If you’ve ever spent time comparing Shutterstock plans, clicking back and forth between different tabs, you know how confusing it can be to figure out which subscription gives you the most value. The pricing structure isn’t always clear, and you can end up more bewildered than when you started.
With Shutterstock’s 2024 shift from all-in-one subscriptions to asset-based plans, choosing the right option has become both easier and trickier. Now there are specific plans for images, videos, and audio—more options, but also more decisions to make.
If you’re puzzling over which Shutterstock plan fits your needs without draining your wallet, here’s a breakdown of your options and how to pick the best one.
Table of contents:
- Shutterstock pricing at a glance
- How do Shutterstock subscriptions work
- How much do Shutterstock images cost
- How much do Shutterstock videos cost
- How much does Shutterstock music cost
- Editorial images & videos
- How Shutterstock pricing compares
- Get creativity tips delivered straight to your inbox
Shutterstock pricing at a glance
Depending on which media you’re buying, Shutterstock images cost from $0.22 to $14.50, videos from $8.32 to $120, and audio files $5+. The cost depends on the buying method (subscriptions vs. on-demand), how many you buy upfront (subscription size, pack size), and the Shutterstock license (Standard, Enhanced, Editorial).
Here’s a complete summary of all Shutterstock subscriptions and packs.
| Plan name | Cost range | Downloads | Cost per download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image subscriptions | $24.91–$249/month | 10, 50, 350, 750 | $0.22–$4.90/image |
| Standard image packs | $29, $49, $229 | 2, 5, 25 | $9.16–$14.50/image |
| Enhanced image packs | $159, $359, $1,329 | 2, 5, 25 | $54.36–$79.50/image |
| Video subscriptions | $79–$669 | 5, 10, 20 | $8.32–$37.80/video |
| Standard video packs | $299–$2,299 | 5, 10, 25 | $49.16–$119.80/video |
| Enhanced video packs | $669–$2,669 | 5, 10, 25 | $66.76–$193.80/video |
| Music subscription | $42–$69/month | Unlimited | – |
| Music file | $49 (Standard) $199 (Enhanced) | Single file | $49 (Standard) $199 (Enhanced) |
| SFX file | $5 (Standard) $20 (Enhanced) | Single file | $5 (Standard) $20 (Enhanced) |
| Generative AI Plus | $7/month | 100 generations | $0.07/generation |
| Editorial images | $199, $3,999 | 1, 25 | $99, $199 |
| Editorial videos | $149 | Single file | $149 |
| Offset images | $249 (Standard) $349 (Enhanced) | Single file | $249 (Standard) $349 (Enhanced) |
| Select videos | $399 | Single file | $399 |
How do Shutterstock subscriptions work
All Shutterstock subscriptions are available as month-to-month, year-to-year, and year-to-year prepaid plans. The month-to-month plans are the most expensive but offer the most flexibility, as you can cancel at any time. Annual (paid monthly) plans offer a 20% discount, while annual prepaid plans offer discounts of up to 50%.
Generally, the more media assets you buy upfront, the lower the price per download. For example, the 750 monthly downloads image subscriptions have a higher monthly fee than the 10 monthly downloads, but it’s much cheaper per image download. The same applies to image and video packs.
The main drawback to Shutterstock subscriptions is that downloads do not roll over. In comparison, Adobe Stock and Depositphotos both roll over your download credits for up to a year.
How much do Shutterstock images cost
You can buy Shutterstock images with subscriptions, image packs, or if you’re buying premium images, as single files.
Image subscriptions
Image subscriptions are the cheapest way to buy standard stock photos at Shutterstock. The plans start at $29 per month (billed annually) for 10 monthly downloads. You can buy larger sizes of up to 750 monthly downloads for $169 per month (billed annually).
| Monthly downloads | Month-to-month | Annual (pay monthly) | Annual (pay upfront) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $49/month | $29/month | $299/year |
| 50 | $125/month | $99/month | $979/year |
| 350 | $199/month | $169/month | $1,649/year |
| 750 | $249/month | $199/month | $1,999/year |
The lowest monthly price comes with the 10 monthly downloads plan paid upfront for a full year ($299/year), which makes out to just below $25 per month. To get the lowest price per download, choose the largest plan instead—$0.22 per image.
Image packs
Shutterstock image packs come with two licenses: Standard (the same license as subscriptions) and Enhanced, which is about three times more expensive. Packs also come in three sizes of 2, 5, and 25 downloads. These are one-time payments, and you can use the credits to download images within one year of purchase.
