,000+ |
| 1.8 million |
| 70,000+ |
| 400k+ |
You don’t have to pay for another site just for music and other media assets; it is your all in one Stock assets platform. According to its simple licensing terms, you’re allowed to use the media assets you buy worldwide on:
- Video hosting websites like YouTube, Vimeo
- Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media
- Websites, blogs, and emails
- Online ads, commercials, and other marketing projects
How does Pond5 work?
It is a huge platform where you can not just buy assets, but it also allows users to sell their digital assets. In addition to buying and selling media assets, Pond5 also offers a tool for creators, including a free video editor and music library, and you can also get access to a global network of media professionals.
Let’s take a brief overview of how it works:
Creators upload their media assets, such as images and videos, to the platform, and simply a buyer searches for the asset he needs and purchases a license to use them Pond5 offers a variety of licensing options, including standard and extended licenses. The buyer uses the asset under the terms of the license, and Pond5 pays the creator a percentage of the revenue earned from the sale of their asset
Features of Pond5
Now you know all about pond5, let’s talk about some of its important features that make the platform quite simple and easy to use.
Search bar
Pond5 has a simple search engine where users can search for content by category, media type, and featured media. They can also search by specific keywords, and it also gives a few related keyword suggestions under the search box
Browse Media Menu
Apart from the search engine, you can also find the content you need from a Browse Media menu on the top left panel. Just click the button you’ll find a drop down menu that allows you to browse by the type of media you need. Further, you can browse by category, popular keywords, or collection, depending on the kind of media.
Filtering
The platform also has a filtering system that allows users to find the perfect media asset for their project. The filtering options include file type, resolution, duration, aspect ratio, frame rate, and more. Users can also filter by price, popularity, and upload date. Additionally, Pond5 offers advanced search filters, such as visual similarity search, which allows users to find assets that are visually similar to a selected image or video. The filtering system helps users to save time and find the exact asset they need for their project, whether it’s a high-quality photo, a 4K video, or a unique sound effect.
Free AI Tool (Visual search)
Pond5 has developed a free AI-powered tool, “Visual Search, ” which allows users to find stock footage visually similar to a selected image or video. Advanced image recognition technology analyzes an uploaded image or video and provides results that closely match the visual content.
It helps users find the perfect footage for their project more quickly and easily. Rather than relying solely on keyword searches or browsing through categories, users can upload an image or video with the desired visual style or subject matter. The tool will return a list of visually similar results.
It is available for all Pond5 users, free and paid, and can be accessed from the search bar on the Pond5 website. It is a useful tool for professionals looking for unique and visually engaging footage for their projects.
Collaboration Tools:
The collaboration tool helps teams work together on media projexts.it is the cloud-based media management platform so whenever a team member uploads any project it allows other members to review, and approve media assets in a centralized location and collaborate in real-time, ensuring that the final product meets everyone’s expectations.
You are allowed to share your projects with other team team members or also with the outsiders. it ensures that all stakeholders have access to the same assets and can work together seamlessly.
Pond5 licensing:
Pond5 offers royalty-free licenses that can be used for personal or commercial projects with worldwide distribution forever.
These are the three main licenses that you can use with all media types:
- Individual
- Business
- Premium
Pond5 Pricing & Plans
It is not a cheap platform, but it provides several options when buying content. It offers more flexibility than any other platform. When purchasing any stock asset, you have three options which include
- Subscribe to a membership
- Pay per clip
- Buy credit packs
Let’s take a deeper look at these plans.
Subscribe to a membership
If you are a user who uses media assets regularly for projects, it might be the best option for you to subscribe to pond5 membership. With the membership. There are four types of subscription plan it offers which include
- Music
- Music & SFX
- Footage plus
- Custom
You’ll be able to download 10 media files monthly at a significant saving compared to the other pricing options. Let’s take a look at each plan in detail.
Music
This option is best for creators looking for good music for their upcoming projects. It costs $25 monthly and $150 annually.
Subscription Details:
- 10 Downloads/Month
- 10% Sitewide Discount
- Rollover up to 20 downloads
- Individual License
- Cancel anytime
- Access to all 1.5M music tracks
Use each download in unlimited projects on any personal and commercial platform forever.
Music & SFX
In this subscription, you’ll access a library of 1.7 million sound effects and 1.5 million royalty-free music. It costs $30 monthly and $180 annually.
Subscription Details:
- 10 Downloads/Month
- Rollover up to 20 downloads
- Individual License
- Cancel anytime
Unused downloads are still there! We’ll roll over up to 20 downloads on Music or Music & SFX subscriptions, and you can use each download in unlimited projects on any personal and commercial platform forever.
Footage plus
It is a higher-tier subscription plan that provides users unlimited Access to the entire Pond5 library of stock footage. This plan is designed for high-volume users who need regular Access to high-quality project footage. It costs $199 monthly and $999 annually.
Subscription Details:
- 10 Downloads/Month
- Rollover up to 120 downloads
- Individual License
- Cancel anytime
You’ll get Access to the following:
- Selection of 4.2M HD & 4K videos
- All 1.5M music tracks
- All 1.7M sound effects
- Choice of over 12M images, 3D models, and AE templates.
Custom
It also offers a personalized subscription plan for enterprise-level clients with specific needs and requirements that other programs cannot meet.
Flexibility at your fingertips
- Any number of downloads
- Any media type
- More seats and indemnification
- Advanced team features
- Dedicated account management
Pricing for the Custom plan is determined case-by-case based on factors such as the number of users, the type of media assets required, and the frequency of usage. The Custom plan is designed to be flexible and scalable and can be adjusted as a client’s needs change over time. This plan is ideal for businesses that require Access to a large library of digital media assets and have specific licensing and usage requirements.
