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Shutterstock

Read 3962 verified reviews for Shutterstock. See ratings, business responses, and what customers really think.

shutterstock.com

New York, US

entertainment-media

Founded: 2003

Employees: 1000-2000

Rating: 2.1/5Based on 3962 Reviews

GuardScore is based on recency, verified reviews, and review volume.

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Customer reviews for Shutterstock

  1. XXQueen1337Rating: 5/5Verified

    the support team actually knows what theyre doing. had my issue resolved in one chat session. rare personally

  2. GhostSnake_hdRating: 2/5

    idk why people rate this so high. laggy, buggy, and customer service is nonexistent tbh

  3. lena_de02Rating: 3/5Verified

    average experience. works as described but not much to get excited about.

  4. IceEagle2024Rating: 3/5Verified

    decent product but the UI needs work. not terrible not great.

  5. xXPlayer_ytRating: 4/5

    Would recommend

    Pretty good overall, minor issues here and there but nothing dealbreaking. would recommend with caveats tbh

  6. george_uk13Rating: 4/5Verified

    Pretty good

    mostly positive. had one issue that took a while to resolve but they did resolve it. would use again personally

  7. RageSpecter_realRating: 5/5Verified

    Excellent!

    consistent experience every time. doesnt always wow but never disappoints either. thats rare ngl

  8. RageCode69Rating: 3/5Verified

    Mixed feelings

    Some things work well, others not so much. 3 stars feels about right fr

  9. thomas_fr2023Rating: 5/5

    they actually listen to user feedback. feature i suggested 6 months ago is now in the product. nice ngl

  10. luis11Rating: 4/5

    4 stars because nothing is perfect but this is close enough. happy customer overall imo

About Shutterstock: Reviews

Pros

  • Extensive and diverse digital media library with millions of assets
  • Flexible pricing with subscription and on-demand licensing options
  • Supports a wide range of media types including photos, videos, and music

Cons

  • Subscription costs may be high for occasional users
  • Licensing terms can be complex and require careful review
  • Some users report variability in content quality and relevance

Business Description

**What is Shutterstock?** Shutterstock is an online marketplace founded in 2002 and headquartered in New York City. It offers a large digital library specializing in stock photos, videos, and music tracks. The primary users are creative professionals, marketers, designers, and businesses seeking visual content for various projects. Shutterstock aims to provide access to diverse digital media assets suitable for advertising, editorial, and personal use. **How does it work?** Users can browse Shutterstock’s extensive collection via a web-based platform that supports searching and filtering options by media type, subject, and style. Content is available under subscription plans or on-demand licensing, allowing flexible access to assets according to user needs. Contributors upload their creative works to Shutterstock, which curates and licenses these materials. Licensing agreements grant customers rights to use selected media in their projects under defined terms. **Products and services** Shutterstock offers stock photography, video clips, and musical audio files available through subscription or per-item purchase. The platform includes tools for searching and previewing media assets before licensing. Shutterstock’s services extend to editorial images, vector illustrations, and footage suitable for multiple industries. The company also provides APIs for integration with partner applications, facilitating content access for businesses and developers.

How is the GuardScore calculated?

Recency · Recent reviews carry more weight than older ones, reflecting the current customer experience.

Verified reviews · Only reviews from real, verified customers are counted in the GuardScore.

Volume · The more reviews a business has, the more reliable and stable its GuardScore becomes.

Learn more about GuardScore
stock-photographystock-videoroyalty-free-musicdigital-media-librarysubscription-softwarecontent-licensingmarketing-mediacreative-assets

Business activity: Shutterstock

Response rate: 0%

Frequently Asked Questions about Shutterstock

Why is my Shutterstock submission taking so long to get approved?

A lot of users are frustrated with the long review times on Shutterstock. Some have reported waiting up to a week or more for their images to be approved, which can really slow down projects that depend on timely content.

Has anyone else experienced aggressive upselling from Shutterstock?

Yeah, many users have shared their disappointment with Shutterstock's tactics to force upgrades. It seems like they're pushing for retroactive upgrades, which can hit your wallet hard unexpectedly.

What should I do if I only need one photo but they want me to buy a subscription?

It's a pretty common complaint. Users have mentioned that Shutterstock often tries to steer you into subscriptions even for a single photo, which can be really frustrating if you're just looking for one-off use.

Why does it take so long for Shutterstock to review my images?

Honestly, a lot of folks have been complaining about review times. Some say it feels like an eternity waiting for approval, with submissions sitting for days or even longer without any update.

Is it normal to have issues with Shutterstock's customer service?

Many users have voiced their struggles with Shutterstock's customer service. It seems like getting timely help can be hit or miss, which adds to the frustration of dealing with other issues like long review times.

Are there hidden fees with Shutterstock when purchasing content?

Some users worry about unexpected charges when using Shutterstock, particularly regarding their subscription models. It's worth doing some digging or asking around to get clarity before committing to anything.