What these terms mean
Creative Commons is a set of standard licences creators use to let others reuse their work under certain conditions. Royalty-free usually means you pay once, or nothing, and can use the asset without paying per view, but still under licence terms.
Neither means 'no rules'. Every licence still sets out what you can and cannot do.
Read the licence letters
Common Creative Commons conditions include BY (credit the creator), SA (share your remix under the same licence), NC (no commercial use) and ND (no changes). A clip marked NC is not suitable for a sponsored post or ad.
Some works are released under CC0, which is close to public domain. Even then, check whether people or logos in the clip need separate permission.
Credit properly
When credit is required, include the title if known, the creator's name, the source and the licence name, for example 'Clip: Sunset beach by A. Rivera, CC BY 4.0'. Put it in the caption or description.
Follow any credit format the source site asks for. If a platform caption is too short, add a pinned comment or link to a credits page.
Keep records and stay safe
Download clips only from the official source page, and save a screenshot of the licence and the date. Licences can change and pages can disappear.
Be cautious with clips re-uploaded by people who do not own them, since their licence label may be wrong. If you plan major commercial use, ask a professional to check the terms.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Creative Commons clips in a monetised video?
Only if the licence allows commercial use, which excludes NC licences. Check the specific licence on the source page.
Does royalty-free mean free of charge?
Not always. It means you do not pay ongoing royalties per use, but the licence may still cost money and include restrictions.