PicMonkey Help & Support

Stock Photos Legal Use

PicMonkey joined the Shutterstock family in September 2021. As a result, Shutterstock's enormous stock photo library is integrated into PicMonkey. Basic subscribers have access to a million photos, while Pro and Business subscribers have access to millions more.

Please read PicMonkey's Terms of Use for detailed usage allowances for photos used from each these libraries.

PicMonkey previously hosted images from Unsplash and iStock by Getty. If you have images from either provider in Hub, you may still use them. However, if any of your iStock by Getty images are still watermarked, you will not be able to remove the watermark. Please see below for more information on using Unsplash & iStock by Getty images, as well as access the Shutterstock photo library.


About your Unsplash & iStock by Getty images

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

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

Q: Can I still use iStock by Getty images in Hub?

A: Yes. While you are no longer able to retrieve new iStock by Getty images in PicMonkey, you may continue to use images in Hub. Note, though, that if you recently upgraded to PicMonkey Pro and didn't open your watermarked iStock by Getty images, they remain watermarked. You may continue to use them as-is, or replace them with images from Shutterstock's collection.

Q: Can I still use Unsplash photos in Hub?

A: Yes. While you are no longer able to retrieve new Unsplash images in PicMonkey, you may continue to use images in Hub.

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

A: PicMonkey Basic subscribers had access to all images from Unsplash. These were replaced by an extensive Shutterstock Basic photo library. You have over a million new assets to choose from.

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

A: PicMonkey Pro subscribers had access to all images from Unsplash and iStock by Getty. These were replaced by Shutterstock Basic and Shutterstock Pro libraries. You have millions of new assets to choose from.

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

A: Same as the PicMonkey Pro explanation directly above. You have access to millions of new photos in the Shutterstock Basic & Pro libraries.


About Shutterstock's photo library

Q: You 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 do I 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.

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