A
Pond5 vs Shutterstock
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
P
Choose Pond5 if…
- you want the lower entry price ($10/mo vs $25/mo)
- you're in its core audience: video editors, filmmakers
S
Choose Shutterstock if…
- you're in its core audience: marketers, graphic designers
Side by side
Feature Pond5 Shutterstock
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starting price$10/mo$25/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWebWeb
CompanyPond5Shutterstock · United States · since 2003
Full feature lists
P Pond5
- Royalty-free HD and 4K stock video footage
- Royalty-free production music library
- Sound effects library
- Stock images and After Effects templates
- Pay-per-asset, credit pack and subscription purchasing
- Unused subscription downloads roll over
- Individual License with indemnification
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.
Pond5
Music$10/mo (limited-time offer) or $60/yr
Music & SFX$15/mo or $90/yr
Footage Plus$199/mo or $999/yr
Pay per assetVideo from $39
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
Pond5
- Subscription is optional; single assets can be bought
- Unused downloads roll over
- Footage Plus includes all music and SFX
- Subscription license includes indemnification
- Footage Plus costs $199/mo
- Subscriptions are capped at 10 downloads a month
- Credits and subscription downloads cannot be combined
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
A
From $29.99/mo
A
Licensed stock photos, videos and audio with AI image editing tools
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
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
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
E
ERoyalty-free music and sound effects with direct licensing for video creators
From $17.99/mo
E
From $17.99/mo
E
Royalty-free music and sound effects with direct licensing for video creators
Royalty-free music & sound effectsAPI
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 13, 2026. Editorial policy