iStock Reviews & Product Details

I found iStock easy to navigate, and its partnership with Getty gave me more options. It cut down the time I spent searching for and getting approval for pictures, and setup was easy, though that was a limited benefit. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I found iStock expensive, and they don’t tell you anything about the subscription. After the trial period, I got stuck paying for the whole year, with no way to cancel anytime, and over $100 going to waste. I only used a few pictures for a school project, so the time it saved me searching and getting approval felt like such a limited benefit. I really regret using the service. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The pictures are very good. The images I look for when creating trade marketing materials or designing brochures, flyers, and website graphics are usually higher quality and fit my search terms better than what I find on other free websites. It’s also easy to sign in and track my searches, so I can quickly find images I viewed previously. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Honestly, I don’t love that I have to pay for it. It’s a bit of a hassle having to pay just to download a stack of 10 images, although I understand that the photographers and image creators need to be compensated too. That said, it isn’t overly expensive, but it’s still something I have to consider. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like most about iStock is the search and filtering. I can quickly find images based on style, orientation, color, and usage, which saves a lot of time when working on campaigns.

The image quality is consistent. I don’t have to spend much time checking multiple options because most visuals meet basic standards for ads and content.

The UI is simple and easy to navigate. Downloading assets and managing collections is straightforward, which helps in daily work.

Performance is reliable. Searches load fast and previews work smoothly, even when browsing a large number of images.

Pricing is flexible with credits and subscriptions. It’s not the cheapest, but the quality and time saved make it worth it.

One unexpected benefit is the variety. I can usually find something usable even for niche topics without switching platforms. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Pricing can get expensive, especially if you need a lot of downloads. Credits run out quickly, and subscription limits can feel restrictive.

Some images feel repetitive. For common themes, you start seeing similar styles, which makes it harder to find something unique.

Licensing can be a bit confusing at times. It’s not always clear what can be used where, so I have to double-check before using assets in campaigns.

Search results are good, but not always perfect. Sometimes I need to try multiple keywords to get the exact type of image I want.

There are also limits on downloads depending on the plan, which can slow down work if I need assets in bulk. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

iStock has been around for as long as I can remember, and I’ve consistently found them reliable. They offer a vast library of stock images across many industries, and it’s rare that I can’t find something that fits a specific use case.

While the pricing is generally on the higher side, the quality and the exclusive stock content they offer feel unmatched. One feature I also appreciate, even though it isn’t perfect, is the ability to search for images using an existing image, similar to Google Image Search. It’s not flawless, but it does work and can be really helpful.

iStock also provides sample images with a watermark, which helps me test how an image will look in a particular context before committing. This is especially handy because an image can look like a masterpiece on its own, but once you place it into a design or layout, it might not look as good as you expected.

Overall, iStock has helped me avoid the more expensive route of hiring a photographer or an artist by making it possible to purchase images for a relatively small fee. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While it was a pioneer at one point, there are now so many stock websites that offer a similar service. Although the pricing is competitive, I still find it slightly on the higher side. I remember when purchases were only possible through credits, and those credits had to be bought in multiples—there was no way to get a single image for a fixed payment. The new pay-as-you-go model is great. That said, even though the pay-as-you-go model has been relaxed, it could still be better. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Generally much higher quality images and videos Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

In general there was nothing I disliked but recently I purchased a subscription for a single consulting project which I believed to be monthly, but turned out to be annual and billed monthly. I had been laid off and this project required me to download a handful of videos for ads. When I saw I was being charged, I reached out and was told in spite of my hardship they would be charging me an additional $100 for cancellation. Very poor customer service. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate the wide variety of content available on iStock. I find the color filters particularly useful as they help me filter and show the specific color mood and palette that I need, which is great for video and social media content creation. The initial setup was very easy for me; I just logged in, chose a plan, and started downloading stock content without any hassle. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I think iStock could improve by offering more video footage. I'd like a bigger variety of vertical format video content. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As a graphic designer, I have used many stock photos websites, and iStock is consistently one of my go-to resources. One of the things I like best is how much time it saves me. Compared to free stock options, the variety and quality here are miles ahead. Typically I can find images quickly without having to sift through pages of irrelevant generic images. The image quality is consistently high as well. I also appreciate that they offer vector files, and video content–both of which I use often for my projects. Lastly, the filter options are amazing! I love that I can filter by age, ethnicity, number of people, and color toning. These are all extremely useful for me when trying to find very specific images. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While there is a lot I like about iStock, there is also room for improvement. It can sometimes be difficult to find imagery that reflects a broad range of ethnicities and cultural diversity, especially when you're searching for more candid or natural-looking photos. Another drawback is the cost. While the quality is there, the pricing is a little steep. It would be great to see more flexible subscription options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Variety of images to choose from

High quality images Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We need to pay in order to download images in high quality Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Nothing at all, the visual I found were not that great. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Most probably you have come here after getting scammed, but if not, please save yourself for these scammers. They are a big scam, they will lure you in with a free trial, they will write misleading information about how they are going to charge you. Once your free trial ends, you will be obligated to pay them $70 each month for a period of one year. There is no way to cancel the account and there is no way to remove my card information. Even if you cancel during trial, you will be charged an ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.

This is 2025 and they are playing cheap tactics to charge you. I had to block and order a replacement of my card because of other reviews that says they were charged even after cancellation because they don't clearly mention if the subscription will cancel right away or after a period of 12 months. So in my opinion, if you want to save your hard earned money, block your card. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Their images are good but really their bad policies overwrites their experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I recently had a frustrating experience with iStock’s subscription and refund process. After my free trial ended, I was automatically charged for a paid subscription, which I canceled immediately upon noticing the charge. I hadn’t downloaded any content during the paid period, and according to their policy, that should make me eligible for a refund. However, because I had downloaded a single image during the free trial to test the service, they refused to issue a refund—keeping nearly $100 for a service I never used.

I even offered to pay for the one image I downloaded, but they were unwilling to make any exceptions. This policy feels unfair and seems more focused on trapping customers with technicalities rather than offering a customer-friendly experience.

I expected more flexibility and understanding from a company of this size. If you’re considering trying iStock, be very cautious with their free trial and automatic renewals—it’s easy to get charged for something you didn’t intend to keep, with little chance of a refund. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.