StoryBlocks
Storyblocks is a subscription-based stock media platform offering unlimited downloads of human-made video, audio, templates, and images to content creators, small businesses, and enterprises, distributed via its website, Adobe plugin, and AI-powered creative tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What StoryBlocks does
Storyblocks, operated by Footage Firm, Inc. and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is a subscription-based stock media platform founded in 2009 that offers unlimited downloads of human-made video footage, audio (music and sound effects), motion-graphics templates, and images to content creators, YouTubers, small businesses, agencies, and enterprise teams. The platform's catalog exceeds 6 million assets with new content added daily, and it operates a strict no-AI-content policy for its core library while differentiating through curated diversity via the Re:Stock initiative (25+ collections featuring BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, and women creators) and an exclusive Storyblocks Label music catalog of 1,800 tracks distributed across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
The technical architecture is a cloud-based media platform hosted on AWS (us-east-1, multi-AZ) with native plugin integrations for Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects and a browser-based Maker video editor. In November 2025, Storyblocks expanded its AI Toolkit to include conversational search powered by Anthropic Claude, AI voiceover and voice cloning via ElevenLabs, and AI video editing via Runway's Aleph model — all delivered under a credit-based consumption layer on top of fixed subscriptions.
The business model is predominantly recurring subscription revenue (Individual, Small Business, and Business tiers priced from $1.49 to $29.99/month) with usage-based AI credits renewing on 30-day cycles, supplemented by enterprise Storyblocks for Business subscriptions (SSO/SAML, team management), a public API for programmatic access, and Data Licensing for commercial use of metadata and assets. Go-to-market is hybrid: product-led growth for individuals and SMBs via storyblocks.com, enterprise field sales for larger organizations, and channel partnerships through Adobe, social platforms, and music streamers. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional ownership or subsidiaries and has raised approximately $18.5M across a 2012 Series A led by Updata Partners (with QED Investors) and a 2015 round from North Atlantic Capital.
StoryBlocks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- StoryBlocks
- Legal name
- Footage Firm, Inc.
- Website
- https://www.storyblocks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Storyblocks is a subscription-based stock media platform offering unlimited downloads of human-made video, audio, templates, and images to content creators, small businesses, and enterprises, distributed via its website, Adobe plugin, and AI-powered creative tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
StoryBlocks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stock Media Subscription
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Footage & Stock Media Licensing (Archival/Newsreel/Stock) (MPADALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Stock Media, Asset Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms (BPAMAJAM)
Keywords
Where StoryBlocks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
StoryBlocks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans: Core revenue stream from subscription plans offering unlimited downloads of stock media content including video, templates, audio, and images. Plans include AI toolkit access with credit-based usage.
- License Tiers: Multiple license tiers (Individual, Small Business, Business) providing different usage rights and commercial clearance levels for subscribers.
- Storyblocks for Business: Enterprise team subscriptions with SSO, team management, and dedicated customer success for larger organizations.
- API Access: Data licensing and API access for enterprise customers requiring programmatic integration with the Storyblocks content library.
- AI Toolkit Credits: Credit-based consumption system for AI features including video editing, voiceover, and voice cloning with tiered allocation based on subscription level.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Entry-level subscription tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard subscription with core features |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium subscription tier |
| Usage-based | Monthly | AI Credit Upgrade Options |
| Usage-based | Monthly | 30-Day AI Credit Cycle |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Maker Version |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
StoryBlocks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Storyblocks operates a subscription-based stock media platform offering unlimited downloads of human-made video footage, audio (music and sound effects), motion graphics templates, and images. The platform is complemented by AI-powered creative tools including AI Voiceover by ElevenLabs, AI Video Editing by Runway, and conversational search powered by Anthropic Claude, along with a browser-based video editor (Maker) and Adobe Creative Cloud plugin integration.
Product overview
Storyblocks operates as an all-in-one stock media subscription platform offering unlimited downloads of video footage, audio (music and sound effects), templates, and images through a unified subscription model. The platform's core offering is the Storyblocks Subscription, complemented by the AI Toolkit (featuring AI Voiceover by ElevenLabs, AI Video Editing by Runway, and conversational search by Anthropic Claude), the Maker browser-based video editor, and the Adobe Creative Cloud Plugin for Premiere Pro and After Effects. Specialized offerings include Re:Stock (diverse underrepresented community footage collections) and Storyblocks Label (exclusive music available across social and streaming platforms). Enterprise solutions include Storyblocks for Business with SSO and team management, the Storyblocks API for programmatic access, and Data Licensing. The platform maintains strict human-only content policy with no AI-generated assets in the library.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Storyblocks Subscription
Quantifiable outcome
- Royalty-free commercial licensing eliminates ongoing per-use fees
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use StoryBlocks
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
StoryBlocks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
StoryBlocks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- ElevenLabscoreElevenLabs provides AI voiceover technology powering Storyblocks AI Toolkit, enabling instant narration generation with authentic artist voices or core AI voices for video content creation.
