Envato is an Australian-based technology company headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2006 by Collis Ta'eed, Cyan Ta'eed, and Jun Rung, Envato has grown into one of the world's largest digital marketplaces for creative assets and digital goods. The company operates a global online ecosystem that connects creative professionals, designers, developers, and content creators with buyers who need digital products to build websites, create videos, design graphics, and produce a wide range of media projects.
Over the years, Envato has built a thriving community of millions of creators and customers worldwide. The company's mission centers on helping people complete their creative projects by providing access to a vast library of digital assets, tools, and educational resources. In 2024, Envato was acquired by Shutterstock, integrating its offerings into a broader portfolio of creative content services.
What Envato Does
At its core, Envato facilitates the buying and selling of digital creative assets. The company operates a series of online marketplaces where independent authors and creators can list and sell their work, earning revenue while buyers gain access to professionally produced templates, graphics, audio, video, and code. Envato handles the platform infrastructure, payment processing, licensing, and community management, creating a streamlined experience for both creators and consumers.
Beyond the marketplace model, Envato has evolved to offer subscription-based access to its content libraries, educational tutorials, and a suite of products designed to support creative work from start to finish.
Products and Services
Envato Market
Envato Market is the company's flagship collection of marketplaces where digital goods are bought and sold on a per-item basis. It comprises several specialized platforms:
ThemeForest: The world's largest marketplace for website templates and themes, including WordPress themes, HTML templates, and e-commerce templates. This is one of Envato's most popular and well-known properties.
CodeCanyon: A marketplace specializing in code, scripts, plugins, and app source code. Developers can find PHP scripts, JavaScript components, WordPress plugins, mobile app templates, and more.
GraphicRiver: A marketplace offering graphic design assets such as logos, icons, print templates, fonts, vectors, and add-ons for design software.
VideoHive: A platform for video content and motion graphics, including stock footage, motion graphics templates, After Effects projects, and visual effects.
AudioJungle: A marketplace for royalty-free music and audio, featuring stock music tracks, sound effects, and audio loops for use in video, games, and other media.
PhotoDune: A stock photography marketplace offering high-quality images for commercial and creative use.
3DOcean: A marketplace dedicated to 3D models, textures, and related assets for 3D artists and game developers.
Envato Elements
Envato Elements is a subscription-based service that gives members unlimited access to a massive library of digital assets for a flat monthly or annual fee. Subscribers can download from millions of items including stock photos, video templates, music tracks, graphic templates, fonts, web themes, presentation templates, and more. The subscription model includes commercial licensing, making it popular among agencies, freelancers, and businesses that require regular access to creative content. Envato Elements has become a central pillar of the company's offerings, appealing to users who prefer ongoing access rather than individual purchases.
Placeit by Envato
Placeit is an easy-to-use online design tool acquired by Envato that allows users to create logos, mockups, videos, and designs directly in the browser without needing professional design software. It offers templates for product mockups, social media graphics, gaming logos, business branding, and more, making design accessible to non-designers and small business owners.
Milkshake
Milkshake is a mobile app within the Envato family that enables users to build simple, attractive websites directly from their smartphones. It is geared toward creators, influencers, and small businesses looking for a quick and accessible way to establish an online presence.
Tuts+
Tuts+ is Envato's educational arm, providing tutorials, courses, and guides covering a wide range of creative and technical skills. Topics include web design, coding, graphic design, photography, video production, and business. Tuts+ helps creators improve their skills and stay current with industry trends, supporting the broader creative community that Envato serves.
Community and Author Ecosystem
A defining feature of Envato is its global community of authors and contributors. Creators from around the world earn income by selling their work through Envato's marketplaces and contributing to Elements. Envato provides authors with tools, support, and a global audience, enabling many to build sustainable creative careers. The company has paid out substantial earnings to its community of authors over the years, reflecting its significant economic impact on the digital creative industry.
Company Values and Culture
Envato has built a reputation for being a purpose-driven organization with a strong focus on community, creativity, and ethical business practices. The company has historically emphasized fair treatment of its authors, environmental responsibility, and giving back through charitable initiatives. Its culture supports remote and flexible work, and it has cultivated a collaborative environment for both employees and the wider creator community.
Conclusion
Envato stands as a leading force in the digital creative marketplace industry, offering a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services that empower creators and buyers alike. From its flagship marketplaces under Envato Market to its subscription service Envato Elements, its design tools like Placeit and Milkshake, and its educational platform Tuts+, the company provides end-to-end support for creative projects. With its Australian roots and global reach, Envato continues to play a major role in shaping how digital content is created, shared, and monetized around the world.
