Unlock the full potential of your creative projects with Shutterstock, a platform that’s more than just a media library. Whether you’re a seasoned designer, a content creator, or someone just stepping into the world of digital art, understanding what Shutterstock offers can be a game-changer.

Dive into this comprehensive guide to discover how Shutterstock’s high-quality assets, user-friendly interface, and cutting-edge AI features can elevate your work to new heights.

Read further to learn more about Shutterstock, in our review we will detail its features, pros and cons with our rating, and a conclusion about why you should use it.

Click on “open” if you want to see exactly what we will talk about in the rest of this article.

Shutterstock is a comprehensive media library offering a wide array of premium content, including photos, vectors, illustrations, videos, and music.

The platform also features intuitive design tools and an AI Image Generator, allowing users to create or find the exact content they need for their projects. The service aims to be a one-stop-shop for all creative needs, emphasizing its AI innovation and straightforward pricing model.

Shutterstock specifications

Navigate the world of creative assets without breaking the bank with Shutterstock’s flexible pricing plans. Whether you’re an individual creator or a large enterprise, there’s a plan tailored for you. With options ranging from $12.99/month for a complete creative suite to $199 for specialized editorial content, you’re sure to find the perfect fit to elevate your creative projects!

Shutterstock pricing plans

Shutterstock Image Pricing Plans

One-Time Purchase Packs

• 5 Images Pack: $49
  • Single User
  • Credits expire one year from purchase
  • Download SD/HD/4K for the same price
  • Includes basic image editing tools

Annual Subscription

• 10 Images per Month: $29/month
  • Commitment for one year
  • Monthly replenishment of credits
  • Single User
  • Download SD/HD/4K for the same price
  • Includes premium image editing tools

Month-to-Month Subscription

• 3 Images per Month: $29/month
  • No commitment, cancel anytime
  • Monthly replenishment of credits
  • Single User
  • Download SD/HD/4K for the same price
  • Includes premium image editing tools

Shutterstock Video Pricing Plans

On-Demand One-Time Purchase

• Total Credits: $139
  • Single User
  • Download videos in SD, HD, or 4K format for the same price
  • More than 14,000 design templates, fonts, and logos
  • Standard License or More
  • Basic image editing tools

Mix and Match Monthly Credit Quota

• Credits per Month: $59/month
  • Payment Options: Annual (pay monthly or upfront to save up to $109), Month-to-Month
  • Single User
  • Download videos in SD, HD, or 4K format for the same price
  • More than 14,000 design templates, fonts, and logos
  • Standard License
  • Premium image editing tools

Business Personalized Formula

• Custom Licenses for additional legal protection
• Multiple Users
• High-end work and assembly tools
• 24/7 Support
• API Integration
• Access to editorial and archive content

Shutterstock Music and Sound Effects Pricing Plans

On-Demand Single User

• Type of Audio Content: $49/License
  • License Type: Standard or More
  • For a single user

Mix and Match FLEX Subscription

• Credits per Month: $29/month
  • Payment Options: Annual, billed monthly
  • Use credits to download up to 25 images or 6 music tracks or 3 video clips, or a mix of all
  • For a single user

Unlimited Subscription

• Type of Tracks: $19/month
  • Payment Options: Annual, billed monthly
  • Includes PremiumBeat tracks on Premium subscription
  • Immersive sound effects
  • For a single user

Business Personalized Subscriptions

• Tailored support to meet your exact needs
• For you and your team members

Shutterstock Editorial Content Pricing Plans

Single Download

• Select a Resource Type: $199/image
  • An easy way to get news, sports, entertainment, and archival images
  • For a single user

Multiple Image Pack (Most Popular)

• Downloads (for One Year): $99/image
  • All the practical aspects of the “à la carte” offer
  • 48% reduction on a pack of 25 images

Enterprise

• Personalized subscriptions with tailored support
• For you and your team members

Shutterstock Creative Workflows+ : Creative Suite+ Pricing Plan

Monthly No Contract

• A Complete Creative Platform: $12.99/month
  • One-click background removal
  • Smart image resizing tool
  • Creative analytics backed by data
  • Content organizer and calendar

This plan is designed to promote your business by offering a range of tools like one-click background removal, smart image resizing, and creative analytics. It also includes a content organizer and calendar to streamline your creative process.

