# Shutterstock Contributor vs Pixabay

The clearest difference is ads: Shutterstock Contributor at none against Pixabay's shown. Shutterstock Contributor also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and ratings volume (8.6K vs 1.6K). Pixabay's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Pixabay holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shutterstock Contributor has 8.6K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Shutterstock Contributor ships an update monthly, Pixabay every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shutterstock Contributor | Pixabay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (8.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shutterstock-contributor/id913214324/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixabay/id1178021455/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8.6K** | 1.6K |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 54 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Shutterstock Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/473347412) | [Canva Germany GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434330412) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Pixabay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixabay/id1178021455)

Access a vast library of free stock photos, clip art, vector graphics, and video clips. All content is licensed for commercial use without attribution. Easily search, view, download, and share high-quality visuals.

**Highlights:** Free photos, cliparts, and vector graphics, Thousands of free video clips, Fast search and user-friendly interface, One-click image viewer with zoom/pan, Direct download and share in all sizes, Connect with others via messages and comments, Like and favorite images

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Amazing app
- 🎨 Great source of high-quality images
- 🙏 Grateful for the talented contributors
- 📚 Excellent resource for artists and creators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult to navigate, no back button
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🔑 Frequent log-out issues
- 🔍 Search function not reliable

**Reported bugs**

- No images found for basic search terms
- Inability to download videos
- Inconsistent app performance across devices
- Login issues and frequent log-outs

**Requested features**

- Add a back button to navigate easily
- Improve search functionality and filters
- Implement landscape mode support for iPad
- Introduce a dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shutterstock Contributor free?

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

### Is Pixabay free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shutterstock Contributor or Pixabay?

Pixabay is rated higher. Shutterstock Contributor averages 4.4 out of 5 from 8.6K ratings, while Pixabay averages 4.8 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Shutterstock Contributor or Pixabay have ads?

Pixabay shows ads; Shutterstock Contributor does not.

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

Shutterstock Contributor ships an update monthly, and Pixabay every 2 months. Most recently, Shutterstock Contributor was updated on October 25, 2026 and Pixabay on October 23, 2026.

---

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