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PixaBay vs Shutterstock Comparison

Last updated:

PixaBay

4.4(114 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Small Business

Introducing PixaBay, a revolutionary platform offering a vast collection of high-quality, royalty-free images for unlimited use. With the tagline "Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere," PixaBay stands as a valuable resou…

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…

PixaBay leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 114 reviews.

PixaBay vs Shutterstock — at a glance

FeaturePixaBayShutterstock
Rating4.4 / 52.4 / 5
Reviews1142,180
Starting priceContact for pricing$29 /Month
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Small Business, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryStock Photos Websites Stock Photos Websites
PlatformsBrowser Based (Cloud), Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPRGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between PixaBay and Shutterstock

  • Pricing: Shutterstock starts at $29 /Month. PixaBay pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Shutterstock offers a free trial; PixaBay does not.
  • User satisfaction: PixaBay scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
  • Deployment: PixaBay supports Browser Based (Cloud), Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Shutterstock supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

PixaBay 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.

PixaBay
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Shutterstock - Stock Photos Websites
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

PixaBay

Best free source for high-quality, royalty-free images with easy access.

Choose if
  • You need a large library of free, royalty-free images for marketing or content creation.
  • Your team values simple, streamlined workflows without complex setup or licensing.
  • You want to avoid copyright concerns with easily searchable and downloadable visuals.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires exclusive, premium, or custom images for branding differentiation.
  • You need advanced search filters or extensive editorial/licensed content for specialized projects.

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.

PixaBay: Best free source for high-quality, royalty-free images with easy access. Shutterstock: Best for mid-to-large creative teams needing extensive stock assets with collaboration tools.

Description

Introducing PixaBay, a revolutionary platform offering a vast collection of high-quality, royalty-free images for unlimited use. With the tagline "Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere," ... Read More about PixaBay

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

1-50 employees51-500 employees
51-500 employees500+ employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

PixaBay has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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Compare PixaBay 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

      Pricing information not available

      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

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      PixaBay User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      4.4

      (based on 114 reviews)

      2.4

      (based on 2180 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to PixaBay 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, PixaBay or Shutterstock?
      PixaBay edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 2.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do PixaBay and Shutterstock offer a free trial?
      Shutterstock offers a free trial. PixaBay does not.
      What is the starting price of PixaBay vs Shutterstock?
      PixaBay starts at Contact for pricing. Shutterstock starts at $29 /Month.
      What are the top alternatives to PixaBay?
      Top alternatives to PixaBay include Depositphotos, iStock, Pexels, ImgDownloader, Ingimage.
      What are the top alternatives to Shutterstock?
      Top alternatives to Shutterstock include StockAI, Imgartfis Creator, Getimg.ai, 123RF, Pexels.

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