What Are Microstock Websites?
Microstock websites are platforms that provide ready-made content such as photos, videos, icons, illustrations, and vectors at low prices or even for free. On these platforms, many creators and artists contribute by uploading their work for sale or download. Unlike traditional models where a piece of content is sold only once, in microstock platforms each file can be sold or downloaded multiple times by different users. This creates a revenue model based on repeated sales rather than a single transaction.
In essence, these platforms act as intermediaries between content creators and buyers. Users can easily access a vast library of professional content, while creators can earn income from their work without the need to find clients directly. This approach is cost-effective for buyers and offers creators an opportunity to generate passive income over time.
Many art studios usually operate on these websites. Beehaya Studio is also active on several microstock platforms. In the following, we will introduce a list of the best microstock websites for you. These insights are based on our practical experience with these microstock platforms and can be valuable for you.
1-Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the oldest and most well-known microstock websites in the world. It began its activity in the early 2000s and has since grown into one of the largest marketplaces for selling photos, vectors, and digital content.
On this platform, AI-generated images are not allowed to be published. To withdraw your earnings, you must have at least $25 in your account.
Each content contributor has a specific level. When you start, you are at Level 1. To reach Level 2, you need to publish more than 100 images within a year. As your level increases, your share of earnings per content also increases.
The highest level is Level 6. To reach this level, you must publish at least 25,000 images in one year. In this case, your revenue share can go up to 40%.
Shutterstock has a high ranking and strong reputation. This means that the content you publish has a better chance of appearing at the top of Google search results. However, the large number of contributors and content on the platform makes competition very intense.
Choosing appropriate titles and using accurate keywords play a crucial role in visibility and can significantly increase your chances of success.
One of the advantages of Shutterstock is that after publishing your work, you can edit or delete it. If your content does not perform well, you can improve its results by changing the title or keywords.
One of the challenges of this platform is the content review and approval time, which can be quite long (sometimes taking several weeks). In some cases, content may be mistakenly labeled as AI-generated and rejected.
For designers and illustrators, an important point is that according to Shutterstock’s rules, vector files must be submitted in EPS10 format. This may require removing certain features available in newer versions of software like Illustrator.
Finally, you can withdraw your earnings through services such as PayPal, Payoneer, or Skrill.
2-Freepik
Freepik was launched in 2010 in Spain and initially started as a search engine for free graphic resources. Over time, it evolved into a large marketplace for distributing and selling graphic assets. By introducing premium content and collaborating with designers worldwide, it has become one of the most popular platforms in the design and microstock industry.
After Shutterstock, Freepik is definitely one of the main platforms to consider. The reason is simple: high popularity and a large volume of downloads. In many cases, the number of downloads on Freepik is higher than on other platforms, which can ultimately lead to greater overall earnings.
Although Shutterstock still holds a higher position in terms of overall reputation, Freepik has effectively become the first choice for many users when it comes to downloading graphic resources, especially for those looking for vectors, PSD files, and ready-to-use designs.
In terms of workflow, the review time for submitted content on Freepik is generally shorter than on Shutterstock, which is a significant advantage for contributors who prioritize fast publishing. Additionally, the platform allows the submission of AI-generated images.
To reach the highest contributor level, you typically need to publish around 500 files. The minimum payout threshold is $25.
Earnings per download are usually low (often less than $0.10), but due to the high volume of downloads, the overall income can still be considerable. In other words, this is a volume-driven platform rather than a high-price-per-sale model.
Competition on the platform is intense, so choosing the right title, accurate keywords, and a solid publishing strategy is essential for visibility.
When uploading vector files, there is a specific structure: you must submit a vector file (usually EPS) along with a JPG preview image of the same design. Both files must be identical in content and have the same filename. After uploading, they are combined and presented as a single item. While this may seem simple, failing to follow these rules can lead to rejection.
In terms of content management, you can unpublish your files, but direct editing is not allowed. To make changes, you must delete the file and re-upload a revised version.
One often overlooked issue is the lack of advanced analytics tools. As of 2026, most microstock platforms do not provide detailed performance insights. You typically only have access to daily and monthly download statistics, with no data on views or conversion rates. This means performance analysis relies heavily on trial and error rather than precise data.
Finally, earnings can be withdrawn via PayPal or Payoneer.
3-Vecteezy
Vecteezy was founded in 2007 in the United States (Kentucky) and initially started as a platform for sharing and downloading free vector graphics. Over time, it evolved into a full marketplace for graphic assets by introducing premium content and collaborating with designers from around the world.
After Shutterstock and Freepik, Vecteezy is considered one of the best microstock platforms.
However, based on personal experience, Vecteezy ranks second in terms of income potential.
On Vecteezy, you can upload not only graphic files but also AI-generated images. In general, this platform is less strict compared to Shutterstock and Freepik when it comes to content approval.
Similar to Shutterstock, you need to submit your vector files in EPS10 format, and a single vector file is sufficient for publication.
One of Vecteezy’s advantages over Shutterstock and Freepik is that you can choose whether your content is free or paid.
Naturally, paid content generates higher revenue, but even free content earns a very small amount (around $0.01 per download).
Like Shutterstock, you can edit your file’s title and keywords after publishing.
However, unlike Shutterstock where changes are applied instantly and without delay, the process on Vecteezy can be quite time-consuming, sometimes taking more than a week for updates to be approved.
Another positive aspect is that in some cases, you can earn a relatively high amount from a single file. For example, a vector file may generate up to $4 in revenue.
On the downside, one of the biggest issues with Vecteezy is that deleting content is difficult. Even after contacting support, it may not be possible to fully remove a file. Therefore, you should be extremely careful before publishing your content.
In terms of analytics, Vecteezy provides overall account view statistics, but it does not show views for each individual file.
However, you can see the number of downloads for each file separately.
Finally, to withdraw your earnings, you must reach a minimum of $25, and the only available payout methods are PayPal and Payoneer.
4-Adobe Stock
The Adobe Stock platform was formed after Adobe acquired Fotolia in 2014. Instead of building a new service from scratch, Adobe rebranded and launched it as Adobe Stock in 2015, fully integrating it with applications like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign, allowing users to access and use content directly within their workflow. In 2019, Fotolia was completely discontinued, and Adobe focused entirely on Adobe Stock, which has since become one of the leading platforms in the microstock industry.
In terms of revenue percentage, Adobe Stock is considered one of the top platforms. On average, you may earn around $1 per download, which is significantly higher compared to many other microstock platforms.
On this platform, similar to Freepik and Shutterstock, you can delete your content at any time. There is also the option to edit your files after publishing, allowing you to update titles and keywords instantly and without delay.
However, in terms of SEO and Google ranking, Adobe Stock has a notable weakness. Content published on this platform usually struggles to rank well in search results, making it difficult to achieve high visibility through Google.
To withdraw your earnings, you must reach a minimum threshold of $25.
Regarding analytics, Adobe Stock does not provide view counts for individual files. You can only track the number of downloads, similar to many other microstock platforms.
Another important point is that if you have a Behance account, you can connect it to Adobe Stock. This integration can increase the visibility and download potential of your work. After connecting, a new tab labeled Adobe Stock will appear in your Behance profile.
Additionally, all your content is automatically protected with an Adobe Stock watermark to help prevent unauthorized use and protect your work.
Finally, you can withdraw your earnings using PayPal or Payoneer.
This article will be updated and completed next month.
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