Shutterstock vs iStock

Shutterstock9.3Visit iStock8.7Visit

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

vs

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

• Shutterstock fits best

  Teams wanting broad, mature stock coverage

• iStock fits best

  Users wanting affordable stock plus AI tools

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Side by side

Feature	Shutterstock 9.3/10 Visit ↗	iStock 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.7
Ranking	#1 in Stock Illustration Websites	#4 in Stock Illustration Websites
Best for	Teams wanting broad, mature stock coverage	Users wanting affordable stock plus AI tools
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	$29/user/mo
Free plan	—	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Live chat, Docs	Email, Docs
Integrations	8,000+ integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Shutterstock 0/3 · iStock 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	Illustration, vector, editorial, photo, video, music, and sound assets AI image generation and image customization are included API access plus Dropbox and Sketch integrations
Cons	Single-seat plans limit shared access The platform extends beyond illustration into broader media libraries Standard licensing applies to the Image downloads plan	No free plan is available Standard subscriptions are limited to one user Premium + Video starts at $125 per month
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 →	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 →

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

• 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

• Shutterstock9.3/10 · Paid

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

  Visit ShutterstockFull verdict →
• iStock8.7/10 · Paid

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

  Visit iStockFull verdict →