Adobe Stock vs Pexels
Adobe Stock
stock.adobe.comPexels
pexels.comSide by side
| Figure | Adobe Stock | Pexels |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 29 | 2 |
| Spec score · Stock Photo Websites | 9.1 (#2) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Spec score · Stock Video Websites | 9.1 (#2) | 8.5 (#8) |
| API access | Yes | Anyone with a Pexels account can request an API key and receive it instantly. |
| Editorial assets | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Illustration assets | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Adobe Stock can be used without other Adobe products, while Creative Cloud integration lets users preview, edit, and license assets in Photoshop before purchase. | Pexels identifies Canva, Typeform, Sketch and Airtable as API partners. |
| Security | Adobe says it uses hundreds of security processes and controls and builds security into products through its Secure Product Lifecycle. | Pexels says it uses commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data. |
| Support | Adobe Stock plan pages provide a consultation request option for business plan inquiries. | Pexels directs API users to its Help Center for answers and troubleshooting. |
| Vector assets | Yes | Yes |
| What it does | AI Studio lets users edit stock images and videos before licensing and downloading them within Adobe Stock. | Pexels is a free website and app for finding and downloading stock photos and videos. |
Plans
Adobe Stock
- 10 standard assetsPriced on request
- 10 standard assetsPrice not published
- 25 standard assetsPrice not published
- 25 standard assetsPriced on request
- 40 standard assetsPrice not published
- 40 standard assetsPriced on request
- 750 standard assetsPriced on request
- 750 standard assetsPrice not published
- 3 standard assetsPriced on request
- 3 standard assetsPrice not published
In their own words
Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is a stock library with more than 900 million images, videos, audio, templates, and other assets. Subscriptions include standard images, templates, 3D assets, and music; most plans also include HD video. AI Studio lets users edit stock images and videos before licensing and downloading them. Its tools can change colors and moods, alter image ratios, replace backgrounds, animate still images, and make text-based edits. Plans include commercial-use licensing. Adobe Stock works on the web, Android, and iOS, and provides API access. It can be used independently, or connected with Creative Cloud to preview, edit, and license assets in Photoshop before purchase. Team subscriptions pool licenses among members and are described for small to midsize businesses. Enterprise plans add configurable access, advanced administration, and deployment for midsize to large organizations. The Standard License generally limits print runs to 500,000 and excludes items for resale; larger runs or resale use require an Extended License. A seven-day trial is available, but there is no free plan. Prices for the listed plans are not provided.
Pexels
Pexels is a free photo and video library available on the web and through apps and add-ons. Its downloadable photos and videos are licensed for personal and commercial use without attribution. The site lists vector, illustration, and editorial assets. Accounts add collections, download history, photographer follows, a personalized homepage, likes, and uploading. Developers can use the free RESTful JSON API to access the photo and video library programmatically. API keys default to 200 requests per hour and 20,000 requests per month; the API may not be used to reproduce Pexels or make wallpaper and image-gallery apps. Official tools include iOS and Android apps, a Chrome extension, Google Slides add-on, and Figma and Sketch plugins. A community MS Office add-in is also listed. Pexels identifies Canva, Typeform, Sketch, and Airtable as API partners. Its listed Free plan costs nothing. Pexels says uploads created with generative AI are not allowed.