Which DVR Is King? TiVo and Comcast Go Head-to-Head in Our Expert Review

TiVo vs Comcast, Who Wins the DVR Battle?

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Best Text Motion Tracking Software

Best Text Motion Tracking Software

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Have you ever been mesmerized by a video with text or emoji’s moving together with objects? That effect is produced using motion tracking and isn’t very complicated. Today, we will introduce some text motion tracking software (free & paid) tools that allow you to pin text to video with minimum effort. There will also be detailed tutorials on how to utilize each tool. Let’s get started.

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

The newly released Wondershare Filmora X version has added the motion tracking features, which allows you to track moving objects in a video clip, and attach images, texts, elements and videos to follow the movement path.

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

• Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

• In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

• Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
• Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

• Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

There is no automatic tracking feature in Premiere Pro to pin text to video. Therefore, you need to manually position your text and add keyframes frame by frame. But the overall effort required and the final result isn’t much different from traditional editors.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

• Import your video to the timeline
• Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
• Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
• Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
• Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
• Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
• Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
• Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
• Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

Adobe After Effects is an editor that focuses on animation & creative composition. This app has been developed as a companion to Premiere Pro for creating short & flashy motion graphics and visual effects for projects.

Motion tracking in After Effects can be done using the Point Tracker, which has one-point and up to four-point tracking. Other tracking options include the built-in 3D Camera Tracker that lets you reverse engineer a scene and the spline tracker that enables you to track masks on an object. There is also Mocha AE, a planar tracker from BorisFX. The Point Tracker is the most flexible and versatile in After Effects. We’ll use it to pin text to video.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

• Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
• Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
• Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
• Two square boxes will appear
• Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
• Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
• Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
• Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
• If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
• Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
• Now add the text
• While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
• Play through to check the result
• You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

Sony Vegas Pro is a non-linear video editor with the so-called “power of Artificial Intelligence.” It is one of the few editors out there that has acquired popularity among professionals and amateurs alike.

Text motion tracking in Vegas Pro is done using Bézier Masking FX (new update introduces a separate tab for motion tracking). The tracking process is automatic. Keyframes are created automatically frame by frame. It isn’t perfect, but it gets the job done in most cases. When it fails to track objects correctly, you can manually edit the keyframes.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

• Import your video
• Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
• Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
• A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
• Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
• Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
• Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
• Click on start below the keyframe interval option
• After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
• Enter your text, edit it if you want
• Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

As we’ve seen above, all the editors have some kind of automatic tracking feature, Premiere Pro being the only manual exception. All of them do a reasonably good job when it comes to pinning text to video. Professionals would be more satisfied with the added versatility and control in After Effects. Filmora, Filmora, Vegas Pro and Premiere Pro, on the other hand, are better suited for amateurs.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Have you ever been mesmerized by a video with text or emoji’s moving together with objects? That effect is produced using motion tracking and isn’t very complicated. Today, we will introduce some text motion tracking software (free & paid) tools that allow you to pin text to video with minimum effort. There will also be detailed tutorials on how to utilize each tool. Let’s get started.

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

The newly released Wondershare Filmora X version has added the motion tracking features, which allows you to track moving objects in a video clip, and attach images, texts, elements and videos to follow the movement path.

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

• Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

• In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

• Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
• Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

• Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

There is no automatic tracking feature in Premiere Pro to pin text to video. Therefore, you need to manually position your text and add keyframes frame by frame. But the overall effort required and the final result isn’t much different from traditional editors.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

• Import your video to the timeline
• Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
• Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
• Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
• Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
• Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
• Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
• Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
• Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

Adobe After Effects is an editor that focuses on animation & creative composition. This app has been developed as a companion to Premiere Pro for creating short & flashy motion graphics and visual effects for projects.

Motion tracking in After Effects can be done using the Point Tracker, which has one-point and up to four-point tracking. Other tracking options include the built-in 3D Camera Tracker that lets you reverse engineer a scene and the spline tracker that enables you to track masks on an object. There is also Mocha AE, a planar tracker from BorisFX. The Point Tracker is the most flexible and versatile in After Effects. We’ll use it to pin text to video.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

• Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
• Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
• Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
• Two square boxes will appear
• Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
• Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
• Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
• Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
• If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
• Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
• Now add the text
• While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
• Play through to check the result
• You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

Sony Vegas Pro is a non-linear video editor with the so-called “power of Artificial Intelligence.” It is one of the few editors out there that has acquired popularity among professionals and amateurs alike.

