We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
Most buyers should pick iStock.
Pick Getty Images when editorial depth, archives, or custom team access matter more than price: its editorial subscription starts at $167/month billed annually, and Premium Access is custom-priced. Pick iStock for lower-cost royalty-free stock: Basic starts at $29/month billed annually or $40 monthly, with one user. Neither offers a free plan. Both list single-user plans; team pricing is not published for iStock, while Getty’s broader Premium Access is custom-quoted.
01Side by side
| Getty Images | iStock | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $167/month, billed annually (editorial subscription) | $29/month annual-billed; $40 monthly |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Licensed editorial and custom content | Lower-priced royalty-free stock |
| Core strength | Editorial coverage, archives, and licensed media | Essentials and Signature stock libraries |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | Not published | Not published |
| Team/seat costs | One-seat subscriptions; Premium Access custom-priced | One user; multi-user pricing not published |
| Support | Review support score: 5 | Review support score: 3 |
Getty Images Choose Getty Images if
- Choose Getty Images if licensed editorial depth matters most
- You need custom enterprise access or commissioned content
- You need Media Manager for enterprise asset management
iStock Choose iStock if
- Choose iStock if lower subscription pricing is the priority
- You mainly need Essentials photos, vectors, or illustrations
- You want Standard License coverage with up to $10,000 indemnification
02Pricing compared
Getty Images is the pricier choice for ongoing access. Its Editorial Image Subscription is $167/month billed annually for one seat and 10 downloads a month; the Creative Image Subscription is $225/month billed annually for the same seat and download allowance. Single downloads cost $175 for small images or low-res video, $375 for medium images, and $499 for large images or HD/4K video. Premium Access requires a custom quote.
iStock starts lower: Basic is $29/month with annual billing or $40 monthly, for one user and 10 downloads at the entry tier. Premium starts at $70/month billed annually or $99 monthly, also for 10 downloads. Both products have no free plan. iStock’s prices vary by download tier; multi-user pricing is not published. Compare the annual commitment and download limits, not just the starting price.
03Features and depth
Getty Images’ edge is its editorial depth. Its catalog includes creative and editorial photos, illustrations, video, audio, and archives covering news, sports, entertainment, and historical events. Search includes natural-language queries, reverse visual search, and filters for color, style, composition, and depicted people. Its generative image tool uses Getty’s licensed creative library and includes commercial indemnification. Teams can use Boards to curate and share assets, while Media Manager provides enterprise asset storage and distribution.
iStock is aimed more squarely at royalty-free stock buying. Its Essentials library covers everyday assets; Signature offers exclusive premium visuals and video. It also has photos, vectors, illustrations, footage, audio, and AI imagery. Its Standard License includes unlimited digital impressions, up to 500,000 print reproductions, and up to $10,000 indemnification. Extended licenses add rights such as unlimited print runs and resale products, with up to $250,000 indemnification. Both offer search and Boards; iStock also lists an in-browser photo editor.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Both services offer search tools and Boards for organizing or sharing assets, so the basic workflow is familiar: find an image, check its license, then download or group it. Getty adds natural-language and reverse visual search, plus filters for details such as composition and color. Its range of single downloads, packs, subscriptions, and custom enterprise access gives buyers more choices to sort through.
iStock separates its catalog into Essentials and Signature and offers monthly or annual subscriptions with different download tiers. That makes the entry options easier to compare, but the right price depends on library tier and download volume. Its plan details specify one user; multi-user pricing is not published.
Questions people ask
Who is Getty Images’ biggest competitor?
The published product details do not rank Getty Images’ competitors. In this comparison, iStock is the closest alternative, but it is Getty Images’ own online marketplace for royalty-free creative content, not an independent competitor.
Is it worth selling photos on Getty Images?
The published information covers Getty Images’ licensed content for buyers, not contributor eligibility, royalties, or payment terms. It is not enough to judge whether selling photos there is worthwhile; check Getty’s current contributor terms and payout details before deciding.
Do Getty Images assets fall under fair use?
The product information describes assets as licensed for commercial and media use, but it does not explain fair-use rules or determine whether a particular use qualifies. Check the license attached to an asset and get legal advice for a specific use case.
What is the highest-paying stock photo website?
The published pricing details compare what buyers pay for Getty Images and iStock assets; they do not report contributor earnings or rank stock sites by payout. The highest-paying website is therefore not established by this information.