Adobe Stock vs CriticalPast
Adobe Stock
stock.adobe.comCriticalPast
criticalpast.comSide by side
| Figure | Adobe Stock | CriticalPast |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 29 | 5 |
| Spec score · Stock Video Websites | 9.1 (#2) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Founded | 1982 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California, USA | Reston, Virginia, USA |
| Security | Adobe says it uses hundreds of security processes and controls and builds security into products through its Secure Product Lifecycle. | The privacy policy says passwords are hashed, database servers are not accessible from outside the corporate network, and payment and billing data are handled by PayPal Braintree rather than stored on or transmitted by corporate servers. |
| Support | Adobe Stock plan pages provide a consultation request option for business plan inquiries. | The FAQ lists staff availability for cancellation requests as 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. |
Plans
Adobe Stock
- 10 standard assetsPriced on request
- 10 standard assetsPrice not published
- 25 standard assetsPrice not published
- 25 standard assetsPriced on request
- 40 standard assetsPrice not published
- 40 standard assetsPriced on request
- 750 standard assetsPriced on request
- 750 standard assetsPrice not published
- 3 standard assetsPriced on request
- 3 standard assetsPrice not published
CriticalPast
- Video screenerFree
- Still image — Personal use only$5, paid once
- Still image — Standard License$20, paid once
- Still image — Premium License$30, paid once
- Broadcast-ready video clip master$95, paid once
In their own words
Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is a stock library with more than 900 million images, videos, audio, templates, and other assets. Subscriptions include standard images, templates, 3D assets, and music; most plans also include HD video. AI Studio lets users edit stock images and videos before licensing and downloading them. Its tools can change colors and moods, alter image ratios, replace backgrounds, animate still images, and make text-based edits. Plans include commercial-use licensing. Adobe Stock works on the web, Android, and iOS, and provides API access. It can be used independently, or connected with Creative Cloud to preview, edit, and license assets in Photoshop before purchase. Team subscriptions pool licenses among members and are described for small to midsize businesses. Enterprise plans add configurable access, advanced administration, and deployment for midsize to large organizations. The Standard License generally limits print runs to 500,000 and excludes items for resale; larger runs or resale use require an Extended License. A seven-day trial is available, but there is no free plan. Prices for the listed plans are not provided.
CriticalPast
CriticalPast is a web archive for searching and licensing historic video clips and still images about worldwide events, people, and B-roll from the 20th century. The site describes a collection of more than 59,000 clips and 7 million stills. Search tools include filters for decade, location, color, and sound, plus advanced operators; registered users can save and share selections in multiple lightboxes. Video is licensed by the clip. Broadcast-ready, unmarked HD masters are available in ProRes or XDCAM with multiple frame rates; the listed master plan is $95, while the stated price range is $95-$295 depending on duration and format. Full-resolution screeners are available at no charge to registered users, with timecode and the CriticalPast logo burned in. JPEG stills cost $5 for personal use, 20.00 USD for a Standard License, or 30.00 USD for a Premium License. The site says licensed material can be used worldwide, in perpetuity, across media, subject to the selected license terms. Orders are typically ready within one hour and remain available for two weeks.