Artlist Review 2025: Complete Guide to Royalty-Free Music, Stock Footage & AI Creative Platform

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Quick Summary

Artlist is an Israeli creative technology company founded in 2016 that has evolved from a royalty-free music licensing platform into a comprehensive creative ecosystem. The platform offers music, sound effects, stock footage (up to 8K), video templates, AI tools (image/video/voiceover generation), and 50+ video editing plugins. Trusted by 30+ million creators and major brands including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Nike, and Netflix. Known for simple universal licensing with unlimited downloads and lifetime usage rights for published projects.

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Company History & Background

Origin Story

Artlist was born from the frustrations of independent filmmakers. Co-founder Ira Belsky, himself a filmmaker, recognized that music and footage licensing was a complicated, expensive process that slowed down content creators. The solution: a subscription-based platform offering unlimited downloads of royalty-free assets under a simple global license.

The company started in 2016 at Kibbutz Afikim, a rural collective village in northern Israel — an unusual birthplace for a tech company that would eventually serve 30+ million creators worldwide.

Founders

Ira Belsky — Co-Founder & Co-CEO

• Filmmaker background
• Vision: democratize access to professional creative assets
• Led expansion from music to full creative platform

Itzik Elbaz — Co-Founder & Co-CEO

• Technical leadership
• Self-described "industry disruptor"
• Drove acquisition strategy (Motion Array, FXhome)

Eyal Raz — Co-Founder

• Early strategic development

Assaf Ayalon — Co-Founder

• Business development and operations

Corporate Timeline

• 2016: Artlist founded as royalty-free music licensing platform
• 2018: First institutional funding from Elephant Partners
• 2019 (Spring): Launched Artgrid — stock footage platform
• 2020 (January): Released extensive sound effects catalog
• 2020 (June): Raised $48M Series C led by KKR
• 2020 (December): Acquired Motion Array for $65M — added templates, plugins, motion graphics
• 2021 (July): Acquired FXhome — added HitFilm video editing software and VFX tools
• 2022: Launched AI voiceover tool
• 2024-2025: Evolved into AI-driven creative ecosystem with image, video, and voiceover generation
• 2025 (April): Introduced AI video generator and AI Suite plan

Funding History

Total Raised: $48M Key Investors:

• KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) — global investment firm with tech and media expertise
• Elephant Partners — venture capital firm focused on technology companies
• CD Private Equity
• Carson Private Capital

Acquisitions

Motion Array (December 2020) — $65M

• Founded: 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia
• Founders: Tyler Williams, Eri Levin (motion designers)
• Assets: 6M+ digital assets including templates, presets, plugins, transitions, motion graphics
• World's largest Premiere Pro plugins library at time of acquisition
• Combined subscriber base: 6+ million after merger

FXhome (July 2021) — Undisclosed

• Founded: 2001 in Norwich, UK
• Products: HitFilm (video editing & VFX), Imerge Pro (image editing), CamTrackAR (mobile virtual studio)
• Users: 6.5 million at time of acquisition
• Origin: Created by indie filmmakers wanting to make Star Wars lightsaber effects

Artgrid (2019) — In-house

• Stock footage platform launched as subsidiary
• Up to 8K resolution footage
• Premium cinematography shot on high-end cameras (RED, Arri Alexa)

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Platform & Products

1. Music Library

Size: 60,000+ tracks (some sources cite 18,000-30,000 — library constantly growing) Features:

• Wide genre coverage: Film Score, Electronic, Corporate, Pop, Ambient, Hip-Hop, Rock, and more
• Mood-based browsing: Inspiring, Dark, Happy, Romantic, etc.
• Song length: Under 1 minute to 15+ minutes
• Many tracks include alternate versions (short edits, instrumental, etc.)
• Lyrics and vocal versions available for some tracks

File Formats:

• WAV 16-bit/44.1kHz (paid plans)
• MP3 320kbps

Daily Download Limit: 40 songs

2. Sound Effects Library

Size: 50,000+ sound effects Categories (25+):

• City/Urban
• Nature/Wildlife
• Technology
• Business/Office
• Weather
• Foley
• Whooshes
• Impacts
• Transitions
• And many more

Daily Download Limit: 100 SFX

3. Stock Footage (Artgrid)

Size: 180,000+ video clips Resolution: Up to 8K (highest in the industry for subscription services) Quality Features:

• Shot by professional cinematographers
• High-end cameras: RED, Arri Alexa
• RAW/LOG footage available (additional $17.93-20/month)
• Categories: Drone shots, Nature, Urban, Lifestyle, Abstract, B-roll

Daily Download Limit: 100 clips

4. Video Templates

Size: 20,000+ templates Compatibility:

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• After Effects
• Final Cut Pro
• DaVinci Resolve
• Premiere Rush

Types:

• MOGRT files (Motion Graphics Templates)
• Lower thirds
• Titles
• Transitions
• Intros/Outros
• Social media templates

Daily Download Limit: 40 templates

5. Plugins & Extensions (50+)

Acquired through Motion Array and FXhome:

Video Editing Plugins:

• Color grading tools
• Visual effects
• Transitions
• Text animations
• Audio tools

Adobe Integration:

• Premiere Pro extension (browse/download within timeline)
• After Effects integration

Software (via FXhome):

• HitFilm Pro — editing and VFX software with 800+ effects
• Ignite Pro — 500+ filters and effects for major hosts
• Imerge Pro — RAW image editing
• CamTrackAR — mobile virtual production studio (iOS)

6. AI Tools (2024-2025)

AI Image Generator:

• Text-to-image generation
• 15+ visual styles (Photorealistic, Studio Portrait, Playful 3D, etc.)
• Credit costs: 10-120 credits per image depending on style
• 4K resolution output

AI Video Generator:

• Text-to-video
• Image-to-video animation
• HD and Full HD options
• Credit costs: 600-2,400 credits per 10-second video

AI Voiceover:

• Text-to-speech generation
• Multiple languages and accents (American, British, Australian, Indian)
• Emotional tone controls
• Speed adjustment
• ~1 hour of voiceover per 5,000 credits

AI Credits System:

• Included in various plans (5,000-120,000 monthly)
• Credits shared across all AI tools
• Can add extra credit bundles

7. Artboards (AI-Powered)

Launched 2024 — intelligent mood boards for projects:

• Gather music, footage, SFX in one place
• AI suggestions based on project description
• Example: Describe "Instagram story for sustainable fashion brand" → AI suggests matching tracks, clips, sounds

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Pricing Plans 2025

Individual Plans

Add-ons:

• RAW/LOG Footage: +$17.93-20/month
• Extra AI Credits (up to 120K): +$35/month

Team Plans

For companies with under 50 employees (2-7 seats):

• Music Teams: ~$14.08/user/month
• Music & SFX Teams: ~$21.17/user/month
• Max Pro Teams: ~$33.99/user/month

Business Plans

For companies with 50+ employees, agencies, broadcasters:

• Custom pricing
• Unlimited team members
• Business license (extended usage rights)
• Music stems access
• Exclusive pre-release content
• Contact sales for quote

Important Notes

• Annual Billing: Most plans require annual payment (except Music & SFX Social and AI Suite which offer monthly)
• 2 Months Free: Annual subscribers get 14 months total
• 14-Day Refund: Available if no assets downloaded
• Lifetime License: Projects created during subscription remain licensed forever
• Post-November 2020 Change: Only subscribers before November 22, 2020 can use downloaded assets in new projects after cancellation

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Licensing Terms

License Types

Personal/Social License:

• 1 channel per social platform (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch)
• Podcasts allowed
• Non-commercial or personal monetization only
• No client work

Pro License:

• Up to 3 channels per platform
• Unlimited YouTube videos
• Client projects allowed
• Paid ads and branded content
• Broadcast TV
• Websites
• Commercial use worldwide

Business License:

• Unlimited distribution
• Multi-user account
• Covers entire organization
• Wider variety of projects
• Custom terms available

Key Licensing Features

• Universal License: One license covers all uses within your tier
• Unlimited Downloads: No monthly caps (daily limits: 40 songs, 100 SFX, 40 templates, 100 clips)
• Lifetime Usage: Projects published during subscription are covered forever
• Global Coverage: Worldwide usage rights
• No Royalties: True royalty-free — no per-use payments

Licensing Limitations

• Active Subscription Required: Only assets downloaded while subscribed can be used
• Post-Cancellation: Can continue using assets in already-published projects; cannot create new projects with downloaded assets (for subscribers after Nov 2020)
• No Resale: Cannot resell or redistribute raw assets
• No Music Libraries: Cannot create competing music libraries

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User Reviews & Reputation

Trustpilot Rating

Overall: ~4.2/5 stars (1,700+ reviews)

Positive Feedback

Common Praise:

• High-quality, curated content
• Excellent customer support (responsive, helpful)
• User-friendly interface and search filters
• Simple licensing model
• Great value for unlimited downloads
• Professional-grade footage and music
• Premiere Pro integration saves time

Representative Reviews:

"Artlist is the perfect place to find amazing tunes that will enhance any of our projects. The music library is endless and the software super friendly."

"Customer service was exceptional. They went above and beyond and made a one-time exception for me."

"Artlist AI is the best AI generator on the market, look no further!"

Negative Feedback

Reported Issues:

• Cancellation Difficulties:

"Their website provides no clear cancellation option. The bot did not assist me or process the cancellation."

• Auto-Renewal Concerns:

"They never send a monthly invoice, I didn't realize I was subscribed for over 2 years."

• AI Tool Reliability:

"Their AI has brain meltdowns and ends up just doing simple zoom-in or zoom-out clips half the time."

• Credit Refund Issues:

"Artlist on several occasions failed to generate the image, and I was deducted credits. When I asked for my lost credits to be refunded, they declined."

• Copyright Claims (Rare):

"I used their music in a video only to get a copyright claim. I can't seem to get it resolved."

• Annual Plan Inflexibility:

"There is ZERO flexibility to change your subscription plan once subscribed (upgrade = YES, downgrade = NO)."

Overall Assessment

Most reviews are positive, with customer service frequently praised. Issues tend to cluster around billing/cancellation and AI tool reliability. The platform maintains a solid reputation among professional creators.

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Competitive Analysis

Artlist vs Competitors

Key Differentiators

Artlist Advantages:

• 8K Footage — highest resolution available in subscription services
• All-in-One Platform — music, SFX, footage, templates, plugins, AI tools
• AI Creative Tools — integrated image/video/voiceover generation
• 50+ Plugins — included with Max plan
• Premiere Pro Extension — work without leaving timeline
• Simple Universal License — one license covers all uses
• Lifetime Usage — published projects covered forever
• Quality Curation — smaller but more carefully selected library

Artlist Disadvantages:

• Smaller Music Library — 60K vs Soundstripe's 120K
• Annual Billing Required — most plans need upfront annual payment
• Daily Download Limits — 40 songs, 100 SFX per day
• No Stems on Basic Plans — need Pro tier for music stems
• AI Credits System — can be confusing; unreliable at times
• Post-2020 License Change — newer subscribers lose perpetual rights

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Best Use Cases

Ideal For:

• YouTubers & Video Creators — unlimited music and footage for content
• Filmmakers — high-quality 8K footage, film score music
• Advertising Agencies — commercial licensing included in Pro plans
• Podcasters — music for intros, outros, backgrounds
• Social Media Managers — templates, quick content creation
• Corporate Video Teams — presentations, training videos
• Freelance Editors — one subscription covers client work
• Streamers — Twitch/YouTube Live background music
• Game Developers — licensed audio for games

Not Recommended For:

• Occasional Users — annual commitment may not be worth it
• Music-Only Needs on Budget — competitors may offer more tracks cheaper
• Users Needing Vocals/Lyrics — limited vocal tracks available
• Those Avoiding AI — platform increasingly AI-focused
• Short-Term Projects — annual billing required for most plans

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Technical Specifications

Audio Formats

• WAV 16-bit/44.1kHz (paid plans)
• MP3 320kbps

Video Formats

• Up to 8K resolution
• 4K standard
• RAW/LOG available (add-on)
• Various codecs supported

Platform Compatibility

• Web: artlist.io (all browsers)
• Mobile Apps: iOS, Android (Artlist app)
• Desktop Integration: Premiere Pro extension
• Supported Editing Software:

- Adobe Premiere Pro - Adobe After Effects - Final Cut Pro - DaVinci Resolve - Premiere Rush - HitFilm (via FXhome)

Download Limits

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Pros & Cons

Pros

• All-in-One Solution — music, SFX, footage, templates, plugins, AI tools
• 8K Footage — industry-leading resolution
• Simple Universal License — straightforward terms
• Lifetime Usage — published projects covered forever
• High Quality Curation — professional-grade content
• Unlimited Downloads — within daily limits
• Premiere Pro Extension — seamless workflow integration
• 50+ Plugins Included — with Max plan
• AI Creative Tools — image, video, voiceover generation
• Excellent Customer Support — responsive and helpful
• Global License — worldwide commercial use
• Mobile Apps — iOS and Android support

Cons

• Annual Billing — most plans require yearly commitment
• Daily Download Limits — 40 songs, 100 SFX
• Smaller Library — than some competitors
• No Stems on Basic Plans — Pro tier required
• Post-2020 License Change — reduced perpetual rights
• AI Tool Reliability — occasional failures, credit issues
• Cancellation Process — some users report difficulties
• Auto-Renewal — no invoice reminders reported
• Limited Vocal Music — mostly instrumental
• Plan Inflexibility — cannot easily downgrade

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Final Verdict

Rating: 4.3/5

Artlist has successfully evolved from a simple music licensing service into a comprehensive creative ecosystem that genuinely serves as a one-stop shop for video creators. The combination of music, sound effects, 8K footage, templates, plugins, and AI tools under one subscription is compelling value for active content creators. Strengths:

• The 8K footage quality is genuinely industry-leading
• Universal licensing removes legal complexity
• All-in-one approach eliminates need for multiple subscriptions
• Customer support consistently praised
• AI integration adds genuine creative value

Concerns:

• Annual billing requirement creates high barrier to entry
• Post-2020 license changes reduce perpetual usage benefits
• AI tools still maturing (reliability issues reported)
• Smaller library than volume-focused competitors

Recommendation

Use Artlist if:

• You're a professional content creator producing regular video content
• You need high-quality footage (especially 8K)
• You want one subscription to cover music, footage, templates, and tools
• You value quality curation over quantity
• You need clear, simple commercial licensing

Look elsewhere if:

• You only need music occasionally (cheaper alternatives exist)
• You need the largest possible music library (try Soundstripe)
• You prefer monthly billing flexibility
• You're on a tight budget
• You need extensive vocal/lyrics tracks

Better Alternatives by Use Case

• Largest Music Library: Soundstripe (120,000+ tracks)
• Most Assets: Envato Elements (22M+ but lower video quality)
• Music + Vocals: Epidemic Sound
• Budget Option: Motion Array (owned by Artlist, $24.99/mo for everything)
• AI Music Generation: Soundraw, Beatoven.ai, AIVA

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Quick Reference

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Review last updated: December 2025 Data sources: Official Artlist website, Crunchbase, PitchBook, Tracxn, Trustpilot, Photutorial, industry reviews