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Brief
iStock

iStock

Creative Contentistock.com

iStock provides affordable access to millions of high-quality royalty-free images, videos, and illustrations, democratizing professional creative content for businesses and creators of all sizes.

Last updated Jun 23, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Founded
2000
HQ
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Connections
6

At a glance

Employees
201-500
Funding
$50M
Revenue
$100M-$500M
Stock
NASDAQ:VIA
5integrations1corporate family

About

Leading affordable stock content marketplace within the Getty Images portfolio

iStock is a prominent stock content marketplace that provides millions of royalty-free images, illustrations, videos, and audio files to creative professionals, marketers, and businesses. Founded in 2000 as a pioneering microstock photography platform, iStock revolutionized the stock content industry by offering high-quality creative assets at significantly lower prices than traditional stock agencies. The platform operates on a credit-based system and subscription model, making professional visual content accessible to small businesses, freelancers, and large enterprises alike. iStock operates as a subsidiary of Getty Images, which acquired the company in 2006. Despite the acquisition, iStock maintains its distinct brand identity and continues to serve as Getty Images' more affordable, accessible option in the stock content market. The platform features content from a global community of contributors and offers an extensive library spanning diverse subjects, styles, and formats. iStock's content is widely used in advertising campaigns, website design, social media marketing, presentations, and various other commercial applications. As part of the Getty Images family, iStock benefits from advanced search technology, content curation, and distribution infrastructure while maintaining its position as a go-to resource for cost-effective, high-quality creative assets. The platform continues to play a significant role in the creative content ecosystem, serving millions of customers globally and enabling businesses of all sizes to access professional visual content for their marketing and advertising needs.

Business model

Marketplace

Target market

SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise

What they offer

  • Stock Photos

    Extensive library of millions of royalty-free photographs covering diverse subjects and styles

  • Stock Videos

    High-quality video clips and footage for commercial use in various formats and resolutions

  • Illustrations & Vectors

    Scalable vector graphics and illustrations for design projects

  • Audio Files

    Royalty-free music tracks and sound effects for multimedia projects

  • Credit Packs

    Flexible credit-based purchasing system for downloading individual assets

  • Subscription Plans

    Monthly subscription options for regular content downloads at discounted rates

Key features

Millions of royalty-free creative assetsCredit-based and subscription pricing modelsAdvanced search and filtering capabilitiesExclusive and signature collectionsMultiple file sizes and resolutionsSimple licensing for commercial useMobile app accessAI-powered visual searchCurated collections and boardsGlobal contributor community

Use cases

Digital advertising and marketing campaignsWebsite and blog contentSocial media marketing materialsPresentations and corporate communicationsPrint advertising and brochuresVideo production and editingGraphic design projectsE-commerce product listingsEmail marketing campaignsMobile app design

Customer segments

Small and medium-sized businessesMarketing agenciesGraphic designersWeb developersContent creators and bloggersSocial media managersCorporate marketing departmentsFreelance creativesE-commerce businessesPublishers

Tech & specs

Technology stack

Advanced image recognitionAI-powered search algorithmsCloud-based content deliveryMachine learning for content curationRESTful API

Security & compliance

GDPRCCPAPCI DSS

Deployment

Cloud

API

Yes

Corporate history
  1. 2000 · Founded
Connection details
See integrations with iStock (5)

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