Shutterstock is a global creative platform offering a library of over 615 million licensable images, videos, music tracks, and sound effects, combined with AI-powered generation and editing tools for creating commercial-ready content.
What is Shutterstock?
Shutterstock is a digital marketplace and AI creative platform where users can license stock content or generate new visuals using text-to-image and text-to-video tools. It accepts text prompts, existing images, or search queries as input and outputs royalty-free assets or AI-generated media. The platform runs on the web and is owned by Shutterstock, Inc., a publicly traded company.
Key Features
- Stock Images & Photos — Access a vast collection of over 615 million royalty-free images across categories like nature, business, and lifestyle.
- Videos — Browse millions of HD and 4K video clips, including exclusive editorial and stock footage.
- Music & Sound Effects — Choose from a library of royalty-free tracks and sound effects for video production, podcasts, and more.
- AI Image Generator — Create original visuals from text prompts using models from Google, AWS, OpenAI, and Runway.
- AI Video Generator — Turn text or images into short video clips with motion and effects.
- AI Image Editing Tools — Edit content with background removal, resizing, expansion, and object editing powered by AI.
- Model Match — Automatically selects the best AI model for your project based on your input prompt.
- Enterprise Solutions — Legal indemnification, admin controls, privacy protections, and dedicated support for large teams.
Who is it for?
- Marketers and advertisers — Generate on-brand visuals and videos for campaigns using AI combined with licensed stock assets.
- Small business owners — Create social media posts, ads, and website graphics without hiring a designer.
- Creative professionals — Enhance projects with high-quality stock content or use AI tools to iterate concepts quickly.
- Enterprise teams — Scale content production with secure AI workflows, admin oversight, and full legal protection on AI-generated outputs.
What can you do with Shutterstock?
- Create social media visuals – Generate AI images or edit stock photos to match brand colors and styles.
- Produce video ads – Use AI video generator to turn product images into short promotional clips with motion.
- Design presentations – Find professional stock photos and music tracks to build polished slide decks.
- Develop training datasets – Enterprise customers can license data for AI model training and evaluation.
How does Shutterstock work?
You can search the library by keyword or browse curated collections. For AI generation, enter a text prompt and optionally choose an AI model; the tool creates a visual you can license directly. Editing tools let you modify existing assets, such as removing backgrounds or expanding images. All downloads come with a royalty-free license for commercial use.
Pricing
Shutterstock offers paid subscription plans (monthly/annual) and on-demand credit packs. A free account lets you browse, save assets, and download watermarked previews. Creator plans and Team plans are available; Enterprise plans include custom pricing and additional features.
FAQ
Is Shutterstock free?
Shutterstock is not free to download content. However, creating an account, browsing the library, and downloading watermarked previews are free. Licensing required for full-resolution use.
What license types does Shutterstock offer?
Standard License covers most uses (websites, social media, print runs up to 500,000 copies). Enhanced License removes those limits for merchandise and large-scale distribution. Enterprise customers get custom licenses.
Can I use AI-generated images commercially?
Yes, AI-generated images come with full legal indemnification for commercial use when licensed through Shutterstock’s AI tools, which are trained on contributor-opted-in data.
What AI models does Shutterstock use?
Shutterstock integrates models from Google, AWS, OpenAI, Runway, and its own SSTKAI model, selectable individually or via Model Match.
How do I become a contributor?
You can submit your photos, videos, or music through the contributor portal at submit.shutterstock.com and earn royalties when your content is licensed.
