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Depositphotos starts at $8.25 and has a free plan, but its plan and license details deserve a close read. The clearest complaints we found are from contributors, not buyers: Reddit commenters describe low or occasional sales and say submitting work can take more effort than it is worth. For buyers, compare license and download terms before switching; the available details here do not establish a like-for-like cap comparison.
01Why people leave Depositphotos
Low or occasional contributor sales
In one Reddit thread, contributors described occasional sales and low earnings. One commenter said the returns did not justify continuing to upload.
Submission effort may not pay
A commenter said the time and effort of submitting images was not worth the occasional sale; another stayed because uploading took about a minute.
Uncertainty about image licenses
A Reddit user worried licensed Depositphotos images could still cause trouble on KDP. Replies disagreed, so check the relevant license and platform rules.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Broad stock sourcing
ShutterstockShutterstockShutterstock is a closer fit if you want one service for multiple media types: its listing highlights stock assets, editing tools and API licensing. It starts at $25, above Depositphotos’ $8.25 starting price. That higher entry price may be worth comparing if your team needs more than image downloads, but the source advises checking seat, billing and fair-use limits.
Trade-off: Higher starting price; check seat, billing and fair-use limits.
6.8/10from
$25/mo - Varied stock assets
VecteezyVecteezyVecteezy is worth comparing if you want varied stock assets and frequent downloads. Its listing starts at $9 and includes a free plan, close to Depositphotos’ $8.25 starting price. The listing specifically flags license terms, download caps and billing as things to check, so do not assume the free tier or paid plan matches your current usage.
Trade-off: Check license terms, download caps and billing before subscribing.
6.4/10from
$9/mofree plan - Regular stock downloads
StoryblocksStoryblocksStoryblocks suits creators who download stock media regularly and want templates and AI tools alongside a library. Its listing starts at $18 and describes unlimited downloads, but also says to weigh annual billing against licensing concerns users report. Compared with Depositphotos’ lower starting price, the annual commitment makes it a better fit only if your regular usage justifies the spend.
Trade-off: Annual billing and user-reported licensing concerns.
6.5/10from
€18/mo - Mixed creative assets
Envato ElementsEnvato ElementsEnvato Elements is a better match if you need varied asset types, frequent stock and template downloads, or AI in your asset workflow. It starts at $16.50, higher than Depositphotos’ $8.25 starting price. Its listing cautions that it may be less compelling if top-tier stock quality or predictable AI volume is a priority.
Trade-off: Higher price; stock quality and AI volume may not fit.
7.3/10from
$16.50/mo - Editorial imagery
AlamyAlamyAlamy is the specialist to compare if editorial imagery matters alongside creative stock. Its listing describes a wide-ranging library and varied media, but starts at $139—far above Depositphotos’ starting price. Check license limits and editorial costs before committing; the available details do not specify a matching download cap or license scope.
Trade-off: High starting price; check license limits and editorial costs.
6.2/10from
$139/mo - AI plus stock
ArtlistArtlistArtlist brings AI tools and stock into one service, with a broad media catalog and a free plan. Its listed starting price is $11.99, higher than Depositphotos’ $8.25. The listing also flags reported catalog friction and uncertainty around credits, so compare what you can access and how credits work before moving a team workflow.
Trade-off: Reported catalog friction and credit uncertainty.
6.0/10from
€11.99/mofree plan - Video creator assets
Motion ArrayMotion ArrayMotion Array fits video editors who need templates and multiple asset types, including teams that want shared creative assets. It starts at $10.99 and has a free plan. Its listing warns that the cheapest price does not include the asset library, so check which plan includes the assets you expect before treating it as a Depositphotos replacement.
Trade-off: The cheapest price does not include the asset library.
6.8/10from
$10.99/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Depositphotos Depositphotos (current) | 6.9 | $8.25/mo | Yes | Marketers needing varied stock media |
| Shutterstock Shutterstock | 6.8 | $25/mo | No | Teams sourcing multiple media types |
| Vecteezy Vecteezy | 6.4 | $9/mo | Yes | Creators seeking varied stock assets |
| Storyblocks Storyblocks | 6.5 | €18/mo | No | Creators who download stock media regularly |
| Envato Elements Envato Elements | 7.3 | $16.50/mo | No | Creatives needing varied asset types |
| Alamy Alamy | 6.2 | $139/mo | No | Teams needing creative stock monthly |
| Artlist Artlist | 6.0 | €11.99/mo | Yes | Creators needing AI and stock in one service |
| Motion Array Motion Array | 6.8 | $10.99/mo | Yes | Video editors needing varied templates |
Questions people ask
Which alternative is closest to Depositphotos for stock images?
Shutterstock and Vecteezy are the closest broad-stock options in this list: Shutterstock covers multiple media types, while Vecteezy focuses on varied stock assets. Their listed starting prices are $25 and $9, respectively. Compare their licenses and download terms with your Depositphotos plan before switching.
Will a stock license guarantee my images are allowed on KDP?
The Reddit discussion we found does not establish a guarantee. One user worried licensed Depositphotos images could still create problems; commenters disagreed. Check the specific asset license and KDP’s current rules for your use case rather than treating a stock subscription as blanket permission.
Can switching stock sites improve contributor earnings?
The Reddit thread describes mixed contributor experiences, including occasional sales and concerns that submission effort was not worth the return. The available information does not compare earnings across platforms or establish that switching would improve them. Treat contributor income as uncertain, not as a reason to expect a better result elsewhere.