Pexels vs Shutterstock:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Pexels had more branded searches than Shutterstock among stock footage libraries worldwide. Pexels was estimated to have 2.2M branded searches compared to Shutterstock’s 1.2M, and held a 47.8% Share of Search versus Shutterstock’s 26%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Pexels or Shutterstock?
Compare the libraries creators license video footage from. 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 | Shutterstock | Getty Images | Envato Elements | Storyblocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39.6% | 32.4% | 18.1% | 7.9% | 2% |
| Nov 2025 | 43.7% | 29.2% | 16.6% | 8.8% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 43.8% | 29.3% | 16.4% | 8.8% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.6% | 29.8% | 16.5% | 7.3% | 1.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 47.2% | 25.8% | 17.6% | 7.8% | 1.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 43% | 28.7% | 19.5% | 7.1% | 1.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 47% | 25.7% | 17.8% | 7.7% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 47.8% | 26.2% | 18% | 6.4% | 1.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 42.8% | 28.7% | 19.7% | 7% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 45.4% | 24.7% | 20.7% | 7.5% | 1.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 47.8% | 26% | 17.9% | 6.4% | 1.9% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
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 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Pexels’ estimated Share of Search among stock footage libraries worldwide moved from 39.6% to 47.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.7M to 2.2M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Shutterstock’s estimated Share of Search among stock footage libraries worldwide moved from 32.4% to 26%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2M to 1.2M.
How did search popularity change for stock footage libraries worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Pexels gained estimated Share of Search among stock footage libraries worldwide, from 45.4% to 47.8%.
In August 2026, Shutterstock gained estimated Share of Search among stock footage libraries worldwide, from 24.7% to 26%.
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
1 branded search term
- shutterstock
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.