Shutterstock vs Envato Elements
Choose Shutterstock if you need occasional stock purchases, editorial imagery, or API access; choose Envato Elements if you regularly need templates, fonts, and other creative assets alongside stock media. Both offer subscriptions with unlimited qualifying downloads, but their catalogs, purchase options, and licensing rules differ.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Shutterstock | Envato Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Asset types | Images, video, music, sound effects, editorial media | Stock media, templates, fonts, graphics, 3D assets |
| One-off purchases | Image and video packs available | Subscription required for Elements assets |
| Starting individual price | Images from $25/month, billed yearly | Core from $16.50/month, billed yearly |
| Unlimited multimedia price | Unlimited Plus: $69/month, billed yearly | Core: $16.50/month, billed yearly |
| Download limits | Unlimited plans: qualifying assets, 100 per day | Unlimited stock downloads, subject to fair use |
| Stock licensing | Standard and Enhanced licenses | One commercial license per project |
| AI allowance | 50 or 100 monthly credits on Unlimited plans | 20 monthly credits on Core |
| Team access | Teams and Enterprise; up to 10 members listed | Teams up to 5; Enterprise by quote |
| API access | Available through separate API plans | No public Stock Catalog API |
| Mobile access | Website and iOS and Android apps | Desktop and mobile browsers |
| Support | Help center, chat, and phone | Help center and support tickets; no item-level support |
| Editorial catalog | News, sports, and entertainment images and videos | Not published |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Shutterstock if
- Buyers who need images or videos without a subscription
- Publishers seeking news, sports, or entertainment imagery
- Developers who need a stock-media API
- Teams needing an Enhanced image license for uses beyond Standard
Choose Envato Elements if
- Designers who regularly use fonts and graphic templates
- Editors who need video templates as well as footage
- Creators who want one subscription for many asset categories
- Small teams licensing assets for shared projects
The verdict
The deciding factor is what you make and how you obtain assets. Shutterstock fits buyers who want image or video packs, editorial content, or a stock-media API. Envato Elements fits creators who use a wide mix of stock assets and editable templates under one subscription. Check the license for your intended use before committing: Shutterstock offers different license tiers, while Envato licenses stock items for specific projects.
Shutterstock vs Envato Elements: common questions
- Can I buy assets without a subscription?
- Shutterstock sells image and video packs for projects that do not need a subscription. Envato Elements provides its catalog through a subscription; Envato Market is a separate pay-per-item product.
- Which costs less to start?
- Envato Elements Core starts at $16.50 per month when billed annually. Shutterstock's image-download plan starts at $25 per month when billed annually. These entry plans include different assets and download allowances.
- Do both offer unlimited downloads?
- Shutterstock's Unlimited plans cover qualifying assets and limit downloads to 100 per day. Envato Elements includes unlimited Stock Catalog downloads on its plans, subject to its fair use policy.
- Which has templates and fonts?
- Envato Elements includes video, graphic, presentation, and web templates, along with fonts. Shutterstock's published stock plans focus on images, video, music, and sound effects.
- Can I keep using licensed work after cancelling?
- Envato Elements permits continued use of completed projects licensed during an active subscription, but not new uses after it ends. Shutterstock's Standard and Enhanced licenses grant perpetual use; its Unlimited plans require a separate download for each use and do not permit new uses after expiry.
- Can I use an asset in more than one project?
- Envato Elements requires a new license for each separate project using the same stock item. Shutterstock's Unlimited plans require the asset to be downloaded again for each additional use; other Shutterstock licenses have different terms.
- Which offers an API?
- Shutterstock offers an API for searching, licensing, and downloading media through separate API plans. Envato Elements says it does not offer public API access to its Stock Catalog.
- Are there mobile apps?
- Shutterstock offers iOS and Android apps for browsing and downloading images and video. Envato Elements supports mobile browsers, but its Android app was discontinued.