Shutterstock

Name: Shutterstock
Price: 29 USD
Author: Shutterstock

Paid APIWeb

What Shutterstock is

Shutterstock is a creative platform for finding and licensing photos, vectors, illustrations, video, 3D models, music, and sound effects. Its searchable library contains over 450 million images, and the company says it adds 200,000 more each day. Image tools include Expand Image, Variations, Magic Brush, and Background Remover. The Background Remover works on images up to 7000×5000 pixels and does not remove vector background layers. The AI image generator returns four results from a prompt; generated images can be downloaded with a Standard or Enhanced license. Both licenses allow perpetual use of downloaded content, while Enhanced adds permissions for uses such as merchandise, templates, and unlimited physical print runs. Unlimited plans include AI models from Runway, Google, OpenAI, and others, with downloads capped at 100 assets per day under the fair usage policy. Monthly subscription downloads do not roll over. Shutterstock offers web access and an API for library search and licensing inside third-party applications, with integrations including Google, Facebook, IBM, and Wix. The API Platform License bars raw asset files from being downloaded or accessed, and assets delivered in an app must be limited to projects created there. Plans include image subscriptions and packs; listed prices include $25 a year for 10 monthly image downloads and $29, paid once for an image pack.

Who it suits

Shutterstock suits people who need licensed creative assets across image, video, 3D, and audio formats, as well as teams integrating asset search and licensing into applications. Its Standard and Enhanced licenses offer perpetual use of downloaded content, with Enhanced adding further permissions for merchandise, templates, and print runs.

What it does well

Searchable library has over 450 million images.
Offers photos, vectors, illustrations, video, 3D, music, and sound effects.
AI image generator creates four results from a prompt.
Standard and Enhanced licenses allow perpetual use of downloaded content.
API supports search and licensing within third-party applications.

What to know first

There is no free plan.
Monthly subscription downloads do not roll over.
Unlimited plans cap downloads at 100 assets per day.
The API license bars raw asset file access and downloads.

Limits

The listed 10-download subscription includes 10 image downloads per month and a single seat; downloads do not roll over. Unlimited plans limit downloads to 100 assets per day under the fair usage policy. The Image pack includes 2–25 image downloads and a single seat.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Image downloads	10 image downloads per month	On request
Image downloads	10 image downloads per month	On request
Image packs	2-25 image downloads	On request
Image packs	2-25 image downloads	On request
Image pack	$29 · 2–25 image downloads · single seat · no commitment	$29, paid once
Image downloads (10 per month)	$25/month, billed yearly at $300 · 10 image downloads/month · Standard license · single seat	$300 a year
Unlimited Images	$29/month, billed yearly at $348 · Unlimited image downloads · 50 AI generation credits/month · single seat · fair use policy applies	$348 a year
Unlimited Plus	$69/month, billed yearly at $828 · Unlimited images, video, music, SFX, and AI generations · 100 AI generation credits/month · single seat · fair use policy applies	$828 a year

The first 8 of 9 plans, as shutterstock.com lists them, read 21 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word. Every plan

Getting started

Go to the Shutterstock website.
Choose an image subscription or image pack.
For 10 monthly image downloads, select the plan listed at $25 a year, billed yearly at $300.
For a one-time pack, select the Image pack listed at $29, paid once.

Verdict

Choose Shutterstock if you need a broad licensed asset library, image editing and generation tools, or API-based search and licensing. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan, uncapped daily downloads, or raw asset files delivered through the API.

Questions

Is Shutterstock free?

No. Shutterstock has no free plan.

What does the 10-download plan cost?

The plan is listed at $25 a year, billed $25/month, billed yearly at $300. It includes 10 image downloads per month, a Standard license, and a single seat.

What does an image pack cost?

The Image pack is listed at $29, paid once, billed $29. It includes 2–25 image downloads, a single seat, and no commitment.

Which platforms does Shutterstock support?

Shutterstock is available on the web and through an API.

Can Shutterstock assets be used forever?

Standard and Enhanced licenses provide perpetual use of downloaded content. Enhanced adds permissions such as merchandise, templates, and unlimited physical print runs.

Can the API provide raw Shutterstock files?

The API Platform License does not allow raw asset files to be downloaded or accessed. Assets delivered in an app must be restricted to projects created within that app.

Facts from Shutterstock's own pages

AI editing: Image editing features include Expand Image, Variations, Magic Brush, and Background Remover; Background Remover works only on images up to 7000×5000 pixels and does not remove vector background layers. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
AI generation: The AI image generator creates four image results from a prompt, and generated images can be downloaded with a Standard or Enhanced license. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
AI models: The Unlimited plans include access to AI models from Runway, Google, OpenAI, and others. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
API access: Yes · investor.shutterstock.com, 21 Sept 2026
API restriction: The API Platform License does not allow raw Shutterstock asset files to be downloaded or accessed; assets delivered in an app must be restricted to projects created within that app. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Asset library: The company About page states that its library has over 450 million images and adds 200,000 more each day. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Company: Shutterstock says it was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in New York City. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Download limits: Unlimited plans limit downloads to 100 assets per day under the fair usage policy, and monthly subscription downloads do not roll over. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Editorial assets: Yes · investor.shutterstock.com, 21 Sept 2026
Founded: 2003 · shutterstock.com, 23 Sept 2026
Free plan: No · investor.shutterstock.com, 21 Sept 2026
Headquarters: New York, NY · shutterstock.com, 23 Sept 2026
Illustration assets: Yes · investor.shutterstock.com, 21 Sept 2026
Integrations: The Shutterstock API provides library search and licensing within third-party applications and is integrated with Google, Facebook, IBM, and Wix, among others. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
License usage: Standard and Enhanced licenses provide perpetual use of downloaded content, while Enhanced adds permissions such as merchandise, templates, and unlimited physical print runs. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Monthly downloads: 10 · investor.shutterstock.com, 21 Sept 2026
Product: Shutterstock provides licensed photos, vectors, illustrations, video, 3D models, music, and sound effects through a searchable creative platform. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Support: Shutterstock offers a 24/7 multilingual AI support agent that can connect customers to a live agent during live support hours. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Team plans: Team subscriptions have an annual commitment paid upfront; image-only plans cover up to 20 people, while mixed-media Flex Team plans cover up to 10. · shutterstock.com, 3 Oct 2026
Included team seats: 1 · investor.shutterstock.com, 21 Sept 2026
Vector assets: Yes · investor.shutterstock.com, 21 Sept 2026