Media Library

Shutterstock’s media library is not just a repository but a well-organized, curated space that aims to make the search for the perfect image or media less time-consuming. With a staggering collection of over 360 million images, the platform understands the importance of quality over quantity.

To this end, Shutterstock employs a team of expert curators who meticulously handpick collections based on a variety of criteria. These criteria include not just the visual impact of the image but also its composition, the artistry involved, and its technical excellence.

This ensures that users have access to the best of the best, without having to sift through less relevant or lower-quality options.

Furthermore, the platform leverages its high user traffic to gain insights into trending topics and popular subjects. This data-driven approach allows Shutterstock to keep its library updated and relevant, providing users with content that is both timely and timeless.

Videos

Shutterstock offers a range of aerial videos, including unique subjects like floating glaciers. These videos are captured using high-quality equipment to ensure clarity and detail. They can be used in documentaries, educational content, or any project requiring stunning natural visuals.

Music

While the description suggests an image, this feature actually allows users to pair their visual content with appropriate music tracks. For example, a full-length photo of a young lady dancing could be complemented by upbeat or elegant music, depending on the mood you want to convey.

Sound Effects

Shutterstock provides a library of sound effects (SFX) that can be used to enhance videos or other multimedia projects. These sound effects range from natural sounds to digitally created effects, offering a wide array of options to elevate your project’s audio experience.

Vector Images

Shutterstock offers a collection of vector images that are ideal for digital and print projects. These images can be scaled without losing quality, making them versatile for various applications like web design, marketing materials, and more.

Templates

Shutterstock provides a range of templates designed for social media, including Twitter carousels. These templates are customizable and can be used to create engaging content for your social media channels, saving you time and effort in design

AI Image Generator

Shutterstock’s AI Image Generator is a groundbreaking feature developed in collaboration with OpenAI. This tool is designed to make the process of content creation as simple as entering a text description.

Once the user inputs their text and clicks the “generate” button, the AI goes to work, producing an image that not only matches the description but also offers various stylistic options. These options range from realistic photographic images to digital art and even 3D renderings.

The technology behind this feature is OpenAI’s DALL·E 2, known for its advanced capabilities in generating high-quality images. The AI Image Generator is not just a tool for quick image creation; it’s a feature that opens up new avenues in creative expression.

It allows users to experiment with different styles and forms, thereby expanding their creative horizons. Moreover, the AI-generated content can be used in both personal and commercial projects, provided it doesn’t infringe on third-party intellectual property rights.

What makes this service even more appealing is its ability to integrate these AI-generated images into Shutterstock’s Creative Suite.

You can not only generate images but also customize them according to your needs, all on a single platform. This significantly simplifies the creative process, allowing you to spend more time on conceptualization and less time managing different tools and platforms.

Shutterstock is a robust creative platform that offers a plethora of high-quality assets, including images, videos, music, and even AI-generated content. The platform is lauded for its professional-grade quality, making it an ideal choice for medium to large enterprises with a significant workload in video productions. Its user-friendly interface and AI content creation features add to its appeal, making it a trusted name in the industry.

Pros

• Quality of Content: Offers professional-grade videos, animations, and images.
• Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly, with easy-to-use editor tools.
• Variety: A large library that caters to different creative needs.
• AI Features: Advanced AI content creation capabilities.
• Searchability: Features like “Similar images,” “Same model,” and “Same artist” help in refining searches.

Cons

• Pricing: Higher than other platforms, making it less suitable for small studios or individuals.
• Search Functionality: Locating the right files can sometimes be challenging.
• Editing Tool Issues: Some users have reported that the editing tool has been glitchy since its recent update.