G
Adobe Stock vs Shutterstock
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
A
Choose Adobe Stock if…
- you want to trial it before paying
- you're in its core audience: graphic designers, marketers
S
Choose Shutterstock if…
- you want the lower entry price ($25/mo vs $29.99/mo)
- you're in its core audience: marketers, graphic designers
Side by side
Feature Adobe Stock Shutterstock
Pricing modelFree trialPaid
Starting price$29.99/mo$25/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWebWeb
CompanyAdobeShutterstock · United States · since 2003
Full feature lists
A Adobe Stock
- Licensed stock photos, vectors and illustrations
- HD and 4K stock video
- AI image edits: Type to Edit, Change Mood, Expand Image
- Animate Image creates 5-second animations
- Audio Match for video clips
- Adobe indemnification up to US$10,000
- Credit packs valid for one year
S Shutterstock
- Royalty-free stock photos, vectors and illustrations
- Stock video clips
- Royalty-free music licensing
- AI image generator with monthly credits
- Unlimited download subscriptions
- No-commitment image packs
- Standard license for creative and digital use
What you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
| Team size | Adobe Stock | Shutterstock |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $29.99 Individuals | no published plan |
| 5 people | $39.99 AI Studio | no published plan |
| 20 people | $39.99 AI Studio | no published plan |
All plans and prices
Adobe Stock
IndividualsUS$49.99/mo or US$29.99/mo (annual commitment)
AI StudioUS$59.99/mo or US$39.99/mo (annual commitment)
40 Stock creditsUS$112.99/mo or US$89.99/mo (annual commitment)
Unlimited Stock AI StudioUS$129.99/mo
750 Stock creditsUS$249.99/mo
Shutterstock
Image downloads subscription$25/mo ($300 billed yearly)
Unlimited Images$29/mo billed yearly ($348)
Unlimited Plus$69/mo billed yearly ($828)
Image packsFrom $29
Strengths and limitations
Adobe Stock
- Every plan includes indemnification of up to US$10,000
- 7-day free trial on the AI Studio plan
- Unlimited plan covers standard downloads and video
- Credit packs are available instead of a subscription
- Plans require an annual commitment
- Cancelling after 14 days costs half of the remaining commitment
- Credit packs cannot be combined with subscriptions
Shutterstock
- Image packs available with no commitment
- Unlimited plans cover a library of 100+ million assets
- Annual billing lowers the monthly price
- Covers images, video, music and AI generation
- Unlimited Images plan applies only to a qualifying part of the library
- Base subscription is limited to one seat
- Lowest unlimited prices require annual billing
More comparisons
Other options to consider
G
Paid
G
Licensed stock photos, editorial images and video for commercial and media use
Stock photos, icons & fonts
E
EE
From $16.50/mo
E
Unlimited stock assets and AI generation for creators under one subscription
Stock photos, icons & fonts
F
F
From $14.50/mo
F
AI image, video and audio generation plus 250M+ stock assets for creatives
AI image & video generationAPI
P
P
From $10/mo
P
Royalty-free stock video, music, sound effects and images for creators
Stock photos, icons & fonts
U
U
Freemium
U
Free high-resolution stock photos, plus a paid Unsplash+ library for commercial use
Stock photos, icons & fontsFree planAPI
A
AA
From $9.99/mo
A
Royalty-free music, sound effects, stock footage and AI generation for creators
Royalty-free music & sound effects
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 13, 2026. Editorial policy