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Trying to compare subscription options at microstock agencies is harder than trying to compare their pay-as-you-go prices. There are several variables:
Length of Subscription: Fairly straightforward, most sites offer Monthly or Annual Subscriptions.
Number of Images / Credits: More difficult to compare, most sites offer varying numbers of downloads, but some allow you to download many images in one day, some force you to spread your downloads over the entire subscription (i.e. a limit per day).
Image Types: istock subscription is credit based meaning you can download any type of media, but video or vectors will cost you more credits. other agencies allow you to download different media types under different subscription options, some include all types in one price.
Multi-seat: also known as corporate licenses, these options allow multiple users to login and access images.
Extended Licenses: Extended licenses usually come at a premium, or are excluded from subscription offerings.
| Site | Subscription Options |
|---|---|
| Dreamstime |
Multiple Combinations of Downloads (10-50), Length of Subscription (1,3,6,12 month), |
| iStockphoto |
Multiple Combinations of Downloads (10/30-480), Length of Subscription (3,6,12 month), Credit based not per image, allows download of video, flash and vectors at relevant credit level. |
| Fotolia |
Multiple Combinations of Downloads (25-250), Length of Subscription (1,3,6,12 month), Images and Images Vectors and Footage Options. |
| Shutterstock.com |
Length of Subscription (1,3,6,12 month), |
| 123rf |
Two options, 5 or 26 images daily, Length of Subscription 1,3,12 month Monthly 5 credits/day $137 (based on converted price) Annual: 5 credits/day $274 (based on converted price) Annual: 26 credits/day $2376 (based on converted price) |
| PantherMedia |
Multiple Combinations of Downloads (100-750 for entire period), Length of Subscription (1,3,6,12 month), variable size (web, print and max available) |
| Crestock.com |
Length of Subscription (1,3,6,12 month), |
| Canstockphoto.com |
Two options, 10 or 25 images daily, Length of Subscription weekly, 1,12 month |
| StockFresh | Monthly, 5 images/day, $99 Monthly, 25 images/day, $245 Annual, 25 images/day, $1799 |
| MostPhotos.com |
Monthly, 10 web res images/day $99 |
| Vivozoom.com |
Monthly: 15 images/day $279 |
| Veer.com (Marketplace) |
Multiple Combinations of Downloads per week (60-2880), Length of Subscription (1,3,6,12 month/by weeks) Monthly: 60 images/week $223 (based on converted value) |
| PhotoXpress.com |
It's unfair to compare the 'lite' subscripton (9.99 s month) to that on normal microstock sites, the image quality is nothing like as good. Monthly, 10 images/day $99 |
Some agencies allow photographers to opt-out of their subscription offering, and some photographers complain that subscription downloads only earn them around $0.30 even for highest resolution. Again it's complicated to compare how much a photographer will earn from a subscription download via each agency, istock for example use quite complex calculations based on the number of credits used in a day to give photographers a variable amount per image.
Shutterstock was for many years subscription only and earned good returns for photographers during that period, the increased downloads subscriptions bring offset the lower value of each download.
Fotolia offers buyers who need modest resolutions very good value.
For buyers, the only fool proof way to compare image subscriptions is to visit each agency, check that they offer images that suit your needs (most of the agencies listed here likely will) and then having defined what type and number of images you need per day calculate your actual cost. Compare that to the cost of buying images as required on a per download basis.
