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123RF vs Shutterstock Comparison

Last updated:

123RF

3.9(1,911 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

123RF offers a wide variety of images, sounds and motion provided by talented creators from around the world. Using advanced data science and Artificial Intelligence, the search engine tailors the results to provide you…

Shutterstock

2.4(2,180 reviews)

Starting at $29 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Introducing Shutterstock: a cutting-edge SaaS platform that empowers your creativity. With a global reach, we offer a plethora of premium assets and innovative editing and collaboration tools for individuals, teams, and…

123RF leads on user satisfaction with a 3.9-star rating across 1,911 reviews.

123RF vs Shutterstock — at a glance

Feature123RFShutterstock
Rating3.9 / 52.4 / 5
Reviews1,9112,180
Starting priceContact for pricing$29 /Month
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryStock Photos Websites Stock Photos Websites
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPRGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between 123RF and Shutterstock

  • Pricing: Shutterstock starts at $29 /Month. 123RF pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Shutterstock offers a free trial; 123RF does not.
  • User satisfaction: 123RF scores higher with a 3.9-star average.
  • Deployment: 123RF supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Shutterstock supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

123RF vs Shutterstock — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Stock Photos Websites tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

123RF - New SaaS Software
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Talk to an expert
Shutterstock - Stock Photos Websites
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Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

123RF

Best for small to medium businesses needing diverse AI-curated stock content.

Choose if
  • You want a broad selection of images, sounds, and motion content in one platform.
  • You value AI-powered search that tailors results and avoids duplicate downloads.
  • You need simple, streamlined workflows suitable for marketing and design teams.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company requires highly specialized or niche imagery not widely available.
  • You need transparent pricing and clear licensing details before committing.

Shutterstock

Best for mid-to-large creative teams needing extensive stock assets with collaboration tools.

Choose if
  • You require a vast global library of premium stock images and assets.
  • Your team needs integrated editing and collaboration features within the platform.
  • You want robust API capabilities to integrate stock assets into your workflows.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a freelancer or individual looking for low-cost, straightforward stock images.
  • Your company needs highly specialized or niche image libraries not covered by Shutterstock.

123RF: Best for small to medium businesses needing diverse AI-curated stock content. Shutterstock: Best for mid-to-large creative teams needing extensive stock assets with collaboration tools.

Description

123RF offers a wide variety of images, sounds and motion provided by talented creators from around the world. Using advanced data science and Artificial Intelligence, the search engine ... Read More about 123RF

Introducing Shutterstock: a cutting-edge SaaS platform that empowers your creativity. With a global reach, we offer a plethora of premium assets and innovative editing and collaboration ... Read More about Shutterstock

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $29 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • Free Trial available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
51-500 employees500+ employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

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How do 123RF and Shutterstock Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

0 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No features

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Get Quote

Compare 123RF and Shutterstock on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • Not Available
      • $29 , Billed Yearly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Shutterstock

        • 10 Images

        • Standard license

        • Autorenewal with easy opt-out

        Show more +

      • On-demand packs

        • 5 Images

        • Standard license

        • Enhanced license

        Show more +

      • Teams

        • 2 users

        • 750 images/month, up to 2 team members

        • Create designs with professional editing features

        Show more +

      • Browse all pricing plans

      Pricing Page

      123RF pricing
      Shutterstock pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Medium Business
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Medium Business
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers

      Platforms Supported

      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      123RF User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      2.4

      (based on 2180 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      48

      20

      2

      4

      18

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyers appreciate the variety and AI-driven search but note mixed satisfaction due to pricing opacity and content limitations.

      What buyers like

      • Variety of content
      • AI-powered search
      • Color filter feature

      Common complaints

      • Pricing transparency
      • Content quality consistency

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall user sentiment is mixed to negative, with many users expressing dissatisfaction despite the platform's extensive features.

      What buyers like

      • Large and diverse image library
      • API integration
      • Mobile app functionality

      Common complaints

      • Pricing complexity
      • User experience issues

      Pros and Cons

      • Wide variety of images, sounds, and motion content

      • AI-powered search engine with tailored results

      • Color filter feature for precise image selection

      • No publicly available pricing information

      • Average user rating of 3.9 with some mixed reviews

      • Extensive global library of premium stock assets

      • Robust API integration capabilities

      • Professional image editing and collaboration tools

      • Relatively low user rating (2.4/5) indicating user dissatisfaction

      • Pricing details are not fully transparent or standardized

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Edit

      2 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to 123RF and Shutterstock in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, 123RF or Shutterstock?
      123RF edges out the other on user ratings (3.9 vs 2.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do 123RF and Shutterstock offer a free trial?
      Shutterstock offers a free trial. 123RF does not.
      What is the starting price of 123RF vs Shutterstock?
      123RF starts at Contact for pricing. Shutterstock starts at $29 /Month.
      What are the top alternatives to 123RF?
      Top alternatives to 123RF include Qualified, StockAI, Workvivo, Death to Stock, Pexels.
      What are the top alternatives to Shutterstock?
      Top alternatives to Shutterstock include StockAI, Imgartfis Creator, Getimg.ai, 123RF, Pexels.

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