Detailed comparison of prices of photos/vectors (20 January 2012)

Update 05/2012: Dreamstime changed levels by the end of April. This change is reflected in tables below - I replaced original level 0 by level 1, becuase level 0 now includes only files that didn´t sell for more than 24 months. These changes are described in detail in the article Dreamstime introduced new pricing structure.

INTRODUCTION

General comparison of prices of more microstock agencies is not an easy and simple task. Each microstock agency has specific policies that make general findings and comparison outcomes indicative only. For example, Shutterstock is not using credits, at iStockphoto prices of exclusive artists are higher than prices of similar products of non-exclusive artists, iStockphoto and Fotolia differentiate prices of vectors based on their complexity, Dreamstime increases prices based on popularity (measured by number of downloads), etc. Smaller agencies like 123RF and Depositphotos that are newly included in my comparison use attractive pricing policy as the main tool. 

Therefore, it is not possible to say exactly that one agency is the cheapest one or that a specific agency is most suitable for a designer without knowledge of his/her exact needs. Also, there are separate comparisons for (1) unit sales and (2) subscription plans. In both cases most popular sale plans were used for comparison.

UNIT SALES

In case of unit sales two basic levels were analyzed: (1) purchase equivalent to c. 50 USD and (2) purchase equivalent to c. 200-300 USD (range is used due to different sale plans of individual microstock agencies). Prices were calculated for different sizes of photos and for vectors.

Price of photos/vectors: Total purchase equivalent to c. 50 USD.

Price of photos/vectors: Total purchase equivalent to c. 200-300 USD.

 ^{Notes:           Calculations as of 20 January 2012. 
                      Only non-exclusive authors included.
                      Vector prices at iStockphoto and Fotolia vary in relation to complexity of vectors.
                      Level 1 products (0 downloads) were used in case of Dreamstime.
                      123RF does not offer photos in XS size, S (400 x 267 px) is the minimal size.}

As you can see in tables above, several general conclusions can be said in case of unit sales:

1. The 123RF microstock agency looks cheapest, Depositphotos is also cheap. iStockphoto seems to be the most expensive one. 
2. Fotolia has lowest prices of vectors, with exception of simplest ones that are cheapest at iStockphoto (classification "basic").
3. Amount of credits/downloads purchased has no impact on general conclusions above.
4. Most appropriate microstock agency can be recommended only with the knowledge of specific requirements of designer.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

In case of subscription plans I used 25-30 credits/downloads per day as the most popular. Though Dreamstime is selling "downloads", it is necessary to utilize more than one "download" to buy high-level products, which works in a similar way as simplified credit plan. Shutterstock is not using credit system, so we use 25-A-Day plan (up to 25 downloads per day) for comparison. 1-month and 6-months subscription plans were analyzed (except for iStockphoto that does not offer 1-month plan). Again, prices were calculated for different sizes of photos and for vectors.

Prices of photos/vectors (all sizes, 25-30 credits or downloads per day) - 1M subscription plans

Prices of photos/vectors (all sizes, 25-30 credits or downloads per day) - 6M subscription plans

 ^{Notes:           Calculations as of 20 January 2012. 
                      Only non-exclusive authors included.
                      Vector prices at iStockphoto vary in relation to complexity of vectors.
                      Level 1 products (0 downloads) were used in case of Dreamstime.
                      iStockphoto does not offer 1-month subscription plan.
                      Comparison reflects lowest prices assuming utilization of all credits available (all credits used every day for the entire subscription period).}

As you can see in tables above, several general conclusions can be made in case of subscriptions:

1. Depositphotos is by far the cheapest microstock agency on our list when subscription prices are subject of comparison. There is no doubt that management uses subscription pricing policy as the main competitive tool. 
2. As in the case of unit sales, iStockphoto seems to be the most expensive microstock agency.
3. Agencies Fotolia and Dreamstime modified its subscription pricing strategies and their prices are now very close to those at Shutterstock.
4. Length of the subscription period has no impact on general conclusions above.
5. Most appropriate microstock agency can be recommended only with the knowledge of specific requirements of designer.