Coverr vs CriticalPast
Coverr
coverr.coCriticalPast
criticalpast.comSide by side
| Figure | Coverr | CriticalPast |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.20/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 5 |
| Spec score · Stock Video Websites | 9.1 (#3) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Audience | Coverr says its videos are intended to empower entrepreneurs, dreamers, and builders. | CriticalPast says it serves broadcast news, television, film, publishing, production, advertising, museum, and online education professionals. |
| Founded | LinkedIn lists Coverr as founded in 2015. | 2007 |
| Support | Coverr provides contact support through [email protected] and a contact form. | The FAQ lists staff availability for cancellation requests as 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. |
Plans
Coverr
- FreeFree
- FreeFree
- Basic$4.20 a month
- Basic$4.20 a month
- Plus$6.60 a month
- Plus$6.60 a month
- Pro$10.80 a month
- Pro$10.80 a month
- Ultimate$42 a month
- Ultimate$42 a month
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
Coverr
Coverr is a catalog of free stock video for creators, alongside an API for stock video, stock music and AI-generated media. Its videos are HD MP4, with some available in 4K. The company says its media is intended for entrepreneurs, dreamers and builders, and reports more than 5 million downloads and 1.1 million views per month. A free, irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide license allows commercial and non-commercial use of its videos and music without attribution. It does not allow those assets to be used to train AI, create AI models or datasets, or build a competing service. The API has a free tier with 50 calls per hour and full access, and a production tier with 2,000 calls per hour for live applications. REST API and MCP server integrations are supported. Listed plans are Free at free, Basic at $4.20 a month, Plus at $6.60 a month, Pro at $10.80 a month and Ultimate at $42 a month.
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.