A
AEpidemic Sound vs Shutterstock
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
E
Choose Epidemic Sound if…
- you want the lower entry price ($17.99/mo vs $25/mo)
- you need an API to build on
- you want to trial it before paying
- you work on macOS, Windows, iOS
- you're in its core audience: youtubers and content creators, video editors and filmmakers
S
Choose Shutterstock if…
- you're in its core audience: marketers, graphic designers
Side by side
Feature Epidemic Sound Shutterstock
Pricing modelFree trialPaid
Starting price$17.99/mo$25/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, APIWeb
CategoryRoyalty-free music & sound effectsStock photos, icons & fonts
CompanyEpidemic SoundShutterstock · United States · since 2003
Full feature lists
E
- 55,000+ exclusively owned music tracks
- 250,000+ sound effects and variations
- Studio tool syncs music to video automatically
- Prompt-based music search and search by video frames
- AI voiceovers in 70+ languages
- Plugins for Adobe Premiere, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve
- Music API and MCP server for LLMs
- Direct global license with channel clearing
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.
Epidemic Sound
CreatorNot listed
ProNot listed
BusinessNot listed
EnterpriseCustom
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
Epidemic Sound
- Company owns all rights, enabling a direct worldwide license
- Content published during a subscription stays cleared forever
- Unlimited downloads on all plans
- Plugins for Adobe and DaVinci Resolve plus desktop and mobile apps
- No free plan; publishing requires a subscription or single-track license
- Ad use requires Pro or Enterprise plan
- No prorated refunds on cancellation
- Enterprise agreements require a 12-month minimum
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
AA
From $9.99/mo
A
Royalty-free music, sound effects, stock footage and AI generation for creators
Royalty-free music & sound effects
S
SRoyalty-free music and sound effects licensing for video creators and brands
From $9.99/mo
S
From $9.99/mo
S
Royalty-free music and sound effects licensing for video creators and brands
Royalty-free music & sound effectsAPI
M
MM
Paid
M
Curated music and sound effects licensing for filmmakers, agencies and creators
Royalty-free music & sound effects
U
U
Free, from $6.99/mo
U
Human-made royalty-free music, sound effects and stock video for creators
Royalty-free music & sound effectsFree plan
P
P
From $24.99/mo
P
Curated royalty-free music and sound effects licensed for video creators
Royalty-free music & sound effects
E
EE
From $16.50/mo
E
Unlimited stock assets and AI generation for creators under one subscription
Stock photos, icons & fonts
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 13, 2026. Editorial policy