iStock vs Pexels:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Pexels had more branded searches than iStock among stock image sites in New Zealand. Pexels was estimated to have 6K branded searches compared to iStock’s 2.3K, and held a 16.6% Share of Search versus iStock’s 6.4%.
Follow iStock vs Pexels 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
Which is more popular in search, iStock or Pexels?
Compare the stock photo and video libraries New Zealand marketers license images 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, iStock. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Unsplash | Adobe Stock | Pexels | Getty Images | Shutterstock | iStock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.8% | 27.5% | 14% | 12.6% | 11.9% | 7.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 23.5% | 29% | 14.8% | 12.5% | 12.6% | 7.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 22.8% | 28.3% | 14.5% | 14.5% | 12.3% | 7.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 25% | 25.9% | 15.8% | 14.5% | 11.3% | 7.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 26.1% | 27.4% | 13.8% | 12.6% | 11.3% | 8.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 25.9% | 26.7% | 13.4% | 13.7% | 11.1% | 9.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 27% | 27.8% | 14% | 14% | 9.4% | 7.8% |
| May 2026 | 29.7% | 24.4% | 15% | 12.3% | 10.4% | 8.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 30.7% | 24.6% | 14.8% | 12.2% | 10.1% | 7.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 31.8% | 24.1% | 14.9% | 12.3% | 10% | 7% |
| Aug 2026 | 34.3% | 22% | 16.6% | 11.6% | 9.1% | 6.4% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the iStock and Pexels comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Pexels was ahead of iStock in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, iStock’s estimated Share of Search among stock image sites in New Zealand moved from 7.1% to 6.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3K to 2.3K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Pexels’ estimated Share of Search among stock image sites in New Zealand moved from 14% to 16.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.9K to 6K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand stock image sites in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Pexels gained estimated Share of Search among stock image sites in New Zealand, from 14.9% to 16.6%.
In August 2026, iStock lost estimated Share of Search among stock image sites in New Zealand, from 7% to 6.4%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iStock’s and Pexels’ 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.
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.