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We compared three genuinely different stock photo sites: Depositphotos, the budget-friendly pick with unlimited downloads from €25/month (including unlimited AI image generation) and image packs from €27; Shutterstock, the established market leader with a larger, more exhaustive library and an Unlimited plan bundling images/video/music, at a real price premium; and Getty Images, the premium editorial name for exclusive news/sports/entertainment imagery, priced accordingly at $130-$499 per single download. For everyday marketing and content needs, Depositphotos wins on price. For breadth and brand recognition, Shutterstock is the safer default. For high-stakes editorial or commercial licensing, nothing here substitutes for Getty.
Our top pick for most people — unlimited downloads from €25/month, image packs from €27
This roundup was last updated July 2026, with pricing pulled from our existing hands-on Depositphotos review and both head-to-head comparisons. Shutterstock and Getty Images pricing pages both cross-referenced against multiple independent 2026 sources at the time those comparisons were written; Getty’s per-download figures were verified directly on its own pricing page.
🔬 How This Roundup Was Done
Pricing and positioning below are drawn from our own full-length Depositphotos review and our Depositphotos vs Shutterstock and Depositphotos vs Getty Images comparisons — all independently researched and pricing-verified when written. Neither Shutterstock nor Getty Images carries an affiliate link on this site — confirmed via a sitewide link check in both original comparisons — so both appear here with plain, non-monetized links.
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Existing reviews/comparisons drawn from
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Pricing verified
Stock Photo Sites at a Glance
| Site | Starting Price | AI Image Generation | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depositphotos | €25/month (Unlimited) or €27 for 3 images | ✅ Unlimited on the Unlimited plan | Budget-conscious marketers, everyday content |
| Shutterstock | $29-45/mo for 10 images | Limited/add-on | Larger library, brand recognition, video/music bundle |
| Getty Images | $130-$499 per single download | ❌ Not the focus | Premium editorial and high-stakes commercial licensing |
1. Depositphotos — Best Value (From €25/Month)
Depositphotos is a large stock photo, vector, and video library with genuinely affordable credit packs and subscriptions, plus unlimited AI image generation on its Unlimited plan. Read our full Depositphotos review for the complete breakdown.
Pricing: Unlimited downloads from €25/month (billed monthly, cancel anytime), or image packs from €27 for 3 images (€9 per image, valid for one year), as listed on depositphotos.com on 3 November 2026. Depositphotos shows these prices in euros.
Best For: Budget-conscious marketers and small businesses who want a large, affordable library plus AI generation without paying a premium-brand markup.
Skip If: You need the absolute deepest, most exhaustive library available, or you’ve had trouble with subscription billing/cancellation friction before — our review flagged recurring reports of exactly that worth knowing about upfront.
2. Shutterstock — The Established Market Leader (From $29-45/Month)
Shutterstock is the best-known name in stock photography — a larger, more exhaustive library than Depositphotos, plus an Unlimited plan bundling images, video, and music together. See our full Depositphotos vs Shutterstock comparison for the detailed trade-off.
Pricing: From $29-45/month for a 10-image subscription — a real premium over Depositphotos’ comparable tiers.
Best For: Teams who want the deepest possible library and the safety of the most widely recognized brand, and who don’t mind paying more for it.
Skip If: Price is your main constraint — Depositphotos covers comparable core functionality (photos, vectors, video, standard commercial licensing) at a noticeably lower cost across every comparable tier.
3. Getty Images — Premium Editorial (From $130-$499 Per Download)
Getty Images isn’t really competing for the same job as the other two — it’s positioned as premium and editorial, with exclusive imagery and news/sports/entertainment coverage priced for licensing prestige, not everyday volume. See our full Depositphotos vs Getty Images comparison for the complete picture.
Pricing: $130-$499 per single download, depending on image size and license — compared to €9 per image in Depositphotos’ smallest pack, or unlimited downloads from €25/month. Getty announced new individual-professional subscription tiers in July 2026, though exact single-seat pricing wasn’t available at time of writing.
Best For: Editorial work, high-stakes commercial campaigns, or anywhere licensing prestige and exclusivity genuinely matter more than cost.
Skip If: You need everyday marketing or blog imagery at volume — Getty’s per-download pricing makes it impractical for routine content needs; Depositphotos or Shutterstock both cover that far more affordably.
How to Choose
Start with what the images are actually for. Routine marketing, blog, and social content at volume: Depositphotos is the strongest value, especially with AI generation bundled in at no extra cost. Need the deepest possible library and the safety of the most recognized brand, and budget isn’t the deciding factor: Shutterstock is the safer default. Editorial, news, or high-stakes commercial work where licensing exclusivity matters: nothing here substitutes for Getty Images, and its per-download pricing reflects that.
Our Top Pick: Depositphotos
Unlimited downloads from €25/month, image packs from €27.
Browse Depositphotos →Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best stock photo site overall?
It depends on what the images are for. For everyday marketing and content needs, Depositphotos offers the best value, with affordable image packs and an Unlimited plan that includes unlimited AI image generation. For the deepest possible library and strongest brand recognition, Shutterstock is the safer (pricier) default. For editorial or high-stakes commercial licensing, Getty Images is the only real option, priced accordingly.
Which stock photo site is cheapest?
Depositphotos, by a wide margin — its Unlimited plan costs €25/month and image packs start at €27 for 3 images, compared to $29-45/month for just 10 images on Shutterstock, or $130-$499 per single download on Getty Images.
Does any stock photo site include AI image generation?
Depositphotos includes unlimited AI image generation (powered by Nano Banana) on its Unlimited plan — a genuine differentiator versus Shutterstock and Getty Images, where AI generation isn’t the core focus of the offering.
What’s the difference between Depositphotos and Getty Images?
They’re not really aimed at the same use case. Getty Images is premium and editorial — exclusive imagery, news/sports/entertainment coverage, priced at $130-$499 per download. Depositphotos is the budget-friendly alternative for everyday marketing and content needs, from €9 per image in its smallest pack, or unlimited downloads from €25/month. Choose Getty for editorial or high-stakes commercial work, Depositphotos for volume, everyday content.
Related Resources
- 📷 Depositphotos Review 2026 — Full hands-on review
- 🆚 Depositphotos vs Shutterstock — Budget stock library vs the established market leader
- 🆚 Depositphotos vs Getty Images — Budget-friendly library vs premium editorial
