Stock photography has exploded in the digital age. Striking visuals are now at the core of engaging online audiences across websites, ads, social campaigns and more.
But not all stock images are created equal.
This definitive guide compares premium stock photo platforms versus free sites to empower your visual branding.
You will learn:
- Stock photo benefits for brands
- Premium vs free stock images
- Top 9 premium stock photo sites
Let‘s compare the leading stock photo providers in 2023.
Surging Demand for Stock Photos
Stock photos provide affordable, flexible image licensing compared to producing expensive, customized photoshoots.
As digital marketing and social media continue trending up, demand for stock photos follows close behind.
Global stock images market size estimates:
| Year | Market Size | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $4.25 billion | 15.7% |
| 2026 | $6.30 billion (projected) | 10.3% CAGR |
Driving this growth is the rise of personalized visual content and branded imaging to appeal to modern, selective consumers.
92% of customers want to see more visual content from brands. Images also enjoy higher engagement across digital platforms compared to text alone.
With stock photos offering convenience and variety, more brands are leveraging them in their online presence and campaigns. But first, let‘s understand stock photos better.
Defining Stock Photos and Key Benefits
Stock photos refer to libraries of pre-existing images available for buyers to license based on specific usage terms. Instead of commissioning photoshoots, brands can conveniently search stock image databases to find relevant, high-quality photos.
Benefits of using stock photos include:
- Fast turnaround: Get suitable images in minutes instead of weeks of production time
- Top talent: Global collective of pro photographers across styles and genres
- Cost savings: Pay per download instead of per photoshoot
- Marketing flexibility: Use across websites, ads, social media, presentations and more
See how stock sites compare to custom photoshoots:
| Comparison | Custom Photoshoots | Stock Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Quality | Full control, tailored to brand | Curated content varies across sites |
| Cost | Photography fees + more over time | Lower cost per image licensed |
| Speed | Weeks minimum lead time | Near instant downloads |
| Effort | Production coordination | Online search |
The convenience and flexibility of stock photos offsets comparatively higher fees long term for larger volumes. But not all stock sites deliver the same experience.
Premium vs. Free Stock Photos Compared
While "free stock photos" might sound appealing, they come with several downsides compared to paid premium sites:
| Metric | Premium Stock Photos | Free Stock Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Average Photo Quality | High-resolution, pro equipment | Lower resolution, amateur |
| Relevance to Audience | Unique, culturally appropriate scenes | Random mix, generic images |
| Exclusivity | Used less frequently | Often overused |
| Brand Building Impact | Reinforces credibility | Weakens trustworthiness |
| Licensing Terms | Clear terms and conditions | Hidden liabilities |
An analysis shows 76% of consumers perceive brands more positively from images reflecting diversity and cultural values. Premium stock platforms invest in inclusive, authentic photos.
Download resolution also impacts visual quality, especially with scaling across devices. Premium photos average 48-150 MB digital originals enabling pristine prints and impactful site headers.
Meanwhile overused, low-quality free images blend forgettably into the background. Or worse – trigger instinctive doubts on brand legitimacy.
Ultimately premium stock photos justify higher licensing fees through:
✅ Exclusive high-res photos tailored to audiences
✅ Trust and connection for brands using them
✅ Peace of mind from transparent licensing
Now let‘s explore leading pay stock photo platforms that deliver premium visual assets.
Top 9 Premium Stock Photo Sites Compared
1. Adobe Stock 🔝
Founded: 2006
Photographers Contributing: 130,000+
Assets Available: Over 30 million
Integrating seamlessly with Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop and Illustrator, Adobe Stock simplifies finding and editing the perfect image.
Notable Collections:
- Trending Lifestyles – Styled studio images reflecting modern sensibilities
- Beautiful Landscapes – Breathtaking nature photos from around the world
- Black History Month – Photos spotlighting black leaders and culture
"We can always find very specific, high quality, contemporary images at Adobe Stock for our global university branding needs."
Plans Start At: $29.99 per month for 10 photo downloads
2. Shutterstock
Founded: 2003
Image Downloads Per Year: 380 million
Countries Served: Over 150
Boasting over 1 billion visual media assets, Shutterstock leads stock photography sites today. Their iOS, Android and Chrome extensions enable accessing images anywhere.
Claim to Fame:
- One of the first microstock sites, pioneering the stock photo industry
- Highest photo contributor count in the industry
"It‘s so fast to get great pictures at Shutterstock for our marketing materials and website. We get compliments all the time!"
Plans Start At: $249 per month, $69 single image
3. Depositphotos
Founded: 2009
Photographers Contributing: Over 100,000
Photo Collection Size: 190 million+
Depositphotos impresses with its depth across high-quality photos, vectors, videos and more. Even search by camera angle to get the perfect shot.
Spotlight Galleries:
- Cinemagraphs – Stylized partial motion clips
- 360-degree VR and aerial photos
- Extra-high resolution "XXL" files
"Finding the ideal Asian stock pictures for our international brand expansion was simple with Depositphotos. Great experience."
Plans Start At: $99 per month, $5.99 single image
4. Freepik ☀️
Founded: 2010
Assets Available: Over 6 million
Countries Supported: 9 languages
Freepik uniquely offers both curated free and premium stock photos across images, vectors, PSD templates and more.
Standout Content:
- Localized collections mirroring cultural nuances
- Ethically diverse, natural models
- Attribute-not-required licensing
"As a nonprofit, we appreciate Freepik‘s free-premium hybrid model and culturally appropriate images."
Plans Start At: $13.90 per month subscription
5. Stocksy 🎨
Founded: 2013
Photographers Contributing: Over 1,000
Asset Collection Size: Over 900,000
Stocksy delivers premium stock photos and videos on a cooperative business model that shares more revenue with creators.
Noteworthy Content:
- "Photos with feeling" – creative images selected for emotion
- Authentic model diversity
- New exclusive content added daily
"Stocksy photos inspire an emotional connection with our branding unlike any other stock site."
Licenses Start At: $15 standard license + 50% to artists
6. Getty Images 🏆
Founded: 1995
Images Available: Over 405 million
Offices Globally: 7 locations
Getty Images enjoys an industry-leading reputation for quality originals across historical, editorial and contemporary photos plus vectors.
Hero Content:
- Over 80 million photos from unique archive collections
- Culturally relevant images mirroring local audiences
- Stringent vetting of all photo submissions
"For premium travel, food and landmark photography, Getty Images is unbeatable."
Plans Start At: $49 per photo -$282 per month subscription
7. iStock 🖼️
Founded: 2000
Assets Available: Over 70 million images, videos
Brands Served: 1+ million businesses
iStock delivers a wealth of photos, vectors, videos and graphics. Plus pre-made ads, logos, posters, promo templates and more.
Standout Offerings:
- Social media post template builder
- Promotional brand kits for small business
- Partnerships delivering culturally relevant content
"From stylish Instagram stories to polished ads, iStock provides on-brand templates that help us cut production time significantly."
Plans Start At: $29 per month basic subscription
8. Storyblocks 🎥
Founded: 2009
Assets Available: Unlimited downloads
Content Types: Video, templates, images
Offering unlimited downloads across stock video, images, music and more, Storyblocks simplifies content needs for creatives.
Hero Experience:
- One all-inclusive monthly fee unlocks unlimited downloads
- Hand-curated, exclusive designer templates
- New HD video clips added daily
"Rather than juggle multiple stock media platforms, Storyblocks is the leading one-stop shop we rely on."
Plans Start At: $29 monthly basic subscription
9. Envato Elements 💎
Founded: 2006
Assets Available: 60 million+ assets
Content Types: Graphics, video, audio, fonts, templates
Creatives trust Envato Elements for an all-in-one creative asset subscription spanning images, video, music, fonts, templates, 3D models and more.
Spotlight Resources:
- 500,000+ video clips, sound effects and music tracks
- Website themes and templates for all CMS platforms
- Presentation templates, photo effects and fonts
"From start to finish polished websites, Envato Elements fuels our production pipeline with endless creative resources."
Plans Start At: $16.50 personal monthly subscription, enterprise quotes available
All platforms offer free trials – take advantage before committing!
Conclusion
Visually connecting with online audiences drives measurable business growth today. But low quality, irrelevant or overused stock photos break trust and engagement.
Premium stock platforms provide convenient access to exceptional photo libraries without turnaround times or costs of custom shoots. Their licensing fees secure exclusive high-res images reinforcing brand credibility rather than raising doubts.
As this guide demonstrates, the top stock photography sites make finding targeted visuals online refreshingly fast. Each empowers distinct creative needs between globally recognized household names to niche speciality sites.
Just remember – the true test remains translating images seamlessly into your unique brand identity online and offline. With strategic integration guided by audience insights, stock photos reinforce the story only your brand can tell.
Are you ready to unlock more meaningful premium stock photos this year? The unlimited inspiration awaits!
