Shutterstock vs VectorStock

Shutterstock9.3Visit VectorStock7.9Visit

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

vs

VectorStock #15 in Stock Photo Websites 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit VectorStock

• Shutterstock fits best

  Teams needing broad stock media and API access

• VectorStock fits best

  Vector specialists needing low-cost licensing

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Side by side

Feature	Shutterstock 9.3/10 Visit ↗	VectorStock 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	7.9
Ranking	#1 in Stock Photo Websites	#15 in Stock Photo Websites
Best for	Teams needing broad stock media and API access	Vector specialists needing low-cost licensing
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	$9.99/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Live chat, Docs	Email
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shutterstock 4/4 · VectorStock 3/4
Vector assets	✓	✓
Illustration assets	✓	✓
Editorial assets	✓	✓
API access	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Monthly downloads	10 /mo	Not checked yet
Included team seats	1 seats	1 seats
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 vectors support evaluation and personal use Unlimited downloads on annual and monthly subscriptions AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, JPEG, and PNG formats
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	The library focuses exclusively on vector graphics Free downloads are limited to evaluation and personal use Web-only access with one team seat
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 →	VectorStock is a stock-content website dedicated to vector graphics, including illustrations, icons, and design elements. It serves designers, agencies, businesses, and other creative professionals working on print, digital, merchandise,… 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

• VectorStock — where it wins

  • Free vectors support evaluation and personal use
  • Unlimited downloads on annual and monthly subscriptions
  • AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, JPEG, and PNG formats

  Where it doesn't

  • The library focuses exclusively on vector graphics
  • Free downloads are limited to evaluation and personal use
  • Web-only access with one team seat

• Shutterstock9.3/10 · Paid

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

  Visit ShutterstockFull verdict →
• VectorStock7.9/10 · Free plan

  A focused vector library with free downloads, flexible licensing, and unlimited plans.

  Visit VectorStockFull verdict →