iStock vs Pixabay:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Pixabay had more branded searches than iStock among stock image sites worldwide. Pixabay had about 3.4 million branded searches, while iStock had 368,000. Pixabay made up 30.8% of all stock image site searches we track, and iStock accounted for 3.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about stock image sites, Pixabay appeared in three of the five answers and iStock in two. Pixabay was mentioned before iStock in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Pixabay, about 9 searches for every 1 for iStock
Who does AI mention more?
Pixabay, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, iStock in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Pixabay, named ahead of iStock in 3 of 3 answers
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Top stock image sites in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pixabay was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. iStock was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Pixabay was listed before iStock in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Unsplash1st
Adobe Stock2nd
Shutterstock3rd
Pexels4th- Pixabay5th
Getty Images6th
iStock7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Pexels5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Unsplash5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe Stock4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Shutterstock4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Pixabay3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Getty Images3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- iStock2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about stock image sites
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which stock image site should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best stock image sites?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best stock image site for creative projects?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“stock image sites”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“royalty free images”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is iStock or Pixabay more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for iStock and Pixabay by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven stock image sites we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Pixabay, iStock. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Pixabay | Pexels | Adobe Stock | Shutterstock | Unsplash | iStock | Getty Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 27.3% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 17.4% | 15% | 3.7% | 0.05% |
| Nov 2025 | 29.1% | 19.5% | 15.9% | 15.6% | 15.9% | 3.9% | 0.06% |
| Dec 2025 | 30.2% | 20.2% | 16.5% | 16.2% | 13.5% | 3.3% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 30.2% | 20.2% | 16.5% | 16.2% | 13.5% | 3.3% | 0.04% |
| Feb 2026 | 26.8% | 21.9% | 17.9% | 15% | 14.7% | 3.6% | 0.06% |
| Mar 2026 | 28.3% | 18.9% | 18.9% | 15.2% | 15.5% | 3.1% | 0.05% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.9% | 20.7% | 16.9% | 14.1% | 13.8% | 3.4% | 0.04% |
| May 2026 | 27% | 22.1% | 18.1% | 15.1% | 14.8% | 3% | 0.04% |
| Jun 2026 | 28.7% | 19.2% | 19.2% | 16.7% | 12.8% | 3.2% | 0.23% |
| Jul 2026 | 26.4% | 21.6% | 17.7% | 16.1% | 14.5% | 3.6% | 0.12% |
| Aug 2026 | 26.6% | 21.8% | 17.8% | 16.2% | 14.6% | 2.9% | 0.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 30.8% | 20.6% | 16.8% | 14.6% | 13.8% | 3.4% | 0.11% |
How has the iStock and Pixabay comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Pixabay was ahead of iStock in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iStock’s share of searches among stock image sites worldwide moved from 3.7% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 368K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pixabay’s share of searches among stock image sites worldwide moved from 27.3% to 30.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
How did search popularity change for stock image sites worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Pixabay gained share of searches among stock image sites worldwide, from 26.6% to 30.8%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for iStock worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 550K to 368K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iStock’s and Pixabay’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.
Other head-to-heads among stock image sites
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