E
EFreepik vs Shutterstock
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
F
Choose Freepik if…
- you want the lower entry price ($14.5/mo vs $25/mo)
- you need an API to build on
- you're in its core audience: graphic designers, marketers
S
Choose Shutterstock if…
- you're in its core audience: marketers, graphic designers
Side by side
Feature Freepik Shutterstock
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starting price$14.5/mo$25/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb
CategoryAI image & video generationStock photos, icons & fonts
CompanyMagnificShutterstock · United States · since 2003
Full feature lists
F Freepik
- 250M+ premium stock assets
- AI image and video generation across 30+ models
- Music, voice and sound effect generation
- Magnific and Topaz image upscalers
- Brand Kit and Spaces workspace
- ComfyUI integration, MCP and plugins
- Credit-based API access
- Google Drive sync and metadata export
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.
Freepik
Premium$20/mo or $14.50/mo billed annually (ex. VAT)
Plus$45/mo or $33.75/mo billed annually (ex. VAT)
Pro$110/mo or $82.50/mo billed annually (ex. VAT)
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
Freepik
- Stock library and AI generation in one subscription
- Credits last a full year with no monthly reset
- Commercial AI license on every plan
- 30-day refund guarantee with no cancellation fees
- Generation is credit-based outside the unlimited models
- Music rights in the license start at the Plus tier
- Prices exclude VAT and local taxes
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
EE
From $16.50/mo
E
Unlimited stock assets and AI generation for creators under one subscription
Stock photos, icons & fonts
A
A
From $29.99/mo
A
Licensed stock photos, videos and audio with AI image editing tools
Stock photos, icons & fonts
A
AA
From $9.99/mo
A
Royalty-free music, sound effects, stock footage and AI generation for creators
Royalty-free music & sound effects
G
G
Paid
G
Licensed stock photos, editorial images and video for commercial and media use
Stock photos, icons & fonts
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
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 13, 2026. Editorial policy