Beyond image generation, Freepik is developing AI tools for other media types, including video generation. These newer tools are still maturing but show promise, especially for users who need quick custom visuals across different formats. Premium plans also unlock additional capabilities like image upscaling, background removal, and style filters. The Premium tier ($20/month) includes 18,000 generative credits monthly – enough for hundreds of images even with the advanced settings – while Premium+ ($39/month) triples that to 45,000 credits. But because anyone can use them, Unsplash and other free images are widely overused. It costs $20 per month for a 1-month plan and $7 per month for a 12-month plan.
The 26 million includes everyone with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, and many of them won’t use the stock library. But even a small percentage of 26 million is a lot, so it does offer an opportunity to make money. With buyers generating their own AI images, there’s less demand for real photographs. We’re not happy about it, but unfortunately, this is the way the industry is going. Shutterstock claims to have paid out over $1 billion to its contributors over the last 15 years.
The 8 best stock photo sites in 2025
Probably the world’s most prestigious and best-known stock photo libraries, it has an unmatched reputation in the media (we use Getty for many of the images used across this site). Pixpa is an easy, all-in-one portfolio website builder for photographers & creators to create portfolio websites with a built-in online store, blog, and client galleries. Nikokusz presents a streamlined and minimalist portrait photography portfolio. The homepage features a select grid layout of portraits, intentionally devoid of hover animations to allow viewers to immerse themselves in the photographer’s style.
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Dreamstime is a best stock photography sites microstock provider, and its direct rivals on the market nowadays are iStock and Shutterstock. There are a number of platforms out there, and they all have different terms and conditions. We’ll keep you informed, and we’ll never sell your information to anyone.
While its price point puts it out of reach for many individuals and small businesses, it offers content you simply can’t find elsewhere. Depositphotos isn’t flashy or groundbreaking—it doesn’t have every single media asset you’d ever imagine. But its friendly prices, solid library, and honestly enjoyable user experience make it an ideal budget-friendly pick if you’re regularly hunting for professional visuals. Considering how much cheaper it is compared to Shutterstock and Adobe Stock— about half the price for triple the images—you’ll likely find yourself saving a meaningful amount each month. To test these sites thoroughly, I’ve used them extensively across hundreds of personal and client projects over several years. Unsplash is the largest and best-curated free stock photo library that we’ve used.
Best stock photo site for editorial imagery
Deposit Photos very much flies under the radar, but it does have a good selection of images at cheaper prices than most stock libraries. And with over 300 million files to choose from, and a good site search facility, there’s every chance you’ll find what you’re looking for. By focusing on building rapport with your subjects, understanding the nuances of lighting, and curating a compelling online portfolio, you can elevate your work and attract new clients. A well-crafted portfolio website serves as a dynamic showcase for your talent, enabling you to manage bookings, display your best work, and connect with your audience.
Deposit Photos
This can be helpful if you aren’t great at using the search bar to find specific photos. And their on-demand options start at $29 for five images and go up to $219 for 125. IStock offers three types of subscriptions—basic, premium, and premium + video.
Flash photography, when balanced correctly with the background, can create striking portraits. Every photoshoot is unique, requiring photographers to adapt to their subject’s demeanor. Engagement levels vary, from enthusiastic collaboration to reluctant participation.
A fullscreen layout, grid galleries, or sliders can enhance the visual impact. This involved seeing how fast the site delivered results, how accurate those results were, and whether the platform had helpful filters like orientation, color, and style to refine our search. We also tested specific keywords to see how well the search tool understood what we were looking for. Icons8 has a unique database consisting of exclusively studio, high-quality photographs. Mind that you can order a specific photo through your personal account. A unique feature is the built-in photo editor, which allows you to edit selected pictures, replace the background, and add various objects without violating copyright.
She likes vintage cameras and, in all articles, she always compares them with modern ones showing that it isn’t obligatory to invest in brand-new equipment to produce amazing results. To check the quality of customer service, we contacted support to see how responsive and helpful they were. At the same time, Eva and Tetiana tested the mobile app to make sure it was easy to use and efficient for searching and downloading images on the go. I tested the download speed, checked the available file formats (like JPG, PNG, and TIFF), and made sure the image quality stayed sharp throughout the process. After downloading, I double-checked to see if the image kept its original quality since some sites compress files during downloads. To spot any loss in resolution or sharpness, we ran detailed tests.
- Unlike social media feeds, where content is displayed chronologically, a website provides the flexibility to organize your images according to your artistic vision.
- They can’t offer the same number of images, and contributors get little more than a bit of publicity.
- Additionally, the image must align with my brand’s visual style.✔️ Exclusive content.
- Adobe Stock came in second for its premium content and smooth integration with Creative Cloud, though it’s subscription-based.
- Depositphotos’ chat support staff are friendly, informed, and speedy—exactly what you’d hope for in a subscription-based service.
- Corsina Ciancimino’s website is designed as an immersive online photo exhibition, offering visitors a quick overview of the work through a full-screen slider on the homepage.
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The hero section features a large image banner with a defining text, setting the tone for her photography. Subsequent sections display large portraits and landscape-oriented photos with descriptive captions, providing insight into his photographic style. Joya Berrow’s portfolio blends static image portraits and video portraits in a grid format, enhanced by color hover animations.
Even a basic Google image search will turn up pictures covered in the familiar Getty Images watermark. Holding one of the spots as a long-standing presence in the world of digital media, Shutterstock is a name most photo researchers will recognize. Also note that Adobe Stock images are divided into ‘Standard’ and ‘Premium’ categories. The latter are premium quality, but more expensive, while the former is cheaper but more basic.
Choosing the right stock photo license
It allows you to upload images from your smartphone while monitoring activity and earnings on the go. Contributors also have access to helpful material, like intel on trending topics, video workshops, and blogs by successful contributors. Becoming a Shutterstock contributor is a good way to supplement your income as a photographer. The only downside here is that the site is still not very popular, so it doesn’t get a lot of daily traffic. That means it’s not guaranteed that clients will have the chance to stumble upon your work. With every new submission the photographer decides whether the photos will be used exclusively by Westend61 or if the agency is authorized to distribute them to their international partners.
- This minimalist design removes unnecessary elements and distractions, allowing visitors to focus on the content that truly matters.
- There are tons of totally free stock photos on this site that allow customers to get right to creating without ever paying a dime.
- The photos were very clear and they matched well with the brand style of the client’s website.
- The thought of making money from your photos while putting your photography skills into practice is surely tempting for everyone.
- This article looks at the best stock photo sites from the point of view of contributors and buyers.
- An engaging “About Me” page and a user-friendly contact page encourage interaction, enabling you to build meaningful relationships with clients and collaborators.
To make my work stand out, I search for unique or rarely used images. Certain platforms provide exclusive collections, which can help set your brand apart from others.✔️ Stay on budget. Subscriptions are great for frequent use, and pay-per-download works for one-time needs.✔️ Customize the image. I frequently customize stock images to align with my brand by tweaking colors, cropping, or incorporating unique elements.✔️ Avoid overused images.