Text motion tracking in Vegas Pro is done using Bézier Masking FX (new update introduces a separate tab for motion tracking). The tracking process is automatic. Keyframes are created automatically frame by frame. It isn’t perfect, but it gets the job done in most cases. When it fails to track objects correctly, you can manually edit the keyframes.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

• Import your video
• Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
• Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
• A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
• Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
• Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
• Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
• Click on start below the keyframe interval option
• After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
• Enter your text, edit it if you want
• Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

As we’ve seen above, all the editors have some kind of automatic tracking feature, Premiere Pro being the only manual exception. All of them do a reasonably good job when it comes to pinning text to video. Professionals would be more satisfied with the added versatility and control in After Effects. Filmora, Filmora, Vegas Pro and Premiere Pro, on the other hand, are better suited for amateurs.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Have you ever been mesmerized by a video with text or emoji’s moving together with objects? That effect is produced using motion tracking and isn’t very complicated. Today, we will introduce some text motion tracking software (free & paid) tools that allow you to pin text to video with minimum effort. There will also be detailed tutorials on how to utilize each tool. Let’s get started.

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

The newly released Wondershare Filmora X version has added the motion tracking features, which allows you to track moving objects in a video clip, and attach images, texts, elements and videos to follow the movement path.

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

• Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

• In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

• Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
• Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

• Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

There is no automatic tracking feature in Premiere Pro to pin text to video. Therefore, you need to manually position your text and add keyframes frame by frame. But the overall effort required and the final result isn’t much different from traditional editors.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

• Import your video to the timeline
• Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
• Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
• Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
• Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
• Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
• Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
• Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
• Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

Adobe After Effects is an editor that focuses on animation & creative composition. This app has been developed as a companion to Premiere Pro for creating short & flashy motion graphics and visual effects for projects.

Motion tracking in After Effects can be done using the Point Tracker, which has one-point and up to four-point tracking. Other tracking options include the built-in 3D Camera Tracker that lets you reverse engineer a scene and the spline tracker that enables you to track masks on an object. There is also Mocha AE, a planar tracker from BorisFX. The Point Tracker is the most flexible and versatile in After Effects. We’ll use it to pin text to video.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

• Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
• Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
• Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
• Two square boxes will appear
• Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
• Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
• Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
• Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
• If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
• Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
• Now add the text
• While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
• Play through to check the result
• You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

Sony Vegas Pro is a non-linear video editor with the so-called “power of Artificial Intelligence.” It is one of the few editors out there that has acquired popularity among professionals and amateurs alike.

Text motion tracking in Vegas Pro is done using Bézier Masking FX (new update introduces a separate tab for motion tracking). The tracking process is automatic. Keyframes are created automatically frame by frame. It isn’t perfect, but it gets the job done in most cases. When it fails to track objects correctly, you can manually edit the keyframes.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

• Import your video
• Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
• Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
• A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
• Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
• Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
• Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
• Click on start below the keyframe interval option
• After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
• Enter your text, edit it if you want
• Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

As we’ve seen above, all the editors have some kind of automatic tracking feature, Premiere Pro being the only manual exception. All of them do a reasonably good job when it comes to pinning text to video. Professionals would be more satisfied with the added versatility and control in After Effects. Filmora, Filmora, Vegas Pro and Premiere Pro, on the other hand, are better suited for amateurs.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Have you ever been mesmerized by a video with text or emoji’s moving together with objects? That effect is produced using motion tracking and isn’t very complicated. Today, we will introduce some text motion tracking software (free & paid) tools that allow you to pin text to video with minimum effort. There will also be detailed tutorials on how to utilize each tool. Let’s get started.

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

The newly released Wondershare Filmora X version has added the motion tracking features, which allows you to track moving objects in a video clip, and attach images, texts, elements and videos to follow the movement path.

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

• Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

• In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

• Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
• Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

• Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

There is no automatic tracking feature in Premiere Pro to pin text to video. Therefore, you need to manually position your text and add keyframes frame by frame. But the overall effort required and the final result isn’t much different from traditional editors.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

• Import your video to the timeline
• Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
• Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
• Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
• Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
• Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
• Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
• Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
• Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

Adobe After Effects is an editor that focuses on animation & creative composition. This app has been developed as a companion to Premiere Pro for creating short & flashy motion graphics and visual effects for projects.

Motion tracking in After Effects can be done using the Point Tracker, which has one-point and up to four-point tracking. Other tracking options include the built-in 3D Camera Tracker that lets you reverse engineer a scene and the spline tracker that enables you to track masks on an object. There is also Mocha AE, a planar tracker from BorisFX. The Point Tracker is the most flexible and versatile in After Effects. We’ll use it to pin text to video.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

• Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
• Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
• Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
• Two square boxes will appear
• Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
• Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
• Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
• Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
• If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
• Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
• Now add the text
• While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
• Play through to check the result
• You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

Sony Vegas Pro is a non-linear video editor with the so-called “power of Artificial Intelligence.” It is one of the few editors out there that has acquired popularity among professionals and amateurs alike.

Text motion tracking in Vegas Pro is done using Bézier Masking FX (new update introduces a separate tab for motion tracking). The tracking process is automatic. Keyframes are created automatically frame by frame. It isn’t perfect, but it gets the job done in most cases. When it fails to track objects correctly, you can manually edit the keyframes.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

• Import your video
• Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
• Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
• A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
• Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
• Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
• Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
• Click on start below the keyframe interval option
• After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
• Enter your text, edit it if you want
• Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

As we’ve seen above, all the editors have some kind of automatic tracking feature, Premiere Pro being the only manual exception. All of them do a reasonably good job when it comes to pinning text to video. Professionals would be more satisfied with the added versatility and control in After Effects. Filmora, Filmora, Vegas Pro and Premiere Pro, on the other hand, are better suited for amateurs.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Bring Your Videos to Life: Top Conversion Apps and Tutorials

Best Video to Live Photos Apps

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Live Photo is a wonderful feature of the iPhone. You can capture a short series of frames to make your pictures look lively. Do you know you can also convert your video to Live Photos?

That’s right! You can turn video into Live Photo very easily using a few apps. Then you can use your converted Live Photos as wallpaper on your iPhones and iPads. Surely, that will make unlocking and browsing your phone more exciting!

Moreover, you can also show the Live Photos to your friends and enjoy quality time. Here are the top ways to turn your videos into Live Photos.

• Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps
• Part 2: Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok
• Part 3: Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY
• Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper

Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps

You can use the following video to Live Photo apps to create wallpapers for iPhone-

1. intoLive

intoLive is a simple video to Live Photo wallpaper converter. It’s very user-friendly and comes with a rating of 4.6 stars. The app is a favorite to many users who rely on it to create beautiful Live Photos. The app supports iOS 12.0 or later versions for iPhones and iPads.

The best thing about intoLive is it’s completely free to use! Plus, it is also available in many languages, even Chinese and Italian.

Converting your videos into Live Photos is a cake with intoLive. Just follow the steps below-

1. Download the app and launch it from your home screen.
2. Now select the video you want to turn into a Live Photo.
3. Use the red sliders to choose the part of the video you wish to convert into a Live Photo. Next, set the duration for the same. You can also edit your video if you want, using the features available.
4. Now save your video as a Live Photo.

2. VideoToLive

VideoToLive is another free video to Live Photo iPhone converter. The app has a rating of 4.1 stars and is suitable for iOS 11.2 or more current versions. VideoToLive lets you create Live Photos without any the 5-second restriction. You can also share Live Photos with friends and family using the app.

Additionally, VideoToLive lets you make GIFs from videos and Live Photos. You can say it’s a versatile app to have on your iPhone.

Here is how to create your Live Photo-

1. The first thing to do is to download and launch VideoToLive.
2. Now select the video you desire to configure to Live Photos.
3. Select the part of the video for creating your Live Photo. You can choose frames from the videos on the upper part of the screen.
4. ap on “Convert” on the upper right part of the interface. Your video is now turned into a Live Photo.

3. Video to Live Photo Wallpapers

This is another convenient video to Live Photos converter . Video to Live Photo Wallpapers is also a free app and has a 4.3-star rating. It can work with iOS versions 10.0 or later. So, you can also use old iPhones and iPads.

Video to Live Photo Wallpapers comes with paid features if you want to upgrade.

Follow the steps to turn your videos into Live Photos-

1. Download and launch the app from your home screen of the iPhone. Now choose the video you want to convert.
2. Select a part of your video to turn into a Live Photo. You can also choose the primary photo or frame that will feature at the beginning of your Live Photo. The app lets you create any sequence you want.
3. Preview your Live Photo using the 3D Touch feature. Save your picture as a Live Photo.
4. Next, we will check out some more ways to create Live Photos from videos.

Part 2: How to Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok?

TikTok is a cool video-sharing platform with countless users. But do you know TikTok is also a handy video to Live Photo app?

You can use TikTok to convert any video into a Live Photo. Let’s see how you can do that-

1. Launch the TikTok app on your iPhone. Choose the video you want to convert into a Live Photo.
2. Now, tap on the share button, represented by a curved arrow. You will see several options appearing on your screen. Choose “Live Photo” from the 2nd line of options.
3. You can find the Live Photo saved in your Photos app.

Part 3: How to Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY?

