Depositphotos vs 123RF: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Depositphotos is built for budget-buyers, while 123RF suits budget-buyers. For most users 123RF is the stronger default, but Depositphotos can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. 123RF has the lower entry price.
If you're weighing Depositphotos against 123RF, the right answer depends on your priorities. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Depositphotos | 123RF | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Stock Marketplace | Stock Marketplace |
| What it's known for | Budget-friendly royalty-free photos, vectors and video with frequent lifetime/credit deals and flexible on-demand pricing for occasional buyers. | Affordable royalty-free photos, vectors, audio and video with a single-tier referral program and an in-house AI/Pixlr editing ecosystem. |
| Pricing | On-demand credits and monthly subscriptions; frequent discounted lifetime/bundle deals | Credit packs and monthly subscriptions at low per-asset cost |
| Best audience | Budget buyers, deal-hunters and small businesses needing affordable royalty-free stock. | Budget buyers and bulk-credit purchasers who also want built-in AI editing tools. |
| Best for | budget-buyers, deal-hunters | budget-buyers, bulk-credits |
| Entry price | from $36 | $29/mo or $200/yr |
| Biggest strength | Low per-asset cost and frequent deals. | Low per-asset cost with an unlimited PLUS plan. |
| Main caveat | Catalog smaller than Shutterstock/Adobe (~326M files). | Standard license caps usage at 500,000 copies. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Depositphotos key features
- Budget royalty-free photos, vectors, video and editorial
- On-demand credits and monthly subscriptions
- Frequent discounted lifetime/bundle deals (e.g. AppSumo)
- Image subscription unused downloads roll over while auto-renewing
123RF key features
- Affordable royalty-free photos, vectors, video, audio and fonts
- 240M+ asset library
- PLUS unlimited plan at $29/mo or $200/yr
- Credit packs for pay-as-you-go purchases
Pricing tiers side by side
Depositphotos plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Plans start | from $36 | Entry plan; 5 pricing plans total |
| On-demand credits | credit packs | Pay-as-you-go for occasional use |
| Lifetime deal | ~$49 (AppSumo) | 100 one-time download credits + 100 AI credits |
123RF plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| PLUS | $29/mo or $200/yr | Unlimited access to 240M+ files |
| Subscription | from $39/mo | 10 image downloads/mo |
| Credit packs | $39-$900 | ~50 to 1,000 credits; photos ~10 credits, video ~30 |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Depositphotos wins
Budget-friendly royalty-free library with recurring lifetime and bundle deals for occasional buyers.
- Low per-asset cost and frequent deals.
- Flexible on-demand credits for occasional buyers.
That makes it the stronger pick for budget buyers, deal-hunters and small businesses needing affordable royalty-free stock.
Where 123RF wins
Affordable royalty-free assets paired with an in-house AI and Pixlr editing ecosystem.
- Low per-asset cost with an unlimited PLUS plan.
- Broad in-house AI editing/generation suite.
That makes it the stronger pick for budget buyers and bulk-credit purchasers who also want built-in AI editing tools.
Verdict: choose by fit
Pick by fit rather than by an overall score.
- Choose Depositphotos if you fit its core audience — budget buyers, deal-hunters and small businesses needing affordable royalty-free stock.
- Choose 123RF if you fit its core audience — budget buyers and bulk-credit purchasers who also want built-in AI editing tools.
FAQ
Is Depositphotos better than 123RF?
123RF is the stronger default for most users, but Depositphotos can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Depositphotos and 123RF?
Depositphotos is budget-friendly royalty-free library with recurring lifetime and bundle deals for occasional buyers. 123RF is affordable royalty-free assets paired with an in-house AI and Pixlr editing ecosystem.
Which is cheaper, Depositphotos or 123RF?
Entry pricing differs: Depositphotos starts at from $36, while 123RF starts at $29/mo or $200/yr. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Depositphotos and 123RF: