Pexels vs Shutterstock:Which is searched more?
In September 2026, Pexels had more branded searches than Shutterstock among stock image sites worldwide. Pexels was estimated to have 2.2M branded searches compared to Shutterstock’s 1.6M, and held a 26.2% Share of Search versus Shutterstock’s 18.6%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Pexels or Shutterstock?
Compare the stock image sites teams use. 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.
Share of Search by month for Pexels, Shutterstock. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Pexels | Adobe Stock | Shutterstock | Unsplash | Getty Images | iStock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 22.6% | 22.6% | 21.5% | 18.4% | 10.1% | 4.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 24.9% | 20.3% | 20% | 20.3% | 9.2% | 5.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.1% | 21.3% | 20.9% | 17.4% | 9.6% | 4.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 26.1% | 21.3% | 20.9% | 17.4% | 9.6% | 4.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 26.9% | 22% | 18.4% | 18% | 9.9% | 4.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 23.6% | 23.6% | 18.9% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 4.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 26.9% | 22% | 18.4% | 18% | 9.9% | 4.8% |
| May 2026 | 27.2% | 22.2% | 18.5% | 18.2% | 10% | 3.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 24% | 24% | 20.9% | 16% | 11% | 4.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 25.9% | 21.2% | 19.3% | 17.4% | 11.7% | 4.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 26.7% | 21.8% | 19.9% | 17.9% | 9.9% | 3.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 26.2% | 21.4% | 18.6% | 17.5% | 11.8% | 4.5% |
How has the Pexels and Shutterstock comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Pexels was ahead of Shutterstock in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pexels’ estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide moved from 22.6% to 26.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.7M to 2.2M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shutterstock’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide moved from 21.5% to 18.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.6M to 1.6M.
How did search popularity change for stock image sites worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Shutterstock lost estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide, from 19.9% to 18.6%.
In September 2026, Pexels lost estimated Share of Search among stock image sites worldwide, from 26.7% to 26.2%.
Other head-to-heads among stock image sites
Pexels vs Adobe Stock: compare search popularity
Pexels vs Unsplash: compare search popularityPexels vs Getty Images: compare search popularity
- Adobe Stock vs Shutterstock: compare search popularity
- Adobe Stock vs Unsplash: compare search popularity
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pexels’ and Shutterstock’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Pexels
1 branded search term
- pexels
Shutterstock
2 branded search terms
- shutterstock
- shutterstock contributor
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.