The cost of stock photos varies greatly between stock photo websites and is determined by the license type. The lowest price for a stock photo is $0.14, while the average price is $0.26. Stock photos can cost hundreds of dollars or up to $4,444 at Pond5.
The following table shows the minimum and maximum stock photo prices for popular stock photo agencies.
| Stock photo site | Minimum image price | Maximum image price |
|---|---|---|
| Canstockphoto | $0.14 | $100.00 |
| Bigstockphoto | $0.16 | $175.00 |
| Stockphotosecrets | $0.17 | $80.00 |
| iStock | $0.22 | $252.00 |
| Depositphotos | $0.22 | $79.00 |
| Dreamstime | $0.23 | $1,000.00 |
| Adobe Stock | $0.26 | $79.99 |
| 123rf | $0.36 | $9.00 |
| Pond5 | $1.00 | $4,444.00 |
| Alamy | $13.96 | $675.00 |
| Photocase | $15.00 | $435.00 |
| GettyImages | $150.00 | $499.00 |
| Offset by Shutterstock | $211.90 | $349.00 |
Table of Contents
How much do stock photos cost with subscriptions?
The price of stock photos, when bought with a subscription, depends mainly on the size of the subscription and the contract duration. For example, a plan for 750 monthly downloads costs more than the one for 10 downloads, but the price per image of the larger plan is considerably lower. The same applies to monthly vs. annual contracts: the price per image is on average 16% lower with annual plans compared to monthly plans.
Based on the statistical analysis of all stock photo sites, stock photos bought with subscriptions cost $0.14–$9.99/image. The lowest prices in the industry come from Canstockphoto when you get 7,500 monthly downloads with the yearly contract, giving you 91,250 downloads in total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to pay for stock photos?
Yes and no, because there are both free and paid stock photos. You can use free stock photos free of charge, but you might have to attribute the author. On the contract, paid stock photos are licensed under a royalty-free license, which requires you to pay a one-time fee before you use them.
What are the different ways to buy stock photos?
You can buy stock photos with subscriptions and on-demand with credits or cash. Subscriptions are more cost-efficient (meaning the lower price per image), while on-demand options give you more flexibility in the terms of when you download the images.
How much should I pay for stock photos?
How much you pay for stock photos depends on how you use them. Generic photos for blogs and websites cost from $0.22 to $10, while stock photos used in marketing and advertising cost around $100, and even up to several thousand.
