Envato Elements VS Creative Market: Which one fit your needs?

If you’re a designer, marketer, or creative of any kind, you know how important it is to have access to high-quality assets. But with so many marketplaces out there, it’s tough to know which one gives you the best bang for your buck. Today, I want to break it down for you—Envato Elements vs. Creative Market—and which one I thnk is the best choice

What is Envato Elements?

Envato Elements is packed with over 17 millions digital assets—graphics, templates, stock photos, videos, music, fonts, and more. You pay one flat fee and get unlimited downloads. That means no more second-guessing whether you should buy that extra template—you just download as much as you want.

For a more in-depth breakdown, check out this detailed Envato Elements review where I covered everything envato elements can offer

What is Creative Market?

Creative Market is another popular marketplace where you can buy design assets, templates, and fonts. But here’s the catch—you typically pay per item. They do have a subscription plan called Creative Market Pro, but even that limits how many assets you can download each month. If you need a lot of assets, the costs can add up fast.

Envato Elements vs. Creative Market: Selection and Quality

If you’re looking for variety, both platforms offer a great selection of assets, but in different ways. Envato Elements gives you access to over 17 millions assets in one subscription, so you’ll always have plenty of options at your fingertips—whether you need a PowerPoint template, a modern font, or stock music for your next project.

Creative Market, on the other hand, is built around individual creators, which means a more curated and unique selection. While the number of available assets isn’t as large as Envato Elements, you’ll find a lot of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind designs that you might not see elsewhere.

Envato Elements vs. Creative Market: Pricing

Let’s talk numbers because, let’s be honest, we all want the best—cheapest deal.

• Envato Elements costs $11.99/month (billed annually) and gives you unlimited downloads.
• Creative Market Pro costs $19/month, but you only get 6 assets per month—yep, just six. Want more? You’ll have to pay extra.

If you’re someone who needs assets regularly, Envato Elements is the obvious money-saving choice.

Envato Elements vs. Creative Market: Licensing

Both platforms offer commercial licenses, but Envato Elements makes it way simpler. Their licensing is straightforward, covering personal and commercial use without confusing fine print.

Creative Market’s licensing can be a little tricky, with different licenses for different uses. If you don’t read the terms carefully, you could run into unexpected restrictions—not ideal when you’re in the middle of a project!

Final Thoughts

In answering one question, we’re left with another…

Is it worth paying for unlimited access, or would you rather handpick assets as needed?

Before subscriptions like Envato Elements became popular, Creative Market’s pay-per-item model was a great way to buy high-quality design assets. And for many people, it still is. If you only need a few specific assets, it makes sense to buy them individually rather than pay for a subscription.

But for creatives who need frequent access to templates, fonts, and stock assets, Envato Elements changes the equation. The ability to download unlimited assets for a single price is hard to ignore.

So here’s the bottom line:

If you only need assets once in a while, Creative Market is a great option. It gives you access to unique, high-quality designs without any ongoing commitment.

But if you’re using design assets regularly, Envato Elements offers more value for your money. The sheer variety, unlimited downloads, and straightforward licensing make it an easy choice for anyone who works on creative projects frequently.

So it really comes down to how often you need assets—for occasional use, Creative Market works well. But if you’re serious about design and want unlimited access without worrying about cost per item, Envato Elements is the smarter choice.