Skip to main content
Stock Stream
Stock Stream
Participating Frequently
August 18, 2026
Answered

“I have a very important question.”

  • August 18, 2026
  • 9 replies
  • 81 views

I currently have 441 ma sha allah eligible assets for the Free Collection. I would like to make the best choice before submitting my nominations.

Could you please advise me whether I should choose the Perpetual Free Collection ($10 per selected asset) or the Annual Free Collection ($4 per selected asset)?

My main question is: does choosing one option over the other affect the likelihood of my assets being selected? For example, is Adobe more likely to select a larger number of assets for the Annual Collection than for the Perpetual Collection?

I would really appreciate your guidance so I can make the right choice for my assets.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

    Correct answer Steve886

    Adobe doesn't say that one term has better selection odds. The current FAQ says there is no minimum or maximum number accepted and that the goal is a balanced collection across topics. I would therefore treat the Annual-versus-Perpetual choice as a rights-and-payment decision, not a selection tactic. Choose Annual if you want the chance to opt out at the next review and receive another upfront payment if Adobe renews it. Choose Perpetual only if you're comfortable with the asset staying free indefinitely for one payment. A practical test: nominate work whose future paid-sales value you would be comfortable exchanging for that term, and keep stronger evergreen sellers out. For 441 eligible files, you don't need to nominate everything; start with assets you can genuinely commit under the selected term.

    9 replies

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 19, 2026

    Do some homework. Search the database for similar keywords to your own.

    If there is too much competition from other content, the Free Collection is better than no sales at all. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.

     

    On the other hand, if the asset is in high demand with good repeat sales potential, the Free Collection might be a bad business decision because it cuts off future revenue generation from normal sales. 

     

    You must decide what’s best for your long-term interests & goals.

     

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    S
    Steve886Correct answer
    Participating Frequently
    August 19, 2026

    Adobe doesn't say that one term has better selection odds. The current FAQ says there is no minimum or maximum number accepted and that the goal is a balanced collection across topics. I would therefore treat the Annual-versus-Perpetual choice as a rights-and-payment decision, not a selection tactic. Choose Annual if you want the chance to opt out at the next review and receive another upfront payment if Adobe renews it. Choose Perpetual only if you're comfortable with the asset staying free indefinitely for one payment. A practical test: nominate work whose future paid-sales value you would be comfortable exchanging for that term, and keep stronger evergreen sellers out. For 441 eligible files, you don't need to nominate everything; start with assets you can genuinely commit under the selected term.

    Stock Stream
    Stock StreamAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    August 19, 2026

    Could you please advise me on which option you think I should choose? I have no objection to either the Annual or Perpetual option, so I would really appreciate your recommendation on which one would be better for me.

    S
    Steve886
    Participating Frequently
    August 19, 2026

    If you are genuinely comfortable with either, I would choose Annual. The extra $6 for Perpetual is not enough, in my view, to give up control forever unless these are older files with very little realistic paid-sales value. Annual gives you a useful checkpoint: after the term, you can reassess whether the asset should remain free, return to paid licensing, or be nominated again if Adobe offers it. I would start with a smaller group of weaker or non-evergreen assets under Annual, not all 441. Use Perpetual only for files you would be happy never to withdraw, even if your portfolio strategy changes later.

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 18, 2026

    Choose only what you’re most comfortable committing to— either 1 year or perpetual. 

    If you nominate an asset for perpetual use and it’s accepted into the Free Collection, you can’t change your mind later and withdraw it.  Choose wisely. See below for more details.

    https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/additional-earning-opportunities/free-collection-faq.html

     

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices