The global stock images market was valued at USD 6.37 Billion in 2025. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.60% during the forecast period of 2026-2035 to reach a value of USD 12.07 Billion by 2035. The market is expanding steadily, driven by the rapid growth of digital content creation, online marketing, and media consumption.
As businesses increasingly rely on visual storytelling to connect with audiences, demand for high-quality, rights-cleared stock photos and videos has surged across sectors. With the rise of digital transformation, small businesses, content creators, and global enterprises are adopting subscription-based stock image platforms to access professional visual assets. In September 2025, iStock introduced a subscription model that allows unlimited downloads & modifications plus access to generative AI–powered image creation. Platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images have diversified their offerings to include footage, vector illustrations, AI-generated visuals, and editorial content, expanding use cases across geographies.
The growth of the stock images market is supported by expanding digital marketing budgets, increased content output by businesses, and the rising need for cost-efficient visual assets. In 2024, Adobe Stock reported a 17% increase in image downloads across North America and Europe, citing higher adoption by freelancers, agencies, and SMEs. Additionally, the growth of e-learning and remote work has boosted the use of stock visuals in presentations, training materials, and virtual classrooms. Investments in AI-generated image platforms and improved API integrations with design software have also made it easier for users to source and customize stock assets.
Content localization, the creator economy, and the increasing popularity of AI-driven design tools are further shaping demand patterns. Stock images are now critical for social media marketing, website development, e-learning, and product packaging. As copyright regulations tighten, users are shifting from free, open-source content to licensed alternatives to mitigate legal risks. With visual content becoming a strategic necessity, the global stock images market is well-positioned for sustainable growth.
Base Year
Historical Period
Forecast Period
In 2023, North America represented the largest market, followed by the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.
Shutterstock, Inc., Getty Images, and Adobe Inc., among others. are a few of the major companies in the market.
The rise in the presence of such Stock images captured by drones is predicted to accelerate the demand for Stock images among its end users.
Compound Annual Growth Rate
6.6%
Value in USD Billion
2026-2035
*this image is indicative*
The growth of online advertising, influencer marketing, and online shops is fueling the demand for stock images. Shopify integrated Unsplash APIs to merchant dashboards in July 2025 to enable real-time visual improvements to product listings. Fine-quality images improve product visibility and user experience, particularly on mobile-first devices. Stock sites now provide curated sets specifically for holiday promotions, seasonal fashion, and viral social formats, further integrating visual content into marketing.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing how users find, create, and customize stock images. Shutterstock introduced generative AI capabilities in its creative platform in January 2023, allowing users to create images directly from text prompts instantly. Adobe Stock's Firefly AI also enables creatives to edit and re-mix pictures using generative design capabilities. These technologies minimize reliance on conventional photoshoots, accelerate content creation, and enhance relevance.
The stock images market share is increasing with increased awareness of the necessity of real and diverse visual representation in media. Getty Images, in association with Dove and Girlgaze, introduced the #ShowUs collection of women and non-binary individuals across the world in March 2022. Stock libraries are localizing content more to depict diverse cultures, occupations, body types, and disabilities. The development towards inclusive imagery is redefining content procurement strategies worldwide.
With stricter copyright laws and growing awareness about image licensing, users are migrating from free-use content to professionally licensed platforms. Companies now seek indemnified image sources to avoid copyright infringement lawsuits. In January 2023, Getty Images filed legal action against unauthorized AI-based use of its licensed content, reinforcing the need for clear licensing protocols. Enterprise clients prefer platforms that offer model and property releases, ensuring safe usage in the stock images industry.
The expanding creator economy, with influencers, podcasters, and YouTubers generating content at scale, is fueling demand for accessible and royalty-free visuals. Subscription-based platforms like Canva and Envato have partnered with image libraries to offer bundled creative solutions. For instance, Canva Pro subscriptions surged in Latin America and Southeast Asia, highlighting rising visual content needs from small creators. Freelancers, bloggers, and small businesses prefer cost-effective and versatile image packages, driving demand for microstock platforms with flexible pricing models.
