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Comparison

Art Licence Studio vs stock art libraries

Stock libraries are fast and cheap because they license the same asset to everyone — nobody owns the image they download, and thousands of other buyers may be using the identical artwork on the same kind of product. Art Licence Studio is for the opposite need: licensing a specific artist's original work — or commissioning custom work — with the usage scope recorded against that exact artwork.

Stock libraries are the right tool for generic volume. This comparison is about when the artwork itself — and the rights over it — are the point.

Side by side

What differsStock art librariesArt Licence Studio
What you getA generic, pre-made asset that any other buyer can license on the same terms — often the same day.A license for a specific artist's work, recorded against that artwork — or a custom commission made for your brief.
The artistUsually anonymous or incidental; the library sits between you and the creator.Named and credited — you license directly from the artist who made the work.
Custom workNot available — what exists is what you license.Commission flow: post a brief, receive proposals, agree recorded terms before payment opens.
The license recordA receipt and the library's standard license text — identical for every buyer.The agreed scope — media, territory, duration — written into a license record both sides can check later.
CostLow per-asset fees or subscriptions, because nothing is exclusive or custom.Artwork licensing ranges £25–£8,000 and commission projects £100–£8,000, set by the artist and brief — plus a stated platform fee.

When Stock art libraries fits

  • Generic imagery where originality does not matter — a blog header, a placeholder, a mood board.
  • Tight deadlines where any suitable asset wins.
  • High-volume needs where per-asset cost must stay minimal.

When Art Licence Studio fits

  • The art carries your brand — packaging, covers, campaign visuals, editorial features.
  • You need something made for your brief, not the closest existing match.
  • You want the license scope for that exact artwork in writing.
  • You want the artist paid and named, not anonymised behind a library.

Try it with a free account

A free Art Licence Studio account costs nothing to open. Artists pay a 15% platform fee only on eligible paid sales — 7.5% while subscribed to ALS Pro. Payment processing is included.

Create a free accountSee pricing

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