Top 5 Websites to Sell Photos Online in 2025: A Photographer’s Honest Guide
- H S
- May 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 21
As a photographer who’s been selling photos online for the past eight years, I’ve seen the stock photography world evolve dramatically. From the golden days of hefty payouts to the challenges of today’s oversaturated market, I’ve navigated platforms like Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Alamy, iStock, Adobe Stock, Pond5, and even my own website through Picfair. If you’re looking to turn your photography passion into profit, choosing the right platform is crucial. Based on my experience and the latest trends in 2025, here are the top five websites to sell your photos online, plus a reality check on running your own site. Let’s dive in!
1. Shutterstock: The Giant with a Catch
Why It’s Great: Shutterstock is a household name in stock photography, boasting over 415 million images and a global customer base serving brands like Google and Coca-Cola. Since I started using Shutterstock in January 2017, it’s been my go-to for its sheer volume of buyers. The platform’s contributor tools are user-friendly, and its vast library ensures your photos get in front of millions.
My Experience: Back in 2017–2020, Shutterstock was a goldmine. With just 1,000 images in my portfolio, I was earning around $35 monthly—pretty solid for a side hustle! However, post-COVID, Shutterstock’s payout structure took a hit. They reset contributor levels to zero annually, and the minimum payout dropped to as low as $0.10 per download. Now, with over 8,000 images in my portfolio, I struggle to hit $10 a month. Their merger with Getty Images has also led to a noticeable drop in sales, making it tougher to sustain consistent earnings.Shutterstock is still worth trying for its visibility.
Pros:
Massive customer base and global reach.
Easy-to-use contributor tools and high acceptance rates.
Supports photos, vectors, videos, and music.
Cons:
Low payouts (starting at $0.10 per download).
Annual level resets reduce earnings potential.
High competition due to millions of contributors.
Check out my portfolio on Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Harsh%20S?rid=169791438&utm_medium=nativeapp&utm_source=ctrbreferral-link
2. Dreamstime: High Payouts, Low Rejections
Why It’s Great: Dreamstime, founded in 2000, hosts 122 million assets and serves major brands like TIME and Walmart. Compared to Shutterstock, Dreamstime generates fewer sales, but the payouts are significantly better. I’ve found their rejection rate to be incredibly low—they rarely turn down images, making it easier to build a portfolio quickly. If you’re tired of rejections, Dreamstime is a breath of fresh air.  If you’re looking for a platform that values your work without excessive scrutiny, Dreamstime is a solid choice.
My Experience: While sales are less frequent, the higher royalties make each download more rewarding. If you’re looking for a platform that values your work without excessive scrutiny, Dreamstime is a solid choice.
Pros:
High royalty rates.
Low rejection rates, ideal for beginners.
Supports photos, videos, vectors, and audio.
Accepts AI created images
Cons:
Smaller customer base means fewer sales.
Minimum payout is 100$
Check out my portfolio on Dreamstime: https://www.dreamstime.com/hitmanh_info
3. Alamy: Premium Pay, Tough Approval
Why It’s Great: Alamy, a British-based platform since 1999, is known for its massive 190-million-asset library and high royalty rates (40–50% for non-exclusive and exclusive contributors, respectively). Unlike microstock sites, Alamy focuses on premium, editorial, and 360-degree panoramic images, offering payouts that can reach $50 per sale.
My Experience: Alamy’s approval process is tough, sometimes frustratingly so. They have strict quality standards, and if one image in a batch is slightly off (e.g., soft focus), they may reject the entire set. I’ve seen sales fetch much higher rates than on microstock sites, making it a great platform for patient photographers.
Pros:
High royalties.
No exclusivity contracts, so you can sell on other platforms.
Cons:
Strict approval process with high rejection rates.
Smaller sales volume compared to Shutterstock.
Less user-friendly interface.
Check out my portfolio on Alamy: https://www.alamy.com/portfolio/harshs
4. iStock and Adobe Stock: Easy Uploads, Lower Payouts
iStock (owned by Getty Images) and Adobe Stock are similar in their approach, making them convenient for photographers who want to upload to multiple platforms at once.
In my experience, these platforms are great for diversifying your income but won’t make you rich. iStock’s high standards can make approval tricky for beginners, while Adobe Stock’s auto-keywording feature helps your images get discovered faster. If you’re already uploading to other sites, these are worth adding to your roster for extra exposure.
My Experience: I’ve lumped these together because they’re similar in terms of payouts and process. Both offer low royalties, which makes them less lucrative than Alamy or Dreamstime. I’ve had modest success with both, but the low payouts mean you need a large portfolio and frequent uploads to see significant earnings.
Pros:
Large customer bases increase sales potential.
Cons:
Low payouts compared to Alamy or Dreamstime.
High competition due to saturated markets.
iStock’s submission platform (shared with Getty) can be clunky.
Check out my portfolio on iStock: https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/Hitman_h
5. Pond5: A Video-Focused Powerhouse
While I primarily focused on photos in my early years, I’ve recently started experimenting with Pond5 for videos. Pond5 specializes in royalty-free media, including videos, music, and 3D models, and is used by major players like the BBC and Forbes. Their commission structure is competitive, often ranging from 20% to 50%, and they allow you to set your own prices for clips, which gives you more control.
Pros:
High royalties for videos and 50% for still images.
Set your own prices.
Cons:
Smaller market for still photos compared to Shutterstock or Alamy.
Requires high-quality video production for maximum success.
Pond5 portfolio: https://www.pond5.com/artist/Hitman_H?ref=Hitman_H
Bonus: Selling on Your Own Website (The Picfair Experience)
If you want complete control over your photography business, creating your own website is tempting. I’ve been using Picfair to set up a personal online store, which is incredibly user-friendly and lets you set your own prices for prints and digital downloads. Picfair handles payment processing and print production, making it a hassle-free option. However, here’s the catch: promoting your own website is hard and often expensive.
Unlike stock sites with built-in audiences, driving traffic to your site requires serious effort—think SEO, social media marketing, and potentially paid ads. Without a strong following or marketing budget, it’s tough to compete with the likes of Shutterstock or Alamy.
My website: https://clickbyhitman.picfair.com
Final Thoughts:
Selling photos online in 2025 is both challenging and rewarding. Shutterstock offers unmatched reach but lower payouts, Dreamstime balances high royalties with low rejections, Alamy rewards quality with premium payouts, iStock and Adobe Stock provide accessibility, and Pond5 shines for video creators. As someone who’s navigated the ups and downs of stock photography since 2017, I recommend starting with a mix of these platforms to find what works for you. Upload consistently, stay on top of trends, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new formats like videos.
Selling photos online can be a fulfilling creative outlet, but as of 2025, it’s best treated as a hobby rather than a dependable source of income- even for a side hustle. With pay rates steadily declining (think $0.10 per image on platforms like Shutterstock) and competition at an all-time high due to oversaturated markets, earning a sustainable income has become increasingly difficult. My eight years in this space have shown me that while platforms like Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Alamy, iStock, Adobe Stock, and Pond5 offer opportunities to showcase your work, the financial rewards are often too inconsistent to rely on. So, keep capturing those stunning shots, but don’t expect stock photography to pay the bills—it’s a passion project, not a paycheck.
Ready to start selling? Sign up for these platforms today, and share your experiences in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!