Stock photo libraries in New Zealand:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Unsplash was the most searched stock photo library in New Zealand, accounting for 36.3% of all searches among the nine libraries we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Unsplash showed up in every answer. Unsplash was recommended most often, coming first in two out of five responses.
UnsplashShare of searches 36.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Adobe StockShare of searches 29.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
ShutterstockShare of searches 14%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
iStockShare of searches 9.2%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
Getty ImagesShare of searches 5.3%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
Follow stock photo libraries and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top stock photo libraries in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Unsplash appeared every time. Unsplash was recommended most often, coming first in two out of five answers. One Shot was second, and Adobe Stock was third. Alamy, which ranked seventh in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Unsplash1st
- One Shot2nd
- Adobe Stock3rd
- Shutterstock4th
- iStock5th
- Getty Images6th
Alamy–
123RF–
Depositphotos–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- 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 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- One Shot3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- iStock2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Getty Images1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Alamy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- 123RF0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Depositphotos0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about stock photo libraries
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which stock photo library should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best stock photo libraries in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best stock photo library in New Zealand for creative projects?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“stock photos nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“royalty free stock photos”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Which stock photo libraries do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each stock photo library by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine stock photo libraries we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Unsplash, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, iStock, Getty Images, One Shot, Alamy. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Unsplash | Adobe Stock | Shutterstock | iStock | Getty Images | One Shot | Alamy | 123RF | Depositphotos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 33.3% | 33% | 15.4% | 8.6% | 4.9% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 29.3% | 35.3% | 16.6% | 9.4% | 4% | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 0.39% |
| Dec 2025 | 28.8% | 34.4% | 16.5% | 9.4% | 4.9% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 0.47% |
| Jan 2026 | 31.9% | 31.5% | 15.2% | 8.9% | 6.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.43% |
| Feb 2026 | 32.3% | 31.9% | 14.9% | 10.9% | 5.3% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.31% |
| Mar 2026 | 32.3% | 32% | 14.9% | 11.3% | 4.5% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 1% | 0.32% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.2% | 34% | 12.8% | 9.5% | 4.5% | 2% | 1.9% | 0.71% | 0.37% |
| May 2026 | 36.8% | 29.8% | 14% | 10.3% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.6% | 0.62% | 0.33% |
| Jun 2026 | 36.8% | 29.8% | 14.1% | 9.9% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 1.2% | 0.33% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.1% | 29.5% | 13.9% | 9.3% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 2% | 1.2% | 0.22% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.5% | 27.3% | 12.6% | 8.5% | 4.6% | 2% | 1.8% | 1.3% | 0.33% |
| Sep 2026 | 36.3% | 29.3% | 14% | 9.2% | 5.3% | 2.1% | 2% | 1.4% | 0.31% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 36.3% | 8.2K | -18.6% | -5.1 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 29.3% | 6.6K | -0.15% | +2 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 14% | 3.2K | +2.9% | +1.4 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 9.2% | 2.1K | 0% | +0.7 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 5.3% | 1.2K | +6.2% | +0.7 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 2.1% | 480 | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 2% | 460 | +2.2% | +0.2 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 1.4% | 320 | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.31% | 70 | -12.5% | 0 points |
1.
Unsplash36.3%
Held 1st. 8.2K estimated branded searches, -18.6% vs prior month. Share -5.1 points.
29.3%
Held 2nd. 6.6K estimated branded searches, -0.15% vs prior month. Share +2 points.
14%
Held 3rd. 3.2K estimated branded searches, +2.9% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.
4.
iStock9.2%
Held 4th. 2.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
5.3%
Held 5th. 1.2K estimated branded searches, +6.2% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
6.One Shot
2.1%
Held 6th. 480 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
7.
Alamy2%
Held 7th. 460 estimated branded searches, +2.2% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
8.
123RF1.4%
Held 8th. 320 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
0.31%
Held 9th. 70 estimated branded searches, -12.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among stock photo libraries in New Zealand?
9 brands
In September 2026, Unsplash was the most searched among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, with an estimated 8.2K branded searches, 36.3% of all searches for the nine we track. Adobe Stock is in 2nd place, 7 percentage points behind at 29.3%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsplash | 33.3% → 36.3% | 41.5%Aug 2026 | 28.8%Dec 2025 | 1st |
| Adobe Stock | 33% → 29.3% | 35.3%Nov 2025 | 27.3%Aug 2026 | 2nd |
| Shutterstock | 15.4% → 14% | 16.6%Nov 2025 | 12.6%Aug 2026 | 3rd |
| iStock | 8.6% → 9.2% | 11.3%Mar 2026 | 8.5%Aug 2026 | 4th |
| Getty Images | 4.9% → 5.3% | 6.4%Jan 2026 | 3.9%May 2026 | 5th |
| One Shot | 1.6% → 2.1% | 2.6%May 2026 | 1.5%Feb 2026 | 7th → 6th |
| Alamy | 1.7% → 2% | 2.1%Mar 2026 | 1.5%Nov 2025 | 6th → 7th |
| 123RF | 1.3% → 1.4% | 1.5%Jan 2026 | 0.62%May 2026 | 8th |
| Depositphotos | 0.3% → 0.31% | 0.47%Dec 2025 | 0.22%Jul 2026 | 9th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unsplash’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand increased from 33.3% to 36.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Stock’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand decreased from 33% to 29.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shutterstock’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand decreased from 15.4% to 14%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iStock’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand increased from 8.6% to 9.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, One Shot’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand increased from 1.6% to 2.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unsplash’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand peaked at 41.5% in August 2026 and was lowest at 28.8% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Stock’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand peaked at 35.3% in November 2025 and was lowest at 27.3% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shutterstock’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand peaked at 16.6% in November 2025 and was lowest at 12.6% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iStock’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand peaked at 11.3% in March 2026 and was lowest at 8.5% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Getty Images’ share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand peaked at 6.4% in January 2026 and was lowest at 3.9% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, One Shot’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand peaked at 2.6% in May 2026 and was lowest at 1.5% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, One Shot rose from 7th to 6th among stock photo libraries in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Alamy fell from 6th to 7th among stock photo libraries in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Getty Images, 123RF and Depositphotos held steady: their share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand stock photo libraries in September 2026?
8 changes
In September 2026, Adobe Stock gained share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, from 27.3% to 29.3%.
In September 2026, Shutterstock gained share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, from 12.6% to 14%.
In September 2026, Getty Images gained share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, from 4.6% to 5.3%.
In September 2026, iStock gained share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, from 8.5% to 9.2%.
In September 2026, Unsplash lost share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, from 41.5% to 36.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Depositphotos in New Zealand fell 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 90 to 70 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for 123RF in New Zealand fell 17.9% over 12 measured months, from 390 to 320 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Alamy in New Zealand fell 11.5% over 12 measured months, from 520 to 460 in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Unsplash vs Adobe Stock: compare popularity
- Unsplash vs Shutterstock: compare popularity
- Unsplash vs iStock: compare popularity
- Unsplash vs Getty Images: compare popularity
- Adobe Stock vs Shutterstock: compare popularity
- Adobe Stock vs iStock: compare popularity
- Adobe Stock vs Getty Images: compare popularity
- Shutterstock vs iStock: compare popularity
- Shutterstock vs Getty Images: compare popularity
- iStock vs Getty Images: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
See your own brand in this picture
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to your campaigns, spend and outcomes, so you can see what moved your numbers, not just that they moved.