- RunwaycoreRunway's Aleph model powers AI Video Editing in Storyblocks toolkit, allowing users to customize footage clips using text prompts for faster video production workflows.
- Anthropic (Claude)coreClaude AI assistant by Anthropic powers conversational search functionality in Storyblocks, enabling natural language queries for library content discovery beyond keyword-based search.
- Adobe Creative CloudcoreAdobe Creative Cloud plugin integration allows Storyblocks library access directly within Premiere Pro and After Effects, enabling browse, search, and download without leaving the editing environment.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)corePrimary cloud infrastructure provider hosting Storyblocks services across multiple availability zones in us-east-1 for platform reliability and performance.
- TikTokcoreStoryblocks Label music available directly in TikTok music library for streamlined video publishing without separate music file uploads.
- YouTubecoreStoryblocks Label music available in YouTube music library, enabling creators to add music to videos more easily.
- InstagramcoreStoryblocks Label music distributed through Instagram music library for Reels and video content creation.
- FacebookcoreStoryblocks Label music available in Facebook music library for video content publishing.
- SpotifysecondaryStoryblocks Label music available on Spotify for discovery and playlist creation.
- Apple MusicsecondaryStoryblocks Label music available on Apple Music for streaming and discovery.
- YouTube MusicsecondaryStoryblocks Label music available on YouTube Music for streaming and discovery.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
StoryBlocks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Freepik: Stock photo, vector, video, and PSD marketplace with freemium and subscription tiers. Competes with Storyblocks on stock imagery and increasingly on video, especially for SMB and creator segments.
- Motion Array: Subscription platform for video templates, stock footage, music, and After Effects/Premiere Pro assets. Directly comparable to Storyblocks' template-and-footage subscription bundle for video creators.
- Artlist: Subscription-based royalty-free music and stock footage platform focused on filmmakers and video creators. Directly comparable on unlimited music licensing model and high-quality curated libraries.
- Shutterstock: Public, large-scale stock media platform offering video, image, and audio footage via subscription and on-demand licensing. Direct competitor to Storyblocks' unlimited subscription model with a much larger library and enterprise presence.
- Pexels: Free stock photo and video platform (owned by Canva). Competes with Storyblocks on price-sensitive creator segment with a no-cost alternative; pushes Storyblocks to justify its paid unlimited value.
- Getty Images: Premium stock photo, video, and music marketplace with iStock for budget tier. Competes with Storyblocks in stock video and editorial footage for enterprise and creative professional segments.
- Pond5: Stock video, audio, and effects marketplace (now part of Shutterstock). Competes with Storyblocks on footage licensing, particularly for professional video producers and agencies.
- Artgrid: Premium stock footage subscription from the Artlist family, offering cinematic video for filmmakers and agencies. Closely comparable to Storyblocks on unlimited high-quality stock footage for video professionals.
- Adobe Stock: Stock media service bundled with Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions, providing video, image, and template assets. Directly comparable to Storyblocks on creative assets and is a structural competitor via Adobe's Premiere/After Effects installed base.
- Envato Elements: Unlimited subscription download service for stock video, audio, templates, graphics, and fonts. Closest direct peer to Storyblocks on the unlimited subscription value proposition across mixed asset categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
StoryBlocks social profiles
Digital presenceStoryBlocks compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
StoryBlocks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
StoryBlocks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
StoryBlocks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
StoryBlocks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about StoryBlocks
What does StoryBlocks do?
Storyblocks operates a subscription-based stock media platform offering unlimited downloads of human-made video footage, audio (music and sound effects), motion graphics templates, and images. The platform is complemented by AI-powered creative tools including AI Voiceover by ElevenLabs, AI Video Editing by Runway, and conversational search powered by Anthropic Claude, along with a browser-based video editor (Maker) and Adobe Creative Cloud plugin integration.
Is StoryBlocks a public or private company?
StoryBlocks is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was StoryBlocks founded?
StoryBlocks was founded in 2009. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is StoryBlocks based?
StoryBlocks is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does StoryBlocks make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans are the primary driver. The others are license Tiers, storyblocks for Business, API Access and AI Toolkit Credits.
Who are StoryBlocks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Freepik, Motion Array, Artlist, Shutterstock, Pexels, Getty Images, Pond5, Artgrid, Adobe Stock and Envato Elements.
Does StoryBlocks have an API?
Yes. Storyblocks offers a public API for business solutions and enterprise evaluations. The API supports download endpoints and allows partners to access stock content programmatically. API status is monitored via a dedicated status page (status.storyblocks.com) with incident history tracking. Enterprise inquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Developer documentation is at status.storyblocks.com.
What industry is StoryBlocks in?
StoryBlocks's product category is Stock Media Subscription. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADALAD, Footage & Stock Media Licensing (Archival/Newsreel/Stock), with a secondary code of BPAMAJAM, Stock Media, Asset Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms. Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7822.