Note: “Envato Elements” is now just “Envato”.
It’s hard to put a finger on the distinction between Envato vs. Motion Array—they’re really similar. They’re both unlimited subscriptions that offer royalty-free image, video, and audio assets as well as AI tools. They’re similar in terms of both the audiences they serve and how they work.
I’ve been using Envato for years, and I spent the last year experimenting with Motion Array to see how it stacks up. Here’s what I learned.
Quick verdict
- Envato – The best all-in-one royalty-free resource
- Motion Array – The cheapest 8K footage source
Envato vs. Motion Array at a glance
Here’s the gist of how Motion Array and Envato stack up:
- Envato is cheaper than Motion Array, has a ten times larger and more diverse royalty-free collection, more AI tools (image and video generators), no daily download limits, and no restrictions on the number of physical copies of your products.
- Motion Array has up to 8K footage (Envato max. 4K), 50 video editing plugins, and a more curated media library.
| Best all-in-one | Cheap 8K footage |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Envato | Motion Array |
|
Photutorial rating 4.3/5
|
Photutorial rating 4.4/5
|
|
Cost (everything plan) |
Cost (everything plan) |
|
Number of assets 22 million
|
Number of assets 2 million
|
|
AI tools Image, video, music, and voice generators. Image upscaler, background remover.
|
AI tools Voice generator included with the Everything plan
|
|
Integrations Plugins for Premiere Pro, After Effects, Canva, Figma, etc.
|
Integrations Adobe extensions for After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop
|
|
Best for Freelancers and creatives needing a wide variety of assets
|
Best for Video editors and content creators focused on video projects
|
| Try Envato | Try Motion Array |
|
Our review
Envato review
|
Our review
Motion Array review
|
Table of contents:
- Envato vs. Motion Array at a glance
- Envato has a larger and more diverse library
- Envato is cheaper, mostly
- Motion Array comes with slightly better creative plugins and integrations
- Envato leads the AI arms race
- Envato vs. Motion Array: Which should you choose?
Envato has a larger and more diverse library
Envato’s and Motion Array’s libraries are both above average in size, quality, and diversity among other unlimited subscriptions. In short: Envato has a large and more diverse library, while Motion Array’s is more curated.
| Media | Envato | Motion Array |
|---|---|---|
| Images | 12.1 million | 500,000 |
| Videos | 7.5 million | 500,000 |
| Sound effects | 800,000 | 39,000 |
| Music | 270,000 | 100,000 |
| Templates | 627,000 | 76,000 |
| Fonts | 61,000 | 0 |
| Motion graphics | 0 | 100,000 |
Envato gives you access to one of the broadest stock media collections available under a single subscription. The library includes over 20 million files: around 12 million images, 7.5 million video clips, hundreds of thousands of sound effects and music tracks, plus graphics, templates, 3D assets, add-ons, and fonts.
If you work across different kinds of projects, it’s easy to find assets for each stage without needing multiple subscriptions. For instance, you can start with a hand-drawn illustration or a template, then add music and finish with a font, all under the same account.
The size of the library is noticeable compared to other unlimited stock media subscriptions. To me, this matters when I work on projects that require more variety, as I switch between different projects often (e.g., from YouTube videos and social media posts to logos or ads).
The tradeoff for more assets is that curation isn’t as tight as what you’ll see on Motion Array. I prefer Motion Array to Envato when I need high-quality (8K) footage or video templates.
Envato is cheaper, mostly
Comparing costs between Envato and Motion Array shows that Envato is usually cheaper for full access to the platform. Motion Array provides a lower starting price if your work requires only video templates and motion graphics.
Envato has simple pricing with one main subscription. You choose between paying $16.50 per month with a year-long commitment (which means paying $198 upfront) or paying $39 month-to-month.
This single plan gives you unlimited downloads from their entire library. That library contains photos, videos, music, sound effects, graphics, fonts, and various templates. You also get full use of their AI tools in AI Labs.
Motion Array has a different pricing structure with several plan levels. Their “Everything” plan matches up best with what Envato offers. This plan costs $24.99 per month if you pay for the whole year at once, or $39.99 if you pay monthly. With it, you get unlimited downloads of stock footage, music, sound effects, images, LUTs, and video editing plugins, plus the templates and presets. It also comes with credits for their AI voiceover tool, enough for about 1.5 hours of audio.
