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Head-to-head · AI Image Generators

Shutterstock vs Adobe Firefly

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Shutterstock #1 in AI Image Generators 9.7/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Shutterstock
Adobe Firefly #2 in AI Image Generators 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Adobe Firefly

Shutterstock leads on 0 checks, Adobe Firefly on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreShutterstock · 9.7/10
  • Free planonly Adobe Firefly
  • Most featuresAdobe Firefly · 4 of 4

Shutterstock scores higher on our rubric for ai image generators: 9.7 against 9.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Adobe Firefly offers free plan; Shutterstock doesn't.

Shutterstock is the better fit for teams that want AI images next to licensed stock. Adobe Firefly is the better fit for adobe-centered creative teams.

  • Shutterstock fits best

    Teams that want AI images next to licensed stock

  • Adobe Firefly fits best

    Adobe-centered creative teams

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Side by side

Feature Shutterstock 9.7/10 Visit ↗ Adobe Firefly 9.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.7 9.4
Ranking #1 in AI Image Generators #2 in AI Image Generators
Best for Teams that want AI images next to licensed stock Adobe-centered creative teams
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — —
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Live chat, Docs Community, Docs · 24/7
Compliance GDPR GDPR
Integrations 8,000+ integrations 4 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shutterstock 1/4 · Adobe Firefly 4/4
Text-to-image Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Reference images Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Image editing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
API access ✓ ✓
Specs
Monthly credits Not checked yet 2000 credits/mo
Commercial use Not checked yet Included
Output formats Not checked yet JPG, PNG
Our review
Pros
  • AI image generation and editing inside a broad licensed stock library
  • Unlimited Images includes 50 AI generation credits a month; Unlimited Plus includes 100
  • Web, iOS, Android and API access
  • 2,000 monthly generative credits on the Standard plan
  • Generative Fill, Remove, Expand, Upscale, and object replacement
  • Integrates with Photoshop, Express, Illustrator, Premiere, and Lightroom
Cons
  • AI credits come only with paid Unlimited plans; no free plan
  • Monthly credits cap how many images you can generate
  • Plan choices vary by media type and AI credit allowance
  • Free access limits daily generations across standard and premium features
  • Premium features use monthly generative credits
  • Partner-model outputs may have separate commercial-use considerations
Our verdict

Shutterstock combines its stock library with AI tools, including an AI image generator and AI editing. Generation runs on monthly AI credits that come with the Unlimited plans: the pricing page lists 50 AI generation credits a month with…

Read the review →

Adobe Firefly is a generative AI application for creating and editing visual content. It suits creators, designers, marketers, and other teams that need prompt-based image generation alongside image editing. Its core toolkit covers…

Read the review →
  1. ShutterstockAI Image Generators 9.7Paid
  2. Adobe FireflyAI Image Generators 9.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Shutterstock — where it wins

    • AI image generation and editing inside a broad licensed stock library
    • Unlimited Images includes 50 AI generation credits a month; Unlimited Plus includes 100
    • Web, iOS, Android and API access

    Where it doesn't

    • AI credits come only with paid Unlimited plans; no free plan
    • Monthly credits cap how many images you can generate
    • Plan choices vary by media type and AI credit allowance

  • Adobe Firefly — where it wins

    • 2,000 monthly generative credits on the Standard plan
    • Generative Fill, Remove, Expand, Upscale, and object replacement
    • Integrates with Photoshop, Express, Illustrator, Premiere, and Lightroom

    Where it doesn't

    • Free access limits daily generations across standard and premium features
    • Premium features use monthly generative credits
    • Partner-model outputs may have separate commercial-use considerations

More comparisons

All AI image generators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update