Shutterstock vs Dreamstime

Shutterstock9.3Visit Dreamstime8.7Visit

Higher score Shutterstock #1 in Stock Photo Websites 9.3/10 Paid ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Shutterstock

vs

Dreamstime #7 in Stock Photo Websites 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Dreamstime

• Shutterstock fits best

  Teams needing broad stock media and API access

• Dreamstime fits best

  Free users needing broad stock and office integrations

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Side by side

Feature	Shutterstock 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Dreamstime 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.7
Ranking	#1 in Stock Photo Websites	#7 in Stock Photo Websites
Best for	Teams needing broad stock media and API access	Free users needing broad stock and office integrations
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Money-back guarantee	14 days	30 days
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Live chat, Docs	Email, Phone
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shutterstock 4/4 · Dreamstime 4/4
Vector assets	✓	✓
Illustration assets	✓	✓
Editorial assets	✓	✓
API access	✓	✓
Specs
Monthly downloads	10 /mo (best)	5 /mo
Included team seats	1 seats	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Covers photos, EPS vectors, illustrations, editorial images, video, and audio API supports searching, licensing, and downloading media Offers AI tools, reverse image search, apps, and team administration	Free and public-domain collections broaden access to stock media Microsoft Office, Google Docs and WordPress integrations support content workflows APIs, corporate accounts and AI-assisted tools extend business use
Cons	Single-seat plans limit built-in collaboration Unlimited Plus is required for unlimited video, music, and sound effects Plan choices vary substantially by media type and AI credit allowance	The listed subscription tier includes 5 downloads per month Monthly and annual options shown are limited to the 5-image plan Corporate sub-account seat limits are not stated on the official page
Our verdict	Shutterstock is an online stock-content platform for creative professionals, businesses, marketing teams, and media organizations. Its searchable libraries cover stock photos, EPS vectors, illustrations, editorial imagery, video, music,… Read the review →	Dreamstime is a stock media licensing platform for individual creators, publishers, agencies, businesses and enterprise teams. Its catalog covers royalty-free photos, vector graphics, illustrations, editorial imagery, video footage, music… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Shutterstock — where it wins

  • Covers photos, EPS vectors, illustrations, editorial images, video, and audio
  • API supports searching, licensing, and downloading media
  • Offers AI tools, reverse image search, apps, and team administration

  Where it doesn't

  • Single-seat plans limit built-in collaboration
  • Unlimited Plus is required for unlimited video, music, and sound effects
  • Plan choices vary substantially by media type and AI credit allowance

• Dreamstime — where it wins

  • Free and public-domain collections broaden access to stock media
  • Microsoft Office, Google Docs and WordPress integrations support content workflows
  • APIs, corporate accounts and AI-assisted tools extend business use

  Where it doesn't

  • The listed subscription tier includes 5 downloads per month
  • Monthly and annual options shown are limited to the 5-image plan
  • Corporate sub-account seat limits are not stated on the official page

• Shutterstock9.3/10 · Paid

  A broad stock-media library with API access, AI tools, and team controls.

  Visit ShutterstockFull verdict →
• Dreamstime8.7/10 · Free plan

  A broad stock media library with free collections, integrations, APIs and AI-assisted tools.

  Visit DreamstimeFull verdict →