Alamy vs Shutterstock: Which Stock Library Should You Choose?
Alamy vs Shutterstock comes down to what you shoot. Shutterstock sells huge numbers of images through subscriptions, so it suits clean commercial photos that sell often at a low price per download. Alamy sells fewer licences but at a higher price, and it suits editorial, travel, heritage and location work, especially from the UK. Both are non-exclusive, so you don’t have to pick one. Most stock photographers upload to both and send each image where it has the best chance of selling.
I joined Alamy as a contributor in September 2026 and recorded every step. In this blog, I compare the two libraries using their own published figures, so you can decide where your photos belong.
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This article covers everything you need to compare Alamy vs Shutterstock: |
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➡ A side-by-side table of the key facts |
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➡ How each library pays you, with real numbers |
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➡ Currency, payout thresholds and tax for UK photographers |
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➡ Which licence type to choose when you use both |
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➡ The types of images that sell on each |
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➡ Whether to upload to one library or both. |
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Alamy vs Shutterstock at a Glance
Here are the facts that matter most when you weigh up Alamy vs Shutterstock. I checked the Alamy figures against its contributor contract in October 2026.
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Alamy |
Shutterstock |
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Based in |
UK, founded in 1999, part of PA Media Group since 2020 |
USA, founded in 2003 |
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Starting commission |
20% (Silver tier) |
15% |
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Top commission |
40% for non-exclusive images, 50% at Platinum for exclusive |
40% |
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What sets your rate |
Gross sales from 1 September to 31 August |
Number of licences in the calendar year, reset every 1 January |
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Typical sale |
Average licence price of $35 |
Mostly subscription downloads at a low price each |
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Payout threshold |
Over $75 in cleared funds |
A minimum you set in your account |
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Payment currency |
GBP, USD or EUR |
USD |
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Payment methods |
PayPal or bank transfer |
PayPal, Payoneer or Skrill |
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Tax forms |
None needed |
US tax form needed before payment |
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Exclusive? |
No |
No |
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Best for |
Editorial, travel, heritage, named places, niche subjects |
Commercial lifestyle, business concepts, backgrounds |
How Alamy and Shutterstock Pay Their Contributors
Commission is the first thing most photographers look at. But the rate alone won’t tell you what you earn, because the price of each sale matters just as much.
Alamy’s Four Commission Tiers
Alamy changed its commission structure on 1 September 2026. So if you read an older guide, the figures you see may be out of date. These are the current rates for direct sales:
- Bronze: 15% if your gross sales are under $250 in the revenue year
- Silver: 20% for gross sales of $250 to $3,000
- Gold: 40% for gross sales over $3,000 and up to $25,000
- Platinum: 50% for gross sales over $25,000, on images exclusive to Alamy only
New contributors start on Silver, so you earn 20% from your first sale. You stay on Silver for the rest of the revenue year you join. After that, Alamy reviews your sales each year. If you pass a threshold during the year, you move up for future sales in that year.
Shutterstock’s Royalty Levels
Shutterstock pays between 15% and 40%. Your level depends on how many licences you sell in the calendar year. It goes back to the starting level every 1 January. Shutterstock also tracks photos and videos on separate counts.
Most Shutterstock sales come from subscription plans. A buyer pays a monthly fee and downloads many images, so each download earns you a small amount. That’s why Shutterstock income relies on volume.
What That Looks Like in Real Money
Alamy says its average licence price is $35. At the Silver rate of 20%, that gives you $7 for one sale. A single Alamy sale can earn more than many Shutterstock subscription downloads put together.
On the other hand, Shutterstock sales tend to happen more often. A portfolio of popular commercial images can bring in a steady number of downloads every month. So in the Alamy vs Shutterstock pay debate, Alamy rewards fewer, higher-value sales, while Shutterstock rewards a large portfolio that sells often.
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Getting Paid by Alamy vs Shutterstock as a UK Photographer
This is where Alamy has a clear advantage for UK contributors. You can choose to receive your money in GBP, so you avoid conversion fees and exchange rate swings. Alamy pays by PayPal or bank transfer once you have over $75 in cleared funds.
Cleared means the buyer has paid Alamy. That takes 45 days to 4 months, or up to 6 months for distributor sales. Alamy starts each payment run on the first working day of the month. Alamy also doesn’t ask for tax forms, so you simply declare the income on your Self Assessment.
Shutterstock pays in USD through PayPal, Payoneer or Skrill. You set your own minimum payout in your account. Before Shutterstock pays you, you need to complete a US tax form. For UK photographers, that is usually the W-8BEN. It only takes a few minutes, but your payments will wait until it’s approved.
Whichever library you use, keep a simple record of every payment. You need it for your tax return, and it shows you which library earns more over time.
Royalty-Free or Rights Managed: Which Licence to Choose
Alamy offers two licence types. Royalty-free (RF) lets the buyer pay once and use the image across many projects. Rights managed (RM) prices the image for one specific use, such as a single print run or country.
Shutterstock sells royalty-free licences only. This matters if you upload the same images to both libraries. Alamy’s contract asks you to use the same licence type for images that you also sell on other agencies. So mark any image you upload to Shutterstock as royalty-free on Alamy too. Alamy sets royalty-free as the default and recommends it, because buyers ask for broad rights. For most photographers, RF on both libraries is the simplest choice.
What Sells on Alamy vs Shutterstock
The most useful question isn’t “Which library is better?” It’s “Which library suits this image?” Each one has different buyers. So the same shoot can produce photos for both.
