Getty Images vs Monster One

Getty Images and Monster One provide essential media assets, but their approach and pricing are vastly different. Getty Images focuses on premium, exclusive media and crucial global editorial coverage, often costing hundreds per asset. Monster One delivers an enormous, affordable asset library including themes, videos, and graphics via an unlimited subscription model.

Getty Images
Getty Images

Premium content, unacceptable customer practices.

Ciroapp review
1.7
#14 in Media Library

We recognize Getty Images provides an unmatched library of exclusive editorial and creative assets, including modern AI features and flexible UltraPacks. However, we must heavily weigh the severe and consistent external complaints regarding billing dishonesty and non-existent customer support. Overall, the significant risk of billing issues and the failure to resolve customer concerns prevent us from recommending this platform despite its high-quality content.

Pros

  • Access to exclusive creative photos, videos, and vectors unavailable elsewhere.
  • Comprehensive editorial coverage across global news, sports, and entertainment.
  • Ability to use Generative AI tools for commercially safe content creation.
  • UltraPacks offer flexible, one-time credit bundles for versatile licensing.

Cons

  • Extremely poor customer service responsiveness that fails to resolve disputes.
  • Higher per-download prices ($130–$499) compared to standard stock photo sites.
  • Reports of double-billing and failure to issue refunds for purchased assets or credits.
  • Allegations of deceptive subscription renewal practices with complex cancellation requirements.
Pricing
$130–$499 per download
Free trial
Money-back
Best for
Media organizations covering global news, politics, and sports events requiring real-time content., Brands requiring truly exclusive, premium images or 4K video for high-end marketing campaigns., Enterprise organizations needing built-in DAM (Media Manager) for effective asset organization and control.
Monster One
Monster One
Ciroapp review
0.0
#16 in Media Library

Pros

    Cons

      Pricing
      $14/mo
      Free trial
      Money-back14 days
      Best for
      Web development agencies or freelancers managing unlimited client projects needing high-volume assets., Users requiring constant access to 9,000+ WordPress themes, e-commerce templates, and presentation decks., High-volume designers needing extensive graphics, logo templates, fonts, and stock video for daily use.
      Quick verdict
      Choose Getty Images if you are a major news organization or enterprise that needs exclusive, up-to-the-minute global editorial coverage and custom AI model functionality.
      Choose Monster One if you are an agency or freelancer needing unlimited access to 547,400+ web templates, themes, graphics, videos, and fonts for unlimited client projects.

      AboutGetty Images

      Getty Images acts as your global resource for impactful visual content. You gain access to a massive library covering everything from creative stock art to up-to-the-minute editorial needs.

      They provide royalty-free images, high-definition videos, illustrations, and vectors across all popular categories. You can also explore Getty Images Music, powered by Triple Scoop Music, for comprehensive audio and sound effects. Professionals rely on this service to access iconic moments and trending visuals that leave a lasting impact. 💡

      AboutMonster One

      Monster One is a massive resource library for nearly any creative endeavor. This subscription offers a huge vault of digital goods worth over $500,000.

      You'll find professional quality assets across dozens of categories. These include WordPress themes, powerful plugins, video templates, and corporate identity kits.

      It’s designed for anyone needing high-volume assets, whether you build websites, craft stunning presentations, or manage social media content. This expansive collection makes it your indispensable, one-stop shop.

      Highlights

      Quick winners by category at a glance.
      Ease of Use
      Monster One uses a flat-rate subscription allowing unlimited downloads and usage. Getty Images requires careful management of expensive credits.
      Feature Set
      Getty Images excels in Generative AI and editorial content. Monster One dominates in web themes, templates, and total asset volume for designers.
      Tie
      Value for Money
      Monster One is significantly more affordable, providing 547,400+ assets for unlimited projects at low monthly pricing. Getty Images is premium and costly.
      Exclusivity/Quality
      Getty Images features millions of exclusive visual assets, including unique news and archival photography unavailable on other platforms.
      Scalability
      A single Monster One subscription supports unlimited projects, making it ideal for scaling agencies. Getty Images scales by purchasing more expensive credit packs.
      Customer Support
      Getty Images has widespread user reports of extremely poor customer support and failure to resolve serious billing disputes, unlike Monster One.

