# Top 10 Shutterstock Alternatives & Competitors

(656)4.4 out of 5

Reviewers exploring Shutterstock often also consider these top-rated options in the same software category. When comparing Shutterstock with other tools, reviewers most often evaluate price and videos as key differentiators.   
 The best overall alternative to Shutterstock is [Storyblocks](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews), rated ~4.6 stars on G2 from 425+ reviewers. It is frequently praised for high quality and quality. Other well-known alternatives to Shutterstock are: 
- [iStock](https://www.g2.com/products/getty-images-istock/reviews) – known for images and quality (G2 star rating ~3.5)
- [123RF](https://www.g2.com/products/123rf/reviews) – highly rated for ease of finding and easy search (G2 star rating ~4.4)
- [Vecteezy](https://www.g2.com/products/vecteezy/reviews) – offers quality and images (G2 star rating ~4.7)
- [Adobe Stock](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-adobe-stock/reviews) – best suited for teams that need images and collection quality (G2 star rating ~4.3)

 Browse top options below. Based on G2 review data, Shutterstock is most commonly used in industries like [Stock Photos Websites](https://www.g2.com/categories/stock-photos), [Stock Footage Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/stock-footage), [Photo Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/photo-management). Compare user ratings by vertical to find the best fit.

## Best Paid & Free Alternatives to Shutterstock

- Storyblocks
- iStock
- 123RF
- Vecteezy
- Adobe Stock
- PixaBay
- Pexels
- JumpStory

## Top 10 Alternatives to Shutterstock Recently Reviewed By G2 Community

Browse options below. Based on reviewer data, you can see how Shutterstock stacks up to the competition, check reviews from current & previous users in industries like Marketing and Advertising, Computer Software, and Health, Wellness and Fitness, and find the best product for your business.

[![G2 Advertising](/assets/my-g2-logo-41632af6f81a240a0a9886638f412b2ac9a29f4001534f8c83be89a58ef9d45d.svg "G2 Advertising")](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source)

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[
Learn More
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[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/3a2839e73306934898d3bcccf2c3aed4/storyblocks.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews)

[
Storyblocks
](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews)

By [Storyblocks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/storyblocks)

[

4.6/5(429)

](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Storyblocks is a marketplace for royalty-free stock media assets.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, Storyblocks is:

Better at support

Easier to do business with

Easier to set up

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Music
](/categories/stock-music)[
Stock Footage
](/categories/stock-footage)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/866db67bfdbf973da16c24dd7965b41b/getty-images-istock.jpg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/getty-images-istock/reviews)

[
iStock
](https://www.g2.com/products/getty-images-istock/reviews)

By [Getty Images](https://www.g2.com/sellers/getty-images-d633a9b3-4f86-4f1d-8b52-2988afad1bb7)

[

3.5/5(117)

](https://www.g2.com/products/getty-images-istock/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

iStock provides stock photos and imagery collections for advertising and graphic design as well as print and online publishing.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, iStock is:

More expensive

Easier to admin

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Music
](/categories/stock-music)[
Stock Footage
](/categories/stock-footage)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/0e3009cc93667a83e5d6ce3ff3319598/123rf.jpg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/123rf/reviews)

[
123RF
](https://www.g2.com/products/123rf/reviews)

By [123RF](https://www.g2.com/sellers/123rf-845f6507-26d0-4198-a96a-681c83523294)

[

4.4/5(21)

](https://www.g2.com/products/123rf/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

123RF is a comprehensive digital media platform offering over 240 million royalty-free assets, including photos, vectors, videos, audio files, and fonts. Established in 2005, it has evolved to integrate advanced AI tools, enhancing the creative process for users worldwide. Key Features and Functionality: - Extensive Media Library: Access to a vast collection of high-quality stock content suitable for various creative projects. - AI-Powered Tools: Features such as Image Generator, Sketch to Image, Image Upscaler, Generative Fill, Background Blur, Background Remix, Image Extender, Background Remover, Localize, and Image to Video, streamlining content creation and editing. - Flexible Subscription Plans: Offers the PLUS Plan for individuals, PLUS Team for small businesses, and PLUS Enterprise for larger organizations, each providing unlimited downloads and access to AI tools. - Credit System: Allows on-demand access to all assets with flexible usage options, catering to diverse project needs. Primary Value and Solutions: 123RF addresses the needs of creatives, marketers, and businesses by providing an all-in-one platform that combines an extensive stock media library with advanced AI tools. This integration simplifies the content creation process, enabling users to produce high-quality visuals efficiently. The flexible subscription and credit options ensure that users can choose plans that best fit their project requirements and budget constraints.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, 123RF is:

Easier to do business with

More usable

Easier to set up

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Music
](/categories/stock-music)[
Stock Footage
](/categories/stock-footage)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[![G2 Advertising](/assets/my-g2-logo-41632af6f81a240a0a9886638f412b2ac9a29f4001534f8c83be89a58ef9d45d.svg "G2 Advertising")](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source)

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G2 Advertising places your product in premium positions on high-traffic pages and on targeted competitor pages to reach buyers at key comparison moments.

