Best Science Photo Library Alternatives in 2026
The top Science Photo Library alternatives are Shutterstock, Adobe Stock and Pixabay: 15 stock photo websites our editors would look at instead of Science Photo Library, in our ranking order.
Science Photo Library: A focused licensing library for science, medicine, education, and editorial teams. Where it falls short: web access is the only listed platform.
Switching from Science Photo Library? For most stock photo websites buyers the best Science Photo Library alternative is Shutterstock, built for teams needing broad stock media and API access. On a budget, VectorStock starts at $9.99/mo. Pixabay has a free plan, which Science Photo Library does not. Alamy offers the most monthly downloads (15 /mo).
Why People Look for a Science Photo Library Alternative
- Web access is the only listed platform
- Rights Managed pricing depends on usage
- Rights Simplified excludes advertising use
- No free plan — 10 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallShutterstock9.3
Teams needing broad stock media and API access
Visit Shutterstock - Lowest priceVectorStock7.9
Paid plans from $9.99/mo
Visit VectorStock - Best free optionPixabay9.1
Has a free plan (Science Photo Library has none)
Visit Pixabay - Most monthly downloadsAlamy7.9
15 /mo
Visit Alamy
All 15 Science Photo Library Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forTeams needing broad stock media and API access
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 6.2
A broad stock-media library with API access, AI tools, and team controls.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Shutterstock -
Best forCreative Cloud users needing stock assets
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.2
A broad stock library with strong Creative Cloud and API workflows.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Adobe Stock -
Best forFree stock media with vectors and an API
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.1 vs 6.2
A broad free media library with vector assets, mobile apps and an image-and-video API.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Pixabay -
Best forFree photos and video with strong integrations
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.2
A free stock media library with useful integrations, mobile apps, and API access.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Pexels -
Best forFree photo browsing with a capable developer API
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.2
A broad free visual library with collections, mobile tools, Figma support, and a capable API.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Unsplash -
Best forBroad stock content with a free starting point
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.2
A broad stock library with a free starting point and API access.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Depositphotos -
Best forFree users needing broad stock and office integrations
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.2
A broad stock media library with free collections, integrations, APIs and AI-assisted tools.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Dreamstime -
Best forCreators who want structured stock subscriptions
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.2
A stock library with tiered downloads, image tools and an API for creative workflows.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit iStock -
Best forLow-cost unlimited downloads across asset types
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.2
A low-cost stock library with unlimited Pro downloads across several asset types.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Vecteezy -
Best forBroad stock media plus built-in AI tools
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.2
A broad stock media library with AI creation and editing tools for creative teams.
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
- Editorial assets
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit 123RF -
Best forShopify users needing free commercial photos
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.2
A free stock photo library with useful Shopify access and a narrower scope.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Burst -
Best forFree stock photos with API access
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.2
A free stock media community with broad asset types, licensing options and API search.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Stockvault -
Best forEditorial-heavy teams needing API licensing
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A broad stock library with editorial depth and API access, priced from $139 per month.
- API access
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Alamy -
Best forBuyers needing Asian-market stock breadth
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A broad stock marketplace with Asian-market depth, AI search, subscriptions and API access.
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
- Editorial assets
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit PIXTA -
Best forVector specialists needing low-cost licensing
- Better than Science Photo Library:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A focused vector library with free downloads, flexible licensing, and unlimited plans.
- Vector assets
- Illustration assets
- Editorial assets
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit VectorStock
Science Photo Library Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Science Photo Library?
Shutterstock: #1 in our Stock Photo Websites ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A broad stock-media library with API access, AI tools, and team controls.
Is there a free alternative to Science Photo Library?
Yes. Pixabay, Pexels, Unsplash, Depositphotos and Dreamstime have a free plan or a free tier (10 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Science Photo Library?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, VectorStock starts lowest, at $9.99/mo.
Why do people look for Science Photo Library alternatives?
Web access is the only listed platform; Rights Managed pricing depends on usage; Rights Simplified excludes advertising use.
Which Science Photo Library alternative has the most monthly downloads?
Alamy, with 15 /mo.
How do I switch from Science Photo Library?
Take a full backup of your site files and database at Science Photo Library (or use a migration plugin). Open the new hosting account; many hosts migrate a WordPress site for you, check before doing it by hand. Import the backup and check the site on the temporary address the new host gives you. Point your domain's DNS to the new host, wait for it to switch, then cancel Science Photo Library.
How to Switch from Science Photo Library
- Take a full backup of your site files and database at Science Photo Library (or use a migration plugin).
- Open the new hosting account; many hosts migrate a WordPress site for you, check before doing it by hand.
- Import the backup and check the site on the temporary address the new host gives you.
- Point your domain's DNS to the new host, wait for it to switch, then cancel Science Photo Library.
Science Photo Library vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Vector assets | Illustration assets | Editorial assets | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Science Photo Library | No | Yes | Yes | 6.2 | ||
| 1 | Shutterstock | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 2 | Adobe Stock | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 3 | Pixabay | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 4 | Pexels | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 5 | Unsplash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 6 | Depositphotos | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 7 | Dreamstime | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 8 | iStock | $29/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 9 | Vecteezy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 10 | 123RF | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 11 | Burst | Yes | Free | 8.1 | |||
| 12 | Stockvault | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 13 | Alamy | No | $139/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 14 | PIXTA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 15 | VectorStock | Yes | $9.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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