Stock video marketplaces for contributors · Comparison
Adobe Stock Contributor vs iStock Contributor
2 products compared side by side: what you pay for with each one first, then the five access facts, entry prices, recorded plan limits and the bottom line of each review. The evidence note under the table says how each product was checked.
Side by side
| Metric | Adobe Stock Contributor | iStock Contributor |
|---|---|---|
| What you're paying for | Built-in reachSell footage on Adobe Stock and inside Adobe’s own apps for one flat 35% share, with the dollar earnings per download published up front. | Built-in reachPut your footage in front of iStock and Getty Images buyers through one non-exclusive agreement, at 20% per video license from the first sale. |
| Overall score | 6.5Best | 4.7 |
| Free option | Free plan | Free plan |
| Card to start | No card needed | –Not measured |
| Getting access | Self-serve | Approval wait |
| Starter priceCheapest paid plan | $0 | $0 |
| Pricing model | Usage-based | Usage-based |
| Pricing page | Public prices | Public prices |
| Video royalty (new non-exclusive seller) | 35% flat from the first license | 20% on every channel, at any download count |
| Highest video royalty | 35%; no levels and no exclusive program | 45% exclusive on istock.com (from 45,675 downloads a year); 25% exclusive elsewhere |
| Dollar earnings per download published | Yes: $2.80 to $8.40 (subscriptions), $22.40 to $28.00 (HD), $56.00 to $70.00 (4K), US prices | No, a percentage of the license fee after deductions |
| Per-download minimum | Not stated for video | $0.10 minimum price per istock.com subscription file ($0.02 at 20%, computed) |
| Payout minimum | $25 | $100 |
| How payouts are made | On request, from 45 days after the first sale | Automatic, monthly on the 25th |
| Payout methods | PayPal, Payoneer (outside the US only), Skrill | Payoneer, PayPal (USD only) |
| Joining | Open and free with an Adobe ID; email and phone checks; every file reviewed | Application with six non-AI samples (no fee listed) |
| Removing clips | Delete one at any time; removing more than 100 items or 10% (whichever is greater) in 90 days needs 90 days’ notice | Only for a valid legal reason, or by ending the whole video agreement (30 days’ notice, removed within 90 days) |
| AI training use of your clips | Used to train Firefly; no opt-out; discretionary yearly bonus | Not stated for clips: Getty’s AI model is trained on still images; its data-licensing page offers video datasets with no contributor pay or opt-out stated |
| AI-generated video | Accepted when labelled | Not accepted |
| Bulk upload and metadata | CSV metadata; SFTP for qualified accounts | No FTP or CSV upload on the public pages |
| Bottom line | From its public pages, Adobe Stock Contributor pays a flat 35% on video from standard plans, credit packs and on-demand, and publishes the dollar figures per download. Clips also train Firefly with no opt-out, payouts are on request, and rates can change with no notice period. | From its public pages, iStock offers two Getty storefronts and partner sites through one application, a flat 20% non-exclusive video share and 30 days’ notice of changes. The $100 payout minimum, no single-clip removal and unstated AI terms for clips are the main things to weigh. |
Evidence: Adobe Stock Contributor: facts checked 2026-10-15 from its public sign-up and pricing pages, no completed hands-on run; iStock Contributor: facts checked 2026-10-15 from its public sign-up and pricing pages, no completed hands-on run. Prices in USD as listed, excluding tax. "–" means not recorded.
When to pick each
In the words of each review, with the date its facts were checked.
From our Adobe Stock Contributor review
Checked Oct 15, 2026- Pick Adobe Stock Contributor when
- You want open sign-up, a $25 payout minimum, CSV metadata upload and the option to delete single clips.
- Pick iStock Contributor when
- You want 30 days’ email notice of rate changes and an exclusive track that pays 25% to 45% on istock.com.
From our iStock Contributor review
Checked Oct 15, 2026- Pick iStock Contributor when
- You want automatic monthly payouts, Getty Images distribution and 30 days’ notice before rate changes.
- Pick Adobe Stock Contributor when
- You want a flat 35% share with dollar earnings per download published and payouts on request from $25, or you make labelled AI-generated video.
Entry price
Baseline: each product's cheapest paid plan, per month. Included usage differs, so read the line under each price.
- Adobe Stock ContributorFree Collection (selected contributors)$0/moSingle payment per video: 7 credits for a one-year term or 16 credits for a perpetual term (1 credit = $1)
- Nomination during limited windows
- No royalties during the term
- One-year terms renew unless you opt out at the next review
- Content cannot be removed during the term
- iStock ContributorExclusive (video)$0/mo25% to 45% per video license on istock.com by yearly downloads; 25% on gettyimages.com and other platforms
- 30% from 420, 35% from 2,625, 40% from 6,090, 45% from 45,675 downloads a year; download totals reset January 1, and the year-end total sets the next year’s starting rate
- $0.75 (Essentials) or $10.00 (Signature or Signature+) minimum price per istock.com subscription file
- Separate application by support ticket; normally around 50 files in your portfolio
- No royalty-free video sales anywhere else
Prices as listed on each pricing page, in USD per month, excluding tax. Observed: Adobe Stock Contributor 2026-10-15, iStock Contributor 2026-10-15.
Which one fits
- If you need to start today without a sales call
- Adobe Stock ContributorSelf-serve sign-up, no card needed; the only one here you can use right after signing up.
- If you want to try it without entering a card
- Adobe Stock ContributorFree plan, no card needed; scored 6.5/10.
- Highest overall score
- Adobe Stock Contributor6.5/10 (Good). The review shows the score breakdown and the run behind it.
Picked by fixed rules from the table above, not by hand. How we score
Full reviews
More in Stock video marketplaces for contributors
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