Shutterstock vs Pexels

Shutterstock9.3Visit PPexels9.0Visit

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

vs

P Pexels #4 in Stock Photo Websites 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Pexels

• Shutterstock fits best

  Teams needing broad stock media and API access

• Pexels fits best

  Free photos and video with strong integrations

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Side by side

Feature	Shutterstock 9.3/10 Visit ↗	PPexels 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	9.0
Ranking	#1 in Stock Photo Websites	#4 in Stock Photo Websites
Best for	Teams needing broad stock media and API access	Free photos and video with strong integrations
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	—	Free plan
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
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 4/4 · Pexels 4/4
Vector assets	✓	✓
Illustration assets	✓	✓
Editorial assets	✓	✓
API access	✓	✓
Specs
Monthly downloads	10 /mo	Not checked yet
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 downloads for personal and commercial projects under the Pexels license Searchable photo and video libraries with curated feeds and collections Integrations across Canva, Figma, Google Slides, Office, and developer workflows
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	Focused on stock photos and video rather than broader asset-production workflows API access is aimed at developers embedding media into websites and applications Desktop workflows depend on web access, browser extensions, and integrations
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 →	Pexels is a free stock media website for individuals, businesses, creators, and developers. Its library combines searchable photos and videos contributed by a global creator community, with downloads for personal and commercial projects… 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

• Pexels — where it wins

  • Free downloads for personal and commercial projects under the Pexels license
  • Searchable photo and video libraries with curated feeds and collections
  • Integrations across Canva, Figma, Google Slides, Office, and developer workflows

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on stock photos and video rather than broader asset-production workflows
  • API access is aimed at developers embedding media into websites and applications
  • Desktop workflows depend on web access, browser extensions, and integrations

• Shutterstock9.3/10 · Paid

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

  Visit ShutterstockFull verdict →
• PPexels9.0/10 · Free plan

  A free stock media library with useful integrations, mobile apps, and API access.

  Visit PexelsFull verdict →