Compare microstock agencies
Stock agencies valuation bases
The microstock agencies have been categorized according to the following standards:
1. merit
Based on our statistics of merit is measured, ie the agency that ultimately provides the best sales results.
2. time
Since it is important for photographers how much time you spend his photos to the appropriate agency to deliver the second scale. Is measured with our service.
3. usability
What can be intuitively the upload process the agency use?
4. Acceptance
How long does it take until a photo is unlocked? How many photos are accepted.
The submenus reflect the position of the microstock agencies again. (1 position = the best)
microstock agencies available for photographers
There are many microstock agencies available for photographers and artists to license their work, and each agency has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some comparisons between a few popular microstock agencies:
Shutterstock: Shutterstock is one of the largest and most well-known microstock agencies, with a vast collection of over 350 million images, videos, and music tracks. Shutterstock offers a variety of subscription and on-demand plans for customers, and pays contributors between 15-40% of the sale price of their content. Shutterstock is known for its strict quality control standards, and it can be difficult to get images accepted into the collection.
Adobe Stock: Adobe Stock is another popular microstock agency, and it offers a unique advantage for users of Adobe's creative software. With Adobe Stock, users can search and license images directly from within Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Adobe Stock offers a variety of subscription and credit plans for customers, and pays contributors 33% of the sale price of their content.
Getty Images: Getty Images is a well-established stock agency that has recently expanded into the microstock market with their iStock platform. Getty Images offers a variety of plans for customers, including subscriptions and credit packages. Contributors can earn between 15-45% of the sale price of their content, depending on their exclusivity with the platform.
Dreamstime: Dreamstime is a smaller microstock agency that offers a more personal approach to its contributors. Dreamstime offers a variety of plans for customers, including subscriptions and credit packages, and pays contributors between 25-50% of the sale price of their content. Dreamstime is known for its fast review times and high acceptance rates, making it a popular choice for photographers and artists who want to quickly get their work online.
Alamy: Alamy is a UK-based microstock agency that has a unique pricing model. With Alamy, customers pay a flat fee for each image or video, and contributors earn 50% of the sale price. Alamy offers a vast collection of over 200 million images, and is known for its easy submission process and strong community support.
Overall, choosing the right microstock agency depends on your personal preferences and goals as a photographer or artist. Factors such as payout rates, quality control standards, submission process, and community support can all play a role in determining which agency is the best fit for you.
lesser-known microstock agencies that photographers
There are many microstock agencies available for photographers that may not be as well-known as some of the larger platforms. Here are a few lesser-known microstock agencies that photographers may want to consider:
Can Stock Photo: Can Stock Photo is a microstock agency that has been in operation since 2004. They offer over 100 million images, vectors, and videos, and allow contributors to earn between 20-50% of the sale price of their content. Can Stock Photo is known for its fast review times, with most submissions reviewed within 24 hours.
123RF: 123RF is a microstock agency based in Malaysia that offers a wide range of images, vectors, and footage. They offer a variety of subscription and credit packages for customers, and pay contributors between 30-60% of the sale price of their content. 123RF is known for its high commission rates and its commitment to supporting its contributors.
Bigstock: Bigstock is a microstock agency that offers a collection of over 110 million images, vectors, and videos. They offer a variety of subscription and credit packages for customers, and pay contributors between 30-38% of the sale price of their content. Bigstock is known for its easy submission process and its strong community support.
Canva: Canva is a design platform that allows users to create graphics, presentations, and other visual content. They also have a marketplace that offers a collection of images, vectors, and videos that can be licensed for commercial use. Canva offers a variety of subscription and credit packages for customers, and pays contributors a flat rate of $1 per image sold.
EyeEm: EyeEm is a microstock agency that specializes in mobile photography. They offer a variety of subscription and credit packages for customers, and pay contributors between 50-75% of the sale price of their content. EyeEm is known for its strong community of mobile photographers and its commitment to supporting emerging talent.
Overall, there are many microstock agencies available for photographers, and it's important to do your research and find the platform that best fits your needs and goals as a photographer.