--- title: "iStock vs Shutterstock: Which is searched more in New Zealand?" description: "Is iStock or Shutterstock more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Stock photo libraries set in New Zealand. 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/nz/categories/nz-stock-photo-libraries/compare/istock-vs-shutterstock" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # iStock vs Shutterstock: Which is searched more in New Zealand? Is iStock or Shutterstock more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Stock photo libraries set in New Zealand. 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 - **Compared**: iStock and Shutterstock - **Competitive set**: Stock photo libraries - **Market**: New Zealand - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **iStock Share of Search**: 9.2% - **Shutterstock Share of Search**: 14% ## Is iStock or Shutterstock more popular in search? - In September 2026, Shutterstock had more branded searches than iStock among stock photo libraries in New Zealand. Shutterstock had about 3,160 branded searches, while iStock had 2,080. Shutterstock made up 14% of all stock photo library searches we track, and iStock accounted for 9.2%. - Shutterstock 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 photo libraries in New Zealand moved from 8.6% to 9.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.6K to 2.1K. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shutterstock’s share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand moved from 15.4% to 14%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.6K to 3.2K. ## Top stock photo libraries in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Shutterstock was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. iStock was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Shutterstock was listed before iStock in every answer that named either. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Unsplash | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | One Shot | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Adobe Stock | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | Shutterstock | 4th | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | iStock | 5th | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Getty Images | 6th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Alamy | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | 123RF | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Depositphotos | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about stock photo libraries - Asked ChatGPT "Which stock photo library should I use in New Zealand?": 1. Adobe Stock, 2. One Shot, 3. Shutterstock, 4. Unsplash - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best stock photo libraries in New Zealand?": 1. One Shot, 2. Unsplash, 3. Adobe Stock, 4. Shutterstock - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best stock photo library in New Zealand for creative projects?": 1. One Shot, 2. Adobe Stock, 3. Unsplash - Searched Google, AI Overview "stock photos nz": 1. Unsplash, 2. Shutterstock, 3. Getty Images, 4. iStock - Searched Google, AI Overview "royalty free stock photos": 1. Unsplash, 2. Shutterstock, 3. iStock, 4. Adobe Stock Not named in any answer: Alamy, 123RF and Depositphotos. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in New Zealand on October 21, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for New Zealand stock photo libraries in September 2026? - In September 2026, Shutterstock gained share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, from 12.6% to 14%. - In September 2026, iStock gained share of searches among stock photo libraries in New Zealand, from 8.5% to 9.2%. ## Month by month | Month | iStock estimated searches | iStock Share of Search | iStock rank | Shutterstock estimated searches | Shutterstock Share of Search | Shutterstock rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | 2.6K | 8.6% | 4 | 4.6K | 15.4% | 3 | | Nov 2025 | 2.7K | 9.4% | 4 | 4.7K | 16.6% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | 1.8K | 9.4% | 4 | 3.2K | 16.5% | 3 | | Jan 2026 | 1.9K | 8.9% | 4 | 3.2K | 15.2% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | 2.8K | 10.9% | 4 | 3.8K | 14.9% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | 3.5K | 11.3% | 4 | 4.6K | 14.9% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | 2.3K | 9.5% | 4 | 3.1K | 12.8% | 3 | | May 2026 | 2.8K | 10.3% | 4 | 3.8K | 14% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | 2.7K | 9.9% | 4 | 3.8K | 14.1% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | 2.1K | 9.3% | 4 | 3.1K | 13.9% | 3 | | Aug 2026 | 2.1K | 8.5% | 4 | 3.1K | 12.6% | 3 | | Sep 2026 | 2.1K | 9.2% | 4 | 3.2K | 14% | 3 | ## How each brand is measured Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iStock’s 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. - **iStock**: Measured on the search terms “istock”, “istock i” and “istock pictures”, summed into one figure. - **Shutterstock**: Measured on the search terms “shutterstock”, “shutterstock contributor” and “shutterstock photos”, summed into one figure. - [iStock profile](/demand/nz/brands/istock) - [Shutterstock profile](/demand/nz/brands/shutterstock) - [All stock photo libraries in New Zealand](/demand/nz/categories/nz-stock-photo-libraries): The set both shares are measured inside, 9 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is iStock or Shutterstock more popular in search? In September 2026, Shutterstock had more branded searches than iStock among stock photo libraries in New Zealand. Shutterstock had about 3,160 branded searches, while iStock had 2,080. Shutterstock made up 14% of all stock photo library searches we track, and iStock accounted for 9.2%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "iStock vs Shutterstock: Which is searched more in New Zealand?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-stock-photo-libraries/compare/istock-vs-shutterstock This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-stock-photo-libraries/compare/istock-vs-shutterstock. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.