I noticed that Shutterstock doesn’t do a good job comparing all their licenses. You can usually compare Standard and Enhanced licenses in the context of the media you’re buying, but what if you need a complete overview?
Here’s my attempt to provide a general overview of the three main Shutterstock license types for images, videos, and music: Standard, Enhanced, and Editorial. I’ll go into more detail later.
Shutterstock licenses at a glance
| Standard license | Enhanced license | Editorial license | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital use | Image: Websites, social media, apps (≤500K) Video: Web/social (≤500K audience) Music: Websites, social media, personal video sharing | Image: Unlimited platforms & audience Video: All platforms, no audience limit Music: All Standard uses plus TV, radio, apps | Single editorial use |
| Get it with | Image: Subscriptions, packs, Offset collection Video: Subscriptions, packs, Select collection Music: Subscription, single files | Image: Packs Video: Packs Musi: Single files | Image & video: Editorial pricing page |
| Print runs | ≤500,000 copies | Unlimited | ≤500,000 copies |
| OOH advertising | ≤500K impressions (Images) | Unlimited (Images) | ✗ |
| Merchandise, wall art, digital templates | ✗ | ✔️ Images: with other creative elements Videos: Up to 1,000 licenses | ✗ |
| Live performances | Video: ≤500K audience (Video) Music: Student projects only (Music) | Video: Unlimited audience | ✗ |
| Broadcast/Theater Use | ✗ | ✔️ No audience limit (Video) | ✗ |
| DVD/Podcasts | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Geographic Scope | Worldwide | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Duration | Perpetual | Perpetual | Perpetual |
| Liability coverage | Image: $10,000 Video: $10,000 Music: Limited to license fee | Image: $250,000 Video: $10,000 Music: Limited to license fee | $25,000 |
NB: Please note that the information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal counsel. It may be outdated or include errors. Read Shutterstock licensing terms.
Standard License
The Shutterstock Standard License is designed for common usage scenarios. It covers a range of digital and print applications but has certain limitations. It’s a good starting point for individuals who don’t require the extensive rights offered by the Enhanced license.
This license includes an indemnity of up to $10,000 for images and videos, while the indemnity for Music is limited to the license fee paid for the asset or subscription fees.
Images
✔️ Yes: unlimited views and usage on online platforms (websites, social media, online advertising, and mobile apps); up to 500,000 print copies (product packaging, business cards, and point-of-sale advertising); up to 500,000 impressions on out-of-home advertising (billboards). Audio-visual production projects with a budget of up to $10,000.
❌ No: merchandise or digital templates (t-shirts, mugs, or website templates).
Cost: Image subscriptions ($25 to $249 per month for 10 to 750 downloads), image packs ($29 to $229 for 2 to 25 images), Offset images ($249).
Videos
The Shutterstock Standard Video License is designed for common online video usage scenarios but with limitations on audience size and distribution. It’s suitable for projects that are primarily web-based.
✔️ Yes: Online distribution on websites, social media, and mobile apps; video sharing platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) for personal use (budgets up to $4,999); live performances to an audience of less than 500,000.
❌ No: Broadcast (television, cable, OTT), theatrical distribution exceeding 500,000 audiences for online videos, live performances, or digital templates.
Cost: Video subscriptions ($79 to $669 per month for 5 to 20 downloads), video packs ($299 to $2,299 for 5 to 25 videos), Select videos ($349).
Music
The Standard Music License is for online projects, with limitations on distribution and usage. It’s designed for common web-based and social media content.
✔️ Yes: Use in productions (audio/video projects synchronized to music) distributed on websites, social media platforms, video sharing platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) for personal use only and podcast distribution platforms. Theatrical use in student projects and live performances that are also student projects.
❌ No: Television, radio, DVD, software application, use in Advertising or in digital templates, or in an audio-only Production in which music is the primary content.
Cost: Music subscriptions ($42 to $69 per month for unlimited downloads), single tracks ($49 per music file, $5 per SFX).
Enhanced License
The Shutterstock Enhanced License provides extended usage rights across all media types, removing many of the restrictions associated with Standard licenses. It is designed for high-visibility projects and merchandising.
For images, this license includes up to $250,000 indemnity and $10,000 indemnity for video. Indemnity for music is limited to the license fee paid for the asset.
Images
✔️ Yes: All uses under the Standard Image License, without any limitations on the number of reproductions, impressions, or budget; use in Merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc.); use in wall art for commercial spaces; incorporation into digital templates for resale or distribution.
❌ No: None, subject to restrictions on use of content (e.g. defamation, not as a trademark)
Cost: Enhanced image packs ($159 to $1,329 for 2 to 25 images).
Videos
✔️ Yes: All uses under the Standard Video License, without any limitation on audience size and including broadcast (television, cable, OTT), theatrical distribution, and distribution in digital templates for resale (limit of 1000 licenses to digital templates).
❌ No: None, subject to restrictions on use of content (e.g. defamation, not as a trademark).
Cost: Enhanced video packs ($669 to $2,669 for 5 to 25 videos).
Music
✔️ Yes: All uses under the Standard Music License, and also includes use in Television (single country, for pilots or by public broadcaster); Radio (single country); physical point of sale locations, trade shows, in-store displays, and industrial events (single country), DVD (up to 1000 copies); computer software applications (including mobile apps, and video games, but not to exceed 1000 copies or downloads).
❌ No: None, subject to restrictions on use of content (e.g. defamation, not as a trademark).
Cost: $199 per music file, $20 per SFX file.
