As one of the leading pioneers in content editing, photography, and videography, Shutterstock has emerged over time as the first call for many intentional professionals looking for a haven to buy and exhibit their masterpieces. With over 1140 employee strengths, the marketplace has become robust and filled with creative artisans looking to raise the threshold from time to time as they continue to bamboozle the platform with improvements. However, Shutterstock stands tall with its minimum subscription plan darted at $50 monthly. Hence, we have compiled a list of seven terrifically capable tools which can serve (almost) the same purpose as Shutterstock. Even though global recognition remains at its peak, other tools could be worthy of your time and fancy since they offer better pricing and similar quality. Six of the alternatives to Shutterstock that could serve as eligible competitors have been listed in this article with their mouth-watering features and possible reasons why they deserve patronage.

Top 6 Shutterstock Alternatives and Competitors

  1. AdobeStock – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for High-Definition Contents
  2. Getty – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for Popular Contents
  3. Openverse – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for Cost Optimization
  4. Freeimages – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for Free Outsource
  5. iStock – Best Shutterstock Alternative and competitor for Versatility
  6. Unsplash – Best Shutterstock Alternative and competitor for Content Customization

1. AdobeStock – Best Shutterstock Alternative and competitor for High-Definition Contents

PRICING: Free 30-day trial; Pricing ranges from $29 to $199 concerning the frequency of use, number of pictures, etc.

Adobe stock comes to mind as one of the tools standing parallel with Shutterstock in terms of 4k quality, HD content scoping across Infotainment, sports, lifestyle, etc. A very thrilling feature of Adobe stock boils down to the fact that most of its content is royalty-free. Millions of graphic designers, businessmen, and ladies employ the services of Adobe Stock daily for their content creation. These are asides from the obvious fact that AdobeStock retains the photo integrity in whatever ramification employed. Another thrilling feature has to be the vast templates that are customizable; allowing you to create different content each time, giving you a uniquely peculiar feel every time you embark on a content creation journey. If not for any reason, consider the total access to Adobe cloud it grants you upon subscription. This tool is the most suitable for people who oblige periodic use of creative tools for photography, videography, illustrative tendencies, etc. Definitely worth your time and money.

KEY FEATURES:

  • HD And 4K Quality Content
  • Vast Array of Templates
  • Beautiful Customizations
  • Extended Search History
  • Gigantic Stock Library
  • Free Editor
  • Integrates flawlessly with other Adobe tools
  • Top-notch illustrations and vectors

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Beautiful UI/UX interface
  • Easy to save
  • Large library of premium content

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • A bit cumbersome to use
  • You get what you pay for; No more, no less


2. Getty Images – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for Popular Contents

PRICING: The pricing ranges from $150 to $500 depending on the quality of content sought. No free trial.

Everybody knows Getty. They have their reputation spread across the nook and crannies of the world’s leading photography businesses. A bit expensive, Getty is one Shutterstock alternative worthy of dire patronage. Not because it has a variety of numbers ones, nor the fact that almost anyone can, have, or would benefit from Getty but because you can make good money selling your photographs on Getty! The platform is one of the most proficient in the multimedia trade. However, Critics have over time tried to talk down on their services. Nonetheless, Getty continues flawlessly to deliver a barrage of premium content worthy only of the elite.

KEY FEATURES:

  • HD, 4K Content
  • Excellent Multimedia trading platform
  • Robust Library of stock materials
  • Watermarked Content
  • Bulk image embed feature

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Incredible grab process
  • Robust Image library
  • Standby customer support

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Expensive
  • Not all collections can be embedded
  • Limited to some aspect


3. OpenVerse – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for Cost Optimization

PRICING: Free for all

In 2021, OpenVerse merged with WordPress, and ever since OpenVerse stands alone when it comes to domain accessibility with its wonderful one-click characteristics. It employs the open APIs to access over 400 million images; helping you streamline your content to exactly what you require. A part of Word Press’s “Five-For-The-Future” project, it provides free and re-usable templates, pictures, and audio files which can be edited, used, shared, and rebranded. Adding WordPress, Jamendo, MetaSearch, FreeSounds, and Wikipedia Commons to its’s library, it boasts a very robust library of everything you need for an eventful content creation experience. If you desire an adless site for free and open stock photography, Grab OpenVerse. Are you informed that OpenVerse has CC licensing? If not, you should know; it is.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Site translated into more than 12 internal languages
  • New images provider source
  • Refurbished user interface (Since merge)
  • Audio support
  • CCO public domain tool

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Ad-less
  • Free
  • Automatic registration into the WordPress Photo Directory platform
  • Easy to use

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Inconsistent plugin view

4. Freeimages – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for Free Outsource

PRICING: Free for all

Freeimages does exactly what its name suggests: gives you a wide variety of images that could be applied in various content parastatals for free! Millions have tapped into the gross generosity of the site’s developers to apply their creativity; creating uniquely profiting and entertainable content globally. Shutterstock may have more quality but Freeimages grants you the freedom; to explore among millions of photos and multimedia profiling that would in one way or another satisfy your deep need.

KEY FEATURES:

  • A vast library of content
  • Easy download links attached
  • Free for commercial use
  • No attribution
  • Copyright-free
  • High-quality content
  • Regularly upgraded database

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free
  • Wide range of options to select
  • Offers photo use by category-based groupings

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Pretty useless for specific-themed requests
  • Endless options make it more time-consuming to settle
  • Ads

5. iStock – Best Shutterstock Alternative and Competitor for Versatility

PRICING: The basic plan begins from $0.25 to $4.95; Contact the company for a custom quote.

If you need royalty-free photos (i.e. photos that you will not be required to pay the original creator free), choose iStock. iStock prides itself on the fact that they are the pioneering agency for microstock samples. Another mind-blowing feature is their widespread reputation for stock imagery and photography. Formerly known as iStockphoto, they have a lot of fans and critics, but you can always depend on iStock for well-curated content; if not the best. The total collection (photos, videos, and illustrative imaging) is jaw-dropping. It is preferable for the people who need a quick search for their articles, videos, voiceovers, and even the ordinary newbie.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Worry-free licensing
  • AI-powered search
  • Exclusiveness
  • Affordable price tags
  • Adobe Cloud Integration

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 10 free images during a one-month trial
  • Easy to use, access and rebrand


6. Unsplash – Best Shutterstock Alternative and competitor for Content Customization

PRICING: Free Trial Available; Contact the company for a custom quote.

Dedicated to providing site patrons with the best free multimedia material hands can get, Unsplash designates over 3 billion impressions per photo. What more verification can a domain require if not overall impressions? That should clarify to you that Unsplash isn’t among the layabouts. AS proficient are photography goes, Unsplash stands tall, cumulating over 300,000 professionals daily. If what you require is a platform that stands out from the rest, free and still upholds its license, grasp the lifeline offered by Unsplash.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Vast collections
  • Share and download feature
  • Upload feature
  • Image can be re-sized and re-defined.

REASON TO BUY:

  • Makes it easy to find any range of pictures within seconds
  • Free HD content

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not as detailed as other paid sites

A picture they say, speak a thousand word. However, should your budget stutter, then maintain the integrity of your budgetary stand by considering any of the competitive alternatives listed above. WE are confident that if this listicle is thoroughly followed, you make a bad selection.

REFERENCES:

  • https://justcreative.com/adobe-stock-review/
  • https://www.predictiveanalyticstoday.com/adobe-stock/
  • gettyimages.com/plans-and-pricing
  • https://alternativeto.net/software/cc-search/about/
  • https://wordpress.org/plugins/joomdev-wp-pros-cons/#reviews
  • https://photutorial.com/istock-review/