GIPHY is a popular platform for GIFs. You can find endless GIFs to share and enjoy on GIPHY. Now you can use the GIPHY app to turn your video into Live Photos.

The feature is really simple but provides a lot of benefits. Many people want to convert GIFs to Live Photos. GIPHY has made it possible for the first time.

Here are the steps you need to follow-

1. Download and open the GIPHY app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the GIF you want to transform into a Live Photo. Now, press the three white dots below the GIF on the right side.
3. You will see three options on the screen. Tap on “Convert to Live Photo.”
4. Select if you want your Live Photo to be full-screen or fit-to-screen. GIPHY will now convert and save your GIF as a Live Photo. You can also select it as wallpaper.

Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper?

Congrats on creating your Live Photo. Let’s now set it as your wallpaper.

1. Access the “Settings” menu on your iPhone. Scroll down to find “Wallpaper” and tap on it.
2. Now, press on “Choose a New Wallpaper.” You will get all your photos as options, including Live Photos.
3. Choose “Live Photos” on the screen. Then tap on the Live Photo you want to set as wallpaper.
4. Press “Set” to get three options. You can tap to set the Live Photo as “Set Lock Screen,” ‘Set Home Screen,” and “Set Both.” Tap on your preferred option.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Secure Download

Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>

download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Live Photo is a wonderful feature of the iPhone. You can capture a short series of frames to make your pictures look lively. Do you know you can also convert your video to Live Photos?

That’s right! You can turn video into Live Photo very easily using a few apps. Then you can use your converted Live Photos as wallpaper on your iPhones and iPads. Surely, that will make unlocking and browsing your phone more exciting!

Moreover, you can also show the Live Photos to your friends and enjoy quality time. Here are the top ways to turn your videos into Live Photos.

• Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps
• Part 2: Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok
• Part 3: Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY
• Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper

Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps

You can use the following video to Live Photo apps to create wallpapers for iPhone-

1. intoLive

intoLive is a simple video to Live Photo wallpaper converter. It’s very user-friendly and comes with a rating of 4.6 stars. The app is a favorite to many users who rely on it to create beautiful Live Photos. The app supports iOS 12.0 or later versions for iPhones and iPads.

The best thing about intoLive is it’s completely free to use! Plus, it is also available in many languages, even Chinese and Italian.

Converting your videos into Live Photos is a cake with intoLive. Just follow the steps below-

1. Download the app and launch it from your home screen.
2. Now select the video you want to turn into a Live Photo.
3. Use the red sliders to choose the part of the video you wish to convert into a Live Photo. Next, set the duration for the same. You can also edit your video if you want, using the features available.
4. Now save your video as a Live Photo.

2. VideoToLive

VideoToLive is another free video to Live Photo iPhone converter. The app has a rating of 4.1 stars and is suitable for iOS 11.2 or more current versions. VideoToLive lets you create Live Photos without any the 5-second restriction. You can also share Live Photos with friends and family using the app.

Additionally, VideoToLive lets you make GIFs from videos and Live Photos. You can say it’s a versatile app to have on your iPhone.

Here is how to create your Live Photo-

1. The first thing to do is to download and launch VideoToLive.
2. Now select the video you desire to configure to Live Photos.
3. Select the part of the video for creating your Live Photo. You can choose frames from the videos on the upper part of the screen.
4. ap on “Convert” on the upper right part of the interface. Your video is now turned into a Live Photo.

3. Video to Live Photo Wallpapers

This is another convenient video to Live Photos converter . Video to Live Photo Wallpapers is also a free app and has a 4.3-star rating. It can work with iOS versions 10.0 or later. So, you can also use old iPhones and iPads.

Video to Live Photo Wallpapers comes with paid features if you want to upgrade.

Follow the steps to turn your videos into Live Photos-

1. Download and launch the app from your home screen of the iPhone. Now choose the video you want to convert.
2. Select a part of your video to turn into a Live Photo. You can also choose the primary photo or frame that will feature at the beginning of your Live Photo. The app lets you create any sequence you want.
3. Preview your Live Photo using the 3D Touch feature. Save your picture as a Live Photo.
4. Next, we will check out some more ways to create Live Photos from videos.

Part 2: How to Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok?

TikTok is a cool video-sharing platform with countless users. But do you know TikTok is also a handy video to Live Photo app?

You can use TikTok to convert any video into a Live Photo. Let’s see how you can do that-

1. Launch the TikTok app on your iPhone. Choose the video you want to convert into a Live Photo.
2. Now, tap on the share button, represented by a curved arrow. You will see several options appearing on your screen. Choose “Live Photo” from the 2nd line of options.
3. You can find the Live Photo saved in your Photos app.

Part 3: How to Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY?

GIPHY is a popular platform for GIFs. You can find endless GIFs to share and enjoy on GIPHY. Now you can use the GIPHY app to turn your video into Live Photos.

The feature is really simple but provides a lot of benefits. Many people want to convert GIFs to Live Photos. GIPHY has made it possible for the first time.

Here are the steps you need to follow-

1. Download and open the GIPHY app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the GIF you want to transform into a Live Photo. Now, press the three white dots below the GIF on the right side.
3. You will see three options on the screen. Tap on “Convert to Live Photo.”
4. Select if you want your Live Photo to be full-screen or fit-to-screen. GIPHY will now convert and save your GIF as a Live Photo. You can also select it as wallpaper.

Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper?

Congrats on creating your Live Photo. Let’s now set it as your wallpaper.

1. Access the “Settings” menu on your iPhone. Scroll down to find “Wallpaper” and tap on it.
2. Now, press on “Choose a New Wallpaper.” You will get all your photos as options, including Live Photos.
3. Choose “Live Photos” on the screen. Then tap on the Live Photo you want to set as wallpaper.
4. Press “Set” to get three options. You can tap to set the Live Photo as “Set Lock Screen,” ‘Set Home Screen,” and “Set Both.” Tap on your preferred option.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Secure Download

Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>

download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Live Photo is a wonderful feature of the iPhone. You can capture a short series of frames to make your pictures look lively. Do you know you can also convert your video to Live Photos?

That’s right! You can turn video into Live Photo very easily using a few apps. Then you can use your converted Live Photos as wallpaper on your iPhones and iPads. Surely, that will make unlocking and browsing your phone more exciting!

Moreover, you can also show the Live Photos to your friends and enjoy quality time. Here are the top ways to turn your videos into Live Photos.

• Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps
• Part 2: Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok
• Part 3: Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY
• Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper

Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps

You can use the following video to Live Photo apps to create wallpapers for iPhone-

1. intoLive

intoLive is a simple video to Live Photo wallpaper converter. It’s very user-friendly and comes with a rating of 4.6 stars. The app is a favorite to many users who rely on it to create beautiful Live Photos. The app supports iOS 12.0 or later versions for iPhones and iPads.

The best thing about intoLive is it’s completely free to use! Plus, it is also available in many languages, even Chinese and Italian.

Converting your videos into Live Photos is a cake with intoLive. Just follow the steps below-

1. Download the app and launch it from your home screen.
2. Now select the video you want to turn into a Live Photo.
3. Use the red sliders to choose the part of the video you wish to convert into a Live Photo. Next, set the duration for the same. You can also edit your video if you want, using the features available.
4. Now save your video as a Live Photo.

2. VideoToLive

VideoToLive is another free video to Live Photo iPhone converter. The app has a rating of 4.1 stars and is suitable for iOS 11.2 or more current versions. VideoToLive lets you create Live Photos without any the 5-second restriction. You can also share Live Photos with friends and family using the app.

Additionally, VideoToLive lets you make GIFs from videos and Live Photos. You can say it’s a versatile app to have on your iPhone.

Here is how to create your Live Photo-

1. The first thing to do is to download and launch VideoToLive.
2. Now select the video you desire to configure to Live Photos.
3. Select the part of the video for creating your Live Photo. You can choose frames from the videos on the upper part of the screen.
4. ap on “Convert” on the upper right part of the interface. Your video is now turned into a Live Photo.

3. Video to Live Photo Wallpapers

This is another convenient video to Live Photos converter . Video to Live Photo Wallpapers is also a free app and has a 4.3-star rating. It can work with iOS versions 10.0 or later. So, you can also use old iPhones and iPads.

Video to Live Photo Wallpapers comes with paid features if you want to upgrade.

Follow the steps to turn your videos into Live Photos-

1. Download and launch the app from your home screen of the iPhone. Now choose the video you want to convert.
2. Select a part of your video to turn into a Live Photo. You can also choose the primary photo or frame that will feature at the beginning of your Live Photo. The app lets you create any sequence you want.
3. Preview your Live Photo using the 3D Touch feature. Save your picture as a Live Photo.
4. Next, we will check out some more ways to create Live Photos from videos.

Part 2: How to Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok?

TikTok is a cool video-sharing platform with countless users. But do you know TikTok is also a handy video to Live Photo app?

You can use TikTok to convert any video into a Live Photo. Let’s see how you can do that-

1. Launch the TikTok app on your iPhone. Choose the video you want to convert into a Live Photo.
2. Now, tap on the share button, represented by a curved arrow. You will see several options appearing on your screen. Choose “Live Photo” from the 2nd line of options.
3. You can find the Live Photo saved in your Photos app.

Part 3: How to Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY?

GIPHY is a popular platform for GIFs. You can find endless GIFs to share and enjoy on GIPHY. Now you can use the GIPHY app to turn your video into Live Photos.

The feature is really simple but provides a lot of benefits. Many people want to convert GIFs to Live Photos. GIPHY has made it possible for the first time.

Here are the steps you need to follow-

1. Download and open the GIPHY app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the GIF you want to transform into a Live Photo. Now, press the three white dots below the GIF on the right side.
3. You will see three options on the screen. Tap on “Convert to Live Photo.”
4. Select if you want your Live Photo to be full-screen or fit-to-screen. GIPHY will now convert and save your GIF as a Live Photo. You can also select it as wallpaper.

Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper?

Congrats on creating your Live Photo. Let’s now set it as your wallpaper.

1. Access the “Settings” menu on your iPhone. Scroll down to find “Wallpaper” and tap on it.
2. Now, press on “Choose a New Wallpaper.” You will get all your photos as options, including Live Photos.
3. Choose “Live Photos” on the screen. Then tap on the Live Photo you want to set as wallpaper.
4. Press “Set” to get three options. You can tap to set the Live Photo as “Set Lock Screen,” ‘Set Home Screen,” and “Set Both.” Tap on your preferred option.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Secure Download

Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>

download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Live Photo is a wonderful feature of the iPhone. You can capture a short series of frames to make your pictures look lively. Do you know you can also convert your video to Live Photos?

That’s right! You can turn video into Live Photo very easily using a few apps. Then you can use your converted Live Photos as wallpaper on your iPhones and iPads. Surely, that will make unlocking and browsing your phone more exciting!

Moreover, you can also show the Live Photos to your friends and enjoy quality time. Here are the top ways to turn your videos into Live Photos.

• Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps
• Part 2: Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok
• Part 3: Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY
• Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper

Part 1: Best Video to Live Photo Apps

You can use the following video to Live Photo apps to create wallpapers for iPhone-

1. intoLive

intoLive is a simple video to Live Photo wallpaper converter. It’s very user-friendly and comes with a rating of 4.6 stars. The app is a favorite to many users who rely on it to create beautiful Live Photos. The app supports iOS 12.0 or later versions for iPhones and iPads.

The best thing about intoLive is it’s completely free to use! Plus, it is also available in many languages, even Chinese and Italian.

Converting your videos into Live Photos is a cake with intoLive. Just follow the steps below-

1. Download the app and launch it from your home screen.
2. Now select the video you want to turn into a Live Photo.
3. Use the red sliders to choose the part of the video you wish to convert into a Live Photo. Next, set the duration for the same. You can also edit your video if you want, using the features available.
4. Now save your video as a Live Photo.

2. VideoToLive

VideoToLive is another free video to Live Photo iPhone converter. The app has a rating of 4.1 stars and is suitable for iOS 11.2 or more current versions. VideoToLive lets you create Live Photos without any the 5-second restriction. You can also share Live Photos with friends and family using the app.

Additionally, VideoToLive lets you make GIFs from videos and Live Photos. You can say it’s a versatile app to have on your iPhone.

Here is how to create your Live Photo-

1. The first thing to do is to download and launch VideoToLive.
2. Now select the video you desire to configure to Live Photos.
3. Select the part of the video for creating your Live Photo. You can choose frames from the videos on the upper part of the screen.
4. ap on “Convert” on the upper right part of the interface. Your video is now turned into a Live Photo.

3. Video to Live Photo Wallpapers

This is another convenient video to Live Photos converter . Video to Live Photo Wallpapers is also a free app and has a 4.3-star rating. It can work with iOS versions 10.0 or later. So, you can also use old iPhones and iPads.

Video to Live Photo Wallpapers comes with paid features if you want to upgrade.

Follow the steps to turn your videos into Live Photos-

1. Download and launch the app from your home screen of the iPhone. Now choose the video you want to convert.
2. Select a part of your video to turn into a Live Photo. You can also choose the primary photo or frame that will feature at the beginning of your Live Photo. The app lets you create any sequence you want.
3. Preview your Live Photo using the 3D Touch feature. Save your picture as a Live Photo.
4. Next, we will check out some more ways to create Live Photos from videos.

Part 2: How to Convert Video to Live Photos with TikTok?

