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iStock

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Company health

Employee growth
2% increase in the last year
Web traffic
23% increase in the last quarter
Financing
April 2022 - $825M

Ratings

G2
3.7/5
(108)
TrustPilot
1.1/5
(60)
Glassdoor
3.9/5
(739)

iStock description

iStock is a subscription-based stock media service offering millions of royalty-free images, illustrations, videos, and music. Founded in 2000, iStock is known for pioneering the crowd-sourced stock industry model, where content is sourced from a vast network of contributing artists. Businesses can use iStock to find affordable, high-quality visual and audio content for their projects. Owned by Getty Images, iStock is a reputable platform for creative professionals seeking diverse and impactful stock media.


Who is iStock best for

iStock offers a vast library of royalty-free images, videos, and music perfect for businesses and creative professionals. Users praise the extensive selection and easy-to-use search filters. However, many have reported difficulties with account cancellations and customer service. Consider iStock if you need diverse stock media but be prepared for potential billing challenges.

  • Best for small to medium-sized businesses.

  • Suitable for various industries seeking stock media.


iStock features

Supported

iStock offers a library of royalty-free music tracks and sound effects.

Supported

iStock allows filtering search results by various criteria.

Supported

iStock offers a searchable collection of royalty-free stock images.

Supported

iStock offers a searchable library of royalty-free stock videos.

Supported

iStock supports similar image search by uploading a reference image.

Supported

Yes, iStock allows re-downloads of purchased assets at no extra cost.

Supported

iStock supports unlimited commercial use within the standard license terms.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Strongly negative
-1

Customer Service

Strongly negative
-1

Ease of Use

Strongly negative
-0.73

Reliability and Performance

Strongly negative
-1

iStock reviews

We've summarised 166 iStock reviews (iStock TrustPilot reviews and iStock G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of iStock
  • Extensive library of high-quality images, illustrations, videos, and music.
  • Easy-to-use search functionality with advanced filtering options.
  • Offers various subscription plans and credit packs for flexible pricing.
  • Provides royalty-free content for commercial use.
  • Large selection of unique and exclusive content.
Cons of iStock
  • Difficult account cancellation process, often leading to unexpected charges.
  • Subscription auto-renewal issues and difficulty obtaining refunds.
  • Misleading free trial promotions and unclear pricing structure.
  • Customer service often described as unhelpful and unresponsive.
  • Limited customization options for specific image and video needs.

iStock pricing

The commentary is based on 84 reviews from iStock G2 reviews and iStock TrustPilot reviews.

iStock offers high-quality stock photos, illustrations, and videos, but reviews consistently criticize its pricing structure, hidden fees, and aggressive auto-renewal policy. Many users feel misled by the free trial and subsequent subscription costs, finding it difficult to cancel and obtain refunds. Others find the pricing reasonable and affordable for their needs.

Users sentiment

Strongly negative
-1

See the iStock pricing page.

  • iStock has a free trial.

Basic
$29 USD/month

Millions of project-ready photos and illustrations, for less. Unused downloads rollover up to 250.

Premium
$70 USD/month

All images, including authentic, high-quality Signature imagery that you can only find on iStock. Unused downloads rollover up to 250.

Premium + Video
$125.00/month

All images, videos, and music tracks. Access our entire creative library, full of exclusive visuals. Unused downloads rollover up to 250.


iStock alternatives

  • Logo of Depositphotos
    Depositphotos
    Royalty-free stock photos, vectors, videos, and music for all.
    Read more
  • Logo of Alamy
    Alamy
    Diverse stock photos and videos with flexible pricing.
    Read more
  • Logo of Floor Plan Mapper
    Floor Plan Mapper
    Interactive office maps for desk booking and space management.
    Read more
  • Logo of Dreamstime
    Dreamstime
    Royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, videos, and audio.
    Read more
  • Logo of 123RF
    123RF
    Affordable stock photos, vectors, videos, and audio. Easy licensing.
    Read more
  • Logo of PixaBay
    PixaBay
    Free stock photos, videos, music, and sound effects.
    Read more

iStock FAQ

  • What is iStock and what does iStock do?

    iStock provides royalty-free stock images, illustrations, videos, and music via flexible subscriptions and credit packs. Ideal for businesses and creatives, iStock offers a vast library of high-quality content for various projects. However, users have reported difficulties with account cancellations, subscriptions, and customer service.

  • How does iStock integrate with other tools?

    There is no information available about iStock's direct integrations with other tools. However, as a stock media service, it's typically used in conjunction with design software, video editing tools, and website builders.

  • What the main competitors of iStock?

    iStock's main competitors include Shutterstock, Bigstock, Dreamstime, and Freepik. These platforms offer similar services, providing royalty-free stock photos, vectors, illustrations, and videos for commercial use. Pexels also competes by offering a large library of free stock photos and videos.

  • Is iStock legit?

    Yes, iStock is a legitimate platform owned by Getty Images. However, user reviews on iStock's safety raise concerns regarding account cancellations, auto-renewals, and customer service. Consider exploring alternative stock photo sites if these issues are a concern.

  • How much does iStock cost?

    iStock costs $29/month for the Basic plan, $70/month for Premium, and $125/month for Premium + Video. Each plan offers different levels of access to iStock's image and video library. Additional add-ons like multi-user licenses are available but pricing is not specified.

  • Is iStock customer service good?

    iStock's customer service receives overwhelmingly negative feedback. Users frequently report difficulty canceling subscriptions, leading to unexpected charges and frustrating refund processes. Many feel misled by promotions and find customer service unhelpful and unresponsive.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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