# iStock > Royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, vectors and video, from a library that does not accept AI-generated submissions. iStock is a stock media site for licensing royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors and video clips, including HD and 4K footage. iStock states that it does not accept AI-generated material from contributors, and separately offers AI tools for creating new images or modifying its existing ones. Users search by keyword or by uploading an image or video. **Best for:** Designers, marketers and agencies who need licensed stock imagery and footage for commercial projects and want a library that excludes AI-generated submissions. - Official site: https://istockphoto.com - Listed in: [Stock Media](https://trendhub.net/ai-tools/category/stock-media), [AI Image Generator](https://trendhub.net/ai-tools/category/ai-image-generator) - Last checked: 2026-10-08 (facts taken from istockphoto.com) - Source page: https://trendhub.net/ai-tools/istock-royalty-free-stock-photos-vectors-video ## Key facts - Platforms: Web, Plugin - Pricing model: Subscription - Made by: iStockphoto LP ## What is iStock? iStock is a stock content site where you license royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors and video clips, including HD and 4K footage; music tracks and sound effects are offered as well. The catalogue is organised by media type and by subject category, and can be searched with keywords or by uploading an image or video as a reference. Part of the collection is exclusive to iStock, coming from contributors who work only with the site, and every asset sits in either a Basic or a Premium collection. The company states that it does not accept AI-generated material into its library. Separately, it offers AI tools that create new images or modify existing iStock pictures, which are now part of Premium subscriptions. Content is paid for through a subscription or with credit packs. Free files rotate as well: one photo each week, plus an illustration and a video clip each month. ## Key features - **Multiple Media Types**: Covers photos, illustrations, vectors and video clips, with separate landing pages for each. - **Exclusive Collection**: Includes imagery and footage from contributors who supply only iStock, grouped in a premium collection. - **No AI Submissions**: The library itself is stated to exclude AI-generated content from contributors. - **AI Tools**: A generator creates new images and a companion tool adds, swaps or removes elements in existing iStock visuals; a user guide is provided. - **Visual Search**: Lets you search with an image or a video in addition to typed keywords. - **Free Files**: Offers a free photo every week and a free illustration and video clip every month. ## Use cases - **Advertising Visuals**: License images and clips that are cleared for use in promotional work. - **Editorial and Blog Illustration**: Find photos by theme, such as business, education, food or travel. - **Video Projects**: Source HD and 4K clips, including slow motion and animated motion graphics. - **Design Assets**: Download editable vectors, icons, templates, backgrounds and infographic elements. - **Modifying a Stock Image**: Adjust an existing library picture with the AI tools instead of searching for a closer match. ## Things to know - **No AI-generated submissions**: iStock states that it does not accept AI-generated content from its contributors into the library. - **AI tools come with Premium subscriptions**: The pricing page says Premium subscriptions include the AI tools, which iStock describes as trained only on licensed creative content. - **Subscriptions or credit packs**: Content is bought with a monthly or annual subscription or with credit packs. Credits stay valid as long as you sign in to the account at least once a year. - **The standard license has limits**: Each download carries a single-user standard license. An extended license is needed for print runs above 500,000, for products made for resale or for sharing files among several users. ## FAQs ### What is iStock? iStock is a stock media site for licensing royalty-free photos, illustrations, vectors and video. It is operated by iStockphoto LP. ### What is iStock used for? iStock is used to find and license images, vectors and video clips for advertising, websites, editorial pieces and design projects. ### Does the iStock library contain AI-generated images? No. iStock states that it does not accept AI-generated content from its contributors. ### Does iStock have any AI features? Yes. iStock lists AI tools for generating new images and for modifying iStock images, and its pricing page says Premium subscriptions include access to them. ### Is anything on iStock free? Yes, a small rotating selection. iStock offers a free photo every week and a free illustration and video clip every month. ### How do you pay for content on iStock? iStock sells content through subscriptions or credit packs. Subscriptions come as monthly or annual plans with allowances between 10 and 750 downloads a month, while credit packs suit occasional purchases. ### What video quality does iStock offer? iStock offers HD and 4K video clips, including slow-motion footage and animated motion graphics. ### Who makes iStock? iStock is run by iStockphoto LP, which is named in the site's copyright notice. --- Source: https://trendhub.net/ai-tools/istock-royalty-free-stock-photos-vectors-video (trendhub)