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Head-to-head · AI Image Generators

Shutterstock vs Midjourney

  • 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
Midjourney #4 in AI Image Generators 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Midjourney

Shutterstock leads on 1 check, Midjourney on 0, 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
  • Most featuresMidjourney · 3 of 4

Shutterstock scores higher on our rubric for ai image generators: 9.7 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

Shutterstock offers api access; Midjourney doesn't.

Shutterstock is the better fit for teams that want AI images next to licensed stock. Midjourney is the better fit for creators working from prompts and image references.

  • Shutterstock fits best

    Teams that want AI images next to licensed stock

  • Midjourney fits best

    Creators working from prompts and image references

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Side by side

Feature Shutterstock 9.7/10 Visit ↗ Midjourney 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.7 9.2
Ranking #1 in AI Image Generators #4 in AI Image Generators
Best for Teams that want AI images next to licensed stock Creators working from prompts and image references
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — —
Free plan — —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Live chat, Docs Email, Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations 8,000+ integrations 1 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shutterstock 1/4 · Midjourney 3/4
Text-to-image Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Reference images Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Image editing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
API access ✓ (best) —
Specs
Monthly credits Not checked yet Not checked yet
Commercial use Not checked yet Included
Output formats Not checked yet 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
  • Combines text prompts with multiple image and style references
  • Web Editor supports inpainting, outpainting, variations, pan, and zoom
  • Standard and higher plans include unlimited Relax Mode generations
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
  • There is no free plan or free trial
  • Workflows are limited to the web interface and Discord bot
  • Fast GPU time is capped by plan, and commercial use has restrictions
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 →

Midjourney turns text prompts and image references into images, with tools to vary, edit, upscale, and organize results. It suits creators who want prompt-led image generation with control over visual references and follow-up edits. The…

Read the review →
  1. ShutterstockAI Image Generators 9.7Paid
  2. MidjourneyAI Image Generators 9.2Paid

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

  • Midjourney — where it wins

    • Combines text prompts with multiple image and style references
    • Web Editor supports inpainting, outpainting, variations, pan, and zoom
    • Standard and higher plans include unlimited Relax Mode generations

    Where it doesn't

    • There is no free plan or free trial
    • Workflows are limited to the web interface and Discord bot
    • Fast GPU time is capped by plan, and commercial use has restrictions

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