iStock vs Alamy

iStock8.7Visit Alamy8.2Visit

Higher score iStock #4 in Stock Illustration Websites 8.7/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit iStock

vs

Alamy #7 in Stock Illustration Websites 8.2/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Alamy

• iStock fits best

  Users wanting affordable stock plus AI tools

• Alamy fits best

  Teams needing editorial and illustration licensing

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Side by side

Feature	iStock 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Alamy 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.2
Ranking	#4 in Stock Illustration Websites	#7 in Stock Illustration Websites
Best for	Users wanting affordable stock plus AI tools	Teams needing editorial and illustration licensing
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$29/user/mo (best)	$139/mo
Free plan	Not checked yet	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Docs	Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features iStock 0/3 · Alamy 0/3
Commercial use	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Editorial license	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Extended license	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Download model	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Maximum resolution	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Raster file formats	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Illustration, vector, editorial, photo, video, music, and sound assets AI image generation and image customization are included API access plus Dropbox and Sketch integrations	Includes vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video and panoramas Unlimited seats and team sharing through lightboxes REST API supports search, metadata retrieval and licensed downloads
Cons	No free plan is available Standard subscriptions are limited to one user Premium + Video starts at $125 per month	Plans cap monthly downloads at 15, 25 or 50 images Subscriptions start at $139 per month Projects beyond standard subscriptions may need custom licensing
Our verdict	iStock is a paid stock content website for designers, marketers, publishers, businesses, and other creators. Its library covers royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors, editorial-use imagery, videos, music, and sound effects for… Read the review →	Alamy is a web-based stock content licensing platform for creative professionals, publishers, businesses and media organizations. Its catalog covers stock photographs, vectors, illustrations, videos, 360-degree panoramic images and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• iStock — where it wins

  • Illustration, vector, editorial, photo, video, music, and sound assets
  • AI image generation and image customization are included
  • API access plus Dropbox and Sketch integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • Standard subscriptions are limited to one user
  • Premium + Video starts at $125 per month

• Alamy — where it wins

  • Includes vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video and panoramas
  • Unlimited seats and team sharing through lightboxes
  • REST API supports search, metadata retrieval and licensed downloads

  Where it doesn't

  • Plans cap monthly downloads at 15, 25 or 50 images
  • Subscriptions start at $139 per month
  • Projects beyond standard subscriptions may need custom licensing

• iStock8.7/10 · Paid

  A broad stock library with AI tools, flexible downloads, and API access.

  Visit iStockFull verdict →
• Alamy8.2/10 · Paid

  A broad stock library with team licensing, API access and subscription plans from $139 monthly.

  Visit AlamyFull verdict →