Mixkit is a platform from Envato that provides free media assets for videos, presentations, podcasts, social media posts, websites, and other creative projects. Its library includes stock video footage, music, sound effects, video-editing templates, icons, and stock illustrations.
You can browse and download assets without creating an account. Attribution is generally not required, although crediting the creator is a thoughtful way to acknowledge their work.
There is, however, an important licensing detail to understand: Mixkit uses different licences for different types of assets, and its stock videos can carry either a Free License or a Restricted License. You should therefore check the licence shown on the page of every item before including it in a project.
Mixkit’s current homepage advertises more than 46,000 stock video clips, 1,000 music tracks, 3,000 sound effects, and over 850 video templates. The platform has also expanded since I first reviewed it, adding stock illustrations and icons as well as newer video collections such as vertical, 4K, and AI-generated footage.
Related: Sources of Free Images for Educational Use
What Can You Download From Mixkit?
Mixkit currently offers six main types of creative assets:
| Asset type | Examples of use |
|---|---|
| Stock videos | Video projects, presentations, social posts, and backgrounds |
| Stock music | Videos, podcasts, presentations, and advertisements |
| Sound effects | Videos, digital stories, games, podcasts, and presentations |
| Video templates | Titles, transitions, openers, slideshows, and logo animations |
| Stock illustrations | Websites, publications, slides, social posts, and visual projects |
| Icons | Presentations, websites, interfaces, and multimedia designs |
The site includes search and category tools that make it easier to browse by topic, mood, genre, format, instrument, or editing application.
Mixkit Free Stock Videos
The Mixkit free stock video collection contains footage that can be used as backgrounds, B-roll, scene transitions, presentation visuals, social media content, and other video elements.
The library currently includes HD and 4K footage, vertical videos, green-screen clips, and videos without watermarks. There is also a category for AI-generated videos.
Popular video categories include:
- Nature
- Lifestyle
- People
- Business
- Animals
- Food
- Transport
- Backgrounds
- Vertical video
- Green screen
- Abstract
- Light
- Music
- Christmas
- Countdown
- Drone footage
- Space
- Sports
You can use the search box when you need a specific subject or browse through categories and related tags. Select a clip to preview it, review its licence, and choose an available download format.
For educational projects, teachers and students might use the footage in video essays, digital stories, narrated presentations, book trailers, science explainers, or classroom announcements.
Check the Licence Before Using a Mixkit Video
Not every Mixkit video comes with the same usage rights.
Videos under the Mixkit Video Free License may be used in commercial projects, including YouTube videos, marketing materials, advertisements, and music videos.
Videos under the Mixkit Video Restricted License are limited to personal, non-commercial uses. Mixkit gives personal social media posts as one example.
This distinction is particularly important if a video will appear on a monetized YouTube channel, business website, promotional page, or commercial publication. Do not assume that every clip has commercial-use permission simply because it can be downloaded for free.
Mixkit states that its downloaded videos do not contain watermarks and that attribution is not required. Always confirm the licence attached to the particular clip.
Mixkit Free Stock Music
The Mixkit stock music library offers royalty-free tracks for videos, podcasts, presentations, online advertisements, and other multimedia projects. No account or attribution is required for these tracks under the applicable Mixkit music licence.
The music library has expanded considerably and can now be filtered in four useful ways.
Browse Music by Genre
Available genres include:
- Ambient
- Children
- Classical
- Country
- Drum and bass
- Funk
- Hip-hop
- Jazz
- Pop
- Rock
- Trap
- Lo-fi beats
- Film score
- Electronic
- Folk
- Latin
- Reggae
- World music
The complete library contains many narrower subgenres, making it easier to find music that matches the style of a project.
Browse Music by Mood
Mood filters include:
- Happy
- Upbeat
- Uplifting
- Calm
- Dramatic
- Mysterious
- Reflective
- Playful
- Peaceful
- Dark
- Nostalgic
- Hopeful
- Energetic
- Suspenseful
- Whimsical
These filters are helpful when you know the emotional tone you want but do not have a particular genre in mind.
Browse Music by Instrument
Mixkit now lets users browse music by instrument, including piano, acoustic guitar, drums, strings, synthesizer, flute, brass, cello, violin, banjo, harp, and saxophone.
Browse Music by Tag
Tags cover possible themes and uses such as technology, science, travel, history, documentary, background, education, nature, wellness, sports, presentations, and seasonal content.
Each track page includes information such as its duration, genre, mood, instruments, and tags. You can preview a piece before downloading it.
Mixkit Free Sound Effects
The Mixkit sound effects library contains downloadable MP3 and WAV files. Mixkit states that these effects may be used in personal and commercial projects without attribution.
Sound-effect categories include:
- Transitions
- Nature
- Technology
- Notifications
- Animals
- Transport
- Human sounds
- Instruments
- Lifestyle
- Games
- Cartoons
- Magic
- Movies
- Weather
- Public places
- School
- Countdown sounds
Teachers and students can use sound effects to add atmosphere and emphasis to podcasts, digital stories, animations, video presentations, and game-based projects.
It is worth using sound selectively. Too many effects can distract from the message or make spoken content more difficult to follow. Sounds should support the purpose of the project rather than compete with it.
Mixkit Free Video Templates
Mixkit provides free video-editing templates for four main editing platforms:
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe After Effects
- Apple Motion and Final Cut Pro
- DaVinci Resolve
The collection includes transitions, titles, openers, logo animations, lower thirds, slideshows, and other editable video elements.
No registration or attribution is required to download these templates, and Mixkit states that they can be used to create personal and commercial projects. The templates are customizable, but you need the appropriate video-editing software to open and modify them.
Mixkit recommends using the latest version of the relevant application for the best compatibility. Before downloading, check the template page to confirm which program and version it requires.
These templates may be especially helpful for educators creating course introductions, instructional videos, conference presentations, research explainers, or YouTube content.
Mixkit Free Stock Illustrations
The Mixkit stock art collection is a useful addition that was not covered in the earlier version of this review. It contains free illustrations for websites, publications, advertisements, presentations, social media posts, album covers, and personal creative projects.
Illustration categories include:
- Business
- Books
- Computers
- Cities
- People
- Work
- Animals
- Food
- Nature
- Music
- Celebrations
- Travel
Original illustrations are available as high-resolution PNG files. Mixkit also provides versions optimized for desktop and mobile wallpapers.
According to Mixkit, these illustrations can be used in commercial projects under its Art Free License. No account or attribution is required.
Mixkit Icons
Mixkit’s main navigation now includes a collection of free icons. These can be useful for presentation slides, classroom materials, websites, digital interfaces, and multimedia projects.
Because the central Mixkit licence page does not currently display a separate icon licence alongside its video, music, sound-effect, template, and art licences, check the terms displayed with the particular icon or collection before using it. This is especially important for commercial projects or resources intended for resale.
How to Download Assets From Mixkit
The process is generally straightforward:
- Visit Mixkit.
- Select Videos, Music, Sound Effects, Templates, Icons, or Art.
- Search for a specific subject or browse the available categories.
- Open the asset to preview it.
- Check the licence attached to that item.
- Review the available file formats, sizes, or resolutions.
- Download the file to your device.
- Save a record of the asset page and licence for future reference.
Keeping a simple record of the creator, item URL, download date, and applicable licence can be helpful, particularly for published, collaborative, or long-term projects.
Is Mixkit Free?
Mixkit assets can be downloaded without a subscription or account. The platform allows unlimited downloads from its free collections and generally does not require attribution.
“Free,” however, does not mean that every asset can be used for every purpose. Stock video is the clearest example: some videos permit commercial use, while others are restricted to personal and non-commercial projects.
Users should consult the current Mixkit licence page and check the licence attached to each downloaded item. The terms may differ between stock video, music, sound effects, templates, art, and icons.
Can Mixkit Assets Be Used in Educational Projects?
Mixkit assets can support a wide range of educational and academic work, including:
- Student video projects
- Digital storytelling
- Podcasts
- Recorded lessons
- Presentation slides
- Book trailers
- Research explainers
- School announcements
- Course introductions
- Social media posts
- Classroom websites
Teachers should model responsible media use by asking students to check the licence, document where an asset came from, and provide credit even when attribution is optional.
Students should also understand that a freely downloadable item is not necessarily free of copyright restrictions. The licence explains how the work may be used.
Final Thoughts
Mixkit remains a useful source of free stock videos, music, sound effects, and video templates. Its library has grown since the original version of this review and now includes more than 46,000 videos, 1,000 music tracks, 3,000 sound effects, over 850 templates, stock illustrations, and icons.
The addition of vertical and 4K video collections, AI-generated footage, detailed music filters, high-resolution illustrations, and a broader sound library makes the platform useful for many types of multimedia work.
Its simple download process is part of the appeal: no account is required, downloads are unlimited, and attribution is generally optional. The important limitation is licensing. Mixkit does not apply one universal licence to everything, and some stock videos are restricted to non-commercial projects.
For that reason, the best practice is simple: check the item’s licence before downloading it, and keep a record of the terms that applied when you used it.
