Review Summary
The Bottom Line
Bigstock isn’t the best at anything. The prices are low, but only if you buy lots of images, the license is very narrow, and the number and quality of images aren’t great. In addition, customer support is almost non-existent.
Pros
- Low images prices with 50 image/day subscription
- Affordable videos
Cons
- No legal coverage
- Only 250,000 copies with the standard royalty-free license
- Affordable prices only with insanely large subscriptions
| Website | bigstockphoto.com |
| Images | 115 million |
| Pricing | $0.16–$21.00/image |
| Extended license | $49.50–$175 |
| Free trial | Yes (35 images) |
| Licenses | Royalty-free |
Best Bigstock alternatives
1
Shutterstock
2
Envato Elements
2
Adobe Stock
Pricing
Bigstock sells photos with subscriptions and on-demand with credits. The subscription plans come with the best price per photo and are the best for you if you have consistent image needs. On the other hand, on-demand packs offer a lot of flexibility but are as a tradeoff more expensive.
Daily subscription
In our review, we found that daily subscriptions aren’t as practical as monthly subscriptions. With a daily subscription, you get a set number of downloads each day, regardless of your actual needs. This doesn’t always align with how people use images, which is why we recommend opting for a monthly subscription instead. Both Shutterstock and Adobe Stock offer monthly options, and Envato Elements even offers unlimited downloads.
| Number of downloads | Plan Duration | Total Images | Cost per Image | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Images/Day | 1 month | 150 | $0.53 | $79 |
| 5 Images/Day | 3 months | 450 | $0.44 | $199 |
| 5 Images/Day | 12 months | 1,825 | $0.35 | $639 |
| 10 Images/Day | 1 month | 300 | $0.33 | $99 |
| 10 Images/Day | 3 months | 900 | $0.30 | $269 |
| 10 Images/Day | 12 months | 3,650 | $0.27 | $969 |
| 20 Images/Day | 1 month | 600 | $0.28 | $169 |
| 20 Images/Day | 3 months | 1,800 | $0.26 | $459 |
| 20 Images/Day | 12 months | 7,300 | $0.22 | $1,589 |
| 50 Images/Day | 1 month | 1,500 | $0.22 | $329 |
| 50 Images/Day | 3 months | 4,500 | $0.21 | $929 |
| 50 Images/Day | 12 months | 18,250 | $0.16 | $2,879 |
Monthly image subscriptions
While Bigstock does offer monthly image subscriptions, their pricing may not be as competitive as other options on the market. For instance, Shutterstock offers a 20% discount on their annual plans and a 32% discount on annual prepaid plans, making their price per image significantly lower at $0.22 compared to Bigstock’s $0.94. If you’re considering a long-term commitment, it may be worth exploring other options that offer discounts on their subscriptions.
| Number of downloads | Plan Duration | Total Images | Cost per Image | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Images/Month | 1 month | 25 | $2.76 | $69 |
| 50 Images/Month | 1 month | 50 | $1.58 | $79 |
| 100 Images/Month | 1 month | 100 | $0.99 | $99 |
| 200 Images/Month | 1 month | 200 | $0.94 | $189 |
Video plans
Bigstock’s video subscriptions are reasonably priced, but the minimum subscription option of 50 videos per month may be more than most creatives need. However, if you do require a large number of videos each month, Bigstock could be a good option for you. Just keep in mind that the quality of their videos may not be as high as that of dedicated stock video sites.
| Number of downloads | Plan Duration | Total Videos | Cost per Video | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Videos/Day | 1 month | 150 | $0.53 | $79 |
| 10 Videos/Day | 1 month | 300 | $0.33 | $99 |
| 50 Videos/Month | 1 month | 50 | $1.58 | $79 |
Image credits
We found that credit packs can be a good alternative to subscription plans for those who want more flexibility. With credit packs, you’re not bound to any contract and can choose from 5 different options that vary in size. While the larger credit packs are more cost-efficient, the smaller ones come with a steep price increase up to $3.50 per credit. It’s worth noting that the largest credit pack offers 500 image credits at $0.99 per credit, so you may want to consider this option if you need a larger number of credits.
| Number of credits | Price | Price/credit |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $35.00 | $3.50 |
| 25 | $49.00 | $1.96 |
| 100 | $169.00 | $1.69 |
| 250 | $339.00 | $1.36 |
| 500 | $495.00 | $0.99 |
Using credits, you can then purchase images, which differ in price based on size and license.
| Size | Resolution | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 900×600 px | 1 |
| Medium | 1600×1066 px | 2 |
| Large | 2800×1866 px | 4 |
| X-Large | Highest available | 6 |
| Extended license | Highest available | 50 |
License
Bigstock offers two types of licenses for its images: a royalty-free standard license and a royalty-free extended license. The royalty-free license allows for standard uses such as printing on items like posters and business cards, as well as web and electronic purposes like social media posts and videos. The license is single-user only and has a reproduction limit of 250,000 copies.
The extended license offers more flexibility, but comes at a higher cost. It removes the reproduction limit, but has limitations on use, time, and geographic location. For full details on the usage agreement, please click here.
Overall, Bigstock’s license is more limited than others; for one, it allows only 250,000 copies, whereas others allow up to 500,000 copies (unlimited with the extended). In addition, Bigstock doesn’t provide any legal coverage (indemnity) on its license, which is usually set at $10,000–$250,000.
Free trial
Bigstock runs a 7-day free trial during which you can 35 download images for free. In comparison to other free trials, such as Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, that offer 10 free images, Bigstock’s trial is surprisingly generous. To start a free trial, click here and enter your email address.
You will be redirected to a new page, where you need to choose between Image free trial or Video free trial.
Upon selection, you will receive an email prompting you to confirm your account. After you successfully do that, you can start your free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Bigstock worth it?
With over 115 million images in the library and one of the lowest prices ($0.16/photo) among stock photo agencies, Bigstock is a viable option. However, with a very limited license and low image quality, we wouldn’t buy it ourselves.
How does Bigstock work?
To purchase Bigstock photos, you need to create an account first. Then, you can choose between subscription plans of 1, 3, and 12 months or credit packs, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Once you decide on purchase plan, you can start downloading images.
About your guide
Matic Broz is a multifaceted creative professional, with experience as a photographer, graphic designer, and business owner. He has a decade of experience in helping other creatives improve their craft and start their own businesses. His writing and research have been featured in notable publications such as The Guardian, PetaPixel, and USA Today. Additionally, his scientific research has been recognized with a cover feature in the prestigious MDPI-owned journal. In his leisure time, he enjoys photography, hiking, and spending time with dogs. Read more
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