The Microstock Photography Blog

Below are the basics for each microstock agency, including cost of credits and payout to photographers.

1. istockphoto.com : cost of one credit = $1.

Sizes Sold: xsmall, small, medium,large,xlarge and xxlarge

Prices: 1 credit, 2 credits, 4 credits, 6 credits, 10 credits and 15 credits

Pay-out: Non-exclusive photographers = 20% of photo price

Exlusive photographers = 40% of photo price

Notes: istockphoto.com is the giant in the industry with over 2 million images. If you were to go exclusive with any of them it’d probably be them. The review process is rigorous, not the toughest in the industry, but they are picky.

2. Shutterstock.com: cost per credit = $1

Sizes:

Prices: 1 credit, 2 Credits

Pay-Out: 25%

3. Bigstockphoto.com: cost per credit = $1

Sizes : Medium, Large

Prices: 1 credit, 2 Credits

Pay-out: 50% of photo cost.

Extended licenses: Yes. Up to $60 per license (Average $12).

Notes:

4. fotolia.com: credit cost = $1

Sizes : small, medium, large, xlarge, xxlarge,extended

Costs: 1 credit, 2 credits, 3 credits, 4 credits, 5 credits

Pay-out: Non-exclusive = 33% to 47%

Exlusive = 50% to 64%

Notes: fotolia.com has an odd measurement for payouts - the higher the # of photos you have available for purchase the higher percents that you receive.

5. 123rf.com : credit cost= less then $1

Sizes: web, print, ultra high, tiff, extended

Prices: 1, 2, 3, 10 , 99

Pay-out: 50%

Notes: Subscription available for customers @ either 5 or 26 images downloaded a day.

Subscription services are usually good for photographers. Drives more downloads.

6. StockXpert.com : Credit Cost = $1 or less in package

Sizes: small, medium, large, xlarge, xxlarge

Prices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

Pay-out: 50%

Extended Licenses pay up to 50.00 / sale.

7. dreamstime.com : Cost of credit = $1 or less in bundle

Sizes: small, medium, large, xlarge, extended

Prices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 50+

Pay-out: Non-exclusive = 50%

Exclusive = 60%

Notes: Dreamstime.com images become more expensive the more downloads they have. This pushes users to download less popular pictures. Odd system but interesting. They also offer a subscription plan which allows 25 downloads per day.

8. Canstock Photo: Credit Cost = less then .50

Sizes: small, medium, large

Prices: 1, 1.5, 2

Pay-out: Non-exclusive = 30%

Exclusive = 30-50%

9. luckyoliver.com: Cost of credit = $1 or less when purchased in bundle

Sizes: blog, small, medium, large, xlarge, xxlarge

Prices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 20

Pay-out: Non-exclusive: 30%

Exclusive: 30-50%

Notes: Site is campy but fun. Exclusive members are paid more the higher downloads they have.