      Feature Comparison

      Compare key features side by side
      Asset Library Size
      Getty Images:Millions (Premium/Exclusive media)
      Monster One:547,400+ (Templates, themes, graphics)
      Tie
      Pricing Model
      Getty Images:Usage-based (UltraPacks/Per Download)
      Monster One:Subscription (Monthly/Yearly/Lifetime)
      Tie
      Exclusive Visual Content
      Getty Images:
      Monster One:
      Getty Images
      Generative AI Image Creation
      Getty Images:
      Monster One:
      Getty Images
      Web Templates / Themes
      Getty Images:
      Monster One:9,160+ WordPress themes/plugins
      Monster One
      Logo & Branding Templates
      Getty Images:Not applicable
      Monster One:105,360+ templates
      Monster One
      Presentation Templates
      Getty Images:Not applicable
      Monster One:31,530+ templates
      Monster One
      4K/HD Stock Video
      Getty Images:Primary Focus (Premium)
      Monster One:5,610+ Stock Videos/Templates
      Tie
      Stock Music/Audio
      Getty Images:True (Triple Scoop Music)
      Monster One:True (Nearly 45,000 tracks)
      Tie
      Per-Download Cost Range
      Getty Images:$130 - $499
      Monster One:Free with subscription
      Tie
      Unlimited Downloads
      Getty Images:
      Monster One:
      Monster One
      Usage Pertaining to Projects
      Getty Images:Single License Use
      Monster One:Unlimited Projects
      Monster One
      Editorial & News Coverage
      Getty Images:Primary Focus (Global coverage)
      Monster One:
      Getty Images
      Digital Asset Management (DAM)
      Getty Images:True (Media Manager)
      Monster One:
      Getty Images
      Customer Support Rating
      Getty Images:Critically Poor (Trustpilot 1.7)
      Monster One:Ticket system included
      Tie
      Lifetime Purchase Option
      Getty Images:
      Monster One:
      Monster One
      Lowest Effective Monthly Cost
      Getty Images:N/A (Usage-based)
      Monster One:$14/month
      Tie
      Feature Comparison Summary
      4
      Getty Images
      7
      Ties
      6
      Monster One

      Features Overview

      We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.

      Asset Library Focus

      Getty Images focuses on premium media and news content, while Monster One is built for web development and design templates.

      Tie

      Getty Images is the source for exclusive creative content and essential global editorial coverage. You find unique stock photos, vectors, and premium 4K video clips not available elsewhere. Monster One offers over 547,400 specialized items worth over $500,000 in retail value. This massive collection specializes in web templates, themes, and design utility assets. The core difference is utility: Getty Images provides unique images; Monster One provides the functional components to build sites and brand identities. If you are designing a website, Monster One's 9,000+ themes are immediately useful. Getty Images cannot compete here.

      Pricing and Value

      Monster One is significantly cheaper with an unlimited subscription, whereas Getty Images uses high-cost per-download credit packs.

      Monster One

      Getty Images UltraPacks range from $130 to $499 for a single high-resolution image or video download. Even bulk buying is highly expensive. This model is high-stakes and premium focused. Monster One’s Yearly plan costs about $14 per month for unlimited access to the entire 547,400-item library. You can download assets freely for all your projects. Monster One offers phenomenal value for high-volume users needing varied assets. Getty Images' high per-asset cost limits its utility for budget-conscious creators. Monster One even offers a Lifetime plan for the cost of one single high-res asset from Getty Images.

      Generative AI

      Getty Images has robust, commercially safe Generative AI tools; Monster One relies entirely on its existing static library.

      Getty Images

      Getty Images lets users instantly create custom, brand-safe images using text prompts. This AI solution is commercially licensed and ready to use. Getty Images users can also modify existing library assets (add or remove elements) using AI. This rapid customization feature is powerful for marketing teams. Monster One currently does not provide integrated AI image creation directly within its platform. Users must source custom AI images externally. If utilizing cutting-edge, safe AI creation is a requirement, Getty Images provides this crucial and valuable capability.

      Web Development Assets

      Monster One offers thousands of WordPress themes and templates, covering web utility Getty Images completely lacks.

      Monster One

      Monster One is a goldmine for web professionals with 9,160+ top-rated WordPress themes and plugins. It supports various CMS and e-commerce platforms like Shopify. This platform provides 105,360+ logo templates and 31,530+ presentation designs for easy business setup. Agencies can use assets for unlimited client projects. Getty Images provides zero web development themes or functional templates. Its primary focus remains on visual media licensing. If building or redesigning websites is a priority, Monster One is directly engineered to support that need immediately.

      Licensing & Limits

      Monster One offers truly unlimited downloads for unlimited projects, far surpassing the credit bundles of Getty Images' UltraPacks.

      Monster One

      Getty Images requires that you purchase rigid credit bundles (UltraPacks), limiting your total number of downloads. Every asset costs a premium price. Monster One provides simple, fixed-fee access with unlimited downloads across the whole library. This removes the stress of tracking costs per asset. For freelancers or agencies that manage unlimited projects, Monster One's flexible licensing structure is a huge operational advantage. Getty Images forces budget control on every click; Monster One encourages exploration and high-volume usage without cost worry.

      Editorial Content

      Getty Images is the leader in global editorial and news coverage, which is a content category not served by Monster One.

      Getty Images

      Getty Images offers crucial, timely coverage of global news, politics, and sports events in 4K/HD quality. This is vital for media and publishing. It also grants access to the world’s largest digital archive of historical news and entertainment photos. This feature is often irreplaceable. Monster One focuses on commercial assets like stock footage, graphics, and templates. It does not provide any dedicated current events or archival news media. When covering trending topics or citing history, Getty Images is the designated industry expert and source.

      Customer Reliability

      Getty Images is plagued by exceptionally poor user reviews and billing complaints, making Monster One the safer financial choice.

      Monster One

      External reviews give Getty Images a critically low 1.7-star rating, citing persistent double-billing and non-existent support. Users report high financial risk. Monster One offers standard ticket-based support and general assistance, included with every plan. No widespread reports of systemic billing issues are noted. For high-value transactions, trust and reliability are paramount. Getty Images' reported practices are highly concerning for enterprise users paying high fees. Monster One is the clear qualitative winner here simply because it doesn't carry the high risk of billing disputes and lack of support.

      Asset Management (DAM)

      Getty Images provides a specialized Media Manager DAM solution; Monster One relies on users to manage their own downloaded files.

      Getty Images

      For large teams, Getty Images offers the Media Manager system to organize, control, and distribute licensed media assets smoothly. This streamlines internal workflows. This dedicated DAM helps enterprises measure usage and ensures compliance across internal stakeholders and external creators effectively. Monster One provides the content, but organizing the 547,400+ assets is the user's responsibility. They must use third-party tools for storage and distribution. If sophisticated asset control and global team distribution are necessary, Getty Images offers a powerful native solution.

      Our Verdict

      Objective guidance based on features, pricing, and user fit.

      Choosing between Getty Images and Monster One requires deciding between premium precision and vast, affordable volume. Getty Images is exclusively for brands that demand unique, high-cost, world-class media. Monster One is the unlimited subscription toolkit for almost everyone else, offering undeniable value. Getty Images' superpower is providing unique, exclusive media and essential global editorial content. No competitor matches its comprehensive news coverage or massive historical archival library. It also features cutting-edge, commercially safe Generative AI creation tools, essential for rapid customization. Monster One shines by delivering incredible breadth and unlimited licensing freedom for designers and developers. For roughly $14 per month, you get unlimited access to 547,400+ items across unlimited projects. It dominates the web design market, offering 9,160+ WordPress themes and 105,000 logo templates. The decisive factor is the price combined with customer reliability evidence. A single high-res asset from Getty Images can cost $499, which is the price of Monster One’s entire Lifetime access. Getty Images also faces widespread reports of terrible support and billing fraud, increasing user risk. If you require web themes, templates, and maximum asset volume on a budget, choose Monster One immediately. If your work relies on editorial coverage or truly exclusive, non-generic imagery, you must accept Getty Images’ premium price and associated risks.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Which is better for web developers: Getty Images or Monster One?

      Monster One is significantly better for web developers and agencies. It includes over 9,000 WordPress themes, thousands of CMS templates, and numerous plugins. Getty Images focuses only on visual media and provides zero functional web templates.

      Is Monster One worth the cost compared to Getty Images' high prices?

      Absolutely. Monster One's yearly plan is about $14/month for unlimited access to assets for unlimited projects. Getty Images charges up to $499 for just one high-resolution download. Monster One provides vastly superior value and volume.

      Does Getty Images offer unlimited downloads like Monster One?

      No, Getty Images uses high-cost credit bundles called UltraPacks, limiting the number of downloads you can perform. Monster One provides unlimited downloads across its entire professional asset library.

      Can I easily create AI images commercially using Getty Images or Monster One?

      Getty Images includes a built-in Generative AI solution specifically designed to create commercially safe, ready-to-license images. Monster One does not currently offer this integrated AI creation capability.

      Which tool has better customer support and reliability?

      Monster One is likely more reliable for general support needs. Getty Images has a critically low 1.7-star rating based on user reports of non-responsive support and alleged deceptive billing practices.

      What is the key difference in the asset library focus between Getty Images and Monster One?

      Getty Images excels in premium creative content, exclusive photography, and essential global editorial coverage. Monster One specializes in utility assets like graphics, web themes, presentation decks, and video templates.

      Ready to Choose?

      Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.