Visit Website See Pricing
iStock

iStock

Find high-quality visuals, at the right price, licensed with confidence.

#13 dans Media Library
2 min read · Updated 10/5/2025
iStock homepage screenshot

At a glance

Quick overview for iStock: rating, pricing summary, key features, and highlights.

Ciroapp review

1.7
Premium Content, High-Risk Subscription Model

We observe that iStock provides a vast library of high-quality, exclusive stock content, including images, videos, and integrated AI tools. However, we cannot overlook the severe, consistent dissatisfaction regarding billing transparency and customer service cited across external user reviews. Overall, the extensive user reports of challenging cancellations, hidden fees, and annual lock-in contracts seriously compromise the platform's professional standing.

Pros

  • Pro:Access to exclusive Signature and Essentials content collections.
  • Pro:Robust, clear licensing backed by high coverage.
  • Pro:Complimentary, unlimited access to integrated AI generation and editing tools.
  • Pro:Option to choose flexible credit packs instead of recurring subscriptions.

Cons

  • Con:Users report being locked into mandatory annual contracts after free trials.
  • Con:Extreme difficulty and fees associated with canceling subscriptions or getting refunds.
  • Con:Customer service is widely described as rude, unhelpful, and unresponsive.
  • Con:Reported instances of unauthorized charges and deceptive pricing shown at checkout.
Range: $29–$99/monthMonthly subscription, Yearly subscription, Usage-based pricing
This section is a summary. Detailed sections about features, use cases, pricing, and reviews follow below.
Visit WebsiteSee Pricing
Read full review

iStock review, pricing, features, pros & cons

Do you struggle to find unique content for your project that also fits your budget? It's a common frustration! iStock was created by creatives just like you.

They offer exclusive images and videos you won't find anywhere else. You get the quality you need, backed by robust, simple licensing. ✨ Start creating your best work today.

What is iStock?

iStock is the original destination for royalty-free stock content. It offers a huge variety of images, including photos, illustrations, and editable vectors. You can also find affordable HD and 4K video clips.

This platform is designed for anyone needing high-quality, dependable visuals for commercial use. Since its beginning, iStock has focused on providing content created by artists for other creatives. This unique focus ensures you always find fresh, unique work. ✅

iStock Key Features

✨ Access Unique, Exclusive Visuals

iStock was created by artists for other creatives, meaning they understand your need for unique content. You will find high-quality images and videos you simply cannot source anywhere else. These exclusive visuals are part of the Signature collection, sourced from global artists who work solely with the platform.

Using this exclusive content helps your brand story stand out clearly from the competition. You never have to worry about sacrificing originality when you choose premium quality visuals for your project. Start browsing the curated Signature content today.

✨ Trust in Content Integrity

We believe your visual library should offer absolute security and trustworthiness. iStock maintains a safe visual library through stringent contributor standards. You can relax knowing the visuals you download are dependable and verified.

We enforce a strict policy that prevents contributors from submitting AI-generated content. This policy ensures every asset you consider for commercial use is fully authentic and artist-created. Choose your new media with confidence.

✨ Integrated Editing Tools for Efficiency

Design and modify your assets quickly without needing complex external software. The integrated iStock Editor provides necessary controls directly within the platform. This tool is designed to allow professionals to make instant adjustments to downloaded images.

Editing takes moments and eliminates extra steps in your workflow. Use the editor when you need to quickly adapt an image format for a specific use case, such as a social media banner or a website graphic. The tool supports key modifications including:

  • Cropping and resizing quickly
  • Applying built-in filters
  • Uploading logos and custom text

✨ Next-Level AI Creation and Enhancement

Benefit from a new AI update that significantly enhances your image creation capabilities. This powerful technology offers improved generation efficiency and works with enhanced prompts. You can now create clearer and much more detailed AI imagery.

All subscription paths include complimentary access to these AI tools, providing unlimited generations and downloads. You can also use this feature to make unlimited modifications to existing iStock images. This technology successfully maximizes your creative tools.

✨ Clear and Comprehensive Licensing Coverage

Every quality visual needs proper legal backing, and iStock makes the entire process simple. The platform focuses on providing robust, easy licensing for all commercial-use content. This clarity helps you license content with complete certainty.

All assets are backed by industry-leading coverage and transparent licensing rules. This structure saves you administrative time and protects your brand integrity. You can always select media knowing you have licensed it appropriately and affordably.

✨ Flexible Free Downloads and Rollover Benefits

iStock rewards users by offering consistent value, even outside of paid subscriptions. Every week, experts choose one photo from the exclusive Signature collection and make it completely free to download. This allows you to sample premium content over time.

Additionally, free illustrations and video clips are made available monthly, expanding your creative options. For those on subscription plans, any unused downloads automatically roll over each month, up to a maximum of 250 assets. This ensures you never waste your valuable purchases.

Use Cases

🎨 Launching a Differentiating Marketing Campaign

When developing a major campaign, you often need visuals that your competitors cannot easily source. Generic stock content simply won't connect with your target audience effectively. Choosing the Premium subscription grants you full access to the exclusive Signature collection. These unique images and videos come from global artists who work only with iStock, ensuring your brand visuals stand out immediately.

Tip: Unused downloads roll over into the next month if your plan remains active, so you won’t lose value if usage varies week to week.

💰 Creating Content on a Strict Budget

You need professional content regularly but must manage costs carefully. The Basic subscription plan starts affordably and provides access to the Essentials image collection. This tier is excellent for everyday projects requiring high quality without the premium exclusivity.

You can easily download your allotted images and then use the complimentary AI tools. These tools allow unlimited generations and precise modifications, helping you maximize the value of every image download.

🎬 Producing Full-Scale Multimedia Projects

Modern projects often demand a mix of high-resolution media like 4K video clips, background music, still images, and even sound effects. The Premium + Video plan is designed for this exact need. It delivers access to the entire library—images, videos, music, and sound effects—all bundled together.

This package dramatically expands your creative possibilities across all digital formats. Selecting this comprehensive plan simplifies your sourcing process dramatically.

🛡️ Securing Fully Licensed Commercial Visuals

If you are consistently sourcing content for commercial use, legal confidence is critical. iStock offers industry-leading coverage and transparent, clear licensing details. This ensures you can use every asset with complete peace of mind.

You also relax knowing the library is safe and reliable. iStock strictly prohibits contributor-submitted AI-generated content, guaranteeing you are using visuals created by human artists.

✨ Refining and Enhancing Visual Quality

Perhaps you found the perfect image, but it needs minor cropping or resizing for a specific platform layout. You don't need external programs; instead, use the integrated iStock Editor. This tool lets you instantly crop, resize, apply filters, and add text or logos.

New AI updates further enhance your capabilities. You can generate clearer, more detailed imagery with enhanced generation and sophisticated prompts. All subscription tiers include complimentary access to these unlimited AI generation and modification tools.

🌍 Sourcing Authentic, Representative Content

Your brand narrative requires visuals that genuinely resonate and display inclusive storytelling. Instead of wading through general searches, you can browse specific curated categories.

Explore categories like 'Inclusive Storytelling,' 'Travel destinations,' or 'Jobs and careers.' This streamlined browsing lets you quickly find authentic and relevant visual content to build strong connections with your audience.

Pricing Overview for iStock

Pricing range
$29–$99/month
Pricing types
Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription, Usage-based pricing

iStock offers subscription plans starting at $29/month for the Basic tier. Pricing varies based on the assets included (images, videos, or both) and the volume of monthly downloads desired.

Plans & Pricing

Basic

Monthly$29
10 Downloads per month (scalable up to 750)
  • Essentials images only
  • Unused downloads rollover (up to 250)
  • Complimentary unlimited access to AI tools
  • Unlimited AI generations and downloads
  • Unlimited iStock image modifications
Subscribe

Premium

Monthly$70
10 Downloads per month (scalable up to 750)
  • All images, including premium exclusives
  • Unused downloads rollover (up to 250)
  • Complimentary unlimited access to AI tools
  • Unlimited AI generations and downloads
  • Unlimited iStock image modifications
Subscribe

Premium + Video (Special Offer)

Monthly$99
10 Downloads per month (scalable up to 50+)
  • All images and videos, including premium exclusives
  • Music and sound effects included
  • Everything is one download
  • Unused downloads rollover (up to 250)
  • Complimentary unlimited access to AI tools

iStock costs between $29 USD and $99 USD per month with three main plans: Basic at $29/month, Premium at $70/month, and Premium + Video at $99/month (new customer price).

Review the main subscription plans below to find the best fit for your content needs.

Basic

Price: $29 USD /month (for 10 downloads on Annual Plan) Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Not explicitly stated Refund Policy: Not explicitly stated Other Features:

  • Essentials images only
  • Essentials images are one download
  • Unused downloads roll over (up to 250)
  • Complimentary access to AI tools
  • Unlimited AI generations and downloads

The Basic plan is your most affordable entry point for professional stock visuals. It grants access exclusively to the Essentials image collection, suitable for most everyday projects. You’ll also benefit from complimentary AI tools to help easily generate and modify content. This is a great starting place!

Premium

Price: $70 USD /month (for 10 downloads on Annual Plan) Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Not explicitly stated Refund Policy: Not explicitly stated Other Features:

  • Includes all images, including premium exclusives
  • All images are one download
  • Rollover up to 250 unused downloads
  • Unlimited AI generations and downloads
  • Unlimited iStock image modifications

Choosing Premium gives you access to the entire iStock image library, incorporating all the exclusive Signature collection content. This is ideal if you need unique visuals that your competitors cannot easily source. It also comes with the same powerful, complimentary AI modification and generation tools.

Premium + Video (Special Offer)

Price: $99 USD /month (New Customer Price; regular $125.00/month for 10 downloads on Annual Plan) Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Not explicitly stated Refund Policy: Not explicitly stated Other Features:

  • All images and videos, including premium exclusives
  • Music and sound effects included
  • Everything in the plan is considered one download
  • Rollover up to 250 unused downloads
  • Access to complimentary AI tools

This comprehensive subscription is excellent for creators who need mixed media, combining high-quality images, videos, music, and sound effects. Selecting this special offer gives you immediate access to the lowest new customer price available for this powerful plan. This package dramatically expands your creative possibilities across all digital formats.

iStock offers highly flexible plans that accommodate both annual commitments and month-to-month billing. While no free trial is explicitly advertised, customers can also utilize "Credit packs" for a pay-as-you-go purchase approach instead of recurring subscriptions. Be aware that unused downloads roll over between months only if auto-renew remains active on your account.

