PixaBay vs Shutterstock Comparison
PixaBay
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Small Business
Pixabay is a library of over 4 million royalty-free images, videos, and illustrations released under the Creative Commons CC0 license, making them usable in any project without attribution. Photographers and videographer…
Shutterstock
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
| Feature | PixaBay | Shutterstock |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | — |
| Reviews | 114 | — |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $29 /Month |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Small Business, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Stock Photos Websites | Stock Photos Websites |
| Platforms | Browser Based (Cloud), Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Online | Online |
| Certifications | GDPR | GDPR |
| Data residency | Global | Global |
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.
- 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.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
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.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best free source for high-quality, royalty-free images with easy access.
- 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.
- Your enterprise requires exclusive, premium, or custom images for branding differentiation.
- You need advanced search filters or extensive editorial/licensed content for specialized projects.
Best for mid-to-large creative teams needing extensive stock assets with collaboration tools.
- 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.
- 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 | Pixabay is a library of over 4 million royalty-free images, videos, and illustrations released under the Creative Commons CC0 license, making them usable in any project without attribution. ... 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 |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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User RatingsBased 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 |  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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How do PixaBay and Shutterstock Compare on Features?
Total Features | 4 Features | 4 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
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.
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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API Support |
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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) | No reviews available for the product |
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Rating Distribution | ||
Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Media and Screenshots
Videos | No videos available. |  2 Videos |
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Top Alternatives to PixaBay and Shutterstock in 2026
Alternatives |
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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 -1.0). 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.