On March 1, 2024, Shutterstock removed its free trial, which used to be one of the most popular stock photo trials, allowing new customers to download 10 royalty-free images for free.
But not all is lost. Shutterstock still lets you download three free images if you know where to look, and it’s safe. Sadly, you have no control over which images are selected, so you are stuck with the three images Shutterstock picked.
This is why using Shutterstock’s new free trial is good for things such as your computer wallpaper, but not nearly enough for any serious design work, similar to what Envato’s free trial turned into.
Don’t need guidance? Here’s the link to the Shutterstock free photos page.
Table of contents:
- How to get Shutterstock photos for free
- What can you do with the free images?
- How to cancel the Shutterstock free trial
- Updates
- Shutterstock free trials: FAQs
How to get Shutterstock photos for free
Here’s how to get Shutterstock photos for free:
1. Go to the free images page on Shutterstock.com.
2. Click Download under one of the three pictures. If you don’t already have an account, clicking Download will prompt you to create a free account. Otherwise, you can skip the next step.
3. Create a free Shutterstock account. You can connect it to your Google, Facebook, or Apple accounts, or sign up using your email address and create a password. You won’t have to enter payment information.
4. Click Download once again to open the image in full resolution.
5. Right-click on the image and select Save image as… or click Ctrl/Cmd + S. Then repeat for the other two images if you wish to download them as well.
What can you do with the free images?
The free images come with the same Shutterstock Standard License as if you paid for them. It’s a royalty-free license that permits commercial use, such as in marketing and advertising, as well as personal use. You can use them for blogs, websites, social media platforms, videos, and presentations.
The license also permits you to make up to 500,000 copies or prints of these images, and the videos you use them in can get up to 500,000 views. There’s no view limit on using these images on websites. Each also comes with a $10,000 indemnification.
How to cancel the Shutterstock free trial
The new free trial version doesn’t have to be canceled. To use it, you just need to create a free account and not enter any payment information.
However, you can still delete your account if you wish. If you don’t have an active plan, you can simply go to your Profile page and follow the instructions under Delete Account.
Updates
Since Shutterstock frequently updates its free trial, we’re tracking all the updates.
- July 28, 2024: Shutterstock now lets you download 3 free images.
- March 1, 2024: Shutterstock trial was canceled.
- January 11, 2024: A new update to Shutterstock pricing, reverting to pre-asset plans. The free trial remained mostly the same, but the pages look different.
- August 19, 2023: Shutterstock updated its pricing and free trial again. You can no longer get videos since they cost 25 credits.
- July 21, 2022: Shutterstock started experimenting with a different free trial in 2022 and implemented it for everyone by the end of the year. The free trial has been updated to match the new Shutterstock All-in-One subscription that lets you download images, videos, and audio, compared to just images.
- February 2021: Cancellation shortened period from 96 to 48 hours and later to zero.
Shutterstock free trial: FAQs
I’ve been updating this guide since 2021, and in this time, I’ve received hundreds of questions. Here are the most common questions about the Shutterstock free trial.
How to use Shutterstock for free?
You can browse Shutterstock images, videos, and other assets for free without even creating an account. If you sign up, you can also save media to collections and use basic AI features.
How to get Shutterstock images for free?
There are three Shutterstock royalty-free images you can download free of charge. You only need an active Shutterstock account.
How long is Shutterstock’s free trial?
The Shutterstock free trial used to last for 30 days. It was an introductory offer that gave new customers the first month of a subscription for free. With the free trial gone, you don’t have to worry about cancelling because creating an account is free forever.
Shutterstock free images
Download 3 free royalty-free images from Shutterstock. All you need to do is create a free account.
Related reading:
- Honest Shutterstock review: Pros, cons, features & pricing
- The best Shutterstock alternatives
- How much does Shutterstock cost
- Shutterstock vs. Getty Images: Which is more affordable?
This article was originally published in May 2021. The most recent update was in May 2025.