User Reviews

Trustpilot sentiment for iStock is overwhelmingly negative, characterized by severe dissatisfaction primarily concerning billing and customer support. Recurring themes center on misleading subscription structures and difficult cancellations, especially following a “free trial.” Users consistently report being locked into paying for the full year (often $70/month or more), even after attempting to cancel immediately.

Obtaining a refund or canceling the annual commitment is frequently described as impossible, leading many users to cite dishonest subscription traps. Customer support is a major pain point; reviewers label the staff as rude, unhelpful, and unresponsive, often disconnecting chats or refusing to honor refund requests.

Furthermore, while the company promotes itself as free from contributing AI content, some users noted that image quality was often shockingly poor and appeared “clearly generated by AI,” lacking authenticity. Many users advise prospective customers to avoid the service completely, citing unauthorized charges and contractual lock-ins.

⚠️

What users say elsewhere

David M.
· Trustpilot
1.0 / 5

There’s no way to easily get out of the $70/month subscription fee. You get locked into paying for the full year after the free trial ends. This locking mechanism feels like a bad contract trap.

Linda K.
· Trustpilot
1.0 / 5

Customer service is atrocious. They make it impossible to cancel online and refuse to transfer you to a manager for refunds. They even charged me a fee just to close my account after using a trial.

No reviews yet.

Write a Review

Write a Review for iStock
0/100 characters
0/2000 characters

Why use iStock?

Choosing the right visual partners matters greatly to your brand. iStock provides premium quality that never forces you to sacrifice value. You can select content with confidence thanks to industry-leading coverage and transparent licensing details. 💡

  • Get Exclusive Visuals: Find unique videos and images that are available only on iStock. These come from global artists who work exclusively with the site, known as the Signature collection.
  • Ensure Visual Integrity: Relax knowing that contributors cannot submit AI-generated content. You are viewing a safe visual library you can truly trust.
  • Maximize Creative Tools: Use the integrated iStock Editor to crop, resize, and apply filters instantly. Plus, a new AI update helps you create clearer, more detailed imagery with enhanced generation.
  • Find Your Value: View plans and pricing options designed to fit your specific budget needs without compromising the premium standards of the media. You never have to sacrifice value for premium quality.

Ready to transform your workflow with iStock?

Try it nowView pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay monthly, or must I commit to a longer annual plan?

You have flexibility when subscribing. You can choose the Annual Plan, which offers the lowest monthly rate, or select the standard Month-to-month option directly on the platform.

What happens to my downloads if I don't use them all in one month?

Your unused downloads will roll over to the following month. However, this rollover is limited to a maximum of 250 downloads. Remember, the rollover only works if auto-renew remains active on your account.

Is there a free trial available for new iStock users?

No, an explicit free trial period is not advertised for the subscription plans. If you prefer not to commit to a plan, you can purchase credit packs for a pay-as-you-go purchase approach.

Are there any hidden limits on using the new complimentary AI tools?

The AI tools are included with all subscription tiers at no extra charge. You receive unlimited AI generations and downloads, along with unlimited modifications to your iStock images.

Does iStock offer a money-back guarantee or a specific refund policy?

Not explicitly stated on the official site. The pricing documentation does not detail a guaranteed refund period, a money-back policy, or any requirements for subscription cancellation.

Is the subscription price based on the number of users or the volume of downloads?

The pricing structure directly corresponds to the volume of monthly downloads (per-usage), starting at 10 downloads per month. Details regarding per-seat licensing for teams are not explicitly stated on the official site.

What content is included in the ‘Essentials’ collection versus the ‘Signature’ collection?

Essentials provides economical images suitable for everyday projects and budget needs. The Signature collection contains millions of premium, handpicked images and videos exclusively provided by iStock artists.

Who is the Premium + Video plan best suited for?

This comprehensive plan is excellent for creators who require mixed media content. It includes access to all images, videos, music, and sound effects, dramatically expanding your creative possibilities.

What assets are counted as one download?

For all image plans (Basic and Premium), one image counts as one download. Under the Premium + Video plan, all assets—including images, videos, music, and sound effects—are considered one download each.

Does iStock integrate with popular design software or offer API access?

Not explicitly stated on the official site. Information regarding direct software integrations or available API access for developers is not provided in the features or pricing summaries.

What is the expected customer support response time or service level agreement (SLA)?

Not explicitly stated on the official site. Information regarding guaranteed response times or specific support SLAs is not provided within the pricing or feature summaries.

Is iStock focused only on US markets, or is it available globally in multiple languages?

Not explicitly stated on the official site. While the content is universal and licensing is comprehensive, concrete information on regional localization or customer support in multiple languages is not provided.

Ready to try iStock? Check out the official site or pricing.
Visit Website See Pricing