Images That Suit Shutterstock
Shutterstock buyers are mostly marketers, designers and businesses. They want images they can drop into an advert, a website or a social media post. These types of photos tend to do well:
- Lifestyle and business scenes with released models
- Simple concepts, such as teamwork, wellbeing or saving money
- Photos with clear copy space for text
- Food flat lays and seasonal scenes
- Textures and backgrounds
Images That Suit Alamy
Alamy sells to publishers, newspapers, magazines, designers and marketers. Its PA Media connection gives it strong links with UK news and editorial buyers. So it welcomes specific subjects that buyers can’t find elsewhere:
- Named towns, landmarks and buildings with a clear caption
- Local events, festivals and traditions
- Heritage sites, churches and historic streets
- Everyday objects and niche topics
- Editorial scenes with people who haven’t signed a release.
For example, picture a morning walk around St Albans. A wide shot of the cathedral with a full caption suits Alamy, because a travel or history publisher may search for it by name. A close-up of old brick or wood suits both libraries, because designers use textures everywhere.
Joining Each Library and Passing Quality Control
Alamy asks for three test images when you join, and all three must pass quality control. Each JPEG needs camera EXIF data and must be over 17MB when you open it. Alamy usually checks your test images within 1 working day. After that, it checks a random sample of each upload, and one failure fails every image waiting in the queue.
My guide on how to become an Alamy contributor walks you through each screen with screenshots. Shutterstock reviews every image you submit. Your photos need to be at least 4 megapixels and saved as JPEGs in the sRGB colour space. My post on the Shutterstock contributor requirements covers the full sign-up process and photo standards.
Both libraries reject AI-generated images. So keep your editing to standard adjustments, such as exposure, colour and noise reduction.
Alamy vs Shutterstock: Should You Upload to One or Both?
For most photographers, Alamy vs Shutterstock isn’t an either-or choice, and the answer is both. Neither library asks for exclusivity, and Alamy’s exclusive rate only applies once you pass $25,000 in yearly sales. Until then, limiting to one library gives you no extra commission.
A Simple System for Using Both
Uploading to two libraries takes more time at first. But a simple routine keeps it manageable:
- Write your caption and keywords once, in your editing software, so they travel with each file.
- Sort each shoot into three groups: Alamy only, Shutterstock only, and both.
- Mark everything as royalty-free so your licence types match.
- Log each upload and each payment in a spreadsheet.
- Check your sales every quarter and note which subjects sell where.
Over the years, I’ve found that the images I expected to sell well have sold less than ordinary, everyday shots. Think daily routines and small moments. Carry your camera with you, and you’ll build this type of portfolio much faster.
When to Start With Just One
Are you short on time? Then start with the library that suits most of your current photos. If your hard drive is full of UK travel, heritage and countryside images, start with Alamy. If you shoot clean commercial concepts with people, start with Shutterstock. Once your routine feels easy, add the second library.
My blog on how to sell stock photography compares the other main platforms too, including Adobe Stock.
Why Etsy Prints Sit Alongside Both
Stock pays you a share of a licence fee, and the library sets the price. A print works the other way round. You set the price on Etsy, and you keep what’s left after your costs. Prints don’t clash with stock either. Alamy’s contract says that sales through your own website and print sales don’t affect exclusivity. So one photo can earn a licence fee on Alamy or Shutterstock and also sell as wall art on Etsy.
Your countryside and heritage images often make the best prints, and they are the same images that suit Alamy. Do you want to try selling prints alongside your stock portfolio? My free Etsy resources for photographers are the best place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both accept beginners. Alamy starts you on a 20% commission and pays in GBP, which suits UK photographers. Shutterstock starts you on 15% but often brings more frequent downloads. Many beginners join both.
Per sale, Alamy usually pays more because its average licence price is $35. Shutterstock pays less per download but tends to sell more often. Your total depends on what you shoot and how many images you upload.
Yes. Both libraries are non-exclusive. Just mark those images as royalty-free on Alamy, so the licence type matches Shutterstock.
Yes. You can choose GBP, USD or EUR, paid by PayPal or bank transfer. Alamy pays monthly once your cleared balance passes $75.
Yes. Shutterstock needs a US tax form before it pays you, which is usually the W-8BEN for UK contributors. Alamy doesn’t need a tax form, but you still declare the income on your Self Assessment.
Since 1 September 2026, Alamy has four tiers. Bronze pays 15%, Silver 20%, Gold 40% and Platinum 50% on exclusive images. New contributors start on Silver.
Ready to Choose Your Stock Library?
The quickest way to settle Alamy vs Shutterstock is with your own photos. Open your last three shoots this week and sort the images into Alamy, Shutterstock and both. You’ll see straight away where most of your work belongs, and that tells you where to start.
Do you want a clear plan for what to shoot and upload next? My free stock photography resources are a good first step. When you’re ready to grow your portfolio with a proven routine, the Start-to-Scale Stock Photography System takes you further.
Nicky x
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Nicky is a UK-based photographer and business mentor with over 25 years behind the lens. Known for her straightforward approach to helping photographers turn their passion into profit, she is the founder of Photography Biz Success, with a strong focus on selling photography art and prints on Etsy and shooting for stock libraries.
Nicky’s work helps photographers build multiple income streams from their images, so their work stops sitting on a hard drive and starts generating income.
