8 Best Free Stock Video Sites for Social Media (2026)
Creating scroll-stopping content for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube requires compelling video. Discover the 8 best websites for high-quality, free stock videos.
Creating scroll-stopping content for today’s social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, requires compelling video. In most cases, creating everything from scratch isn’t realistic, and that’s where high-quality stock footage comes in. The challenge? The cost for footage at the leading stock marketplaces adds up fast and is out of reach for many creators.
This guide is written for marketing teams and creators in the US, UK, Australia & Europe who need reliable, royalty-free video sources. We tested 15+ platforms and ranked these 8 based on quality, licensing clarity, and 4K availability.
💡 Pro tip: Once you've found your stock footage, use a social media scheduler to publish across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube simultaneously.
1. Vecteezy
Vecteezy earns the top spot for social media creators who need both quality and peace of mind. The platform offers a very large selection of free stock videos alongside photos, vectors, and other creative assets. Not all of Vecteezy’s content is free (some requires a Pro subscription), but you can use a search filter to see only the free options.
Where Vecteezy stands out from other free video sites is user protection. Unlike most free platforms, Vecteezy vets every contributor before they can upload content, helping prevent fraud and copyright issues. The platform requires signed model and property releases for all content, including free videos, ensuring that everyone appearing in or owning property shown in footage has given proper consent. Videos containing brand logos or trademarks are clearly marked for editorial use only, protecting creators from potential legal complications.
With a free Vecteezy account, you can download license documentation for any video you use, providing proof of permission for your records. Most free sites skip these steps and user protections.
Key Points:
- Large collection of free videos available (with attribution required for free users)
- Signed model and property releases provide peace of mind
- Contributors are vetted before uploading content
- Videos with logos clearly marked for editorial use
- Downloadable license documentation for all content
- Extensive search filters for quick discovery
- HD and 4K resolution options available
2. Mixkit
Mixkit is a favorite among content creators for its curated collection of high-quality footage. Created by Envato, the platform offers over 45,000 free stock videos, from lifestyle and business to nature and technology.
Mixkit focuses on carefully selected clips that feel cinematic and professionally shot. You'll find everything from dynamic slow-motion sequences to atmospheric time-lapses, all available in HD and 4K resolutions.
One of Mixkit's biggest advantages is its straightforward licensing. Videos under the Mixkit Free License can be used in both commercial and non-commercial projects without attribution. The platform also offers vertical format videos specifically designed for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
Beyond videos, Mixkit provides free music tracks, sound effects, and video templates for editing software like Premiere Pro and After Effects, making it a comprehensive resource for social media creators.
Key Points:
- Over 45,000 curated stock videos available for free
- HD and 4K resolution options
- No attribution required under Mixkit Free License
- Also offers free music, sound effects, and templates
- Some content under restricted license (non-commercial only)
3. Pexels
Pexels has established itself as one of the most popular destinations for free stock content, offering both photos and videos. Acquired by Canva in 2019, the platform features modern, high-quality footage contributed by creators worldwide.
The video collection on Pexels is strong for lifestyle, nature, and contemporary urban scenes. You'll find clean, well-composed shots that work perfectly for social media content across platforms. Videos are available in multiple resolutions, including 4K, and can be downloaded without creating an account.
The Pexels license is straightforward: all content is free for personal and commercial use with no attribution required. This makes it ideal for fast-paced social media workflows where you need to grab footage and go. The platform's integration with Canva also allows you to edit videos directly in Canva's browser-based editor.
Key Points:
- Large library of free stock videos
- HD and 4K resolution available
- No attribution required
- Integration with Canva for editing
- Good selection of vertical format videos
4. Pixabay
Pixabay has been a staple in the free stock content space since 2010, offering one of the largest collections available. The platform provides millions of videos, photos, illustrations, music, and sound effects, all free to use under the Pixabay License.
For social media creators, Pixabay's video library covers virtually every category imaginable. Videos are available in HD and 4K, with no attribution requirements.
The platform's diversity is both a strength and a weakness. While you'll find some exceptional footage, quality is a bit inconsistent. You may need to spend more time sorting through results to find clips that meet professional standards, compared to the sites ranked higher on this list.
Like Pexels, Pixabay was also acquired by Canva in 2019, and it offers integration with Canva's editing tools.
Key Points:
- One of the largest free video collections available
- HD and 4K resolution options
- No attribution required
- Integration with Canva editor
- Also offers music and sound effects
- Inconsistent quality due to open contributor model
5. Coverr
Coverr is different from any of the other platforms on this list. While it does offer some free video downloads, it has become very AI-focused. Some, but not all, of the free videos are AI generated. Coverr also includes generative AI tools that allow you to create videos or recreate existing videos with AI.
In addition to the free content, Coverr also includes premium content that requires a subscription. The subscription also provides access to tools in the AI Studio.
While the other sites listed above may be more ideal for traditional stock footage, Coverr stands out for those who want to work with AI for content creation. If you're interested in AI-generated content, check out our AI Content Generator for creating original videos and images.
Key Points:
- Curated collection of footage
- HD and 4K resolution available
- Mix of free and premium content
- Short clips perfect for social media
- AI video generation tools available
- Smaller library compared to other platforms
6. Motion Elements
Motion Elements is a stock marketplace that offers more than 8,000 free video clips. Like Vecteezy, Motion Elements offers a search filter that makes it easy to find just the free content.
The free stock footage section includes a range of categories suitable for social media content, from dynamic motion graphics and animations to live-action footage. You'll find everything from quick transitions and effects to longer-form clips that can anchor your social content.
Creating a free account is required to download content, and you'll need to review the specific license terms for each free asset. Some free content requires attribution while other clips do not.
Key Points:
- Thousands of free videos, in addition to premium content
- Mix of live-action and motion graphics
- Also offers free music, sound effects, and templates
- Robust search and filtering system
- Free account required for downloads
- License terms vary by asset (check each download)
7. PikWizard
PikWizard offers a growing collection of over one million free images and videos. The video library includes quality clips across categories like business, lifestyle, fitness, nature, and travel.
The platform's interface is clean and intuitive, with straightforward navigation, and the download process is quick and simple. The PikWizard license allows for both personal and commercial use without attribution.
Key Points:
- Over one million free images and videos
- HD and 4K resolution available
- Free for personal and commercial use
- Attribution is encouraged but not required
8. Dareful
Dareful is unique because all footage on the platform was shot by Joel Holland, the founder of VideoBlocks (now Storyblocks). This gives the collection a consistent quality and artistic vision that's rare among free resources. The downside is that the collection is much smaller than most of the other sites on this list.
The platform specializes in scenic and nature-based 4K footage, including breathtaking aerial shots, time-lapses, and atmospheric scenes. If you're creating social content that needs beautiful establishing shots or calming nature footage, Dareful is an excellent resource. The collection includes categories like mountains, forests, oceans, clouds, sunrises, and seasonal content.
The footage is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, meaning you can use it in personal and commercial projects as long as you provide attribution.
Key Points:
- All footage shot in 4K resolution
- Consistent quality from single creator
- Specializes in nature and aerial footage
- Beautiful, cinematic visuals
- Free for personal and commercial use
- Attribution required (Creative Commons 4.0)
- Smaller library focused on specific aesthetic
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Social Media Content
Each of these platforms offers unique advantages for social media creators. Vecteezy provides the best combination of selection and legal protection, making it ideal for creators who need both volume and peace of mind. Mixkit excels in curated, high-quality content that's ready to use immediately. Pexels and Pixabay offer massive libraries with no attribution requirements, perfect for high-volume content creation.
Dareful is ideal for nature and aerial footage. Motion Elements is great for motion graphics and effects. PikWizard offers a solid middle ground with a large collection and straightforward licensing.
The key is understanding your specific needs: Do you need legal protections like model releases? Are you creating high-volume content that requires fast turnaround? Do you need specialized footage like travel or nature scenes? By matching your requirements to each platform's strengths, you can build an efficient workflow that keeps your social channels stocked with great content.
Of course, you can also use a combination of these sites to meet your needs. The abundance of free options means you're never limited to a single source, giving you the creative flexibility to produce professional social media content on any budget.
What to Do After You Find Your Videos
Once you've downloaded your stock footage, you'll need to get it in front of your audience. Here's how to maximize your workflow:
Schedule to multiple platforms at once — Use a TikTok scheduler, Instagram scheduler, or YouTube scheduler to publish your video content without switching between apps.
Plan your content calendar — A visual content calendar helps you see your entire posting schedule at a glance and avoid gaps in your content strategy.
Generate AI visuals — Combine stock footage with AI-generated images to create unique thumbnails and graphics.
Compare your options — If you're looking for a tool that handles scheduling, analytics, and AI content, check out our comparison guides to see how PostEverywhere stacks up against alternatives like Hootsuite and Buffer.
Ready to streamline your social media video strategy? Try PostEverywhere for free and start scheduling your video content across all platforms in seconds.
Jamie Partridge
Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere
Jamie Partridge is the Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere. He writes about social media strategy, publishing workflows, and analytics that help brands grow faster with less effort.