Shutterstock vs Getty Images: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Shutterstock is built for large-catalog, while Getty Images suits editorial-news. For most users Getty Images is the stronger default, but Shutterstock can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Shutterstock has the lower entry price.
If you're weighing Shutterstock against Getty Images, the right answer depends on your priorities. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Shutterstock | Getty Images | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Stock Marketplace | Stock Marketplace |
| What it's known for | One of the largest royalty-free catalogs covering photos, vectors, footage, music and editorial, with flexible credit packs and subscriptions for any team size. | Premium and exclusive editorial, news and rights-managed content trusted by publishers and brands, with the deepest archive of newsworthy and celebrity imagery. |
| Pricing | Image subscriptions from ~$29/mo (10 images/mo) up to flexible plans; credit packs and footage priced separately | Premium access and Ultrapacks; pricing quote-based and generally higher than iStock |
| Best audience | Agencies and businesses needing a deep, legally safe catalog across photos, video, music and editorial. | Publishers, newsrooms and brands needing premium editorial, rights-managed or exclusive imagery. |
| Best for | large-catalog, agencies | editorial-news, premium-imagery |
| Entry price | from $25/mo | ~$199-$249/mo |
| Biggest strength | Massive catalog covering nearly every media type. | Unrivalled editorial, news and exclusive premium imagery. |
| Main caveat | Monthly no-contract plans are notably more expensive than annual. | Among the most expensive stock sources; much is quote-based. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Shutterstock key features
- One of the largest royalty-free catalogs (photos, vectors, footage, music, editorial)
- Flexible image subscriptions, video subscriptions, on-demand packs and an Unlimited plan
- Standard royalty-free license with $10,000 legal indemnification
- Enhanced license add-on with $250,000 indemnification
Getty Images key features
- Premium editorial, news and rights-managed content
- Deepest archive of newsworthy, celebrity and historical imagery
- Premium Access annual capped-download agreements for teams
- Ultrapacks for downloads that never expire
Pricing tiers side by side
Shutterstock plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Images (annual) | from $25/mo | 10 image downloads/mo on annual billing |
| Images (monthly) | from $45/mo | 10 images/mo, no contract |
| Video | from $59/mo (annual) | Footage subscription |
| Unlimited | $69/mo (billed yearly) | Images, video, music and AI tools bundled |
Getty Images plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription (basic) | ~$199-$249/mo | Limited downloads of creative content |
| Premium tiers | $499+/mo | Higher download limits, expanded library |
| Ultrapacks | $499/download (single) | Best bulk ~$300/download in 15-pack; never expire |
| Premium Access | annual quote | Capped annual team agreement, no daily/monthly caps |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Shutterstock wins
The world's largest royalty-free marketplace, with 860M+ assets across every media type.
- Massive catalog covering nearly every media type.
- Strong legal indemnification on every standard license.
That makes it the stronger pick for agencies and businesses needing a deep, legally safe catalog across photos, video, music and editorial.
Where Getty Images wins
The premium archive for editorial, news and exclusive imagery trusted by publishers and brands.
- Unrivalled editorial, news and exclusive premium imagery.
- Premium Access removes daily/monthly download caps for teams.
That makes it the stronger pick for publishers, newsrooms and brands needing premium editorial, rights-managed or exclusive imagery.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose Shutterstock if you fit its core audience — agencies and businesses needing a deep, legally safe catalog across photos, video, music and editorial.
- Choose Getty Images if you fit its core audience — publishers, newsrooms and brands needing premium editorial, rights-managed or exclusive imagery.
FAQ
Is Shutterstock better than Getty Images?
Getty Images is the stronger default for most users, but Shutterstock can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Shutterstock and Getty Images?
Shutterstock is the world's largest royalty-free marketplace, with 860M+ assets across every media type. Getty Images is the premium archive for editorial, news and exclusive imagery trusted by publishers and brands.
Which is cheaper, Shutterstock or Getty Images?
Entry pricing differs: Shutterstock starts at from $25/mo, while Getty Images starts at ~$199-$249/mo. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Shutterstock and Getty Images: