Compare iStock Photo and Storyblocks Comparison
iStock Photo Find the perfect royalty-free image for your next project from the world's best photo library of creative stock photos, vector art illustrations and stock images. Find out more Try iStock Photo	Storyblocks Storyblocks gives you unlimited access to millions of high-quality stock photos, videos, audio, illustrations, and more to help you create amazing visuals for your projects. Find out more Try Storyblocks
Try iStock Photo	Try Storyblocks

iStock Photo

• High-quality, royalty-free images: iStock offers a wide selection of high-quality, royalty-free images that can be used for any purpose.
• Affordable pricing: iStock offers competitive pricing for its images, making it an affordable option for businesses and individuals.
• Easy to use: iStock's website is easy to navigate and makes it easy to find the perfect image for any project.
• Wide selection: iStock offers a wide selection of images, from stock photos to illustrations and vectors.
• Exclusive content: iStock offers exclusive content that can't be found anywhere else.
• Search filters: iStock's search filters make it easy to find the perfect image for any project.
• Downloadable files: iStock offers downloadable files in a variety of formats, making it easy to use the images in any project.
• Customer support: iStock offers customer support to help customers find the perfect image for their project.

Your project deserves the perfect stock photo. Your budget deserves straightforward royalty-free pricing that lets you use an image just about anywhere, as often as you want.

Help & Support

Should I get credits or a subscription?

If you have one-off or hard-to-predict image needs, credits are a great option. Buy just enough for the images and video clips you need or stock up and save on future downloads. The more you buy, the less they cost. 

If you download as few as four images (photos, illustrations, and vectors) or two videos in a month, you'll get the best value with an iStock subscription. With monthly and annual plans available and download limits ranging from 10 to 750 assets a month, you can enjoy huge savings without making a huge commitment.

If I change my mind, can I get a refund for my purchase?

Credit pack refunds

iStock will gladly refund credit pack purchases made within 14 days of your invoice date, provided you haven't used any credits from the credit pack.

Subscription refunds

You can request a refund for a subscription within 14 days from your initial purchase, as long as you haven't downloaded more than five files and haven't made use of any downloaded content.

Can I share my subscription with my teammates?

The standard subscriptions are built for a single user, which means the same person has to sign in, download and use the files licensed with their subscription.

If I upgrade my subscription, will I have to pay for the full plan value upfront?

If you're upgrading to a Premium + Video subscription from an existing plan, your payment method and billing schedule will reflect the choices you made when you first subscribed:• If you're currently billed monthly or quarterly, your payments will continue on that schedule.
* If you made a single payment, you'll be charged upfront for the total cost of the upgrade.

Pricing will be determined by how much time is remaining on your current subscription.

If I choose an annual subscription, will I be charged monthly or for the total amount?

At checkout, you'll be able to choose between three billing schedule options:

• Monthly (12 payments)
• Quarterly (4 payments)
• Single payment

The total amount will be the same, regardless of the billing schedule you choose.

I have an existing iStock subscription. Can I upgrade to a different plan?

If you have an existing Basic or Premium annual plan, you can upgrade to the Premium + Video subscription online. Sign in to your account and go to your profile page, then simply click or tap the "Upgrade to Premium + Video" button. Pricing will be determined by how much time is remaining on your current subscription.

Do my licensed image and video downloads ever expire?

There is no expiration date on your rights to use files downloaded during your subscription period.

Files licensed with credits can also be used in as many projects you like for as long as you want. Credits never expire as long as you sign into your account at least once a year.

How can I download files not available with my subscription?

If you need a file that isn't available for download with your subscription, you can always download it with credits. 

This is a great way to supplement a Basic subscription with premium Signature collection content or video clips.

What happens if I don't use all of my subscription downloads each month?

Your subscription gives you access to a set number of downloads each month. You can rollover up to 250 unused downloads month to month if you've got an annual subscription or a subscription with auto-renew enabled. If auto-renew is disabled when your subscription term ends, you will lose all rollover downloads that you've accrued.

How do I know if I need a standard or extended license?

Every file downloaded on iStock comes with a standard license that lets you use it in a wide variety of ways. From social media ads to billboards, PowerPoint presentations to feature films, you're free to modify, resize and customize every asset on iStock to fit your projects. With the exception of "Editorial use only" photos (which can only be used in editorial projects and can't be modified), the possibilities are limitless. Just make sure your modifications don't violate the content license agreement. 