[
Learn More
](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/902bdbfafb0d52a3ce77a65ef9a66e52/vecteezy.jpg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/vecteezy/reviews)

[
Vecteezy
](https://www.g2.com/products/vecteezy/reviews)

By [Eezy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/eezy)

[

4.7/5(8,582)

](https://www.g2.com/products/vecteezy/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Vecteezy is a leading global provider of digital imagery like stock photos and vector art as well as creative other creative assets like stock video footage, icons, PSDs, templates, and more. Developed by an American company Eezy.com which is headquartered in Bowling Green, KY.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, Vecteezy is:

Easier to do business with

Easier to admin

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Footage
](/categories/stock-footage)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/ba56ce472347e3963f642f5f59eb9ffb/adobe-adobe-stock.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-adobe-stock/reviews)

[
Adobe Stock
](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-adobe-stock/reviews)

By [Adobe](https://www.g2.com/sellers/adobe)

[

4.3/5(194)

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-adobe-stock/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Adobe Stock is a comprehensive stock media service offering a vast collection of high-quality, royalty-free assets, including photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, audio files, templates, and 3D models. Designed to meet the diverse needs of creative professionals, Adobe Stock seamlessly integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, enabling users to search, preview, and license assets directly within their design environment. This integration streamlines the creative workflow, allowing for efficient project development without the need to switch between platforms. Key Features and Functionality: - Extensive Asset Library: Access millions of curated assets contributed by a global community of artists, ensuring a wide range of styles and subjects to suit various project requirements. - Seamless Integration: Adobe Stock is natively integrated into Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere Pro, allowing users to browse and license assets directly within these applications. - Advanced Search Capabilities: Powered by Adobe Sensei, the platform offers intelligent search features, enabling users to filter assets by aesthetics, color, copy space, shot size, and more, facilitating the discovery of the perfect asset efficiently. - Flexible Licensing Options: Offers various subscription plans and credit packs to accommodate different usage needs, including options for individuals, teams, and enterprises. - Premium Content: Provides access to a Premium collection of hand-selected, high-quality images from leading photographers and agencies, catering to projects that require exceptional visual content. Primary Value and User Solutions: Adobe Stock addresses the challenge of sourcing high-quality, royalty-free assets by providing a vast and diverse library that integrates directly into the creative workflow. This integration reduces the time and effort required to find and license assets, enhancing productivity for designers, marketers, and content creators. By offering flexible licensing and a wide range of content types, Adobe Stock empowers users to create compelling, professional-grade projects efficiently.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, Adobe Stock is:

Easier to admin

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Footage
](/categories/stock-footage)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/2b9911c5a74d477e3886980b13ab419a/pixabay.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/pixabay/reviews)

[
PixaBay
](https://www.g2.com/products/pixabay/reviews)

By [Pixabay](https://www.g2.com/sellers/pixabay)

[

4.4/5(164)

](https://www.g2.com/products/pixabay/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Pixabay is a comprehensive online platform offering over 5.8 million high-quality, royalty-free images, videos, music, and sound effects. Founded in 2010, it serves as a valuable resource for creatives seeking diverse media content for personal and commercial projects. Key Features and Functionality: - Extensive Media Library: Access a vast collection of photos, illustrations, vector graphics, videos, music tracks, and sound effects, all available for free download. - User-Friendly Interface: Easily search and navigate through content with intuitive filters and categories, enhancing the user experience. - Flexible Licensing: Content is released under the Pixabay Content License, allowing free use without attribution, with certain restrictions to ensure ethical usage. - Community Engagement: Join a vibrant community of creators by uploading your own content, participating in discussions, and collaborating with others. Primary Value and Solutions: Pixabay addresses the need for accessible, high-quality media by providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional stock media services. It empowers users—including designers, marketers, educators, and content creators—to enhance their projects without the burden of licensing fees or attribution requirements, fostering creativity and efficiency in content production.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, PixaBay is:

Easier to do business with

Easier to set up

More usable

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Footage
](/categories/stock-footage)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/08cc4908743faa23a928ec55a48c7827/pexels.jpg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/pexels/reviews)

[
Pexels
](https://www.g2.com/products/pexels/reviews)

By [Pexels](https://www.g2.com/sellers/pexels)

[

4.6/5(113)

](https://www.g2.com/products/pexels/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

High-resolution photo marketplace.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, Pexels is:

More usable

Easier to set up

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Footage
](/categories/stock-footage)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/7dd87e8d18917425dc36901e88b978fe/jumpstory.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpstory/reviews)

[
JumpStory
](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpstory/reviews)

By [JumpStory](https://www.g2.com/sellers/jumpstory)

[

4.3/5(69)

](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpstory/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

With JumpStory™ you get one simple license, one low price and 25 million authentic looking photos, videos, icons and vectors to choose from … with unlimited downloads!

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, JumpStory is:

Better at support

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Music
](/categories/stock-music)[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/21414cfd83df166b35149ff1f794c9fa/dreamstime.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/dreamstime/reviews)

[
Dreamstime
](https://www.g2.com/products/dreamstime/reviews)

By [Dreamstime](https://www.g2.com/sellers/dreamstime)

[

4.3/5(646)

](https://www.g2.com/products/dreamstime/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Dreamstime is a marketplace for stock photos and royalty-free images.

