Shutterstock
Shutterstock is a searchable platform for licensed photos, vectors, illustrations, video, 3D models, music, and sound effects.
What Shutterstock is
Shutterstock is a searchable platform for licensed photos, vectors, illustrations, video, 3D models, music, and sound effects. Its library has over 450 million images and adds 200,000 more each day, according to the company. Image editing tools include Expand Image, Variations, Magic Brush, and Background Remover. Background Remover works on images up to 7000×5000 pixels and does not remove vector background layers.
The AI image generator creates four results from a prompt, downloadable with a Standard or Enhanced license. Both licenses allow perpetual use of downloaded content; Enhanced adds permissions that include merchandise, templates, and unlimited physical print runs. Unlimited plans include AI models from Runway, Google, OpenAI, and others, but limit downloads to 100 assets daily under a fair usage policy. Monthly subscription downloads do not roll over. The API supports searching and licensing assets within third-party applications, but its license bars raw asset file downloads or access. Listed pricing includes $25 a year for 10 image downloads monthly, billed yearly at $300, and a 29.00 USD one-time image pack.
Good
- Offers photos, vectors, video, 3D, and audio
- AI generator returns four image results per prompt
- Standard and Enhanced licenses allow perpetual use
- API supports search and licensing in apps
Watch out
- No free plan
- Monthly downloads do not roll over
- Unlimited plans cap downloads at 100 assets daily
- API license bars raw asset file access
Who it suits
Shutterstock suits creators seeking licensed media across image, video, audio, and 3D categories, including users who need editing tools or third-party app integrations.
Verdict
Shutterstock combines a large searchable media library with image editing, AI generation, licensing, and API integration. Check the license terms and download limits against the way you plan to use and retrieve assets.
Plans and prices
From Shutterstock's own pricing page, checked 21 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Image downloads | Priced on request | 10 image downloads per month |
| Image downloads | — | 10 image downloads per month |
| Image packs | Priced on request | 2-25 image downloads |
| Image packs | — | 2-25 image downloads |
| Image pack | $29, paid once | 2–25 image downloads · single seat · no commitment · $29 |
| Image downloads (10 per month) | $300 a year | 10 image downloads/month · Standard license · single seat · $25/month, billed yearly at $300 |
| Unlimited Images | $348 a year | Unlimited image downloads · 50 AI generation credits/month · single seat · fair use policy applies · $29/month, billed yearly at $348 |
| Unlimited Plus | $828 a year | Unlimited images, video, music, SFX, and AI generations · 100 AI generation credits/month · single seat · fair use policy applies · $69/month, billed yearly at $828 |
| Teams and Enterprise | Priced on request | Custom pricing · team controls and personalized support · Talk to us |
The facts
Each one read from Shutterstock's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI editing
- Image editing features include Expand Image, Variations, Magic Brush, and Background Remover; Background Remover works only on images up to 7000×5000 pixels and does not remove vector background layers.checked 3 Oct 2026
- AI generation
- The AI image generator creates four image results from a prompt, and generated images can be downloaded with a Standard or Enhanced license.checked 3 Oct 2026
- AI models
- The Unlimited plans include access to AI models from Runway, Google, OpenAI, and others.checked 3 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- API restriction
- The API Platform License does not allow raw Shutterstock asset files to be downloaded or accessed; assets delivered in an app must be restricted to projects created within that app.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Asset library
- The company About page states that its library has over 450 million images and adds 200,000 more each day.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Download limits
- Unlimited plans limit downloads to 100 assets per day under the fair usage policy, and monthly subscription downloads do not roll over.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Editorial assets
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Illustration assets
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The Shutterstock API provides library search and licensing within third-party applications and is integrated with Google, Facebook, IBM, and Wix, among others.checked 3 Oct 2026
- License usage
- Standard and Enhanced licenses provide perpetual use of downloaded content, while Enhanced adds permissions such as merchandise, templates, and unlimited physical print runs.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Monthly downloads
- 10checked 21 Sep 2026
- Product
- Shutterstock provides licensed photos, vectors, illustrations, video, 3D models, music, and sound effects through a searchable creative platform.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- Shutterstock offers a 24/7 multilingual AI support agent that can connect customers to a live agent during live support hours.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Vector assets
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
The company
- Company
- Shutterstock says it was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in New York City.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2003checked 23 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- New York, NYchecked 23 Sep 2026
- Included team seats
- 1checked 21 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Nochecked 21 Sep 2026
- Team plans
- Team subscriptions have an annual commitment paid upfront; image-only plans cover up to 20 people, while mixed-media Flex Team plans cover up to 10.checked 3 Oct 2026
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