If, however, you require over 500,000 prints, create products for resale, or share files with multiple users, you'll need to add an extended license to your credit purchase. The cost of an extended license is 18 credits for images and 21 credits for videos, in addition to your standard license. 

Learn more

How long are my credits valid for?

Credits never expire as long as you sign into your account at least once a year.

What’s the difference between the Essentials and Signature collections?

Every file on iStock falls into one of two collections. The Essentials collection gives you the everyday content you need, while the Signature collection features millions of premium handpicked stock files that you can only get from us. All content can be purchased with credits, or with a subscription. 

The credit cost to download a file with our standard license depends on the file type and collection it belongs to:

• Essentials photo, vector or illustration – 1 credit (view sample images)
• Signature photo, vector or illustration – 3 credits (view sample images)
• Essentials video clip – 6 credits (view sample clips)
• Signature video clip – 18 credits (view sample clips)

Why do I need to pay for stock images and videos if they are royalty-free?

The word "free" in royalty-free doesn't mean that images and videos are free to use, but rather that after you pay for a license once, you can use the content as often as you want, without paying the copyright holder a royalty each time you use it.

You get the right to use the file—with a legal guarantee that protects you for up to $10,000—and contributors get paid for the great work they do. It's a win-win, and it's why everything on iStock is only available royalty-free.

Storyblocks

Storyblocks

Summary

Storyblocks is a subscription-based platform that provides access to a vast library of high-quality stock media, including images, videos, and audio files.

It is suitable for content creators, marketers, and businesses that need a reliable source of media content to enhance their projects.

Key Benefits and Features

• Unlimited downloads: Storyblocks offers unlimited downloads of all media content available on their platform, allowing users to access as much content as they need without worrying about additional costs.
• High-quality content: All media content on Storyblocks is of high quality, ensuring that users can find and use professional-grade content for their projects.
• Simple licensing: Storyblocks offers a straightforward licensing system, allowing users to use the content they download for commercial projects without worrying about legal issues.
• Customisable plans: Storyblocks offers customisable subscription plans that cater to the specific needs of different users. Users can choose between monthly or annual plans and select the type of media content they need.
• Advanced search features: Storyblocks provides advanced search features that allow users to find the media content they need quickly and easily.

Comparison with Competitors

Storyblocks stands out from its competitors in several ways.

Firstly, it offers unlimited downloads, which is not available on most other stock media platforms.

Additionally, Storyblocks offers a simple licensing system that allows users to use the content they download for commercial projects without worrying about legal issues.

Finally, Storyblocks offers customisable subscription plans that cater to the specific needs of different users, making it a more flexible and cost-effective option compared to its competitors.

Help & Support

Can I use Storyblocks content in my YouTube videos?

Yes, you can use Storyblocks content in your YouTube videos. The content can be used in any video that is uploaded to YouTube, regardless of whether it is monetized or not.

What is Storyblocks?

Storyblocks is an online platform that provides high quality, royalty-free stock media. It offers a comprehensive library of video clips, audio tracks, images and after effects templates that you can use for your creative projects.

How can I use the assets from Storyblocks?

Once you download an asset from Storyblocks, you can use it in any personal or commercial project. The assets can be used in websites, videos, marketing campaigns, etc. without any additional fees.

What is included in the Storyblocks membership?

Storyblocks membership includes unlimited access to the Storyblocks library, which includes videos, audio, images and after effects. You can download and use as many assets as you need.

Is Storyblocks content royalty-free?

Yes, all content available on Storyblocks is royalty-free. This means you can use the content in any project without worrying about additional licensing fees.

Can I cancel my Storyblocks subscription at any time?

Yes, you can cancel your Storyblocks subscription at any time. However, you will lose access to any downloads and the Storyblocks library at the end of your billing cycle.

What file formats are available on Storyblocks?

Storyblocks provides assets in a variety of formats. Videos are typically in .MOV or .MP4 format, images are in .JPG or .PNG, audio files are in .MP3 or .WAV, and after effects templates are in .AEP format.

Can I use Storyblocks content for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can use the content from Storyblocks for commercial purposes. The assets can be used in advertisements, promotional videos, websites, and more without any additional fees.

Do I need to credit Storyblocks when I use their content?

No, you do not need to credit Storyblocks when you use their content. However, it is appreciated if you do so.

Are there any restrictions on using Storyblocks content?

While Storyblocks content is royalty-free, there are some restrictions. You cannot use the content in a way that is defamatory, pornographic, obscene, illegal, or in a way that promotes violence or harm to individuals or animals.