Depositphotos vs Dreamstime: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Depositphotos is built for budget-buyers, while Dreamstime suits microstock-budget. For most users Dreamstime is the stronger default, but Depositphotos can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Dreamstime has the lower entry price.
Both Depositphotos and Dreamstime get recommended a lot, but they solve the job differently. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Depositphotos | Dreamstime | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Long-running affordable microstock with a large free section and a referral model that pays on both buyers and contributors for three years. |
| Pricing | On-demand credits and monthly subscriptions; frequent discounted lifetime/bundle deals | On-demand credits and subscriptions; large free image section |
| Best audience | Budget buyers, deal-hunters and small businesses needing affordable royalty-free stock. | Budget buyers and affiliates wanting cheap stock plus long-tail 3-year referral commissions. |
| Best for | budget-buyers, deal-hunters | microstock-budget, long-tail-referrals |
| Entry price | from $36 | $13.99-$17.49/mo |
| Biggest strength | Low per-asset cost and frequent deals. | Very low per-asset cost. |
| Main caveat | Catalog smaller than Shutterstock/Adobe (~326M files). | Free section is restricted (level-0 only, RF-LL license expires 6 months after download). |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
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
Dreamstime key features
- Affordable microstock with 343M+ photos
- Large free section (1M+ free images)
- On-demand credits and subscription plans
- Zero Gravity unlimited plan for level-0 images and audio
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 |
Dreamstime plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Essential subscription | $13.99-$17.49/mo | 15 downloads (web vs print-ready) |
| Zero Gravity | $40/mo | Unlimited level-0 images and audio |
| Credit packs | $14.99-$1,750 | 3 to 550 credits ($2.23-$5 per credit) |
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 Dreamstime wins
Affordable microstock whose royalty-free license uniquely allows unlimited printed copies.
- Very low per-asset cost.
- RF license permits unlimited print copies (vs typical 500K caps).
That makes it the stronger pick for budget buyers and affiliates wanting cheap stock plus long-tail 3-year referral commissions.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Depositphotos if you fit its core audience — budget buyers, deal-hunters and small businesses needing affordable royalty-free stock.
- Choose Dreamstime if you fit its core audience — budget buyers and affiliates wanting cheap stock plus long-tail 3-year referral commissions.
FAQ
Is Depositphotos better than Dreamstime?
Dreamstime 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 Dreamstime?
Depositphotos is budget-friendly royalty-free library with recurring lifetime and bundle deals for occasional buyers. Dreamstime is affordable microstock whose royalty-free license uniquely allows unlimited printed copies.
Which is cheaper, Depositphotos or Dreamstime?
Entry pricing differs: Depositphotos starts at from $36, while Dreamstime starts at $13.99-$17.49/mo. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Depositphotos and Dreamstime: