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Head-to-head · Stock Media APIs

Shutterstock vs Openverse API

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Shutterstock #2 in Stock Media APIs 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Shutterstock
Openverse API #6 in Stock Media APIs 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Openverse

Shutterstock leads on 0 checks, Openverse API on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreShutterstock · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly Openverse API
  • Most featuresOpenverse API · 1 of 3

Shutterstock scores higher on our rubric for stock media apis: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

Openverse API offers free plan; Shutterstock doesn't.

Shutterstock is the better fit for teams needing broad media coverage and API access. Openverse API is the better fit for developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata.

  • Shutterstock fits best

    Teams needing broad media coverage and API access

  • Openverse API fits best

    Developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata

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Side by side

Feature Shutterstock 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Openverse API 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #2 in Stock Media APIs #6 in Stock Media APIs
Best for Teams needing broad media coverage and API access Developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Live chat, Docs Docs
Integrations 8,000+ integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shutterstock 0/3 · Openverse API 1/3
Commercial licensing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Attribution required Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Bulk downloads Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Asset types Not checked yet Mixed
Max results per request Not checked yet Not checked yet
API authentication Not checked yet Oauth
Our review
Pros
  • Search and license images, video, music and editorial media
  • Choose monthly subscriptions or on-demand image packs
  • Search, license and download assets through an API
  • Searches both openly licensed images and audio.
  • Returns license and attribution metadata with results.
  • Supports anonymous requests, OAuth, and self-hosting.
Cons
  • Paid plans only; there is no free plan
  • Several listed plans are limited to a single seat
  • Unlimited Images covers images, not video, music or SFX
  • Attribution is required for works that need it.
  • Licensing information should be verified for each work.
  • Commercial or heavy-use fees may be introduced under its terms.
Our verdict

Shutterstock brings stock photos, vectors, illustrations, editorial media, video, music and sound effects into a searchable licensing service. It is aimed at creative professionals, businesses, marketing agencies and media organizations…

Read the review →

Openverse API provides programmatic search and retrieval of openly licensed creative works, covering images and audio. It is suited to developers building applications that need to find media and show license and attribution information…

Read the review →
  1. ShutterstockStock Media APIs 9.2Paid
  2. Openverse APIStock Media APIs 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Shutterstock — where it wins

    • Search and license images, video, music and editorial media
    • Choose monthly subscriptions or on-demand image packs
    • Search, license and download assets through an API

    Where it doesn't

    • Paid plans only; there is no free plan
    • Several listed plans are limited to a single seat
    • Unlimited Images covers images, not video, music or SFX

  • Openverse API — where it wins

    • Searches both openly licensed images and audio.
    • Returns license and attribution metadata with results.
    • Supports anonymous requests, OAuth, and self-hosting.

    Where it doesn't

    • Attribution is required for works that need it.
    • Licensing information should be verified for each work.
    • Commercial or heavy-use fees may be introduced under its terms.

More comparisons

All stock media APIs comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update