Shutterstock

What is Shutterstock?

Shutterstock is a stock content platform that provides businesses and creators with licensed photos, videos, music, vectors, illustrations, and AI-generated images. The platform hosts over 700 million assets contributed by a global network of photographers, videographers, and artists.

Shutterstock operates on subscription and on-demand pricing models. Image subscriptions start at $25 per month on annual plans, while the Unlimited plan at $69 per month (billed yearly) bundles images, video, music, and 100 monthly AI generation credits under a single license. On-demand image packs start at $29 for two downloads for users with occasional needs.

The platform includes a built-in AI Image Generator powered by multiple models including outputs from Google Imagen, OpenAI, and Runway. Users can generate custom visuals from text prompts, with all AI-generated content covered under the same Standard license and $10,000 legal indemnification as traditional stock assets.

Licensing is structured in three tiers. The Standard license covers most digital and print commercial uses. The Enhanced license adds permissions for merchandise, unlimited print runs, and high-budget productions with $250,000 in indemnification. The Premier license, available to enterprise clients, offers unlimited indemnification and license transferability.

Shutterstock’s API powers over 10,000 integrations across platforms including Google, Facebook, and Wix. Team plans support up to 20 users on image-only subscriptions and up to 10 users on Flex plans with Enhanced licensing. The platform also provides editorial content licensed for news, publishing, and documentary use with separate editorial licensing terms.

The Contributor Fund compensates original creators when their work is used to train AI models, making Shutterstock one of the few platforms with an established AI ethics and compensation framework for contributors.

Pricing

Starting at · Subscription

Features

0 features that make Shutterstock stand out.

Shutterstock alternatives

Tools buyers consider alongside Shutterstock.

Frequently asked questions