Official sources checked Oct 2, 2026
Shutterstock vs Adobe Stock: which one for selling AI images?
If you sell AI images, the comparison is short: Adobe Stock accepts them and Shutterstock, per its policy page checked on October 2, 2026, doesn't. Below are the details that matter to contributors, each with its official source, and how to prepare Adobe batches faster.
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Last reviewed 2026-10-04
- Yes vs No
- for AI images: Adobe Stock accepts them with a required label; Shutterstock's contributor policy doesn't (checked Oct 2, 2026)
- 4 MP
- is the minimum resolution on both sites
- 100 MP
- is Adobe Stock's maximum, with a 45 MB file limit. Shutterstock's limit is 50 MB for photos via the web
- 3
- similar iterations at most per idea on Adobe Stock; several versions of one prompt count as spam
Adobe Stock vs Shutterstock at a glance
From the contributor's side, for photos and illustrations.
| Adobe Stock | Shutterstock | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts AI images | Yes, if they meet current submission standards | No: AI-generated content can't be submitted by contributors |
| AI label | “Created using generative AI tools” checkbox, required for all generative AI content | Not applicable |
| Similar images | Max. 3 iterations of similar assets; no multiple versions of one prompt | Not applicable to AI |
| Minimum resolution | 4 MP | 4 MP |
| Maximum | 100 MP, 45 MB | 50 MB for photos via web; via FTPS, JPEG 50 MB and TIFF up to 4 GB |
| Formats | Photos: JPEG sRGB. Illustrations: JPEG only. PNG only with a transparent background | JPEG and TIFF (converted to JPEG on approval; JPEG recommended) |
| Color | sRGB | sRGB recommended |
| Upscaling | Allowed if it doesn't degrade quality | “Do not upsize/upscale or stretch a JPEG image beyond its original size” |
| Title and keywords | Title under 70 characters; 5–50 keywords; first 10 weigh most | [[PENDIENTE: límites de título y keywords de Shutterstock con fuente]] |
| Bulk metadata | CSV (filename, title, keywords); reads keywords embedded with Lightroom or Bridge | Manual entry and CSV documented; reading embedded IPTC not confirmed |
| Contributor commission | [[PENDIENTE: comisión de Adobe Stock para colaboradores, con fuente y fecha]] | [[PENDIENTE: comisión de Shutterstock para colaboradores, con fuente y fecha]] |
Sources at the end of the page, consulted October 2, 2026. Policies change; check each site's help pages before uploading.
AI acceptance: the deciding difference
Adobe Stock's generative AI guidelines say it “accepts generative AI images, vectors, and videos that meet current submission standards.” AI content is reviewed with the same visual and technical bar as everything else.
Shutterstock's policy is the opposite: “Shutterstock will not allow AI-generated content to be submitted by contributors for licensing on our platform.” The policy page was updated on July 16, 2025 and was still in force when we checked. In short: don't upload AI images to Shutterstock.
Shutterstock isn't alone. Alamy and iStock/Getty Images don't accept AI images either, while Freepik (Magnific Contributor) and 123RF do. See the full list of stock photo sites that accept AI images.
Labeling and similar variants on Adobe Stock
Because only Adobe accepts AI images, these rules only apply on its side, but they are the ones that decide whether your batch passes:
AI label. Tick “Created using generative AI tools” on every AI file. Mislabeling, in either direction, is a listed refusal reason. If a fictional person or property looks real, tick “People and Property are fictional” too; identifiable people need a model release.
Similar variants. “Submit a maximum of three iterations of similar assets.” Several versions of the same prompt are treated as spam. Plan series of genuinely different images instead.
Names and IP. No artists, real people, fictional characters, copyrighted works, government agencies or third-party IP in prompts, titles or keywords.
Content type. Photorealistic images go under Photos, the rest under Illustrations. AI content can't be submitted as Illustrative Editorial.
Technical requirements and upscaling
Both sites ask for at least 4 MP. Adobe caps files at 100 MP and 45 MB and wants JPEG in sRGB; Shutterstock takes JPEG or TIFF (TIFF up to 4 GB via FTPS) and recommends sRGB. Both reject heavily compressed files: Adobe says excessively compressed files may be refused, and Shutterstock rejects compression artifacts caused by too much JPEG compression.
The real difference is upscaling. Adobe doesn't forbid it; its AI FAQ only asks you not to “increase resolution in ways that degrade quality.” Shutterstock asks contributors not to “upsize/upscale or stretch a JPEG image beyond its original size” and describes pixelation as “an effect typically caused by upscaling.” Since 2025, Shutterstock may accept content with quality issues that is legally valid only for “data licensing”.
That makes Stock Creatives's 3x upscaler an Adobe Stock tool. We upscale to clear Adobe's minimum comfortably and to maximize acceptance, and you should still check the result at 100% zoom. More in our AI image upscaler page.
Metadata and uploading in bulk
Adobe Stock wants a title under 70 characters and 5 to 50 keywords in one language (its tips page says up to 49), and the first 10 keywords carry the most weight. You can fill them in with a CSV (filename, title, keywords), and Adobe automatically lists keywords you added in Lightroom, Lightroom Classic or Bridge. If there are no keywords, it suggests up to 25.
Shutterstock's help pages document manual entry and CSV upload; we couldn't confirm in an official source whether it reads embedded IPTC metadata. You can check what your files already carry with our free photo metadata viewer.
In Stock Creatives, the title, the keywords and the Adobe Stock CSV are included and don't use credits. You upload the files to Adobe yourself and attach the CSV.
- Title up to 70 characters, up to 49 keywords
- One CSV for the whole batch
- Edit anything before you export
Title58/70
Remote worker typing on a laptop at a bright kitchen table
Example
Keywords49/49
Commissions and earnings
Commissions are the other half of this comparison, and we won't quote numbers we haven't verified with a dated source. Adobe Stock: [[PENDIENTE: comisión de Adobe Stock para colaboradores, con fuente y fecha]]. Shutterstock: [[PENDIENTE: comisión de Shutterstock para colaboradores, con fuente y fecha]].
For AI sellers it is mostly academic: a Shutterstock commission doesn't apply to files you can't upload there.
Which one should you choose?
You sell AI images: Adobe Stock. Add Freepik (Magnific Contributor) and 123RF if you want more outlets; both accept AI with their own labels. Keep AI work off Shutterstock.
You also shoot real photos: both sites accept camera photos that meet their requirements. On Shutterstock, don't upscale them beyond their original size.
You're buying images, not selling them: this page compares the contributor side only. Check each site's plans directly.
The owner of Stock Creatives has more than 20,000 images published on Adobe Stock, which is why the app is built around Adobe's rules. If you're new, start with our microstock guide or read where to sell AI art.
Prepare Adobe Stock batches with Stock Creatives
Generate
Top-tier image models in Low, Medium or High quality, photo sessions and recurring characters.
Upscale to 3x
Our own upscaler, for images made in the app and your own files. JPEG or PNG output.
Title, keywords and CSV
Title up to 70 characters, up to 49 keywords and an Adobe Stock CSV ready to upload. Included.
Review before you submit
Automatic checks for hands, text and logos, plus tools to fix them.
See plans and what's included on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adobe Stock or Shutterstock better for AI images?+
Adobe Stock. It accepts AI images with a required label; Shutterstock, according to the data we have, does not allow contributors to submit AI-generated content.
Does Shutterstock accept AI generated images?+
No, according to the data we have. Its contributor policy says AI-generated content can't be submitted for licensing. It was still in force on October 2, 2026.
How many similar AI images does Adobe Stock allow?+
A maximum of three iterations of similar assets, and no multiple versions of the same prompt.
Can I upscale images for Shutterstock?+
Shutterstock asks contributors not to upscale or stretch a JPEG beyond its original size. Adobe Stock allows upscaling as long as quality doesn't degrade.
What is the minimum resolution on each site?+
4 MP on both. Adobe's maximum is 100 MP and 45 MB; Shutterstock's is 50 MB for photos uploaded via the web.
Which pays contributors more?+
We haven't verified current commissions with a dated source, so we don't compare them yet. Earnings always vary.
Can I try Stock Creatives before paying?+
Yes. Sign up and confirm your email to get 4 High images and 4 upscales to try. No card is needed.
Sources
- Adobe Stock: Generative AI content guidelines · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: Generative AI FAQ · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: Technical and legal requirements for photo submission · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: Technical and legal requirements for illustration submission · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: Common reasons for content refusal · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: Tips for effective titles and keywords · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: CSV requirements · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: How to organize and add keywords · 2026-10-02
- Shutterstock: Content policy updates, AI-generated content (updated 2025-07-16) · 2026-10-02
- Shutterstock: AI-generated content, contributor FAQ · 2026-10-02
- Shutterstock: Technical requirements for images (updated 2026-02-18) · 2026-10-02
- Shutterstock: Photo and video quality requirements · 2026-10-02
- Shutterstock: Quality standards, noise and artifacts · 2026-10-02
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