Pexels vs VectorStock
Pexels
pexels.comVectorStock
vectorstock.comSide by side
| Figure | Pexels | VectorStock |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $1/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 10 |
| Spec score · Stock Photo Websites | 9.1 (#3) | 8.7 (#9) |
| Editorial assets | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Illustration assets | Yes | Yes |
| Library size | The Android listing says the app provides access to more than 3 million free high-resolution photos and videos. | The site advertises 50M+ premium vectors and 1M+ free vectors. |
| Security | Pexels says it uses commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data. | Account connections use TLS, passwords use salted one-way hashing, and Paddle processes payments in PCI-DSS-compliant systems; VectorStock does not store full card details. |
| Support | Pexels directs API users to its Help Center for answers and troubleshooting. | VectorStock aims to answer queries within 24 business hours and lists office hours Monday through Friday, 8AM–6PM GMT+12. |
| Vector assets | Yes | Yes |
| What it does | Pexels is a free website and app for finding and downloading stock photos and videos. | VectorStock is a vector discovery platform and marketplace for royalty-free vector graphics. |
Plans
VectorStock
- Pay-per-Image$14.99 a month
- Credits$1 a month
- Subscription - Annual$9.99 a month
- Subscription - Monthly$14.99 a month
- Free LicenseFree
- Credits$1, paid once
- Monthly Subscription$14.99 a month
- Pay-per-Image$14.99, paid once
- Annual Subscription$119.88 a year
- Exclusive Buyout$399, paid once
In their own words
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.
VectorStock
VectorStock is a web marketplace for finding and licensing royalty-free vector graphics. Its library advertises more than 50 million premium vectors and more than 1 million free vectors. AI search accepts natural-language descriptions of a subject, style, or composition. Files are available in AI, EPS, PDF, and SVG formats, and a customization service can adjust colors, text, layout, or other small details. The Pro License covers worldwide, perpetual commercial use for client, digital, print, merchandise, and print-on-demand projects, with unlimited impressions and print runs. Subscriptions permit up to 50 vector-image downloads per subscriber per day under the Fair Use Policy. Images licensed during an active subscription remain covered after it ends. The free license is limited to evaluation and personal use. Subscription plans are $14.99 per month or $9.99 per month billed annually as a single $119.88 upfront payment. VectorStock was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand.