Envato Elements Review: Best Features, Drawbacks, and Top Alternatives

Ever found yourself stuck searching for the perfect design asset or template? Envato Elements might just be your creative lifesaver. With a subscription, you get unlimited access to a massive library of digital assets, including graphics, templates, fonts, and more. It’s like having a treasure trove of creative resources at your fingertips.

seriosity featured image

Imagine creating stunning projects without worrying about running out of options or breaking the bank. Whether you’re a designer, marketer, or content creator, Envato Elements offers something for everyone. Let’s dive into what makes this platform a game-changer for your creative needs.

Key Takeaways

  • Unlimited Access to Assets: Envato Elements offers a subscription-based service providing unlimited downloads of high-quality digital assets, including graphics, templates, fonts, and more.
  • Affordable Pricing: The platform is cost-effective with monthly and annual subscription options, making it accessible for entrepreneurs, side-hustlers, and small business owners.
  • Extensive Variety and Quality: Envato Elements stands out for its diverse range of assets. It includes stock photos, presentation templates, web templates, and music files, consistently maintaining high quality.
  • Ease of Use: The user-friendly interface and advanced search functionality simplify navigation and asset discovery, making it easy to enhance creative projects efficiently.
  • Commercial Licensing: All assets come with a commercial license, ensuring you can confidently use them in monetized projects without legal complications.
  • Pros and Cons: While offering excellent value and variety for heavy users, potential drawbacks include the inability to purchase individual assets and occasional quality variations.

What Is Envato Elements?

For any entrepreneur diving into creative projects, Envato Elements offers incredible resources. With a subscription, access a multitude of high-quality digital assets without breaking the bank.

Overview of the Platform

Envato Elements is a comprehensive digital asset platform for creatives. It provides unlimited downloads of assets like stock photos, graphics, and templates. As someone running your own online business or experimenting with side hustles, this service can save time and money. Assets include presentations, web templates, and even music files.

Key Features and Offerings

Here’s what makes Envato Elements invaluable:

  • Unlimited Downloads: Download as many assets as you need for your projects.
  • Diverse Assets: Choose from graphics, templates, fonts, and stock photos, among others.
  • Commercial License: Use assets in commercial projects without hassle, crucial if you’re monetizing your endeavors.
  • Regular Updates: Stay ahead with continuously refreshed content, ensuring access to the latest trends and tools.

Using Envato Elements can streamline your creative process, making it easier to launch, run, and grow your online business or side hustle.

Accessing Envato Elements

Accessing Envato Elements can transform your creative workflow by providing a rich repository of assets. It’s straightforward and designed with creatives and business enthusiasts in mind.

How to Subscribe

Subscribing to Envato Elements simplifies your access to their vast collection of digital assets. Visit the Envato Elements website. Click “Join Now” to start the registration process. Enter your email address and create a password. Choose your billing cycle (monthly or annually). Provide payment details to complete the subscription. Once subscribed, you can download and utilize all available assets immediately, enhancing your projects with high-quality resources.

Cost and Pricing Model

The Envato Elements pricing model is designed to be accessible. The monthly plan costs $33 per month; the annual plan costs $198, breaking down to $16.50 per month. This model includes unlimited downloads of assets like stock photos, templates, and graphics. This price covers the licensing for commercial use, making it suitable for entrepreneurs and side-hustlers looking to monetize their work. Discounts are occasionally available for students and educational institutions.

PlanCostCost Breakdown
Monthly$33/monthBilled monthly
Annual$198/year$16.50/month (billed annually)

The assets available can often cost more individually on other platforms, making Envato Elements an excellent investment for those regularly creating and needing diverse, high-quality resources.


This section flows directly from the previous content, focusing on how to get started with Envato Elements and understanding the pricing model. It continues to emphasize the value proposition for entrepreneurs and side-hustlers.

Content Quality and Variety

As an entrepreneur, you’re always looking for ways to elevate your business’s visual and digital presence. Envato Elements stands out because of its exceptional content quality and variety, helping you achieve that.

Categories of Assets Available

Envato Elements offers numerous asset categories, crucial for your varied business needs:

  • Graphics (icons, logos): Ideal for branding your startup.
  • Templates (website, presentation): Enhance your pitches and online storefronts.
  • Fonts (handwritten, sans-serif): Give your marketing materials a professional touch.
  • Stock Photos (lifestyle, business): Support your content marketing strategies.
  • Videos (footage, motion graphics): Perfect for engaging social media posts.

Comparing Quality Across Different Asset Types

The quality of Envato Elements’ assets consistently impresses. Graphic assets maintain high resolution across scales, ensuring sharp visuals. Templates provide extensive customization options, enabling you to tailor them to specific branding guidelines. Fonts offer diverse stylistic options suitable for any context, from casual blogs to corporate reports. Stock photos boast professional editing, capturing various themes accurately. Videos provide HD and 4K options, aligning with modern content standards.

By leveraging these assets, your business can produce polished, professional content that stands out, whether for advertising, marketing, or client presentations.

User Experience and Interface

Navigating through Envato Elements is a breeze, which makes it a standout tool for busy entrepreneurs.

Navigation and Search Functionality

The platform design prioritizes ease of use. Categories like graphics, stock photos, templates, and fonts are laid out clearly, allowing you to find what you need quickly. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, type keywords into the search bar for instant results. Advanced filters further refine your search by asset type, orientation, color, and more. Navigating between different categories and assets feels intuitive, reducing the time you spend on mundane searches. For example, if you’re working on a startup presentation, you can swiftly locate business-themed templates and professional graphics.

Downloading and Using Assets

Once you find your desired assets, downloading them is straightforward. Each asset comes with clear usage rights, ensuring you know exactly how you can utilize them in your projects. Click the download button, and the asset is ready for use in seconds. Whether you’re a startup owner creating marketing materials or a side-hustler developing a personal brand, you’ll appreciate the speed and efficiency this platform offers. The seamless integration into commonly used software like Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office means you spend less time on the technicalities and more time on your business goals.

Pros and Cons of Envato Elements

Envato Elements stands out for its vast library and user-friendly experience, perfect for entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts.

Advantages for Different User Types

Envato Elements offers several advantages for various user groups:

  1. Entrepreneurs and Startups
    Entrepreneurs, especially those running startups, gain from the affordability of Envato Elements. Access thousands of assets for a single subscription fee, a cost-effective alternative to purchasing individual items. This helps maintain tight budgets while broadening creative resources.
  2. Side-Hustlers
    For those juggling multiple side-hustles, the platform’s vast library is a game-changer. Find graphics, templates, and videos quickly, minimizing the time spent searching for resources. Use these assets to create professional-grade projects, propelling your side-hustles to success.
  3. Online Business Owners
    Online business owners benefit from the variety of templates and graphics. Improve your website’s aesthetic, enhance social media presence, and create marketing materials efficiently. Save time and streamline content creation, giving you more bandwidth to focus on scaling your business.

Limitations and Considerations

Despite its benefits, Envato Elements has some limitations and considerations:

  1. No Individual Purchases
    Users cannot purchase individual items. This is ideal for heavy users needing constant access to new assets but may not be cost-effective for those needing only a few items.
  2. Asset Quality Variation
    While most assets are high quality, some items may not meet your expectations. This inconsistency means extra time evaluating assets, impacting quick project turnarounds.
  3. License Type
    The licensing is broad, covering various uses, but ensure you check each asset’s specific usage rights. Misunderstanding these rights can lead to legal complications, especially for commercial projects.
  4. Limited Unique Assets
    Some assets might be widely used by others. If originality is crucial, consider custom designs for unique branding.

These pros and cons cater to different user types, from startups to side-hustles. Investing time in understanding how Envato Elements fits your needs enhances effectiveness and maximizes resources.

Alternatives to Envato Elements

When exploring design assets for your online business, there are several strong alternatives to Envato Elements. These platforms offer distinct features that might better suit your needs.

Similar Platforms and Their Offerings

Shutterstock: Known for its extensive library, Shutterstock provides millions of high-quality images, vectors, videos, and music tracks. It’s popular among entrepreneurs who require a wide variety of media assets. Flexible pricing plans include options for single downloads or subscription models.

Adobe Stock: Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock offers seamless access to its assets directly within Adobe software. This platform specializes in high-quality images, videos, and templates. It’s ideal if you’re already using Adobe products for your business projects.

Canva Pro: Known for its ease of use, Canva Pro provides a comprehensive set of design tools and templates. Entrepreneurs can create professional-quality graphics without advanced design skills. Its collaborative features are perfect for teams.

Freepik: Freepik offers a large collection of free and premium graphic resources, including vectors, photos, and PSD files. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with a variety of design assets.

FeatureEnvato ElementsShutterstockAdobe StockCanva ProFreepik
Price ModelSubscriptionPay-per-download, SubscriptionSubscription, Pay-per-imageSubscriptionFree, Pay-per-file
Library SizeExtensiveMillions of assetsHigh-quality, ExtensiveModerateLarge
Unique OfferingUnlimited DownloadsDiverse Image LibraryAdobe IntegrationEasy Design ToolsFree Resources
IntegrationBroad Software CompatibilityLimited integrationsAdobe Creative CloudWeb-basedLimited

Customization: Envato Elements offers unlimited downloads, which provide value if you need many assets each month. Shutterstock’s diverse image library suits users who need image-centric assets. Adobe Stock’s deep integration with Adobe tools benefits creative workflows already tied to Adobe software. Canva Pro’s user-friendly design interface is great if you lack advanced design skills. Freepik’s combination of free and premium resources is useful for budget-conscious entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

Choosing the right creative resource platform depends on your specific needs and budget. Envato Elements stands out with its unlimited downloads and diverse content, making it a fantastic option for many users. However, it’s important to consider the strengths of other platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Canva Pro, and Freepik.

Whether you prioritize seamless integration, extensive image libraries, or budget-friendly options, there’s a solution out there for you. Take the time to explore each platform and see which one aligns best with your creative projects and business goals. Happy creating!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Envato Elements a good choice for content?

Envato Elements is praised for its high-quality content, a variety of assets, user-friendly design, and affordability. It offers unlimited downloads for a wide range of digital assets, making it a great choice for entrepreneurs and online business owners.

Are there any downsides to using Envato Elements?

Yes, a few. You cannot purchase individual items, and there’s some variability in the asset quality. However, the vast library and unlimited download option often outweigh these limitations.

What are some alternatives to Envato Elements?

Some popular alternatives include Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Canva Pro, and Freepik. Each of these platforms offers unique features and caters to different needs.

How does Shutterstock compare to Envato Elements?

Shutterstock is known for its vast and diverse image library. Unlike Envato Elements, you can purchase individual images. It is ideal for users needing a wide range of high-quality images.

What is unique about Adobe Stock?

Adobe Stock integrates seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, making it perfect for users who already use Adobe tools. It offers high-quality assets and a flexible pricing model.

Why choose Canva Pro over Envato Elements?

Canva Pro provides easy-to-use design tools and templates, making it ideal for quick and professional designs. It’s especially useful for those who may not have advanced design skills.

Is Freepik a good alternative for budget-conscious users?

Yes, Freepik offers a mix of free and premium resources, making it a great option for users on a budget. It’s a reliable source for vectors, photos, and PSD files.

Can I download unlimited assets with these alternatives?

Only Envato Elements and Canva Pro offer unlimited downloads with their subscription plans. Platforms like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock typically charge per asset or offer limited downloads.