Are you a content creator, a graphic designer, or a start-up business owner? You might have probably come across Placeit by Envato and Envato Elements while looking for logos, video templates, or mockups and are wondering the difference between the two. So, what’s the difference between Placeit and Envato Elements?

Placeit vs Envato Elements: Placeit allows users to create designs, logos, and mockups. Envato Elements on the other hand offers stock videos, stock photos, and sound effects.

While both offer similar products, they are intended for different users. If you want to learn more about their differences, you should read along further.

» MORE: Does Envato Elements Include Placeit?

Are Placeit and Envato the Same Thing?

Yes and no. Placeit and Envato Elements are two different websites, but are technically owned by the same company, Envato. Placeit offers over 60,000 templates that customers can use through a subscription or individual downloads. Envato Elements offers over 53 million assets that customers can use via subscription only. Both sites have new templates added daily.

It’s important not to get confused between the two though. Placeit was bought out by Envato not too long ago. Currently, Envato offers three products on their website: Envato Elements, Placeit by Envato, and Envato Market. All different websites made for different users.

» MORE: Is Placeit Worth It? Everything You Need To Know

When Did Placeit and Envato Merge?

In July 2018, Placeit announced their merge with Envato.

Why Did Placeit and Envato Merge?

The partnership of both companies boasts a lot more advantages to customers. Navid Sfabakhsh, the founder of Placeit, enumerates the advantages following the merge:

1. Price made cheaper
2. Faster release of new templates
3. Templates are smarter to use
4. New features are added

The synergy of both companies will catapult Envato as the leading source of digital content for branding.

Is There Free Access to Placeit and Envato?

Envato Elements allows users to create a free account that will grant them 12 free files every month. Placeit offer a free account that gives users unlimited access to their hundreds of free templates.

» MORE: Does Placeit Have a Free Trial?

What Is an Asset?

Assets are what makes up a template. For example, the texts, picture, and background color are the assets found within your template. The great thing about Placeit is that it allows their customers to rearrange these assets and even replace it with other assets or elements in their template.

What Is a Template?

A template is the product that a Placeit customer buys. It could be a photo, video template, a logo, a mockup, or any one of those products mentioned in the table summary below.

What’s the Difference Between Placeit and Envato Elements?

What are the Advantages of Placeit?

Placeit has several advantages for the everyday user. Let’s take a look at what it does right.

Placeit Is Easy to Use

Placeit is not intended to be an extremely powerful asset editing software. Instead, it’s meant for customers who are looking for a quick online tool to create professional designs in a few click.

It’s very easy to make quick, easy, and good-looking mockups using Placeit.

Placeit was made for customers who do not have advanced skills in graphic designing. It is more of an all-in-one branding website for the everyday person.

» MORE: Can Placeit Be Used for Commercial Use?

Placeit Offers a Variety of Designs to Choose From

Not only is Placeit easy to use and understand, but it also offers thousands of designs that customers can choose from. With this, you have access to a seriously large library of templates to find exactly what you are looking for (with new templates added daily)!

Placeit Delivers High Quality Products

You’re not going to worry about poor quality resolution because Placeit screens all items posted making sure that each one meets or surpasses the quality standards they have set.

Placeit Saves You Time

Because of its user-friendly interface, you don’t need countless hours to figure out how to make their items work. Start with a template, add your personal touch, then click to download!

Placeit Saves You Money

Who would not love Placeit for its cheap subscription price? For only $14.95 per month (or $12.70 per month with the discount code), you can get unlimited downloads! And if you want to save more, you can opt for the annual subscription of just $89.69 per year, giving you 50% savings! Even better, right?

Moreover, if you don’t ever want to spend a dime, you can opt for a free account which gives you access to their, notably smaller, library of free templates.

Placeit Offers Tutorials

The best thing about Placeit is that it listens to their customer’s feedback. For those who are not so good with technology can now refer to tutorials on how to make their products work.

Placeit has a dedicated webpage for a complete step-by-step guide from downloading Placeit photos or videos to iOS devices to making logo animations without after effects.

Additionally, there are plenty of YouTube video tutorials to walk you through Placeit’s features.

What are the Disadvantages of Placeit?

Placeit Only Offers Limited Editing Tools

Because Placeit was intended for users who have little to no background with graphic designing, the depth of the editing tools are not as versatile. So, if you’re someone who prefers heavy customization, you should try Envato Elements which we will be talking about later.

Placeit Is More Expensive

Technically speaking, Placeit may be pricier that Envato Elements. Yes, Placeit is only $12.70 per month, contrary to Envato Elements $16.50 a month. But for just a few dollars difference, you can have access to hundreds of thousands more products from Envato Elements.

But again, it all comes down to what kind of products you’re looking for. Placeit and Envato Elements offer different kinds of products.

Who Should Use Placeit by Envato?

Placeit should be the perfect tool for those who do not have adept knowledge with professional editing tools (such as the Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Premiere Pro).

It is also recommended for those who need a professionally made design, logo, or mockup done in a short amount of time.

What are the Advantages of Envato Elements?

Moving on to Envato Elements, this platform offers competitive advantages over Placeit (but again, for different users):

Envato Elements has a Growing Library of Graphic Content

Because there are more users in Envato elements, the library expands compoundly as well. Envato Elements is the largest creative tool in the field. Many new items are added daily so you will never run out of items to choose from.

Envato Elements Offers Unlimited Downloads

Envato Elements is subscription-based, and for just $16.50 a month, you get the privilege of endless downloads. This provides more edge than other conventional sites in this category that only offer download-based prices – meaning you pay per item download.

Envato Elements Offers Premium Access to Envato Tutorials

Envato has put up a dedicated Envato Tuts+ that users can refer to. There are over a thousand courses and hundreds of eBooks on how to’s.

What are the Disadvantages of Envato Elements?

Limited Notifications for Updates

The one downside of Envato Elements is that, whenever an update is released on an item you have, you might not get notified.

Technical Support Not Available for Downloaded Items

The second downside is that downloaded items do not include instructions on how to use them. If you’re the type of person who loves to experiment as you go, then this might not be bothersome for you. But for others, it can be time-consuming.

Complex Tool to Use

As it’s intended for highly skilled content creators or graphic designers, Envato elements is more complicated to use. If you think you’re not as technologically inclined as others, then Placeit might be more suitable for you. But if you’re willing to spend time to understand how Envato Elements works, then it’s definitely worth a try!

Who Should Use Envato Elements?

For those who are seeking heavy digital editing, Envato elements is the right tool. Large corporations who have designated marketing directors and content editors can fully take advantage of the wide array of selection that Envato Elements offer.

Also, video content creators should love Envato Elements for it’s bang-for-your-buck compared to it’s Stock Photo/Video/Music website competitors.

» MORE: Is Envato Elements Safe to Use? [The Definitive Answer]

Does Envato Offer More Besides Envato Elements and Placeit?

The great thing about Envato is that they’ve been expanding throughout the years. And because they listen to customers’ feedback, Envato created a variety of offerings to cater to every customer’s needs and preferences. Aside from Envato Elements and Placeit, Envato also launched other products which include:

1. Envato Market
2. Envato Studio

What is Envato Market?

Envato Market is a platform for customers who do not wish to be on a subscription plan. Instead, customers are able to purchase individual items in the Envato marketplace to be used for projects. It’s great for people who only need items or products occasionally.

Although there’s a lot of outside competition in this type of environment, it’s worth giving a try as they have built seven categories for people to choose from. This makes Envato Market easy to navigate.

What is Sold on Envato Market?

A wide variety of items can be purchased in the market, from WordPress themes to photos and videos.

Envato decided that it would be more advantageous to divide the marketplace into seven categories as it makes it easier for people to find what they’re looking for. Here are seven categories that customers can choose from:

1. AudioJungle
   • Music
   • Sound effects
   • Music kits
   • Source files
2. CodeCanyon
   • WordPress
   • PHP scripts
   • Mobile
   • HTML 5
   • Javascript
   • Plugins
3. ThemeForest
   • Skins for WordPress, Joomla, Drupal
4. GraphicRiver
   • Fonts
   • Logos
   • Icons
   • Vectors
   • Add-ons for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
5. VideoHive
   • Video effects
   • Stock footage
6. 3DOcean
   • 3D models
   • CD textures
   • Render setups
   • Animation data
   • Shaders
7. PhotoDune
   • Royalty free stock photos

The categorization allows customers to navigate the marketplace faster. Plus, you only need one account to access all the websites. Another thing to remember is that each website will have different items, authors, and community.

How to Purchase Items on Envato Marketplace?

It’s easy! All you need is a credit card or a PayPal account. Also, you can purchase credits through Envato credits.

How to Become a Seller on Envato Marketplace?

Anyone can sell on Envato Marketplace. Just remember that all listings will be reviewed to ensure that the quality is met.

What is Envato Studio?

Envato Studio allows a customer to select a freelancer or artist who can work on the assigned projects. The studio boasts a handful of freelancers all around the world where one can browse through their portfolios and select the best match to do the project. This allows for a more competitive pricing.

How Envato Studio Works

1. Hire a freelancer to do your project
   • Instead of shopping for items or products such as in Envato Elements, Envato Market, or Placeit, you shop or browse for the best artist or talent who can do the project you want them to do. This is pretty similar to Freelancer or Upwork.
2. Provide the talent details of your project
   • Once you have found the perfect talent most suitable for the job, you then discuss what needs to be done and how you like it to be done.
   • Once you have come up to an agreement including the rate of pay, then the talent will be paid in escrow.
   • Escrow works by depositing money into Envato. The money will be held up for release until the talent or freelancer completes the project.
3. Communicate with the talent
   • Envato Studio offers a messaging system where both parties can communicate with each other. Send files such as photos or videos until the demands are met.
4. Complete the project
   • Once you are satisfied with the output, then you can complete the project and the payment will be released to the talent.

It’s not much different with other freelancing sites, except that it’s more focused on graphic designing, video editing, programming, and online marketing.

What are the Advantages of Envato Studio?

1. Global competitive market
   • Envato Studio offers a chance for everyone around the globe to participate and be a talent. So, if you’re looking for someone overseas to share with you a different perspective and experience, then Envato Studio would be more suitable for you.
2. Personalized experience
   • Because Envato Studio focuses more on getting your project done, it becomes a more personalized experience for you. You can openly communicate with your hired talent what your goals are, and they will get it done for you – even possibly exceeding your expectations.

What are the Disadvantages of Envato Studio?

Envato Studio may be a little pricier when compared to using Placeit, Envato Elements, or purchasing through the Envato Marketplace. But having a personalized experience where you get to tell the freelancer what you want and create it for you may be worth it for your project.

What Software Can I Use with Items Purchased from Envato?

There are so many programs that you can use to edit the items you purchased from Envato. You can purchase add-ons for Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Premiere, WordPress, social media apps – you name it!

» MORE: The Ultimate Placeit Review: Pricing, Features, & Alternatives

Conclusion

Envato is one of the largest platforms for branding and graphic designing. With over a million digital assets available to download, customers get the best experience and quality of items. 

Envato has four platforms to choose from; Placeit, Envato Elements, Envato Marketplace, and Envato Studio. Placeit used to be an independent site until it was bought out by Envato in 2018. 

Placeit offers a simplistic tool for people who do not have highly complex skills in editing or for those who want to save time on editing. Placeit is user-friendly and can be used by those of all skill levels.

Envato Elements is for customers who wish to have more versatility, are highly skilled in editing, and for large businesses who rely on heavy editing. Both platforms are offered via subscriptions.

Envato Marketplace is for those who do not like to be subscribed to a plan. These are for customers who only need specific items on an occasional basis. 

Envato Studio is for customers who seek to have a personalized output as they can hire a freelancer or author to achieve the best quality.