Pay per Clip
In this option, you can buy any media file singularly when needed. The pricing depends on the type of asset you purchase. In all cases, though, your purchase includes Pond5’s royalty-free license. Here are the starting prices of the media assets.
Credit Packs
It starts from as low as $250; credit packs allow you to pay upfront for the media you’ll need and, in the process, get up to 20% in bonus credits; these credits work just like cash when you want to purchase any media. You can use these credits for any media on Pond5, including 4K and HD video, music, sound effects, motion graphics, and more.
Who should use Pond5?
Pond5 is a valuable resource for many individuals and businesses who are in need of high-quality and supportive licensing media assets for their projects. It can be useful for
- Video editors, filmmakers, You Tubers, and other content creators can use Pond5 to find stock footage, music, sound effects, and other assets to enhance their projects.
- Advertising agencies, marketing teams, and social media managers can use Pond5 to find engaging visuals and audio to use in their campaigns.
- Small business owners can use Pond5 to find media assets for their websites, social media channels, and other marketing materials.
- Teachers, professors, and educational content creators can use Pond5 to find visuals and audio for their presentations, educational videos, and other materials.
- Production studios, media companies, and other large enterprises can use Pond5 to access a large library of media assets for their various projects.
Alternatives
Depositphotos
$9.9/ mo
Depositphotos is a reliable and user-friendly stock media platform suitable for content creators looking for high-quality media for their projects. With its vast library of content and flexible and Advanced search engine, which allows you to filter images by category, size, resolution, photographer, etc. You can even do a reverse image search; Depositphotos stands out for its ease of use, high-quality content, and customer support. Read More
StoryBlocks
$15/ mo
Storyblocks offers a comprehensive and valuable resource for filmmakers, videographers, and YouTubers, providing an extensive library of stock media assets, user-friendly interface, and cost-effective subscription plans. However, users should consider the non-exclusive content, customization limitations, subscription dependency, variable asset quality, and limited customer support channels when making their decision. Read More
Motion Array
$29.9/ mo
Motion Array is a great platform for creators to get their hands on high-quality digital media assets. With an ever-growing collection, it is a one-stop shop for all kinds of stock assets with universal licensing. The best is that it is powered by Artlist, so you can find all the of Artlist and Artgrid on one platform. Read More
Pros
- Huge Collection: it offers a massive collection of media assets like Stock videos, stock images, a music library, SFX, and more.
- Flexible Pricing: Pond5 offers several options for purchasing media assets. For example, you can buy per item, or you can also subscribe to a monthly plan.
- Global Network: Pond5 provides access to a global network of media professionals, including videographers, photographers, and animators. This allows creators to find the perfect asset for their project or connect with a professional to create custom content.
- Easy to Use: The user interface of the platform is very easy to understand for any level of user.
- High Quality: pond5 always offers high-quality assets which never disappoint any user and include up to 5k+ high-quality stock footage.
- Licensing: Pond5 offers a variety of licensing options for media assets, including standard and extended licenses. This allows creators to monetize their work while also providing buyers with the flexibility to use the assets in a variety of ways.
- Enterprise Subscription: For larger businesses, Pond5 offers enterprise subscription plans that include unlimited downloads, advanced search options, and other features. The price of these plans varies depending on the number of users and the specific features included.
- Subscription Discounts: You’ll get 50% off when you pay annually. It is an excellent way to save a substantial part of your budget, plus they grant you an additional 10% discount sitewide.
- Bonus Credits: Pond5 Credit Packs include free bonus credits. The more you buy, the more you get (Up to $500!)
Cons
- Expensive Assets: Some videos are very expensive and competitive; they may still need to be lowered for some users working with tight budgets. This can lead some buyers to search for lower-priced or free alternatives to Pond5.
- Non-exclusive assets: While Pond5’s media assets are high-quality and easy to access, they are also available to other users and may not provide the level of exclusivity that some buyers require.
- No Free trial: Pond5 does not offer any monthly or weekly free trial, which is a big disadvantage for new users exploring the platform.
- Limited Access: Footage plus subscription doesn’t give access to the full library of Stock videos. Apart from a subscription, you have to pay per item for high-quality assets to use them
Conclusion
Pond5 is a valuable resource for anyone in need of high-quality media assets for their projects. With a vast library of stock footage, music, sound effects, stock photos, and 3D models, Pond5 is one of the big and leading media asset marketplaces worldwide. The platform is user-friendly, with powerful search and filtering options, making it easy to find the right asset for any project. The Features, including the collaboration tool, Visual search, and simple user interface, make it more reliable for any user.
Overall, Pond5 is an excellent platform for anyone looking for high-quality media assets for their projects, with a vast library of assets, flexible licensing options, affordable pricing plans, and powerful collaboration tools.
I have used Pond5 for many projects, and It offers everything a buyer needs to find and use the right assets for their projects.
Anyway, which platform do you use for Royalty-free content? What are your views on Pond5? I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about the service. Let me know in the comments box below.
I hope you like the review article; we’ll be back with
FAQs
Yes, it is trusted by many people, from students to major film studios. This is a completely safe and secure Marketplace for media assets.
All the licenses are royalty-free and can be used for personal or Commercial projects with worldwide distribution forever.
Yes. If you’re not 100% satisfied, simply request a refund within 24 hours of purchase.
Visit the pond5 Sell Your Media page to sign up, upload your work, and start making money on Pond5
Pond5 is a marketplace where artists sell their content, and the Pond5 team will help you by creating a customized media collection for free.
It is used by media organizations, filmmakers, marketers, and content creators. It is used by many famous brands such as Discovery Channel, Snap chat, BBC, Facebook, Netflix, and LinkedIn.
