Shutterstock vs Pixabay

Shutterstock9.3Visit PPixabay9.1Visit

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

vs

P Pixabay #3 in Stock Photo Websites 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Pixabay

• Shutterstock fits best

  Teams needing broad stock media and API access

• Pixabay fits best

  Free stock media with vectors and an API

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Side by side

Feature	Shutterstock 9.3/10 Visit ↗	PPixabay 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	9.1
Ranking	#1 in Stock Photo Websites	#3 in Stock Photo Websites
Best for	Teams needing broad stock media and API access	Free stock media with vectors and an API
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	Email, Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shutterstock 4/4 · Pixabay 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 access to photos, vectors, illustrations, editorial images and more REST API supports searching and retrieving images and videos Mobile apps support browsing, downloading and uploading content
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	Content use is subject to prohibited uses and third-party rights The API covers images and videos rather than every media type Uploading requires users to register as creators
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 →	Pixabay is a free stock-media platform for creators, publishers, marketers and other users. Its library covers searchable photos, illustrations, vector graphics, editorial images, videos, music, sound effects, GIFs and 3D models. Users can… 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

• Pixabay — where it wins

  • Free access to photos, vectors, illustrations, editorial images and more
  • REST API supports searching and retrieving images and videos
  • Mobile apps support browsing, downloading and uploading content

  Where it doesn't

  • Content use is subject to prohibited uses and third-party rights
  • The API covers images and videos rather than every media type
  • Uploading requires users to register as creators

• Shutterstock9.3/10 · Paid

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

  Visit ShutterstockFull verdict →
• PPixabay9.1/10 · Free plan

  A broad free media library with vector assets, mobile apps and an image-and-video API.

  Visit PixabayFull verdict →