# MediaLab vs Shutterstock Contributor

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: MediaLab at 15.1 against Shutterstock Contributor's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

MediaLab ships an update every 6 weeks, Shutterstock Contributor monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MediaLab | Shutterstock Contributor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (8.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shutterstock-contributor/id913214324/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **8.6K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 36.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 38 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MediaLab Online](https://appshunter.io/developer/1263146756) | [Shutterstock Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/473347412) |

## What reviewers say

### MediaLab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medialab/id890867152)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shutterstock Contributor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shutterstock-contributor/id913214324)

Empower visual artists and photographers to monetize their creative work globally. Upload images directly from your phone, track earnings, and gain insights into customer behavior and market trends to optimize your content strategy.

**Highlights:** Upload images from phone, Monitor sales and portfolio performance, Access customer insights and data, Discover trending creative content, Submit work on the go

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📱 Convenient mobile app
- 💰 Potential to earn money
- 📊 Useful for tracking sales and portfolio

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Strict and inconsistent review process
- 💸 Low payouts for contributors
- 🤖 Automated rejections without clear feedback
- 📤 Difficulty uploading and managing content
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with required personal information

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and glitches
- Inconsistent upload and review status updates
- Incorrect or misleading rejection reasons

**Requested features**

- Batch editing and uploading capabilities
- More detailed analytics and sales reporting
- Ability to edit and manage portfolio within the app
- Support for video uploads and tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MediaLab free?

MediaLab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shutterstock Contributor free?

Shutterstock Contributor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do MediaLab or Shutterstock Contributor have ads?

Neither MediaLab nor Shutterstock Contributor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MediaLab or Shutterstock Contributor?

MediaLab ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shutterstock Contributor monthly. Most recently, MediaLab was updated on October 13, 2026 and Shutterstock Contributor on October 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*