Envato has severely disrupted the market by giving away high-quality creative assets for free (or nearly free) through Envato Elements. This model is deeply detrimental to creators who have spent years, sometimes decades, honing their skills, mastering complex software, and producing professional-grade work.
It’s clear that Envato’s leadership lacks a fundamental understanding of the digital creative industry. This isn’t a market that can sustain itself on a Netflix-style subscription model. Digital content is a niche, skill-driven industry, not disposable entertainment. By devaluing creative work into an all-you-can-download buffet, Envato is undermining the very professionals who built its platform.
Instead of chasing quick profits and blindly copying unsustainable market trends, Envato should reconsider its approach. Look at platforms like Turbosquid, which maintain fair pricing and respect for creators’ work. The current path only leads to a race to the bottom, where quality and talent are no longer rewarded.
We urge Envato to:
Reinstate a fair, value-driven pricing model—not a one-size-fits-all subscription.
Shut down Envato Elements, or at least drastically reform it to protect creators’ livelihoods.
Listen to the creative community—those who actually understand the industry’s needs.
Continuing down this path will only drive away the skilled professionals Envato relies on—leaving behind a hollowed-out marketplace with no real value.
