Envato Elements and Creative Market are both great platforms for digital assets. They both offer a large library of creative assets, including graphic design elements, illustrations, templates, music & sound effects, also thousands of stock images & videos.
In this comparison, we look at the difference between these two platforms from the perspective of price, asset library, licensing and customer service. Find out which one is best for your business.
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Envato Elements vs Creative Market: Key Similarities and Differences
Although both are popular choices, the companies vary in terms of price, licensing and features.
Envato Elements operates on a subscription-based model, allowing you to access and download as many items as you need with a single license.
In contrast, Creative Market allows customers to buy a single item, with a preferred license type.
| Envato Elements | Creative Market | |
|---|---|---|
| Licenses | One commercial license | Personal, Commercial, Extended Commercial |
| Best for | Individuals, businesses, agencies, freelancers, bloggers | Graphic designers, niche content creators, creative marketers |
| What you must know | Offers unlimited downloads for a fixed monthly fee | Each item is bought separately |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Customer support | Help center, Email | Help center, Email |
What is Envato Elements
Envato Elements is a comprehensive subscription-based platform that offers an impressive library of digital assets. From stock photos, graphics, and fonts to website templates, videos, and audio tracks, Elements covers a wide spectrum of creative resources. This subscription model provides unlimited access to all these resources for a single monthly fee, making it a cost-effective choice for those who need a variety of assets regularly.
We’ve explained more about how Envato Elements works in this article.
What is Creative Market
Creative Market, on the other hand, is a marketplace that allows independent creators to sell their digital products. This platform is a treasure trove for unique and often handcrafted resources, including fonts, illustrations, templates, and more. Rather than a subscription, Creative Market operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, where users purchase individual products from various creators.
Envato Elements Pros and Cons
Pros
- Single license for all assets
- Unlimited downloads
- Cost-effective for those who require multiple assets regularly
- Offers 12 different freebies each month
Cons
- Need to register each item for the project you are going to use it for
- If you unsubscribe, you can’t use same items for different projects
Creative Market Pros and Cons
Pros
- Individual asset purchase, which is perfect for those who prefer to pay only for what they need without committing to a subscription
- Diverse marketplace, where you are more likely to find a wide range of styles and unique assets
- Bought items are yours forever
Cons
- Per-item pricing, meaning purchasing each one individually can add up and become less cost-effective
- Buying commercial licenses for assets can get expensive
Envato Elements vs Creative Market: Pricing
The main difference between the two platforms lies in pricing since they offer completely different pricing structures.
Envato Elements offers a subscription service starting at $16.5/mo with unlimited downloads.
In comparison, on Creative Market you have to pay for each asset separately. Some assets might cost even more than Envato Elements’ monthly subscription.
The platform also offers membership plans starting at $9.95/mo for the cheapest plan and $99.95/mo for the most expensive plan. Each plan provides a certain percentage of discount for all assets. Also, these plans include additional credits which can be used to purchase assets.
Envato Elements vs Creative Market: Licensing
Envato Elements provides a simple and straightforward licensing model. Under the single-use license, you can use the assets in multiple projects, but if you cancel your subscription, you lose the rights to new projects.
However, there are limitations to this license. Examples contain no on-demand selling, no broadcasting on traditional TV or radio for audio assets, and no use of items as the basis for merchandising (without editing the asset).
Creative Market’s licensing terms can vary between creators, so it’s important to review the specific terms provided by each seller for each product. Usually, you have a choice of 3-4 different licensing options for each item you are buying.
The type of license you need is depending on your project. If, for example, you will be using the asset on your private (non-commercial) social media account, then a Personal license is enough for you. For commercial purposes, you will need a Commercial license. And for large-scale projects (with 250,000 end products for sale or broadcasting for more than 500,000 viewers) you will need an Extended Commercial license.
Before you start using either platform, I would recommend taking a look at the official Envato Elements licensing information and Creative Market licensing information.
Asset Library
One thing is clear – both platforms offer very similar types of assets. The main difference lies in quality, number of assets, and the purpose of what you will be using these assets for.
In short, Envato Elements asset library is a great place for designers, marketers, and content creators. You’ll find an extensive collection of:
- High-quality stock photos and videos
- Graphic templates for presentations, social media, and more
- WordPress themes and plugins
- Web and mobile templates
- 3D assets and templates
- Music tracks and sound effects
The unlimited download model of Envato Elements gives you the freedom to explore and experiment with different styles and formats without worrying about individual costs.
Whereas Creative Market offers a boutique-style experience, emphasizing unique and diverse creations. Its asset library covers a wide range of categories:
- Handcrafted fonts and typography
- Digital illustrations and art
- Customizable templates for branding, stationery, and more
- Photoshop brushes, textures, and actions
- Crafted icons and vector graphics
Both platforms cover different needs for creative assets, so make sure to consider the type and scale of your project.
Customer Support
Envato Elements
Envato Elements has a help center that includes lots of detailed articles & guides to help you navigate the platform. For more specific questions, you can reach out to their customer support team via email.
Creative Market
Creative Market provides the same customer support options, with a help center that includes articles on all the general information. If you need more personalized assistance, you can contact their support team through email as well.
Bottom Line
Envato Elements thrives on giving buyers solutions to work faster and easier. Creative Market’s perks are more about inspiring and empowering creatives. None is better than the other, they’re convenient depending on your profile and needs.
Creative Market is considerably more expensive than Envato Elements, with a separate price for each item compared with $16.5 per month for unlimited downloads. If price is your main concern, choose Envato Elements.
However, Creative market offers broader licensing options. Depending on your needs, Envato Elements is a better choice when you need a lot of creative assets, while Creative Market is a better choice when you are looking for a single particular item.
FAQ
Does Envato Elements and Creative Market offer free trials?
No, Envato Elements and Creative Market doesn’t offer free trials.
Which is the best value for money, Envato Elements or Creative Market?
Envato Elements is more cost-effective, offering unlimited downloads for as low as $16.5 per month. Creative Market is a better choice if you need a single particular creative asset.
How reliable are these platforms?
Both of the platforms are 100% legit and reliable. Envato Elements and Creative Market have been offering digital products for many years and have lots of positive customer reviews.
