Artgrid v Pond 5. The Battle For Stock Footage.
Which catalog boasts the best bang for you buck.
As you all are well aware, 2020 has been a rollercoaster year for global businesses and industries of all shapes and sizes. Working safely in the age of coronavirus has certainly been a daunting and difficult task.
Filmmakers and video content creators alike have been hit especially hard as much of their work requires orchestrating shoots which place crew members in direct contact at times with their colleagues.
So how can one remain both creative and safe within the comforts of their home studio?
The answer lies in stock footage.
In this article, we’ll be breaking down the benefits of incorporating stock footage into your commercial and film projects as well as which platforms boast the best catalogs and worth the license.
Note: In this article I will be reviewing the experiences one can expect to have as a customer rather than a contributing filmmaker to either service provider mentioned herein.
Stock Footage (…the Basics)
To be honest, I never really gave much thought to stock footage.
Prior to the pandemic, I hardly ever shot commercials and was only interested in capturing the organic in-field footage which drove my narratives.
It wasn’t until quarantine however, did I begin developing a clearer understanding of how stock footage could not only; 1) Add value and range to my budding film portfolio but 2) Allow me and fellow creators alike the access to high quality imagery during a lack of ‘in-field’ shooting opportunities.
But before we continue, let’s address a few frequently asked questions:
What is Stock footage?
Stock footage can be best described as a collection of purchased and/or licensed content made available to third party consumers via the companies we’re going to talk about in this article.
How does it work?
Through the subscription of a monthly or annual licensing agreement are filmmakers granted access to a particular catalog for use over a specified period of time.
Benefits?
The benefits to owning a license to the right stock footage catalog can be determined by assessing your own particular needs as a filmmaker and this typically varies between content creators.
In my view, owning a license to the right catalog can only benefit video content creators by providing additional creative outlets utilizing highly curated content.
Artgrid v Pond 5
Now that we’ve covered the basics on stock footage and it’s usage, it’s time to compare two of the major players in today’s marketplace in order to determine which catalog boasts the best selection.
Artgrid
It would be difficult to talk about Artgrid without mentioning its parent company, Artlist;
The Israeli-based tech company, having established itself as a major player in the arena of digial assest offerings, became an industry-leading provider of a full suite of high-quality, royalty-free licensed music, stock video clips, and sound effects for digital creative industries when launched in 2016.
Artgrid was introduced shortly following an announcement on June 29, 2020 that it had managed to raise $48M in a financing round led by global VC firms KKR and Elephant Partners.
“The investment allows us to accelerate growth and product development, and quickly add new content that is aimed to be the top tier of digital stock in the world.”
- Ira Belsky, Artlist co-CEO and co-founder
Fun Fact: Over the course of the last year, YouTube has been the company’s fastest growing segment.
By offering direct and unlimited access to its entire catalogue of music, sound effects, and footage for a single annual subscription fee, Artgid lets content creators focus on their creativity and production.
Pricing
Artgrid runs an annual 3-tier subscription model with premium plans starting at $24.92/month ($299 billed annually) for their Junior HD plan, up to $49.92/month ($599 billed annually) for their top Pro RAW/LOG plan.
Their most popular plan, the Creator 4K+ is $39.92/month ($479 billed annually).
As you’ve probably noticed, the plans vary by content resolution yet more or less consist of the same perks. What’s more is that an Artgrid offers lifetime use on all its content with the purchase of any plan.
Pond 5
Having launched in March 2006, Pond 5 has enjoyed a particularly warm reception from investors and clientele alike during its rise to not only becoming a market leader but the “world’s largest video marketplace.”
Following initial seed funding and an angel grant of $500k, the company has steadily matured over the years, currently boasting offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Prague and Dublin.
One thing that sets Pond 5 apart is their diverse selection of digital assets which go beyond stock footage and music. From sound effects to 3D models, animations and archival footage, the curators at Pond 5 have built and impressive library of digital offerings which can be purposed for a variety of uses.
Pricing
Pond 5 differs from most digital asset offerings as there are no obligatory subscription plans. Yes, you have the available option of a monthly or annual subscription with prices fixed at $199 and $999, respectfully.
But you’re more than welcome to pay as you go or pre-fund your existing account and receive up to $500 in bonus credits, with prices starting as low as $25 per clip.
Editor’s Choice
Having already licensed more than 20 million digital assets over the past 4 years, Artgrid x Artlist will be adding tens of thousands of new and original digital stock assets to its platforms in the coming months. Making their membership offers that much attractive moving forward, especially given the quality of the clips they catalog and provide.
However, very few companies can compare with the selection and value currently provided by the creative team over at Pond 5.
Add to that, the accessibility one is afforded to all of this content without having to commit to annual subscription plans.
For this reason, I would most likely choose to do business with Pond 5 over Artgrid for their flexible pricing and attractive selection. Although, I will certainly be keeping an eye on the filmmakers over at Artgrid for their incredibly poetic imagery and budding catalog.
Hi Everyone! Thanks for reading as always — As more and more companies arrive on the scene offering curated libraries of stock footage, I’m sure there’ll be more comparisons to come, so stay tuned!
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