Shutterstock vs Alamy

Shutterstock9.3Visit Alamy8.2Visit

Higher score Shutterstock #1 in Stock Illustration Websites 9.3/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Shutterstock

vs

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

• Shutterstock fits best

  Teams wanting broad, mature stock coverage

• Alamy fits best

  Teams needing editorial and illustration licensing

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Side by side

Feature	Shutterstock 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Alamy 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.2
Ranking	#1 in Stock Illustration Websites	#7 in Stock Illustration Websites
Best for	Teams wanting broad, mature stock coverage	Teams needing editorial and illustration licensing
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	$139/mo
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Live chat, Docs	Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs
Compliance	GDPR	GDPR
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shutterstock 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	Vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video, music, and sound effects API access, reverse image search, and AI image generation and editing Team plans offer multi-user access and administrative controls	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	Single-seat plans limit shared access The platform extends beyond illustration into broader media libraries Standard licensing applies to the Image downloads plan	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	Shutterstock is a paid stock-content platform for creative professionals, businesses, marketing teams, and media organizations. Its library covers photos, vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video, music, and sound effects.… 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

• Shutterstock — where it wins

  • Vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video, music, and sound effects
  • API access, reverse image search, and AI image generation and editing
  • Team plans offer multi-user access and administrative controls

  Where it doesn't

  • Single-seat plans limit shared access
  • The platform extends beyond illustration into broader media libraries
  • Standard licensing applies to the Image downloads plan

• 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

• Shutterstock9.3/10 · Paid

  A broad stock-content library with vectors, editorial assets, AI tools, and API access.

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

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

  Visit AlamyFull verdict →