PicMonkey Help & Support

Everything to Know About PicMonkey + Shutterstock

Update 4/22: Migration, bugs, tech support

Hey, PicMonkeyers, a quick update! As we continue with the integration of our systems, we will be making some changes to the editor. While we aim to make sure there is as little disruption to your creative process as possible, there is potential for it. If you experience any technical difficulties, please get in touch with our support team! They can help you determine if the disruption is caused by the migration or a bug, as well as help you troubleshoot any possible tech issues on your end.

Due to staffing transitions and heightened emphasis in the Shutterstock space, small problems or bugs are unlikely to be fixed at this time. In the event of any disruption pertaining to iOS or Android functionality, we encourage continuing your creations through our website.

We're committed to keeping your creative flow, well, flowing, and we're here to best support you however we can. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we continue fostering this epic union.

Update 3/22: New graphics, textures, and fonts

Heads up — we've refreshed some of our graphics, textures, and fonts in PicMonkey with fresh Shutterstock assets.

  • Is anything else being changed?

    • Not at this time. Just some of our graphics, textures, and fonts.

  • How will this impact me?

    • You may notice new assets in the Graphics, Text, and Textures tabs. Graphics might also exist in your Hub designs that no longer exist in the Graphics tab.

  • Will I still be able to customize graphics that aren't in PicMonkey?

    • If a graphic is on one of your saved Hub designs, you may still customize it using the Graphic Tools menu. However, if you remove the graphic from your canvas and exit out of the editor, you will not be able to add it back.

  • I have more questions. Who should I ask?


PicMonkey has joined the Shutterstock family!

We could not be more excited to become part of the Shutterstock family and continue to provide our users with the best online photo editing and graphic design experience there is. We know you must have tons of questions, so we've answered the most pressing ones below.

This page will be frequently updated. Be sure to also check out our What’s New page for future announcements, news, and information. And of course, if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to contact our support team!


Your PicMonkey subscription

Q: I'm a PicMonkey Basic subscriber. What does this mean for me?

A: Your subscription price is not changing. For now, the only change you might notice is in stock photography providers. PicMonkey Basic subscribers had access to royalty-free images from Unsplash. Now, you have access to a million images from Shutterstock Basic. To use millions more Shutterstock Pro images, upgrade to PicMonkey Pro.

Note: You can still use any Unsplash images in Hub; however, watermarks can no longer be removed from iStock by Getty images.

Q: I'm a PicMonkey Pro subscriber. What does this mean for me?

A: Your subscription price is not changing. For now, the only change you might notice is in stock photography providers. You have millions of new assets to choose from, all included in your PicMonkey subscription.

Note: You can still use any Unsplash or iStock by Getty images in Hub. However, if you upgraded to PicMonkey Pro after September 14, 2021, any watermarked iStock by Getty images in Hub will remain that way. We suggest replacing them with Shutterstock Pro images, included in your PicMonkey Pro subscription.

Q: I'm a PicMonkey Business subscriber. What does this mean for me?

A: Same as the PicMonkey Pro explanation directly above. You have access to millions of new photos from Shutterstock's library, all included in your PicMonkey subscription.


PicMonkey + Shutterstock

Q: Who is Shutterstock?

A: Shutterstock, Inc. is a leading global creative platform offering full-service solutions, high-quality content, and applications for brands, businesses and media companies. Directly and through its group subsidiaries, Shutterstock's comprehensive collection includes high-quality licensed photographs, vectors, illustrations, videos, 3D models and music. Working with its growing community of over 1.8 million contributors, Shutterstock adds hundreds of thousands of images each week, and currently has more than 380 million images and more than 22 million video clips available.

Headquartered in New York City, Shutterstock has offices around the world and customers in more than 150 countries. The Company also owns Offset, a high-end image collection; Shutterstock Studios, an end-to-end custom creative shop; PremiumBeat, a curated royalty-free music library; Shutterstock Editorial, a premier source of editorial images and videos for the world's media; TurboSquid, a leading 3D content marketplace; Amper Music, an AI-driven music platform; and Bigstock, a value-oriented stock media offering.

Q: Will PicMonkey still exist?

A: Yes. Our commitment to our product and to you is not changing. You’ll be able to access and use PicMonkey as you always have. 

Q: Is anything changing right now besides stock photography?

A: Invariably, with a move like this there are bound to be changes, but we anticipate only great ones for you. We understand that you depend on PicMonkey for all your design needs. While this latest venture is still in its early days, we have a detailed plan to keep our customers and community updated every step of the way. For now, the PicMonkey you've known and loved will be the same with the exception of stock photography. Please read the Your PicMonkey Subscription and Unsplash and iStock by Getty Removal sections of this FAQ to make sure you understand how the changes might affect you.

Q: Has the PicMonkey Terms of Service changed?

A: Only slightly. You can always access our updated ToS and privacy policy here.


Unsplash & iStock by Getty image removal

Shutterstock's enormous library of royalty-free stock imagery has replaced iStock by Getty and Unsplash images in PicMonkey. Learn more below about what this means for your projects.

Q: What happened to Unsplash images?

A: Unsplash images were replaced by a million images from the Shutterstock Basic collection. If you have Unsplash images in Hub, these have always been unwatermarked and royalty-free, so you may continue to use them in your projects.

Q: What happened to iStock by Getty images?

A: iStock by Getty images were replaced by millions of images from the Shutterstock Pro collection. If you’ve been a PicMonkey Pro subscriber, nothing will happen to your iStock by Getty images in Hub documents. However, if you upgraded to PicMonkey Pro after September 14, 2021, any watermarked iStock by Getty images in Hub will remain that way. We suggest replacing them with Shutterstock Pro images, included in your PicMonkey Pro subscription.

Q: What about iStock by Getty and Unsplash photos that I've used in past projects?

A: Unsplash images have always been royalty-free, and if you used iStock by Getty images, they were included in your PicMonkey Pro subscription. In other words — if you’ve used either in past projects that you are no longer editing in PicMonkey, you are fine. However, always make sure that your projects follow our Terms of Use.

Q: Will I still be able to access my files?

A: Yes. None of your project files will disappear from Hub.


The Shutterstock photo library

Q: You’ve replaced two stock photography providers with one. Will I still be able to find what I need?

A: We are 150% confident that you will find the images you need in Shutterstock’s gorgeous stock photo library. You’ll have access to millions of royalty-free images! Plus, just like our previous providers, Shutterstock’s library has been seamlessly integrated into PicMonkey for you to use while designing.

Q: How will I be able to search for photos in the Shutterstock library?

A: The same way(s) you always have in PicMonkey.

To start with a stock photo:

  1. Click Create new > Stock photos.

  2. Browse the collection, or type a word or phrase into the search bar.

Two ways to add a photo to an existing project:

  1. Click Add image on the top toolbar and type a word or phrase into the search bar.

  2. Click the Photos & Videos tab on the left and search directly from the Editor.

Still need help?