Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pexels VS Shutterstock

Compare Pexels VS Shutterstock and see what are their differences

Pexels logo Pexels

Find the best free stock images about Browser Home Page. Download all photos and use them even for commercial projects.

Shutterstock logo Shutterstock

Shutterstock is a provider of stock photos, illustrations, and vector art. The website allows individuals to purchase a subscription and download copyrighted art for creative projects. Read more about Shutterstock.
  • Pexels Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Shutterstock Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-20

Pexels features and specs

  • Free High-Quality Images
    Pexels offers a vast library of high-resolution photos and videos that are free to download and use, making it an excellent resource for individuals and businesses.
  • No Attribution Required
    Unlike some other stock photo websites, Pexels does not require users to credit the photographer, providing more flexibility in how the images can be used.
  • Diverse Collection
    Pexels has a diverse range of photos and videos across various categories, making it easier to find content that suits different needs and themes.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The website is easy to navigate, with a clean design and effective search functionality, allowing users to quickly find the content they need.
  • Community Contributions
    Pexels allows photographers to upload their work, contributing to the growth and diversity of the available content, and providing them with a platform to showcase their work.

Possible disadvantages of Pexels

  • Limited Exclusivity
    Since the images on Pexels are free and widely accessible, there's a chance these images might be overused, reducing their uniqueness in projects.
  • Commercial Use Restrictions
    Although most images can be used for free, some may have specific restrictions for commercial use, requiring users to verify the licensing terms.
  • Quality Variability
    While many images are of high quality, the user-contributed nature of the platform means there can be variability in the quality and relevance of the images available.
  • Limited Advanced Search Filters
    Pexels lacks some advanced search filters found in paid stock photo websites, which can make it more challenging to find highly specific types of images.
  • Competition for Photographers
    Photographers who upload their work to Pexels are contributing to a free resource, which may limit their ability to sell their photos elsewhere.

Shutterstock features and specs

  • Large Library
    Shutterstock offers millions of high-quality images, videos, and music tracks, providing a diverse and extensive selection for users.
  • Search Functionality
    Advanced search and filtering options make it easy to find exactly what you're looking for quickly.
  • Flexible Pricing Plans
    A variety of subscription plans and on-demand options allow users to select a payment method that fits their budget and needs.
  • High-Quality Content
    Stringent quality controls ensure that users have access to professional and high-resolution media.
  • Royalty-Free License
    All content is royalty-free, providing users with the peace of mind of knowing they can use the media without ongoing costs.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those who are not tech-savvy.
  • API Access
    Shutterstock provides API access for businesses that need to integrate media directly into their own applications.

Possible disadvantages of Shutterstock

  • Cost
    Shutterstock can be relatively expensive, especially for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets.
  • Subscription Limitations
    Some subscription plans have limits on the number of downloads per month, which can be restrictive for high-demand users.
  • Stock Feel
    Some users feel that the images and videos can have a 'stock' or generic appearance, which may not suit all creative projects.
  • Watermarked Previews
    Previews of media assets have watermarks, making it difficult to fully assess an image's suitability before purchase.
  • Occasional Inconsistency
    Despite quality controls, there can be occasional inconsistency in the quality of available media.
  • Overused Content
    Popular images and videos may be widely used across multiple platforms, reducing originality in projects.
  • Complex Licensing for Commercial Use
    While content is royalty-free, licensing terms for commercial use can sometimes be complex and require careful review.

Pexels videos

WARNING Dont use Pexels.com before you see this video!

More videos:

  • Review - DepositPhotos Review & Shootout Between Adobe Stock & Pexels
  • Review - Hidden Free Stock Photos Inside of Photoshop - Pexels Photoshop Plugin
  • Review - This Stock Video Site is FREE | Pexels Review
  • Tutorial - How To Use Pexels To Find Copyright Free Images

Shutterstock videos

How Much Money Can You Make on SHUTTERSTOCK in Your First Year? Earnings, Best Sellers, and Thoughts

More videos:

  • Review - Stock Photography for Beginners | Is Shutterstock Worth it in 2020?
  • Tutorial - Shutterstock Contributor Tutorial and Tips for Beginners

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pexels and Shutterstock)
Image Marketplace
65 65%
35% 35
Photos & Graphics
61 61%
39% 39
Vector Art
74 74%
26% 26
Stock Images
54 54%
46% 46

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Pexels and Shutterstock

Pexels Reviews

12 Best Sites Like Freepik For Downloading Photos
Last, on this list of similar sites like Freepik we have Pexels. Pexels are a very simple website from which you can get a wide range of stock photos and videos. If you’re a beginner and want to avoid all the complexity, then this is the site you should o for.
Source: www.devdude.com
23 Best Free Image Hosting Sites (Upload & Share) in 2022
Pexels is a stock image site that offers free, high-quality stock photos. Each year, millions of people use Pexels to find great-looking photos for their products, books covers, blogs, or websites.

