Pond5 review: what it is, pricing and who it's for
Royalty-free stock video, music, sound effects and images, sold per item, in credit packs or by subscription.
In short: Royalty-free stock video, music, sound effects and images, sold per item, in credit packs or by subscription. Starting price: Music subscription from €15/month (new-user offer). Free plan / trial: No trial listed; free media collection available. Best for: Video editors, YouTubers and filmmakers.
What is Pond5?
Pond5 is a stock media marketplace, now part of Shutterstock, with over 190 million assets including HD and 4K video, music tracks, sound effects, photos and After Effects templates. Everything comes with a royalty-free license you can use worldwide.
You can buy single assets, prepay with credit packs that add bonus credit, or subscribe for a set number of downloads each month. Subscriptions cover music, music plus sound effects, or a Footage Plus plan that includes video.
Key features
- 190M+ assets across video, music, sound effects, photos and templates.
- Royalty-free license for use on YouTube, TV, ads, podcasts and more.
- Pay per asset with no commitment.
- Credit packs with up to 20% bonus credit, valid for a year.
- Music and Music & SFX subscriptions with monthly downloads.
- Footage Plus plan with 10 downloads a month including video.
- Unused subscription downloads roll over.
- Editorial, archival and exclusive collections.
Plans and pricing
| Plan | Price / limit | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Music | €15/month (offer; normally €30) | Monthly downloads of 2.5M music tracks |
| Music & SFX | €20/month (offer; normally €35) | Music plus 2.8M sound effects |
| Footage Plus | €210/month or €1,045/year | 10 downloads/month incl. 4.2M HD & 4K videos, music, SFX, images |
| Credit packs | €250 to €2,500 | Bonus credit of €25 to €500, use on any asset, valid 1 year |
| Pay per asset | Video from €41, music from €4 | Single purchases, no commitment |
Prices shown in EUR on 14 Nov 2026; music subscription prices are limited-time new-user offers and yearly billing is cheaper than monthly.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very large video and music library.
- Flexible buying: single items, packs or subscriptions.
- Simple worldwide royalty-free license.
- Unused subscription downloads roll over.
Cons
- Single stock video clips are expensive compared with music.
- Footage Plus subscription is costly and limited to 10 downloads a month.
- Cheap music prices are intro offers for new users.
- Credit packs expire after one year.
Who it's for
Pond5 fits video creators who need footage, music and sound effects from one source. If you only need photos, a cheaper image-only library may be better value.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pond5?
Pond5 is a stock media marketplace, now part of Shutterstock, with over 190 million assets including HD and 4K video, music tracks, sound effects, photos and After Effects templates. Everything comes with a royalty-free license you can use worldwide.
How much does Pond5 cost?
Pond5 starts at Music subscription from €15/month (new-user offer). Prices shown in EUR on 14 Nov 2026; music subscription prices are limited-time new-user offers and yearly billing is cheaper than monthly.
Does Pond5 have a free plan or free trial?
No trial listed; free media collection available.
Who is Pond5 best for?
Pond5 fits video creators who need footage, music and sound effects from one source. If you only need photos, a cheaper image-only library may be better value.
What are the downsides of Pond5?
Main drawbacks: Single stock video clips are expensive compared with music. Footage Plus subscription is costly and limited to 10 downloads a month. Cheap music prices are intro offers for new users. Credit packs expire after one year.
What are some alternatives to Pond5?
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This summary is based on Pond5's official website, pricing page and public documentation as of November 14, 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm the details on the official site. Some links on this site may be affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure.