Adobe Stock license information

Understanding each license type and picking the right one for you

  • Overview

    This Adobe Stock licensing information is intended for individuals, Creative Cloud for teams members and VIP members only. ETLA users, please see the Enterprise License Page.


    Visual Assets

    An Adobe Stock perpetual, worldwide license allows you to use your licensed asset in all media, including print, presentations, broadcasts, websites, and on social media sites. Please see the summary of restrictions below or read the Terms & Conditions for more details.


    License comparison


    UseStandard licenseEnhanced licenseExtended license
    Unlimited web views
    Use the asset in email marketing, mobile advertising, social media, or a broadcast program*
    Can modify the asset*
    Up to 500,000 copies or views of the asset
    More than 500,000 copies or views of the asset
    Asset may be used in merchandise, templates, or other products for resale*

    *See Editorial Use Only restrictions.

    Standard licenses

    Most Adobe Stock photos, vectors, and illustrations come with a Standard license. With a Standard license, you may:

    • Reproduce up to 500,000 copies of the asset in all media, including product packaging, printed marketing materials, digital documents, or software.
    • Include the asset in email marketing, mobile advertising, or a broadcast or digital program if the expected number of viewers is fewer than 500,000.
    • Post the asset to a website or social media site with no limitation on views.
    • Include the asset in some types of products, such as inside a textbook, as long as the primary value of the product is not the asset itself, and the product is not reproduced more than 500,000 times.
    • Share the unmodified asset with your employees and contractors who have contractually agreed to abide by the license terms.
    • Transfer the license to your client or employer.

    With a Standard license, you may not:

    • Distribute the stand-alone file.
    • Create merchandise, templates, or other products for resale or distribution where the primary value of the product is associated with the asset itself. For example, you can't use the asset to create a poster, t-shirt, or coffee mug that someone would buy specifically because of the asset printed on it.
    • Transfer the license to more than one employer or client, unless separately licensed for each.

    Enhanced licenses

    Enhanced licenses are available for Adobe Stock videos, templates, 3D assets, and Premium Collection.

    With an Enhanced license, you may:

    • Use the asset with all the rights granted in the Standard license.
    • Reproduce the asset beyond the 500,000 copy/viewer restriction.

    With an Enhanced license, you may not:

    • Distribute the stand-alone file.
    • Create merchandise, templates, or other products for resale or distribution where the primary value of the product is associated with the asset itself. For example, you can't use the asset to create a poster, t-shirt, or coffee mug that someone would buy specifically because of the asset printed on it.

    Extended licenses

    With an Extended license, you may:

    • Use the asset with all the rights granted in the Standard license.
    • Reproduce the asset beyond the 500,000 copy/viewer restriction.
    • Create merchandise or products for resale or distribution where the main value of the product is associated with the asset itself, such as a coffee mug or t-shirt.

    With an Extended license, you may not:

    • Distribute the stand-alone file.

    Limited License – Adobe Express

    Some Adobe Stock assets provided within the Adobe Express app come with the Limited License – Adobe Express.* With this license, you may:

    • Use the asset within the Adobe Express app.
    • Incorporate the asset into your Adobe Express project, and publish or download your project for use outside of the Adobe Express app.

    With the Limited License – Adobe Express, you may not:

    • Download, export, or share the asset as a stand-alone file.
    • Use the asset as a stand-alone file outside of the Adobe Express app.
    • Use the asset in a new Adobe Express project after your paid Adobe Express membership ends.
    • Incorporate the asset into merchandise or template files intended for sale or distribution unless the final project is an original work of authorship. For example, you can't use the asset to create a poster, t-shirt, or coffee mug that someone would buy specifically because of the asset printed on it.

    *Typically, if an Adobe Stock asset comes with the Limited License – Adobe Express, you will see a crown icon on the asset when searching within the Adobe Express app. To confirm the license type once the asset has been imported into your Adobe Express project, select the asset in your project and click on the “source info” icon.


    Generated Outputs from Adobe Stock

    All generated outputs are subject to these user guidelines.

    Text to Image outputs downloaded from the Adobe Stock Generate page may come with IP indemnification. IP indemnification is protection against legal claims that your Firefly output violates someone else's intellectual property rights.

    For more information about use of generated outputs and the scope of offered IP indemnification, see our Terms & Conditions.


    Editorial Use

    In addition to the license restrictions above, assets labeled “Editorial Use Only”:

    • May only be used in relation to events or topics which are newsworthy or of public interest, typically in newspaper or magazine articles, news blogs, or similar media.
    • May not be used for commercial purposes such as advertisements, promotions, endorsements, advertorials, commercial blogs, merchandise, etc. - even if you have obtained an Extended license - without obtaining prior written consent from the copyright owner of the asset, and additional permissions as necessary.
    • May not be modified, except for minor adjustments for technical quality or slight cropping or resizing, while maintaining the editorial context and integrity of the original.
    • All uses must include the credit line shown on the site and contained in the IPTC credit line field of the file, for example “Agency Name/Contributor Name – stock.adobe.com”.

    Audio Assets

    With Adobe Stock’s royalty-free audio licenses, you may use any licensed music track as many times as you like, for as long as you like, anywhere in the world.

    The Audio Standard License covers most common uses like social media, websites, digital ads and corporate presentations, except those listed below.

    The Audio Extended License is required for projects which will be distributed via:

    • TV or Radio
    • Paid-access on-demand or streaming video
    • Apps or Video Games
    • Theatrical releases
    • Physical Point-of-Sale Locations

    Restrictions for both Audio licenses:

    • Audio files must be synchronized with picture, narration, etc. No stand-alone distribution. The audio file must not comprise the primary value of the end product.
    • No remixing, mashups or other alterations for the purpose of creating a new music track. Only minimal modifications are allowed.
    • Audio files cannot be incorporated into templates, logos, or other corporate branding.

    For full audio license terms see our Terms & Conditions.


    More info

    If you still have questions:

    • You can view the type of license associated with an asset on the Details page in your web browser.
    • If you're not sure what type of license you have for a specific asset, or if you need to purchase an additional license for an asset, click your name in the navigation bar above to open your License History page.
    • This Adobe Stock licensing information is intended for individuals and Creative Cloud for teams members only. Enterprise users, please see the Enterprise License Page.
    • For the full license terms, including additional restrictions, see our Terms & Conditions.