Editorial License
The Shutterstock Editorial License is intended for descriptive use in news reporting, commentary, and publications of human interest, with strict restrictions on commercial use.
For all media, this license includes up to $25,000 indemnity.
✔️ Yes: Single editorial use of an item, distributed worldwide in perpetuity in a single context (news story, blog post, page of publication), including reuse in context on different channels.
❌ No: Commercial purposes (advertising, merchandise), any use outside the original context, distribution via broadcast/cable/OTT, on publication covers, or in print runs in excess of 500,000, and subject to any special restrictions noted with the content.
Cost: Editorial images ($139 to $199 each) and editorial videos ($149 each).
Comp License
The Shutterstock Comp License is for temporary use of watermarked, low-resolution content for test or sample purposes only.
For all media, there is no indemnity.
✔️ Yes: Use of watermarked, low-resolution content for test, sample, comp, or rough-cut evaluation materials.
❌ No: Display or distribution to the public, incorporation into any final materials, removal or alteration of the Shutterstock watermark.
Cost: Comp images and videos are generally free to download but are not licensed for use.
Shutterstock Premier License
The Shutterstock Premier License is a premium license reserved for teams and corporations. It offers many benefits not available with other licenses, such as sensitive usage rights, unlimited indemnification, high-resolution comps without watermarks, and transferability rights. It also allows use in merchandise templates. You can get Shutterstock Premier by requesting.
How to license photos on Shutterstock?
You don’t have to do anything to license a photo from Shutterstock. You get a license with every photo you buy and download, either through subscriptions, image packs, or on-demand. Such a photo (or video, audio, template, etc.) is automatically licensed, and you can use it under the terms of that license as soon as you download it.
Here’s how I license Shutterstock photos (you can switch the steps and first buy a subscription or image pack and then find a photo to download):
- Visit the Shutterstock website (https://www.shutterstock.com) and create a free account.
- Use the search bar to find the perfect images for your needs. You can use keywords, filters (image type, orientation, color, etc.), and categories to narrow down the results.
- Preview the image to ensure it’s what you need. Click on the image for details, including licensing options and pricing.
- Select the buying option. Subscription plans offer the best value.
- Choose the Standard or Enhanced license based on your usage requirements.
- Proceed to checkout, provide payment details, and confirm the purchase.
- Once you’ve paid, the watermark is removed. Download your high-resolution, non-watermarked image. You can find it in your account’s download history as well.
How to credit Shutterstock images?
You don’t usually need to credit Shutterstock or the original artist when you use their images or video footage, although it is appreciated. However, there are a few key situations where attribution is necessary:
- Editorial content: If you’re using an image or video in a news article, documentary, book, or similar project, include the credit: “Artist’s Name/Shutterstock.com”
- Merchandise: If the image is a prominent part of merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc.), include the following somewhere on the product or its packaging: “Image(s) used under license from Shutterstock.com”
- Video productions: Place this credit in your video’s end credits: “Image(s) and/or video used under license from Shutterstock.com”
- Social media: While not always required, creators appreciate credit on social media posts featuring their work. Use the format: “Artist’s Name/Shutterstock.com”
If your project also includes credited content from other sources, make sure to include a Shutterstock attribution as well. Shutterstock also states, “In all cases, credit attributions should be of such color, size, and prominence so as to be clearly and easily readable by the unaided eye.“
Shutterstock licensing FAQs
What is “Editorial Use Only”?
“Editorial Use Only” refers to content that Shutterstock restricts to descriptive purposes in newsworthy or human interest contexts. Shutterstock prohibits using this content for commercial purposes like advertising or merchandising.
Is Shutterstock royalty-free?
Shutterstock’s Standard and Enhanced licenses are royalty-free, while the Editorial license is rights-managed.
Can I use Shutterstock images and videos on YouTube?
Yes, you can use Shutterstock images and videos on YouTube. The Standard License allows usage for up to 500,000 views. If your video exceeds that, you’ll need the Enhanced License. You can always upgrade from the Standard License to the Enhanced License if your video becomes popular.
Can I use Shutterstock images for print-on-demand?
Yes, you can use Shutterstock images for print-on-demand products. If you use Shutterstock images for small-batch, physically printed books, and digital books that are printed when ordered, the Standard License allows up to 500,000 reproductions, while the Enhanced License offers unlimited printing. To use Shutterstock images in merchandise like t-shirts and mugs, you’ll need the Enhanced License.
Can I use a Shutterstock image as a logo?
Shutterstock images cannot be used for logos or trademarks under standard licenses, but two exclusive options exist: acquiring exclusive buyout rights to an existing image or custom logo creation through Shutterstock Studios.
What is data licensing in Shutterstock?
While the rest of the article is meant for Shutterstock buyers, this part is for Shutterstock contributors.
In addition to its traditional image licensing options, Shutterstock offers a data licensing program. This program allows companies and researchers to use your images to train artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models. Instead of using your image directly, they extract data from it to help computers learn to see and understand the world better.
If an image doesn’t meet Shutterstock’s strict quality standards for the main collection, it may be marked “Eligible for Data Licensing. This means that the image still has value as an AI training tool.
How does it work? Shutterstock pays into a contributor fund every time a data-licensed image is used. While the revenue per image is much smaller than traditional licensing, the large number of images used for AI training means that the revenue can add up over time. This program means revenue from images that might not otherwise sell, and you get to play a role in advancing AI technology.
However, you have less say in how your image data is used specifically; earnings per image are small, and some people are uncomfortable with the ethics of the AI companies.