Read more about this report - REQUEST FREE SAMPLE COPY IN PDF
The EMR’s report titled “Global Stock Images Market Report and Forecast 2026-2035” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
Market Breakup by Type
Key Insight: Macro stock images, characterized by higher pricing and exclusive licensing, appeal to agencies and publishers requiring unique, high-resolution visuals for branding and print. Micro stock, offering affordable, royalty-free content, dominates the online and SME segment. The growth of subscription models in microstock platforms, such as iStock and Depositphotos supports consistent demand. While macro stock continues to thrive in enterprise-level campaigns, micro stock drives volume, especially among social media marketers and e-commerce sellers looking for budget-friendly, reusable visuals.
Market Breakup by Application
Key Insight: Commercial applications account for the majority of stock images market share, spanning digital marketing, advertising, websites, and product design. Brands increasingly demand images that match campaign tone and demographics. Editorial stock content is used by news media, blogs, and magazines to visually complement narratives. Global media houses like BBC and The Guardian also expanded their editorial licensing partnerships to access real-time and archive-based visuals, boosting the editorial image segment’s prominence in digital journalism and long-form content.
Market Breakup by Product Type
Key Insight: Still images continue to dominate due to ease of use, faster loading, and broader applicability across digital formats. However, demand for stock footage is rising, particularly for YouTube content, product demos, and social reels. Platforms like Pond5 and Videoblocks have seen increased usage from content creators needing high-quality b-roll and cinematic assets. In 2025, Shutterstock added vertical-format videos to cater to TikTok and Instagram creators. This segmentation reflects an evolving preference for dynamic storytelling across digital media channels.
Market Breakup by Region
Key Insight: North America stock images industry leads due to mature digital marketing ecosystems and early adoption of AI design tools. Europe follows closely with a focus on GDPR-compliant and culturally diverse stock content. Asia Pacific is growing rapidly with rising content production in India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Latin America is adopting cost-effective stock platforms for freelance and small-business use. In the Middle East and Africa, media digitization and mobile-first content creation are increasing stock image adoption, especially through free and subscription models.
Read more about this report - REQUEST FREE SAMPLE COPY IN PDF
Macro stock to lead the market due to better legal protection
Macro stock images market refers to premium, high-resolution images licensed at higher prices with exclusive or rights-managed usage. This segment dominates in terms of revenue, primarily serving advertising agencies, media houses, and large corporations that demand unique, high-quality visuals. Getty Images is a major player in the macro stock market, offering editorial and commercial imagery with detailed rights control. Though costlier, macro stock images offer greater legal protection, usage flexibility, and artistic value, maintaining their dominance in professional use.
Micro stock includes royalty-free images sold at lower prices and typically under non-exclusive licenses. This segment dominates in terms of volume and accessibility, driven by platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and iStock. Micro stock caters to bloggers, small businesses, marketers, and freelancers needing affordable, ready-to-use visuals. These platforms operate on subscription or credit-based models, enabling users to download high-quality visuals at scale. In June 2022, URPopular launched Coolwii Stock, a platform offering influencer‑based stock images and videos tailored for brands.
Commercial sector to capture significant share due to digital marketing expansion
Commercial stock images demand growth can be attributed to uses in marketing, advertising, and promotional purposes where the intent is to sell or promote a product, service, or brand. These images require model and property releases to ensure legal compliance. This segment dominates the stock image market due to its wide usage across social media, websites, e-commerce, and advertising campaigns. Platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Canva cater heavily to this demand. As digital marketing expands, commercial imagery continues to be the top revenue contributor.
Editorial stock images are intended for use in news, blogs, documentaries, or educational contexts where the imagery illustrates real-life events, people, or places. In June 2023, Shutterstock launched flexible editorial subscription packages, offering extensive access to entertainment, news, sports, and archival content for media professionals. While vital for journalism and storytelling, editorial content holds a smaller market share. Getty Images and Reuters dominate this segment, offering timely visuals from global news events like photos of political rallies, sports matches, or public figures.
Table: Breakdown of Content Creators through Follower Count, 2023
Still Images to hold significant share due to innovations
Still images represent the largest segment of the stock images market. They include photographs, illustrations, and vectors used widely in advertising, editorial content, social media, websites, and presentations. Major platforms thrive on this demand, offering millions of ready-to-use visuals. In April 2024, VectorStock rolled out an unlimited subscription for vector collections, giving users access to over 38 million vector images, icons, and illustrations for a flat monthly or annual fee. Their affordability, ease of use, and visual versatility make still images a go-to resource for creators globally.
Footage, which includes short video clips, is a growing yet smaller segment in comparison to still images. This segment is increasingly used in video marketing, social media reels, documentaries, YouTube content, and advertising. Platforms like Pond5, Storyblocks, and Shutterstock Footage offer royalty-free and rights-managed video clips. For example, a YouTuber creating travel vlogs might use aerial drone footage of beaches or cities to enhance visual storytelling. The rise of video content across platforms like Instagram and TikTok is driving the segment’s growth.
Asia Pacific claims the dominant market position owing to strong creator economy
North America holds the largest global stock images market share, supported by a well-established creator economy, high digital ad spends, and the widespread use of licensed images across e-commerce, education, and marketing. The United States and Canada also leads in innovation, offering integrated tools for content planning, design, and publishing. In May 2024, American SuperStock acquired Calgary’s All Canada Photos to broaden its global portfolio and incorporate rich Canadian themed and multimedia content.
Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market, fueled by rising internet penetration, digital entrepreneurship, and mobile-first marketing strategies. India, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines are seeing higher adoption of microstock images. Europe remains a major hub for editorial and lifestyle content, with strong legal compliance driving platform trust. Latin America and the Middle East are emerging markets, driven by local content demand, influencer growth, and bilingual content creation, creating strong potential for future expansion.
The global stock images industry is moderately concentrated, dominated by global platforms and an increasing number of regional and niche content suppliers. Market competition encompasses subscription models, on-demand licensing, and freemium hybrid offerings. Industry leaders such as Shutterstock, Getty Images, and Adobe Stock are investing in AI, automation, and global expansion to drive competitive edge.
Firms are spending on AI-driven search, customized recommendations, and generative image capabilities. Prompt-to-image software provides distinctive customization features through which users can create images from text. Strategic purchases are also influencing the industry. Localization is emerging as a differentiating strategy, with platforms curating local content to address increased demand for cultural representation. User experience, licensing flexibility, and integration with creative software are still top competitive levers.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in New York City, the United States, Shutterstock is a global provider of stock images, videos, and music. The company pioneered a subscription-based licensing model and recently integrated generative AI into its platform, enhancing creative workflows and allowing users to produce unique visuals from simple text prompts.
Established in 1995 and based in Seattle, the United States, Getty Images is renowned for its extensive archive of editorial and creative content. It has played a key role in digitizing historical photography and offers premium imagery to global media and advertisers. Getty continues to innovate with AI-powered search and licensing solutions.
Adobe Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, the United States, launched Adobe Stock in 2015. Integrated into Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock offers millions of high-quality assets. Its innovation lies in seamless software integration, AI-powered search via Adobe Sensei, and growing use of generative AI to support creative professionals.
Canva, founded in 2012 in Sydney, Australia, is a graphic design platform that simplifies content creation for non-designers. Known for its drag-and-drop interface, Canva offers access to stock photos, videos, and templates. It has expanded into enterprise tools and AI-based design features, enabling users to create professional visuals effortlessly.
*Please note that this is only a partial list; the complete list of key players is available in the full report. Additionally, the list of key players can be customized to better suit your needs.*
Other key players in the stock images market include Dreamstime, 123RF, Envato Pty Ltd., Depositphotos, Alamy Ltd. and Pond5.
Unlock critical insights with our Stock Images Market Report 2026. Understand key drivers, future trends, and growth opportunities shaping the industry. Download your free sample now to stay ahead in the evolving digital content landscape. Explore expert analysis on stock images market trends 2026, segmentation, and competitive strategies tailored for decision-makers.
Upto 15% Off
USD
$2499 $2249
$3999 $3599
$4999 $4249
$5999 $5099
*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
Get in touch with us for a customized solution tailored to your unique requirements and save upto 35%!
In 2025, the market reached an approximate value of USD 6.37 Billion.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.60% between 2026 and 2035.
The market is estimated to witness a healthy growth in the forecast period of 2026-2035 to reach around USD 12.07 Billion by 2035.
Key strategies include expanding diverse and inclusive image libraries, adopting AI for smarter search and tagging, and offering flexible pricing models. Companies also focus on global contributor partnerships, video and vector content expansion, and seamless integration with creative software to enhance user experience and retention.
The key trends include the demand for stock images shot in real scenarios and the growth of the content creation economy.
The different types of stock images include still images and footage.
The major applications of stock images include commercial and editorial.
The key players in the market include Shutterstock, Inc., Getty Images, Inc., Adobe Inc. (Adobe Stock), Canva Pty Ltd., Dreamstime,123RF, Envato Pty Ltd., Depositphotos, Alamy Ltd. and Pond5.
Significant challenges include expanding subscription models, AI-driven content tagging, and personalized search capabilities. Platforms focus on diversifying content libraries, localizing visuals, and partnering with creators globally. Emphasis on licensing flexibility, video and 3D content, and integration with design tools further enhances user engagement and market growth.
Explore our key highlights of the report and gain a concise overview of key findings, trends, and actionable insights that will empower your strategic decisions.
| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Historical Period | 2019-2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026-2035 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
|
| Breakup by Type |
|
| Breakup by Application |
|
| Breakup by Product Type |
|
| Breakup by Region |
|
| Market Dynamics |
|
| Competitive Landscape |
|
| Companies Covered |
|
| Report Price and Purchase Option | Explore our purchase options that are best suited to your resources and industry needs. |
| Delivery Format | Delivered as an attached PDF and Excel through email, with an option of receiving an editable PPT, according to the purchase option. |
Datasheet
One User
USD 2,499
USD 2,249
tax inclusive*
Single User License
One User
USD 3,999
USD 3,599
tax inclusive*
Five User License
Five User
USD 4,999
USD 4,249
tax inclusive*
Corporate License
Unlimited Users
USD 5,999
USD 5,099
tax inclusive*
*Please note that the prices mentioned below are starting prices for each bundle type. Kindly contact our team for further details.*
Flash Bundle
Small Business Bundle
Growth Bundle
Enterprise Bundle
*Please note that the prices mentioned below are starting prices for each bundle type. Kindly contact our team for further details.*
Flash Bundle
Number of Reports: 3
20%
tax inclusive*
Small Business Bundle
Number of Reports: 5
25%
tax inclusive*
Growth Bundle
Number of Reports: 8
30%
tax inclusive*
Enterprise Bundle
Number of Reports: 10
35%
tax inclusive*
How To Order
Select License Type
Choose the right license for your needs and access rights.
Click on ‘Buy Now’
Add the report to your cart with one click and proceed to register.
Select Mode of Payment
Choose a payment option for a secure checkout. You will be redirected accordingly.
Gain insights to stay ahead and seize opportunities.
Get insights & trends for a competitive edge.
Track prices with detailed trend reports.
Analyse trade data for supply chain insights.
Leverage cost reports for smart savings
Enhance supply chain with partnerships.
Connect For More Information
Our expert team of analysts will offer full support and resolve any queries regarding the report, before and after the purchase.
Our expert team of analysts will offer full support and resolve any queries regarding the report, before and after the purchase.
We employ meticulous research methods, blending advanced analytics and expert insights to deliver accurate, actionable industry intelligence, staying ahead of competitors.
Our skilled analysts offer unparalleled competitive advantage with detailed insights on current and emerging markets, ensuring your strategic edge.
We offer an in-depth yet simplified presentation of industry insights and analysis to meet your specific requirements effectively.
Share