Shutterstock Reviews

12 Best Sites Like Freepik For Downloading Photos
You must have heard of Shutterstock before and if not, it’s high time that we make it familiar to you. Headquartered in New York, Shutterstock is one of the biggest such websites out there. More than 1 million users worldwide share their content on the platform. More than 1 billion images, video clips, and music tracks have been downloaded through the platform. Also, stock...
Source: www.devdude.com
The best Freepik alternatives 2023
Shutterstock provides over 400 million stock images compared to Freepik’s 41 million. It also offers more advanced features, flexible licensing options, and higher maximum image resolutions. The drawback is that Shutterstock is more expensive. But with its vastly larger library and premium features, it can be worth it for professional needs.
Source: photutorial.com
The Complete List of Video Marketing Tools (Updated for 2022)
Shutterstock is arguably the largest stock-anything site with more than 14 million stock footage, music, and images available in their library. If you know you’re going to need many stock content, you can’t go wrong with Shutterstock.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pexels should be more popular than Shutterstock. It has been mentiond 102 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Pexels mentions (102)

  • The Best 100 Free UI/UX Resources for Every Designer & Developer
    Pexels Pexels.com Free stock photos and videos under a Creative Commons license. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Give me constructive criticism on my website
    Side note: You can get really really nice stock photos from pexels.com - I usually find a great option in like 3 scrolls. It's dope. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Honest feedback
    Bring your website alive with some images. If you do not have suitable pics, use copyright free photo's from pexels.com or unsplash.com Make sure your chosen pics have a somewhat consistent look. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Would greatly appreciate any feedback! Any thoughts?
    The audio quality is great! Your content as well is sound. The message and script are great, but I feel that the content may be a bit monotonous for some. In an atmosphere where most viewers have a shorter attention span, I would recommend condensing more of your core message into a shorter form. B-roll is a great way to make the attention flow better, you can find some free video at a site like pexels.com to... Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to source affordable stock photos as new student?
    Affordable stock photos - pexels.com is great, lots of other as well like freepik.com, etc, etc. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Shutterstock mentions (19)

  • [HELP!] I need your feedback about my creations!
    Other reputable places to sell vector artwork online are shutterstock.com, and stock.adobe.com Each will have their own requirements and tutorials for submitting artwork. You can also start your own page on Etsy.com. Source: over 1 year ago
  • I just started my first freelance job. Am I expected to source my own stock photos or do I ask?
    "Freelance" means, "You're on your own, kid." However, all of the things you ask are possible--access to your client's assets, buy your own and bill them, source free images. shutterstock.com is one of my favorites. I was searching for free/royalty free images endlessly until I just bought a monthly subscription. The time savings makes up for the time spent scouring the internet. Good luck and have fun!... Source: about 2 years ago
  • "you coolio" is too offensive i guess
    Just found out the image had "shutterstock.com" on it. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Y2K Aesthetic - how do I create a Y2K computer browser?!
    Go to shutterstock.com and type in these exact keywords. Vaporwave, windows 98, y2k computer browser. You should get a ton of vector assets that will help cut your design time in half. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Where to find graphics like blood splatter, dirt, lightning etc. for use in photoshop?
    Look for royalty-free images. You may try shutterstock.com if you need more and are ok to make a subscription or unsplash.com if you want free images. Moreover you may try deviantart.com or google search for blood splatter. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pexels and Shutterstock, you can also consider the following products

Unsplash - Unsplash is a website with high-quality free HD images. It has a catalog of more than three hundred thousand striking images that are neatly organized with tags. Read more about Unsplash.

Pixabay - Over 270,000 free photos, vectors and art illustrations

Stock Up - The best free stock photos in one place

Getty Images - We offer high-quality, diverse and relevant stock photos, stock footage, stock music and editorial...

StockSnap - Beautiful, free stock photos

Depositphotos - Depositphotos offers you over 50,000,000 stock photos and vector illustrations for as low as...