TikTok is a cool video-sharing platform with countless users. But do you know TikTok is also a handy video to Live Photo app?

You can use TikTok to convert any video into a Live Photo. Let’s see how you can do that-

1. Launch the TikTok app on your iPhone. Choose the video you want to convert into a Live Photo.
2. Now, tap on the share button, represented by a curved arrow. You will see several options appearing on your screen. Choose “Live Photo” from the 2nd line of options.
3. You can find the Live Photo saved in your Photos app.

Part 3: How to Convert GIFs to Live Photos with GIPHY?

GIPHY is a popular platform for GIFs. You can find endless GIFs to share and enjoy on GIPHY. Now you can use the GIPHY app to turn your video into Live Photos.

The feature is really simple but provides a lot of benefits. Many people want to convert GIFs to Live Photos. GIPHY has made it possible for the first time.

Here are the steps you need to follow-

1. Download and open the GIPHY app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the GIF you want to transform into a Live Photo. Now, press the three white dots below the GIF on the right side.
3. You will see three options on the screen. Tap on “Convert to Live Photo.”
4. Select if you want your Live Photo to be full-screen or fit-to-screen. GIPHY will now convert and save your GIF as a Live Photo. You can also select it as wallpaper.

Part 4: How to Set Up A Live Photo as Your iPhone Wallpaper?

Congrats on creating your Live Photo. Let’s now set it as your wallpaper.

1. Access the “Settings” menu on your iPhone. Scroll down to find “Wallpaper” and tap on it.
2. Now, press on “Choose a New Wallpaper.” You will get all your photos as options, including Live Photos.
3. Choose “Live Photos” on the screen. Then tap on the Live Photo you want to set as wallpaper.
4. Press “Set” to get three options. You can tap to set the Live Photo as “Set Lock Screen,” ‘Set Home Screen,” and “Set Both.” Tap on your preferred option.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Secure Download

Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>

download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Commercial Photography on a Budget: Free Image Options

Did you know that some of the world’s most iconic advertisements use stock images for commercial use? For example, AlamapBBDO, a Brazilian ad agency, used stock photos from Getty Images to create their Endless Possibilities campaign in 2016. The advertising campaign combined photos of random people’s faces to recreate portraits of famous people such as the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.

Most creative agencies prefer altering stock images in most of their work. This is because it allows them to create campaigns for different companies much faster at affordable costs. Keep reading to find out how to get free images for commercial use in your next project.

Part 1: Download images in loyalty-free sites

Several sites offer free images for commercial use as part of their services. In addition, you do not need to register an account to download the images. The sites typically rely on user contributions and content teams to ensure their databases are fresh and maintain consistent quality. Furthermore, all creative assets they offer fall under the creative commons zero license or a variation of it. Here are some of the sites that offer you images for commercial use for free.

1. Pexels

Pexels.com is a free-to-use provider of high-resolution photos and videos for aspiring creators. The German-based website was started in 2014 by two brothers and has been under the Canva umbrella since 2018.

Currently, the website hosts over 3.2 million images and videos from over 250,000 active contributors. In addition, all the material you find in its library is under the Pexels license, which slightly varies from the creative commons zero license model. Some of the restrictions it enforces include:

• You can only use pexels images for commercial use after making alterations to the original image. For example, you can use part of an image to create a collage for your commercial branding.
• Furthermore, you cannot use any of the website’s content to promote political ideologies and explicit content, especially if the images contain identifiable subjects.

Pexels is available through the following channels:

• Your web browser by typing the URL pexels.com.
• The Android and iOS app.
• A plugin for other content creation software such as Google Slides and MS Office.
• An extension on your Chrome browser.
• You can also access the database using the official Canva app.

2. Unsplash

Another website that offers free images for commercial use is Unsplash, a subsidiary of Getty Images since 2021. The website is a favorite among creators boasting over 16 billion photo impressions monthly. In addition, the database consists of over 3.48 million photos from more than 265,000 unique contributors, all under the Unsplash license.

The Unsplash license restricts the sale of its creative assets without incorporating new creative elements, including using them in print media and physical goods such as mugs and caps.

You can access Unsplash from your web browser or request API integration for your application from the site’s owners. In addition, the site also hosts photo walks across different cities, where Unsplash guides show you the best photo locations around the city and the best camera techniques for your work. Some cities to host the event include Boston, Montreal, Tokyo, and Toronto.

3. Freerange

Freerange Stock is an online resource for photos, illustrations, and textures you can download and use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Since 2007, the site has continued to provide high-quality images to its community of over 800,000 registered users.

