Adobe Stock review

Adobe Stock is the easiest site here to plan around, because it publishes what a photographer earns per download rather than only a percentage. Photos, vectors and illustrations earn a 33% royalty and video earns 35%. The earnings table shows $3.30 for a download by a 3-credit monthly subscriber, $1.65 or $0.99 for 10-credit monthly or annual subscribers, and $26.40 for an extended license bought on demand. Buyers on plans of 350 or more credits a month pay out a guaranteed minimum of $0.33 to $0.40 per image. Joining is free with an Adobe ID, the agreement is non-exclusive, and accepted files feed Adobe Stock as well as Firefly, Express and other Creative Cloud apps. Contributors also get free access to Behance to show a portfolio and find clients. The weak spot is the low per-image payout from heavy subscription buyers, which is common across microstock sites.

Who it is for

Photographers who want a fixed royalty rate and published dollar earnings per download.

Price

Free to join; 33% royalty on photos, vectors and illustrations and 35% on video.

Earn up to 35% royalties, license non-exclusively
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• 33% royalty on photos, vectors and illustrations, 35% on video
• Published earnings per download for each buyer plan, based on US pricing
• Minimum guaranteed $0.33 to $0.40 per image on 350+ credit plans
• Submissions reach Adobe Stock, Firefly, Express and Creative Cloud
• Free Behance access for contributors

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Royalty rate is fixed and does not depend on a sales level
• Strength: Extended licenses pay $26.40 on demand and $21.12 on subscription
• Strength: Non-exclusive, so the same photos can be sold elsewhere
• Weakness: Annual 10-credit subscribers pay out only $0.99 per image download
• Weakness: Large-plan downloads can earn as little as $0.33
• Weakness: Contributors must be 18 or older and the sole owner of each file

Key facts

• Photo royalty: 33%
• Video royalty: 35%
• Exclusivity: Non-exclusive
• Cost to join: Free with an Adobe ID

Where it ranks

Adobe Stock is No. 1 in our Best Sites to Sell Stock Photos verdict and No. 1 in Best Stock Photo Sites.