The more images you purchase in advance (i.e., larger image packs), the less you pay per download. You will pay between $9.16 and $14.50 per Standard license image and between $27.56 and $44.50 per Enhanced license image.
| Image pack size | Standard License | Enhanced License |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $29 | $159 |
| 5 | $49 | $359 |
| 25 | $229 | $1,359 |
Image packs are more expensive per image than subscriptions because there is no commitment. Therefore, you should only choose packs if subscriptions don’t make sense for your needs.
Essentials plan
Shutterstock introduced a new plan called “Essentials” in October 2023. This plan offers unlimited downloads of 3.5 million core Shutterstock images for just $9.99 per month. It’s a monthly plan that you can cancel at any time. In addition to unlimited downloads, it offers a 15% discount on standard license images.
However, the plan is difficult to find because it’s not featured on the pricing page. I found it by chance. The only reliable way to get it is through this link: https://www.shutterstock.com/purchase?orderId=CS-0B43E-0C3C. This plan is hard to find because it’s not on their main pricing page. I found it on their AI image generator page when I entered a prompt into the generator.
Once you sign up, you’ll have unlimited access to Shutterstock’s “Essentials” collection, which includes over 3.5 million images. However, similar to the plan itself, this collection may not always appear as a search filter.
Offset images (Premium collection)
Offset is a premium library of images created by award-winning artists. Offset images are available for a single purchase only, costing $249 (249€; £219) for the Standard License and $349 (349€; £309) for the Enhanced License. There is currently no way to obtain a discount on Offset images through bulk purchases or subscriptions.
How much do Shutterstock videos cost
Video subscriptions
Video subscriptions allow you to download videos under the Standard Video License in all resolutions (from SD to 4K). They range from 5 to 20 monthly downloads and cost between $79 and $669 per month, depending on the commitment duration and plan size. The lowest video prices are associated with the largest plan, the annual paid upfront plan, which costs $8.32 per video.
| Monthly downloads | Month-to-month | Annual | Annual, pay upfront |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $189/month | $99/month | $949/year |
| 10 | $359/month | $159/month | $1,599/year |
| 20 | $669/month | $199/month | $1,999/year |
Video packs
Like image packs, video packs come in three sizes and two licenses (Standard and Enhanced). However, unlike image packs and video subscriptions, video packs are also segmented based on video resolution. This can help you save money if you need lower-resolution videos,, but 4K footage is more expensive.
| Standard License | Enhanced License | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downloads | SD | HD | 4K | SD | HD | 4K |
| 5 | $299 | $359 | $599 | $669 | $729 | $969 |
| 10 | $549 | $669 | $999 | $919 | $1,039 | $1,369 |
| 25 | $1,229 | $1,579 | $2,299 | $1,669 | $1,949 | $2,669 |
Depending on the pack you choose, you pay $49 to $120 per standard video and $139 to $194 per enhanced video. By comparison, downloading standard videos with subscriptions costs only $8.32 to $37.80, even for 4K footage.
Select videos (Premium)
Select is a great selection of premium, royalty-free stock videos. These videos are made by pros using the best cinema cameras and lenses. The collection includes a variety of content, such as genuine lifestyle scenes, dynamic action shots, and compelling establishing shots. All of this is available in both 4K and HD quality. Each Select clip costs $399, which includes the Shutterstock Standard Video License. If you need anything else, contact Shutterstock.
How much does Shutterstock music cost
Unlimited music subscription
Music subscriptions are different from image and video plans. They come with unlimited downloads. However, to prevent scraping and misuse, Shutterstock limits daily downloads to 40 tracks. This is similar to other unlimited audio subscriptions, like Artlist ($9.99), Epidemic Sound ($9.99), PremiumBeat ($9.99), and Envato Elements ($16.50).
Shutterstock unlimited music subscriptions cost $69 per month (month-to-month), $49 per month (annual, pay monthly), or $499 per year (annual, pay upfront).
You can also buy single files with a Standard License ($49 per music, $5 per SFX) or Enhanced License ($199 per music, $20 per SFX). There are no music packs that you can save when buying in bulk.
Editorial images & videos
Shutterstock might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of editorial content, but it boasts a vast collection of over 50 million images spanning news, sports, and entertainment, as well as rare archival material.
Editorial images and videos are reasonably priced at $199 (€179/£159) and $149 (€139/£119), respectively. However, if you need multiple images, consider buying a 25-image editorial pack for a more cost-effective solution at $99 per image (€89/£79).
How Shutterstock pricing compares
| Company | Pricing | Free trial? |
|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock | $12.50 to $249 per month | No |
| Adobe Stock | $29.99 to $249.99 per month | Yes |
| iStock | $29 to $349 per month | Yes |
| Depositphotos | $25 to $199 per month | Yes |
| Envato Elements | $16.50 to $39 per month | Yes |