Motion Array can be less expensive through its “Video Templates” plan. This option costs $15.99 per month (paid yearly) or $23.99 (paid monthly). As the plan name shows, it limits your downloads strictly to motion graphics, video templates, and presets. You won’t get access to stock footage, music, photos, or editing plugins with this plan.
Photutorial readers also get 2 extra months with our Motion Array discount.
Therefore, if your work needs a mix of asset types like photos, music tracks, video clips, and templates, Envato costs less on its annual plan ($16.50/month) than Motion Array’s comparable “Everything” plan ($24.99/month). But if you need just video templates and motion graphics, Motion Array’s Video Templates is cheaper.
Motion Array comes with slightly better creative plugins and integrations
Both Envato and Motion Array help you work faster by bringing their libraries into the software you already use.
Envato offers plugins for popular tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Adobe Express, Canva, and Figma. Using the Adobe plugin (which you get from Adobe Exchange), you can search the Envato library directly inside Premiere Pro or After Effects. This means less jumping between windows. You can even use Envato’s AI search there.
The Canva and Figma plugins let you browse assets and create AI-generated icons without leaving your design. While these plugins work, the Adobe one isn’t as smoothly integrated as Adobe’s own Stock tool and sometimes stops working temporarily after Adobe updates.
Motion Array offers similar Adobe integration for After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop, letting you search and import Motion Array assets. Support for Audition and Premiere Rush is planned shortly.
Where Motion Array adds more value is with its dedicated video editing plugins and extra tools. If you subscribe to the “Everything” plan, you get access to over 50 specialized plugins for software like Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
These add effects directly to your editor. For example, you could use a plugin to quickly apply a cinematic color grade or remove a green screen without complex manual steps. To use them, you download the specific plugin needed, install it, restart your video editor, and the new effect or tool appears in the interface.
Envato leads the AI arms race
Both platforms incorporate AI, but Envato offers a wider range of tools through its AI Labs suite. Using most of these tools requires an active subscription, though you can see the AI Labs menu with a free account. Motion Array’s AI features currently center on voice generation.
Envato’s AI Search (called Assistant) lets you describe the asset you need in plain sentences. This works well for finding items based on mood or concept (e.g., just say “upbeat background music for a travel vlog“).
For generating new content, Envato provides access to all the most popular image generators, a text-to-video generator, and a new voiceover AI that lets you create speech. All the media you create this way is cleared for commercial use.
Envato also includes ImageEdit, an AI tool for modifying photos. You can remove backgrounds, increase resolution (upscale), or erase unwanted objects from library images or your own uploads.
Motion Array’s only AI tool is its AI Voiceovers, which convert text into speech. Currently, it offers four different accents and controls for speed and emotion. You can generate narration for videos, for instance, choosing an Australian accent and a ‘sad’ tone if needed.
Considering Artlist released AI image and video generators in April, we can expect these to come to Motion Array in a few weeks (as has been a pattern for a while).
Envato vs. Motion Array: Which should you choose?
Both Envato and Motion Array offer unlimited downloads under a subscription, but they serve slightly different creative needs. Your choice depends on the types of assets you use most often and the specific tools you need.
Choose Envato if:
- You need a very broad range of assets, including photos, 3D models, fonts, and website templates, alongside video and audio.
- Access to the largest possible library (over 20 million items) is important for your projects.
- Your budget favors a lower monthly cost for an all-inclusive plan ($16.50/month annually).
- You want built-in AI tools for generating images, editing photos, searching conversationally, or creating voiceovers as part of your subscription.
- You work across various platforms like WordPress, Figma, and Canva, in addition to video software, and want integrations for them.
Choose Motion Array if:
- Generating AI voiceovers is often part of your process, and you need a tool that provides set amounts of generation credits.
- Your work is mainly focused on video editing and motion graphics.
- You need specialized video assets like high-resolution footage (up to 5K+), complex video templates, and presets for Adobe software, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve.
- Direct integration within Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop) is helpful for your workflow.
- You need access to a collection of video editing plugins (over 50 available) to speed up effects and color grading work.
Related reading:
- The best stock video subscriptions
- The best stock footage sites
- Envato vs. Artlist
- The best cheap stock footage sites
This article was originally published in July 2023. The most recent update was in May 2025.