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/720e727d7c9fad3d39ef7c8a9334b421/flickr.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/flickr/reviews)

[
Flickr
](https://www.g2.com/products/flickr/reviews)

By [Flickr](https://www.g2.com/sellers/flickr)

[

4.1/5(332)

](https://www.g2.com/products/flickr/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Stunning photos and stories, event announcements, latest news, and much more from within the Flickr community.

Reviewers say compared to Shutterstock, Flickr is:

Slower to reach roi

Categories in common with Shutterstock:

[
Stock Photos
](/categories/stock-photos)

## Shutterstock Alternatives FAQs

Generated using AI

### How does Shutterstock compare to Storyblocks?

According to G2 data, [Shutterstock](https://www.g2.com/products/shutterstock-shutterstock/reviews) holds an average rating of 4.4/5 from 656 reviews, while [Storyblocks](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews) leads with a 4.6/5 rating from 423 reviews. Storyblocks outperforms Shutterstock across key usability dimensions, including a 0.3-point lead in More Usable (9.4 vs 9.1), a 0.6-point lead in Easier to Set Up (9.7 vs 9.1), a 0.5-point lead in Easier to Admin (9.5 vs 9.0), a 0.8-point lead in Better at Support (9.2 vs 8.4), and a 0.6-point lead in Easier to Do Business With (9.3 vs 8.7). Both platforms offer extensive libraries of high-quality images, videos, and audio, but Shutterstock is noted for its massive and diverse collection, including free footage and pay-per-image/track options, which Storyblocks does not offer. Users praise Shutterstock for its powerful search filters and high-quality content, though they frequently cite its higher cost and subscription rigidity as drawbacks. Storyblocks is favored for its subscription model that allows unlimited downloads, seamless integration with editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, and a more straightforward licensing system. While Shutterstock excels in sheer content volume and quality, Storyblocks provides better workflow efficiency and cost-effectiveness, especially for video and audio assets.

### What are the best alternatives to Shutterstock?

The best alternatives to Shutterstock according to G2 user reviews and ratings are [Storyblocks](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews) (4.6/5 stars, 423 reviews) and [Vecteezy](https://www.g2.com/products/vecteezy/reviews) (4.7/5 stars, 8,479 reviews). Storyblocks is praised for its unlimited downloads subscription model, extensive library of stock videos, audio, and templates, and seamless integration with Adobe editing tools, making it highly suitable for video and multimedia projects. Vecteezy stands out for its high-quality images, vectors, and free content offerings, supported by a large user base and strong usability scores. Other alternatives include [123RF](https://www.g2.com/products/123rf/reviews) (4.4/5 stars, 21 reviews), noted for its AI-powered creative tools and flexible subscription plans, and [iStock](https://www.g2.com/products/getty-images-istock/reviews) (3.5/5 stars, 117 reviews), recognized for its high-quality visuals and advanced search filters.

### Which Stock Photos tools do reviewers recommend instead of Shutterstock?

Reviewers recommend [Storyblocks](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews) for its cost-effective unlimited downloads, ease of use, and rich library of video, audio, and templates that integrate well with creative workflows. It is favored for accelerating content creation and providing diverse, high-quality assets. [Vecteezy](https://www.g2.com/products/vecteezy/reviews) is recommended for its extensive free and premium stock photos and vectors, user-friendly interface, and strong licensing guarantees. [123RF](https://www.g2.com/products/123rf/reviews) is suggested for users seeking AI-powered tools like image generation and editing features combined with a broad media library and flexible subscription options. While [iStock](https://www.g2.com/products/getty-images-istock/reviews) offers high-quality and niche images with advanced filtering, its lower rating and fewer reviews indicate it is less favored compared to Storyblocks and Vecteezy. Overall, Storyblocks and Vecteezy receive the strongest user endorsements as Shutterstock alternatives.

### Why do users choose Storyblocks over Shutterstock?

Users choose [Storyblocks](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblocks/reviews) over Shutterstock primarily for its superior usability and cost-effectiveness. Storyblocks offers a subscription model with unlimited downloads, eliminating concerns about individual asset licensing or credit limitations, which users find highly valuable for ongoing projects. The platform scores 9.7 in Easier to Set Up and 9.5 in Easier to Admin, surpassing Shutterstock by 0.6 and 0.5 points respectively, reflecting a smoother onboarding and management experience. Storyblocks also leads by 0.8 points in Better at Support (9.2 vs 8.4), indicating more responsive and helpful customer service. Its integration with editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects streamlines workflows, saving users significant time. Additionally, Storyblocks is praised for its vast variety of high-quality video footage, music, sound effects, and templates, making it a one-stop-shop for multimedia content. The affordability and predictable pricing structure, combined with a user-friendly interface and comprehensive asset library, make Storyblocks the preferred choice for users seeking efficiency, value, and ease of use in content creation.

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