Unlike the previous examples, all content on Freerange falls under the website’s Equalicense. It grants you broad commercial rights of its stock images while allowing the contributors to retain control of their copyright, image resale, and distribution. As such, you cannot use the images for bulk distribution or print-on-demand works.

Freerange Stock maintains its steady supply of images for commercial use via the following methods:

• It has an in-house team of professional photographers who upload images across the different categories on the website.
• Freerange Stock also purchases image rights or directly commissions photos from independent creators.
• You can also contribute to the website’s library by voluntarily submitting your work to the platform. Kindly note that you will need a verified account to enable this function.
• The website also works directly with photographers through a licensing and distribution model, providing them extra exposure on the site.
• Finally, Freerange stock aggregates public domain images from other sources, including similar sites and government institutions. It does so by acknowledging the image owner and sometimes lists the image source when the owner is unknown.

Freerange Stock is accessible through your web browser or as an API integration on your app.

4. Vecteezy

Vecteezy is an extensive online library of free stock images for commercial use. Some of the site’s highlight features include the following:

• A best-in-class search engine that incorporates multiple filters to ensure your results are extremely accurate. For example, you can sort images by color, style, number of people, and age of the subjects, something other free stock websites do not provide.
• All images, videos, and vector illustrations are free for personal and commercial uses. It does so through a property sign and release model with its extensive network of contributors, which protects users from any legal liabilities.
• Finally, it employs a content team that manually reviews each photo submission to ensure consistent quality standards for its offerings.

In addition, you can also purchase design resource bundles by subscribing to its Vecteezy pro for as little as $9 monthly. Some of the resources available include the Ultimate Text Effects Layer Styles Bundle for Photoshop, which costs $39 stand-alone or $4.50 when you subscribe to pro.

Part 2: Buy from stock providers

Another way to get images for commercial use is by buying them from stock providers. Some of the benefits of buying images from stock providers include:

• You get a wide selection of unique photos from top-tier photographers. Stock providers always seek collaborations with the industry’s finest to edge out the competition.
• You receive exemplary customer service with your purchase. Selecting the right image can be confusing for amateur creators. As such, stock image providers have customer support channels to help you throughout your creative process.
• Stock images reduce your delivery times significantly. Buying images from a stock provider eliminates the need to invest in photography equipment and the time you need for post-production. As such, you can deliver projects in a fast and cost-effective way.

Despite the above positive, here are some challenges that buying stock images may present:

• Not all stock image providers will have the creative assets you need.
• Image overuse is likely since every creator will rush for the most popular contributor.

Below are some of the stock image providers you should consider.

1. iStock

iStockphoto.com is an online database of creative resources, including royalty-free photos, videos, audio, illustrations, and clip art you can use in your creations. The website is a Getty Images subsidiary based in Calgary, Canada. In addition, contributors earn royalties depending on how often users download their content.

2. Alamy.com

Alamy.com is a British-owned stock image provider with contributions from photographers and agencies in 173 countries. It compensates its contributors by offering higher than average payouts every time users download their creations. Some popular brands to use Alamy’s services include M&C Saatchi, Microsoft, and The Economist.

Part 3: Shot a Photo by yourself or create one with editing tools

Alternatively, you can get images for commercial use by shooting them yourself or creating them with editing tools such as Figma and Wondershare’s Filmstock. Here are some benefits of using this method:

• You get exactly what you want, provided you have the required skills and equipment. Sometimes, getting the right image for your commercial purpose can be challenging. As such, shooting an original photo may be the only option.
• You have full ownership of the image.

Unlike obtaining images from stock photography websites, you are free to use the image in whatever capacity you please without any restrictions. For example, sites such as Unsplash do not allow you to use their images in political statements, a restriction you can bypass when using your own creations.

However, you should also consider the following factors when using this method.

It requires a substantial investment

Getting high-quality images for commercial purposes requires specialist equipment. For example, the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 camera, which has 4K resolution capability, costs $2,197 on Amazon. This makes it extremely expensive for amateur creators.

There is a steep learning curve

Becoming a professional photographer takes time and effort. Unless you are creating as a hobby, it will be a while before you can start generating income from your creations.

Part 4: FAQs

1. Do you need a contributor account to get images for commercial use?

Not necessarily. Stock image sites like pexels.com allow you to download images from their website without creating an account. You will only need one if you want to showcase your work on the platform.

2. Can you use your smartphone to get images for commercial use?

Yes. Most stock image providers have device-specific apps that allow you to access their databases from your mobile device. For example, UnsplashPhotoPicker allows you access to the Unsplash library from your Android device.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Also read: