Best Sites to Buy Royalty Free Stock Video Footage in 2026

Whether you’re a filmmaker, YouTuber, marketer, or documentary producer, finding the right royalty free stock video footage can make or break your project. With dozens of platforms to choose from, it’s hard to know which ones offer the best quality, the most flexible licensing, and the fairest prices — especially if you don’t want to commit to a monthly subscription.

In this guide, we’ve compared the most popular stock footage sites so you can find exactly what you need, without overpaying or getting locked into terms that don’t work for you.

What Is Royalty Free Stock Video Footage?

“Royalty free” doesn’t mean free — it means you pay once for a license and can use the footage multiple times without paying royalties each time it’s viewed or broadcast. This is different from rights-managed footage, where you pay based on how and where the content is used.

Royalty free licenses typically cover:

• Commercial use in ads, YouTube videos, and branded content
• Editorial use in news segments and documentaries
• Online and broadcast distribution
• Multiple projects under a single purchase

Subscription vs. Direct Purchase: Which Is Better?

Most major stock footage platforms are pushing subscription models — monthly fees that give you a set number of downloads. This works well if you need footage constantly, but it’s poor value if you only need a handful of clips for a specific project.

When a Subscription Makes Sense

• You’re a content agency producing videos every week
• You need 10+ clips per month consistently
• You want access to a broad, general-purpose library

When Direct Purchase Is Better

• You need specific, high-quality footage for one or two projects
• You want cinematic or premium drone footage — not generic stock
• You don’t want to pay monthly for something you use occasionally
• You need a specific location, scene, or resolution not easily found elsewhere

Platforms like Starpik Stock operate on a direct-sale model — you find the clip you need, buy it once, and own that license. For many professionals, this is a more cost-effective and flexible approach.

Top Sites to Buy Royalty Free Stock Video Footage

1. Starpik Stock — Best for Cinematic Drone & European Footage ⭐ Our Pick

Starpik specialises in high-quality cinematic footage, with particular strength in aerial drone video, hyperlapse sequences, and footage from European cities including Istanbul, Rome, Hamburg, Capri, and Chisinau. Trusted by clients including Netflix, National Geographic, and Orange.

• 4K and 8K resolution options available
• No subscription required — direct purchase per clip
• Downloaded file quality exceeds site preview resolution
• Standard and premium licensing tiers available
• AI-generated illustration library also available

Best for: Filmmakers, documentary producers, and content creators who need high-end aerial footage from European or Eastern European locations without a subscription.

👉 Browse Starpik Stock footage →

2. Shutterstock — Best for Volume & Variety

Shutterstock is one of the largest stock footage libraries in the world with millions of clips. Their subscription plans offer good value for high-volume users, though the sheer size of the library can make finding truly unique or cinematic clips a challenge.

• Enormous library across every category
• Subscription plans and on-demand packs
• Consistent quality but often generic-looking results

3. Pond5 — Best Marketplace Model

Pond5 works like a marketplace where independent videographers upload and price their own footage. This leads to a wide range of quality and pricing, but also means you can sometimes find very specific or unique clips unavailable elsewhere.

• Individual clip pricing (no forced subscription)
• Wide variety of contributors and styles
• Quality can vary — preview carefully before purchasing

4. Artgrid — Best for Cinematic Narrative Footage

Artgrid focuses on narrative and cinematic footage shot by professional directors of photography. It’s subscription-only but appeals to those who want a more artistic, editorial feel rather than commercial stock imagery.

• High production value footage
• Subscription model only
• Smaller library, but more curated

5. Pexels & Pixabay — Best Free Options

For those on a tight budget, Pexels and Pixabay offer genuinely free footage under Creative Commons Zero (CC0) licenses. The quality and selection are more limited, and you won’t find 4K drone footage or cinematic sequences — but for simple background clips or cutaways, they’re a solid starting point.

• Completely free, no account required
• CC0 license — use for commercial or personal projects
• Limited resolution and cinematic quality

Quick Comparison: Stock Footage Sites at a Glance

What to Look for When Buying Stock Footage

Before you purchase, always consider the following:

• Resolution: Do you need 4K, 8K, or is HD sufficient for your deliverable?
• License type: Does the license cover your specific use — commercial, broadcast, social media?
• Exclusivity: Is the footage available to anyone, or can you get exclusive rights?
• Preview quality: Preview clips are often heavily compressed — always check the stated download resolution.
• Country and location: Is the footage from the specific place you need?
• File format: Is the clip delivered in a codec your editing software supports (MP4, MOV, ProRes)?

FAQs About Buying Royalty Free Stock Footage

Final Thoughts

The best stock footage platform depends on your specific needs. If you need large volumes of generic content, a subscription to Shutterstock may make sense. But if you’re looking for premium cinematic footage — particularly aerial drone video, European locations, or hyperlapse sequences — a direct-purchase platform like Starpik Stock is likely to give you better quality at a more reasonable per-project cost.

The right footage can elevate a good video into something truly memorable. Take the time to find clips that genuinely match your creative vision rather than settling for whatever looks passable in a compressed preview window.