The Only 2 Ways to Download Shutterstock Images Without a Watermark

Watermarks exist for a reason: they protect stock photo sites and their creators. While many third-party tools promise to remove Shutterstock watermarks, most either don’t work or are filled with suspicious ads and malware-infected links. Above all, using photos illegally means copyright infringement and can result in fines of up to $150,000.

Since Shutterstock has completely removed its free trial, that would mean you would have to pay for Shutterstock images, right?

Fortunately, I found a few ways to download Shutterstock images without a watermark for free. And two paid, but heavily discounted options.

Free option: Download three free royalty-free photos every month

This is the only way to download Shutterstock images without a watermark for free.

Every month, Shutterstock picks three photos from their collection of 468 million royalty-free images. You can download them for free and use them just like you would any other Shutterstock image. This is because they come with Shutterstock’s commercial royalty-free license called Standard license. You can use these photos in up to 500,000 prints, copies, and presentations, but you may not use them for merchandising and packaging.

While you do not have to provide any payment information, you will have to create a free Shutterstock account, which you can connect to your Google, Facebook, Apple, or email account.

The main drawback of this option is that you don’t get to pick which three images are free. It’s whatever Shutterstock picks. So this is in no way a viable option for creators, but only as a way to get decorative photos for your desktop or personal social media account.

Get 3 free images ›

Paid option: Buy a subscription or image pack

If you need a reliable stream of images, you need a paid plan. Shutterstock is a great place for that because they have the largest collection of photos and is surprisingly affordable.

You can start by going to the Shutterstock pricing page. Pick subscriptions if you need photos regularly (at least 10 per month) and pack if you have more sporadic needs or need the Enhanced license.

Picking the annual plan or even paying upfront cuts the cost in half, from $49 for 10 images to just $29 or even $25 per month. You can further reduce this price by 15% by using ‘PHOTUTORIAL15‘.

Here’s a short version of how to remove a Shutterstock watermark:

1. Go to the pricing page.
2. Pick a subscription plan or an image pack.
3. Create an account and provide payment information.
4. Enter ‘PHOTUTORIAL15’ to apply a 15% discount.
5. Confirm purchase.
6. Find and download an image you’d like to remove the watermark from and get a license.

Use ‘PHOTUTORIAL15’ and get a 15% discount ›

What no longer works

• Free trial: In 2024, Shutterstock indefinitely removed its free trial. For years, it allowed new customers to get 10 royalty-free photos, vectors, and illustrations at zero cost.
• Free photos for students: Eligible students could get 47 royalty-free photos to use for class assignments. While the page is still up, following the link leads to an expired domain.