---
title: "Stock image sites: Which are searched most?"
description: "Compare the stock image sites teams use. Share of Search among Pexels, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Unsplash, iStock and Getty Images, the stock image sites Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/stock-image-sites"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Stock image sites: Which are searched most?

Compare the stock image sites teams use. Share of Search among Pexels, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Unsplash, iStock and Getty Images, the stock image sites Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Stock image sites
- **Market**: Global
- **Brands compared**: 6
- **Month measured**: Sep 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Pexels, 29.7%

## Which brand is most popular in search among stock image sites worldwide?

- In September 2026, Pexels was the most searched among stock image sites worldwide, with an estimated 2.2M branded searches and 29.7% estimated Share of Search within this set.
- Adobe Stock is in 2nd place, 5.4 percentage points behind at 24.3% Share of Search.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pexels’ estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide increased from 25.2% to 29.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Stock’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide decreased from 25.2% to 24.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shutterstock’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide decreased from 24% to 21.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unsplash’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide decreased from 20.6% to 19.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pexels’ estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide peaked at 30.3% in May 2026 and was lowest at 25.2% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Stock’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide peaked at 26.9% in June 2026 and was lowest at 22.5% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shutterstock’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide peaked at 24% in October 2025 and was lowest at 20.4% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unsplash’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide peaked at 22.5% in November 2025 and was lowest at 18% in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iStock’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide peaked at 5.5% in November 2025 and was lowest at 4% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pexels rose from 2nd to 1st among stock image sites worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Stock fell from 1st to 2nd among stock image sites worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iStock and Getty Images held steady: their estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Pexels vs Adobe Stock: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adobe-stock-vs-pexels): 29.7% against 24.3% Share of Search.
- [Pexels vs Shutterstock: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/pexels-vs-shutterstock): 29.7% against 21.1% Share of Search.
- [Pexels vs Unsplash: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/pexels-vs-unsplash): 29.7% against 19.9% Share of Search.
- [Pexels vs iStock: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/istock-vs-pexels): 29.7% against 4.9% Share of Search.
- [Adobe Stock vs Shutterstock: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adobe-stock-vs-shutterstock): 24.3% against 21.1% Share of Search.
- [Adobe Stock vs Unsplash: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adobe-stock-vs-unsplash): 24.3% against 19.9% Share of Search.
- [Adobe Stock vs iStock: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adobe-stock-vs-istock): 24.3% against 4.9% Share of Search.
- [Shutterstock vs Unsplash: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/shutterstock-vs-unsplash): 21.1% against 19.9% Share of Search.
- [Shutterstock vs iStock: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/istock-vs-shutterstock): 21.1% against 4.9% Share of Search.
- [Unsplash vs iStock: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/istock-vs-unsplash): 19.9% against 4.9% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for stock image sites worldwide in September 2026?

