Head-to-head · Stock Photo Websites
Depositphotos vs iStock
Depositphotos leads on 0 checks, iStock on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreDepositphotos · 8.8/10
- Free planonly Depositphotos
Depositphotos scores higher on our rubric for stock photo websites: 8.8 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.
Depositphotos is the better fit for broad stock content with a free starting point. iStock is the better fit for creators who want structured stock subscriptions.
- Depositphotos fits best
Broad stock content with a free starting point
- iStock fits best
Creators who want structured stock subscriptions
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Side by side
| Feature | Depositphotos 8.8/10 Visit ↗ | iStock 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #6 in Stock Photo Websites | #8 in Stock Photo Websites |
| Best for | Broad stock content with a free starting point | Creators who want structured stock subscriptions |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | — | $29/user/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Phone · 24/7 | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features Depositphotos 4/4 · iStock 4/4 | ||
| Vector assets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Illustration assets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Editorial assets | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Monthly downloads | Not checked yet | 10 /mo |
| Included team seats | 1 seats | 1 seats |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Depositphotos is a web-based stock content platform for businesses, creative teams, freelancers, and other creators. Its catalog spans royalty-free photos, vector images, illustrations, editorial and news images, videos, music, and sound… Read the review → |
iStock is a stock content library for designers, marketers, publishers, businesses and other creators producing advertising, websites, presentations, editorial work or video. It offers royalty-free photos, vectors, illustrations, editorial… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Depositphotos — where it wins
- Covers photos, vectors, illustrations, editorial media, video, and music
- Offers AI image generation, editing tools, and multilingual search
- Supports web, iOS, Android, and Stock Content Library API access
Where it doesn't
- The unlimited plan centers on photos, vectors, illustrations, and PNG files
- Pricing and currency vary by region
- Published category specifications list one team seat
iStock — where it wins
- Basic and Premium collections cover photos, vectors and illustrations.
- Image customization and AI image generation are included in paid plans.
- Boards, API access, Dropbox and Sketch support organizing and workflows.
Where it doesn't
- There is no free plan; subscriptions start at $29 per month.
- Standard subscriptions are for a single user.
- Basic plan downloads are limited to the selected monthly allowance.
- Depositphotos8.8/10 · Free plan
A broad stock library with a free starting point and API access.
Visit DepositphotosFull verdict → - iStock8.6/10 · Paid
A stock library with tiered downloads, image tools and an API for creative workflows.
Visit iStockFull verdict →
More comparisons
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- Pexels vs Depositphotos
- Unsplash vs Depositphotos
- Depositphotos vs Dreamstime
- Dreamstime vs iStock
All stock photo websites comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update




