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iStock
What it is
iStock is a paid stock-content service available through web and API access. Its library licenses royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors, and video clips for advertising, websites, blogs, presentations, video productions, podcasts, and other projects. Essentials focuses on everyday content, while Signature contains premium handpicked material exclusive to iStock. AI tools can add or remove objects, extend images, replace or remove backgrounds, edit from prompts, and upscale generated images to 4K. iStock says its AI uses licensed content rather than web-scraped visuals, and generated images include automatic $10,000 legal protection per image. Licensed files carry a $10,000 USD legal guarantee, with an Extended Legal Guarantee up to $250,000 USD. Plans include Basic at $29 a month billed annually, Premium at $70 a month billed annually, and Premium + Video at $125 a month under the listed billing terms. An Unlimited AI plan costs $14.99 monthly. Free content includes one Signature photo weekly plus illustrations and video clips monthly.
For and against
For
- Royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors, and video
- AI editing includes 4K upscaling
- Licensed files include legal guarantee
- API access is available
- Free content offered regularly
Against
- Paid plans start at 29 USD monthly
- Plans list 10 monthly downloads
- Only one team seat included
- Video credits can require 6 or 18 credits
The verdict
iStock combines a broad licensed media library with AI editing, API access, and legal protections. Review download allowances, credit requirements, and plan terms before choosing it.
Who it suits
iStock suits people needing licensed stock photos, illustrations, vectors, or video for creative and commercial projects. API users and teams linking Dropbox can also use its listed integrations.
Plans and prices
Unlimited AI
Unlimited AI generations and downloads · unlimited iStock image modifications · 4K upscaling
Read 1 Oct 2026 · istockphoto.com
Basic
10 downloads/month shown · options 10, 25, 50 or 750 · Essentials photos, vectors and illustrations · up to 250 unused downloads rollover
Read 1 Oct 2026 · istockphoto.com
Premium
10 downloads/month shown · options 10, 25, 50 or 750 · Essentials and Signature images · up to 250 unused downloads rollover
Read 1 Oct 2026 · istockphoto.com
Premium + Video
10 downloads/month shown · options 10, 25, 50 or more · all images, videos, music tracks and sound effects
Read 1 Oct 2026 · istockphoto.com
On the record
- AI editing
- The iStock AI tools can add or remove objects, extend images, replace or remove backgrounds, edit by prompt and upscale generated images to 4K.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- AI legal protection
- AI-generated images include automatic legal protection of $10,000 per image.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- AI training
- iStock says its AI is trained exclusively on licensed content, including its creative library, without web-scraped visuals or data.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yesistockphoto.com · read 24 Sep 2026
- Collections
- The library has Essentials for affordable everyday content and Signature for premium handpicked content exclusive to iStock.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Content library
- iStock licenses royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors and video clips for advertising, websites, blogs, presentations, video productions, podcasts and more.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Contributor AI policy
- iStock does not accept AI-generated content from contributors, and AI-generated or modified images remain separate from its visual library.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Credit limits
- Essentials photos, vectors and illustrations cost 1 credit, Signature photos, vectors and illustrations cost 3 credits, Essentials video clips cost 6 credits and Signature video clips cost 18 credits.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Editorial assets
- Yesistockphoto.com · read 24 Sep 2026
- Free content
- iStock offers one free Signature photo each week and free illustrations and video clips each month.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Illustration assets
- Yesistockphoto.com · read 24 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The iStock Plugins page supports linking Dropbox so users can access, share and collaborate with content across devices.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- License protection
- Every licensed file includes a $10,000 USD legal guarantee, with an Extended Legal Guarantee available up to $250,000 USD.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Monthly downloads
- 10istockphoto.com · read 24 Sep 2026
- Privacy and compliance
- iStockphoto LP is a Getty Images subsidiary and says its privacy policy addresses data security, privacy rights and responsibilities under applicable data-protection laws.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- iStock says it aims to respond to web-form support requests within 24 business hours.istockphoto.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Included team seats
- 1istockphoto.com · read 24 Sep 2026
- Vector assets
- Yesistockphoto.com · read 24 Sep 2026