- In September 2026, iStock gained estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide, from 4% to 4.9%.
- In September 2026, Shutterstock lost estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide, from 22.1% to 21.1%.
- Pexels’ estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 26.9% to 29.7% in September 2026.
- Unsplash’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 18% to 19.9% in September 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Getty Images worldwide rose 49.4% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 12.1K in September 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Stock worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 2.7M to 1.8M in September 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Pexels | 29.7% | 2.2M | 0.0% | Pexels |
| 2 | Adobe Stock | 24.3% | 1.8M | 0.0% | Adobe |
| 3 | Shutterstock | 21.1% | 1.6M | -4.9% | Shutterstock |
| 4 | Unsplash | 19.9% | 1.5M | 0.0% | Unsplash |
| 5 | iStock | 4.9% | 368K | +22.3% | Getty Images |
| 6 | Getty Images | 0.16% | 12.1K | +22.2% | Getty Images |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Adobe Stock | 2.7M | 25.2% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Pexels | 2.7M | 25.2% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Shutterstock | 2.6M | 24% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Unsplash | 2.2M | 20.6% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | iStock | 550K | 5.1% | 5 |
| Oct 2025 | Getty Images | 8.1K | 0.07% | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | Pexels | 2.7M | 27.5% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Adobe Stock | 2.2M | 22.5% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Unsplash | 2.2M | 22.5% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Shutterstock | 2.2M | 22% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | iStock | 550K | 5.5% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Getty Images | 8.1K | 0.08% | 6 |
| Dec 2025 | Pexels | 2.7M | 29% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Adobe Stock | 2.2M | 23.7% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Shutterstock | 2.2M | 23.2% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Unsplash | 1.8M | 19.3% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | iStock | 450K | 4.8% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Getty Images | 4.4K | 0.05% | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | Pexels | 2.7M | 29% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Adobe Stock | 2.2M | 23.7% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Shutterstock | 2.2M | 23.2% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Unsplash | 1.8M | 19.3% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | iStock | 450K | 4.8% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Getty Images | 5.4K | 0.06% | 6 |
| Feb 2026 | Pexels | 2.7M | 30% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Adobe Stock | 2.2M | 24.5% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Shutterstock | 1.9M | 20.4% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Unsplash | 1.8M | 20% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | iStock | 450K | 4.9% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Getty Images | 8.1K | 0.09% | 6 |
| Mar 2026 | Adobe Stock | 2.7M | 26.4% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Pexels | 2.7M | 26.4% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Unsplash | 2.2M | 21.6% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Shutterstock | 2.2M | 21.2% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | iStock | 450K | 4.3% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Getty Images | 6.6K | 0.06% | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | Pexels | 2.7M | 30% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Adobe Stock | 2.2M | 24.5% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Shutterstock | 1.9M | 20.5% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Unsplash | 1.8M | 20% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | iStock | 450K | 4.9% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Getty Images | 5.4K | 0.06% | 6 |
| May 2026 | Pexels | 2.7M | 30.3% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Adobe Stock | 2.2M | 24.7% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Shutterstock | 1.9M | 20.6% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Unsplash | 1.8M | 20.2% | 4 |
| May 2026 | iStock | 368K | 4.1% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Getty Images | 5.4K | 0.06% | 6 |
| Jun 2026 | Adobe Stock | 2.2M | 26.9% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Pexels | 2.2M | 26.9% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Shutterstock | 1.9M | 23.4% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Unsplash | 1.5M | 18% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | iStock | 368K | 4.4% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Getty Images | 27.1K | 0.33% | 6 |
| Jul 2026 | Pexels | 2.2M | 29.4% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Adobe Stock | 1.8M | 24% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Shutterstock | 1.7M | 21.9% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Unsplash | 1.5M | 19.7% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | iStock | 368K | 4.8% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Getty Images | 12.1K | 0.16% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | Pexels | 2.2M | 29.7% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Adobe Stock | 1.8M | 24.2% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Shutterstock | 1.7M | 22.1% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Unsplash | 1.5M | 19.9% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | iStock | 301K | 4% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Getty Images | 9.9K | 0.13% | 6 |
| Sep 2026 | Pexels | 2.2M | 29.7% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | Adobe Stock | 1.8M | 24.3% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | Shutterstock | 1.6M | 21.1% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Unsplash | 1.5M | 19.9% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | iStock | 368K | 4.9% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Getty Images | 12.1K | 0.16% | 6 |

## What is being compared

- **Adobe Stock**: Measured on the search term “adobe stock”.
- **Getty Images**: Measured on the search term “getty images stock”.
- **iStock**: Measured on the search term “istock”.
- **Pexels**: Measured on the search term “pexels”.
- **Shutterstock**: Measured on the search terms “shutterstock” and “shutterstock contributor”, summed into one figure.
- **Unsplash**: Measured on the search term “unsplash”.

- [Adobe Stock](/demand/global-en/brands/adobe-stock)
- [Getty Images](/demand/global-en/brands/getty-images)
- [iStock](/demand/global-en/brands/istock)
- [Pexels](/demand/global-en/brands/pexels)
- [Shutterstock](/demand/global-en/brands/shutterstock)
- [Unsplash](/demand/global-en/brands/unsplash)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among stock image sites worldwide?

In September 2026, Pexels was the most searched among stock image sites worldwide, with an estimated 2.2M branded searches and 29.7% estimated Share of Search within this set. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Stock image sites: Which are searched most?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/stock-image-sites

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/stock-image-sites. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.