Shutterstock and
Adobe Stock are the top stock photo services for most creators. Shutterstock suits high-volume users needing a massive, diverse library quickly. Adobe Stock suits professional designers who want seamless integration with Creative Cloud applications.
Top 10 Stock Photo Services, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  ShutterstockThe library contains over 400 million assets and adds hundreds of thousands more each week. | High-volume content creators | 95.0 | $29/month |
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| 2 |  Adobe StockAssets can be previewed as watermarked versions inside design layouts before purchasing a license. | Professional designers using Creative Cloud | 92.7 | $29.99/month |
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| 3 |  Getty ImagesIt holds the historical archives of many major news and entertainment events worldwide. | Editorial publications and major brands | 90.3 | $150/image |
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| 4 |  iStockIt pioneered the microstock photography industry after launching in the year 2000. | Small businesses and budget-conscious marketers | 88.0 | $29/month |
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| 5 |  AlamyThe library features over 300 million assets contributed by both amateurs and professionals. | Publishers and educational textbook creators | 85.7 | $19.99/image |
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| 6 |  Envato ElementsSubscribers get unlimited downloads across all asset categories for a single flat fee. | Agencies and freelancers needing diverse digital assets | 83.3 | $16.50/month |
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| 7 |  DepositphotosThe library contains over 250 million files available for commercial and editorial use. | Bloggers and startup marketing teams | 81.0 | $9.99/month |
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| 8 |  UnsplashIt was acquired by visual media giant Getty Images in 2021. | Web designers and digital marketers seeking aesthetic shots | 78.7 | Free |
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| 9 |  PexelsAll photos and videos on Pexels are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero license. | Social media managers and content creators | 76.3 | Free |
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| 10 |  FreepikFreepik is one of the largest freemium asset providers globally with millions of monthly active users. | Designers looking for a mix of vectors and photos | 74.0 | 15 EUR per month |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Shutterstock (#1): High-volume content creators
- Adobe Stock (#2): Professional designers using Creative Cloud
- Getty Images (#3): Editorial publications and major brands
- iStock (#4): Small businesses and budget-conscious marketers
- Alamy (#5): Publishers and educational textbook creators
- Envato Elements (#6): Agencies and freelancers needing diverse digital assets
- Depositphotos (#7): Bloggers and startup marketing teams
- Unsplash (#8): Web designers and digital marketers seeking aesthetic shots
- Pexels (#9): Social media managers and content creators
- Freepik (#10): Designers looking for a mix of vectors and photos
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Your creative workflow, simplified
Shutterstock is one of the largest stock content marketplaces globally, offering millions of images, videos, and music tracks.
From $29/month
PROS- Massive and diverse asset library
- Advanced search filters and reverse image search
CONS- Subscription plans can be expensive for casual users
- Best for
- High-volume content creators
- Where it falls short
- Subscription plans can be expensive for casual users.
- Pick something else if
- you are a casual user.
95.0
02
Built for creative professionals
Adobe Stock is deeply integrated into Adobe Creative Cloud applications, allowing users to license assets directly inside software like Photoshop.
From $29.99/month
PROS- Seamless integration with Adobe apps
- High-quality curated collections
CONS- Unused downloads do not roll over indefinitely on all plans
- Best for
- Professional designers using Creative Cloud
- Where it falls short
- Unused downloads do not roll over indefinitely on all plans.
- Pick something else if
- you need unlimited rollover credits.
92.7
03
Move the world with images
Getty Images is a premier visual media company known for its award-winning editorial photography and exclusive creative content.
From $150/image
PROS- Unmatched editorial and news coverage
- Exclusive premium imagery
CONS- Significantly higher pricing than competitors
- Best for
- Editorial publications and major brands
- Where it falls short
- It costs significantly more than other stock photo providers.
- Pick something else if
- you need a lower-cost alternative.
90.3
04
Original stock content for everyone
Originally iStockphoto, this service offers millions of crowdsourced budget-friendly vector illustrations, photos, and video clips.
From $29/month
PROS- Affordable credit and subscription packages
- Exclusive content not found on Shutterstock
CONS- Credit systems can sometimes feel confusing
- Best for
- Small businesses and budget-conscious marketers
- Where it falls short
- Credit systems can sometimes feel confusing to users.
- Pick something else if
- you need a straightforward billing structure.
88.0
05
Stock photos and vectors for creative professionals
Alamy provides one of the world's largest collections of stock photos, offering a non-restrictive contributor payout model and huge variety.
From $19.99/image
PROS- Simple pricing structure for single images
- Huge variety of niche and editorial shots
CONS- Website interface can feel slightly dated
- Best for
- Publishers and educational textbook creators
- Where it falls short
- Website interface can feel slightly dated.
85.7
06
All the creative assets you need under one subscription
Envato Elements operates on an unlimited download subscription model, covering stock photos, video templates, audio, and graphics.
From $16.50/month
PROS- Truly unlimited downloads on subscription
- Includes web templates, music, and video in one price
CONS- Photo library is smaller than dedicated photography giants
- Best for
- Agencies and freelancers needing diverse digital assets
- Where it falls short
- Photo library is smaller than dedicated photography giants.
83.3
07
Visuals for your brilliant ideas
Depositphotos is a commercial platform connecting authors of high-quality stock photos and vector art with appreciative buyers.
From $9.99/month
PROS- Frequent promotional deals and discounts
- User-friendly search tools
CONS- Fewer high-end editorial news images than Getty
- Best for
- Bloggers and startup marketing teams
- Where it falls short
- Fewer high-end editorial news images than Getty.
81.0
08
The internet's source of freely usable images
Unsplash is a popular platform driven by a community of photographers who donate their photographs for free public use.
Free
PROS- High aesthetic and modern photography style
- Free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes
CONS- Can lack specific conceptual or niche commercial shots
- Best for
- Web designers and digital marketers seeking aesthetic shots
- Where it falls short
- Can lack specific conceptual or niche commercial shots.
78.7
09
Free stock photos & videos you can use everywhere
Pexels offers high quality and completely free stock photos and videos shared by talented creators.
Free
PROS- Entirely free with flexible licensing
- Great collection of both photos and vertical videos
CONS- Popular images may be overused across the web
- Best for
- Social media managers and content creators
- Where it falls short
- Popular images may be overused across the web.
76.3
10
Free graphic resources for everyone
A popular platform offering a vast collection of free and premium stock photos, vector graphics, illustrations, and mockups.
From 15 EUR per month
PROS- Huge variety of vector illustrations
- Generous free tier available
CONS- Attribution is required for free downloads
- Best for
- Designers looking for a mix of vectors and photos
- Where it falls short
- Attribution is required for free downloads.
74.0
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between editorial and commercial stock photos?
Commercial stock photos require model and property releases, allowing you to use them for advertising and profit. Editorial stock photos do not have these releases, meaning they can only be used for news, educational, or illustrative non-commercial commentary.
Can I use free stock photos for commercial projects?
Yes, platforms like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay allow you to use their libraries for commercial purposes without paying royalties, though you should always verify the specific license terms on the site.
Do stock photo subscriptions automatically renew?
Most paid stock photo services use a recurring subscription model that automatically renews monthly or annually unless you cancel the subscription through your account settings before the renewal date.
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