Motion Array Vs Storyblocks: Which One is Better?
Two of the biggest names in unlimited stock video subscriptions, tested side by side on pricing, library depth, licensing, and the tools that actually matter to video editors in 2026 — including a price gap that's smaller than most comparisons claim.
Motion Array Vs Storyblocks: The Short Answer
If you've spent any time researching unlimited stock video subscriptions, these two keep showing up next to each other — and for good reason. Both offer subscription access to large libraries of video, audio, and motion graphics. The honest answer is that they're built for slightly different jobs.
Wins if you need plugins, After Effects and Premiere templates, presets, and AI voiceover bundled with your asset library — not just raw footage.
Wins if your priority is the deepest stock video and audio library at the lowest entry price, and you don't need bundled editing tools.
Motion Array positions itself as a one-stop shop for video creators — assets plus plugins plus templates plus tools in a single "Everything Plan." Storyblocks positions itself as the footage specialist — a deep, focused library with a flat-rate subscription that serves major broadcasters alongside individual creators. The choice reduces to one question: are you buying assets, or a toolkit?
The Real Price Gap
Most comparisons overstate how far apart these two are. Here's the arithmetic done properly, using each platform's promotional annual rate.
At promotional annual rates the gap is roughly $70 a year — about $6 a month.
That's the number that should drive the decision, and it's small enough that bundled tooling can flip it entirely. If you'd otherwise pay for a template marketplace subscription, a plugin pack, or a text-to-speech tool, Motion Array's Everything Plan is the cheaper total bill despite the higher sticker price.
Pricing: The First Real Difference
It's worth understanding the structure before comparing numbers. Motion Array differentiates its plans by features, not content — every paid tier unlocks the identical asset library. The differences come down to billing frequency, bundled tools, user seats, and support level. The Everything Plan runs $29.99/month, or $249.99/year — which works out to roughly $20.83/month.
Storyblocks runs a more traditional unlimited-download subscription at a lower entry point. Promotional annual pricing brings it to around $15/month (roughly $180/year), with the standard unlimited subscription listed at $65/month or $360/year ($30/month) outside promotional windows.
| Plan | Effective $/mo | Per year | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motion Array — Everything (annual) | $20.83 | $249.99 | Unlimited downloads · plugins · AI voiceover · 250GB · all asset types |
| Motion Array — monthly billing | $29.99 | $359.88 | Same library, no annual discount |
| Storyblocks — promotional annual | ~$15 | ~$180 | Unlimited video, audio & motion backgrounds |
| Storyblocks — standard rate | $30–$65 | $360+ | Same library outside promotional windows |
Both platforms run frequent promotions that shift effective rates — verify current pricing before subscribing.
The comparison above assumes you catch Storyblocks' promotional annual rate. Outside those windows Storyblocks lists at $360/year or more — at which point Motion Array's $249.99 Everything Plan becomes the cheaper option outright, before counting bundled tools. The ranking here genuinely depends on when you subscribe, which is unusual for a head-to-head and worth checking on the day rather than trusting any comparison's snapshot.
Library Composition: Breadth vs Focus
Motion Array's library exceeds 2 million assets and spans an unusually wide range for a single subscription — stock video, motion graphics, royalty-free music, sound effects, photos and graphics, plus a substantial templates section covering After Effects, Premiere Pro, MOGRT, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Premiere Rush. Every asset is curated rather than crowdsourced, which Motion Array positions as a quality differentiator.
Storyblocks takes the opposite approach: depth over breadth, concentrated almost entirely on video. HD and 4K footage supplemented by motion backgrounds, production music, sound effects, and After Effects templates. It's the library editors reach for specifically because the footage collection is both extensive and consistently updated, with a track record serving major broadcast names alongside individual creators.
- Stock video & motion graphics
- Royalty-free music & sound effects
- Photos and graphics
- AE, Premiere, MOGRT, FCP & DaVinci templates
- Presets and macros for major editing suites
- Premiere Pro plugins (subscriber-exclusive)
- AI voiceover tool bundled in
- HD and 4K stock footage (primary focus)
- Motion backgrounds
- Production music tracks
- Sound effects & special effects
- After Effects templates
- Images / stock photography
- Continually expanding video-first catalogue
"There are platforms with bigger libraries, and platforms with better cinematic footage — but they trade one for the other. Motion Array sits in the middle: wide coverage, curated quality, tools built in."
On cinematic footage specifically, both platforms trail the specialists. Our Artgrid review covers that end of the market, and Artgrid vs Storyblocks puts it directly against one of the platforms here.
Feature-by-Feature Head to Head
| Category | Motion Array | Storyblocks |
|---|---|---|
| Library size | 2M+ assets, curated Wins on breadth | Large, video-focused, expanding Wins on video depth |
| Entry price (annual promo) | ~$20.83/mo | ~$15/mo Cheaper entry |
| Templates & plugins | AE, Premiere, MOGRT, FCP, DaVinci + exclusive plugins Wins | After Effects templates included |
| Audio library | Royalty-free music + SFX bundled | Production music + SFX, video-centric |
| AI tools | AI voiceover included Wins | Not a core focus |
| Storage included | 250GB Wins | Not a headline feature |
| Licensing | Broad commercial — broadcast, film, streaming Tie | Unlimited use for subscription-period projects Tie |
| Track record | Popular with solo creators and small teams | 100,000+ clients incl. major broadcasters Wins on scale |
| Referral perks | 2 free months per paying referral Unique perk | Not a standard feature |
Who Actually Owns What
One detail almost no comparison mentions, and it changes how you should read a switch between these two. Artlist owns Motion Array, having acquired it in a deal that closed in November 2020 — and Artlist also owns the stock footage platform Artgrid.
Storyblocks is independent of both Artlist and Envato. That matters if you're moving platforms because of a pricing or policy decision rather than the library itself: switching from Motion Array to Artlist or Artgrid keeps you inside the same corporate family, while Storyblocks is a genuine change of supplier. Our Artlist vs Motion Array comparison covers the overlap between the two Artlist-owned platforms in detail.
Who Should Choose Which
- You use AE/Premiere templates regularlyThe bundled template library across After Effects, Premiere, MOGRT, FCP and DaVinci — plus exclusive plugins and presets — replaces separate template marketplace subscriptions.
- You want AI voiceover bundled inFor explainers, social videos, and course material, the included tool removes the need for a separate text-to-speech subscription.
- Storage and referral perks matter250GB of bundled storage plus a two-month-free referral programme add tangible value for small teams managing project files.
- You're subscribing outside a promo windowAt Storyblocks' standard $360/year rate, Motion Array's $249.99 is simply cheaper.
- Footage depth is your priorityAt promotional pricing around $15/month, the video-first library is one of the most cost-effective routes to a deep, continually-updated footage collection.
- You work with broadcast-scale clientsA track record with major broadcasters and 100,000+ clients carries institutional credibility for agency and broadcast-facing work.
- You can lock in promotional pricingAt ~$180/year you save roughly $70 versus Motion Array's Everything Plan — meaningful for budget-conscious freelancers.
- You want a supplier outside ArtlistStoryblocks is independent, which matters if you're deliberately diversifying away from one company's catalogue.
Neither platform is objectively better — they're optimised for different production styles. Motion Array at ~$20.83/month effective annual is roughly $6/month more than Storyblocks' promotional rate, but potentially saves considerably more than that on template and plugin subscriptions you'd otherwise need elsewhere. Storyblocks at ~$180/year promotional is the cheaper footage library outright, provided you already have your editing toolkit sorted and you catch the promotion. For many editors the realistic answer is that neither fully replaces the other — some teams run both, using Storyblocks as the primary footage source and Motion Array for templates, presets, and AI voiceover, which comes to roughly $430/year combined. If budget allows only one, match the platform to your actual bottleneck: footage variety points to Storyblocks, tooling and templates point to Motion Array.
Motion Array Vs Storyblocks — Common Questions
Motion Array vs Storyblocks — which is better?
Neither is objectively better; they're built for different jobs. Storyblocks wins if your priority is the deepest stock video and audio library at the lowest entry price and you already have your editing toolkit sorted. Motion Array wins if you regularly use After Effects or Premiere templates, presets and plugins, since bundling those replaces separate subscriptions. The decision reduces to one question: are you buying assets, or a toolkit?
How much cheaper is Storyblocks than Motion Array?
At promotional annual rates, Storyblocks runs about $180/year against Motion Array's $249.99 for the Everything Plan — a difference of roughly $70/year, or about $6/month. That gap narrows or reverses if you'd otherwise pay separately for template marketplaces, plugins, or a text-to-speech subscription, since Motion Array bundles all three. Outside promotional windows Storyblocks lists considerably higher, so the gap depends heavily on when you subscribe.
What does Motion Array include that Storyblocks doesn't?
Four things carry most of the weight. Templates and presets across After Effects, Premiere Pro, MOGRT, Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Exclusive Premiere Pro plugins available only to subscribers. A bundled AI voiceover tool that removes the need for a separate text-to-speech subscription. And 250GB of included storage for project files. Storyblocks does include After Effects templates, but the toolkit around them is far narrower.
What does Storyblocks do better than Motion Array?
Depth of stock footage at a lower entry price. Storyblocks concentrates almost entirely on video — HD and 4K footage, motion backgrounds, production music, sound effects — rather than spreading across templates and tools. It has also built institutional credibility serving broadcasters and more than 100,000 clients, which matters for agency and broadcast-facing work. If footage variety is your bottleneck rather than tooling, Storyblocks is the better buy.
Who owns Motion Array and Storyblocks?
Artlist owns Motion Array, having acquired it in a deal that closed in November 2020, and Artlist also owns the stock footage platform Artgrid. Storyblocks is independent of both Artlist and Envato. This matters if you're switching between platforms to escape a particular company's pricing decisions — moving from Motion Array to Artlist or Artgrid keeps you inside the same corporate family, whereas Storyblocks is a genuine change of supplier.
Can I use both Motion Array and Storyblocks?
Many teams do, and for some workflows it's the rational answer. A common setup uses Storyblocks as the primary footage source and Motion Array for templates, presets and AI voiceover, treating them as complementary rather than competing. At combined promotional rates that runs roughly $430/year. If budget allows only one, match the platform to your actual bottleneck: footage variety points to Storyblocks, tooling and templates point to Motion Array.
Are the licences different between the two?
Both offer simple, broad commercial licences, and for most creator and small-agency work either is sufficient. Motion Array's licence covers broadcast, film, streaming and near all mediums. Storyblocks grants unlimited use for projects created during the subscription period. The practical difference is narrow, but read the current terms directly if your work involves broadcast distribution, resale of templates, or client deliverables where indemnification matters.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — from both platforms compared here. Neither paid for placement or reviewed this article before publication, and the recommendation genuinely splits by use case rather than by commission rate.
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