• iStockPhoto

iStockPhoto

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Overview

iStockPhoto has a rating of 1.2 stars from 184 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about iStockPhoto most frequently mention free trial, customer service, and year subscription problems. iStockPhoto ranks 66th among Stock Photos sites.

  • Service
    86
  • Value
    85
  • Shipping
    41
  • Returns
    68
  • Quality
    77
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
1
Negative
91
14
See all photos

What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • They have terrible customer service and will not refund your money if you have issues.
  • They will rope you in to a one year subscription and keep charging you without giving you any way out.
How would you rate iStockPhoto?
Top Positive Review

“Pricey but Nonetheless Luxurious Subscription Experience into the Getty Library!”

Christian K.
1/6/18

Access to the Getty Library has always been a dream; this may be the most affordable means to get your feet wet. The iStock collection is a cross-section of the famed Getty Library and modeled after the subscription micro-stock sites... except... it costs a little more! But the quality of the photography stands out! This is a luxury for me, maybe not so much for a larger business, but I cannot say anything but good things regarding my subscriptions.

Top Critical Review

“Read the Fine Print”

Max g.
2/10/24

Ridiculously overpriced, automatic payment triggered at 1 minute after trial period ends and boom, zero refunds no exceptions, even if you immediately reach out and haven't downloaded a single thing. Then when they keep that money, they also immediately block your pre-paid account from access in exchange for not charging you in the future. Zero value given, zero cares given.

Reviews (184)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (38) year subscription (17)
Thumbnail of user coeusaa
1 review
1 helpful vote
February 10th, 2024

Ridiculously overpriced, automatic payment triggered at 1 minute after trial period ends and boom, zero refunds no exceptions, even if you immediately reach out and haven't downloaded a single thing. Then when they keep that money, they also immediately block your pre-paid account from access in exchange for not charging you in the future. Zero value given, zero cares given.

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Value
Returns
Thumbnail of user kirsth777
1 review
1 helpful vote
February 7th, 2024

Like everyone else has experienced, I signed up for the free trial to be able to download 1 photo that I needed for an assignment and did not realize that it automatically bills you for an entire 12 months and that you are actually contracted and cannot cancel. Complete rip off and no one replies to your messages when you try to contact them to explain that you can't afford their services. Resorting to cancelling my card to stop further payments. STAY AWAY from this site!

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Thumbnail of user olek36
1 review
2 helpful votes
January 29th, 2024

Signed up for a test account. Did not manage to cancel the subscription and now they have me signed up for 1 year, with invoiced EVERY month. Talked to customer support, total robots, probably outsourced, so no possible way to get out. Never touch this peace of sh*** software!

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Thumbnail of user nittany8989
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 1st, 2024

I would give no starts if I could. I signed up for a free trial, I thought. It said the first month was free. Okay, cool. That was on February 28. On March 1, I was charged. Huh? When I contacted customer service, they said they would not refund the money since I downloaded something already. During my free trial. And that I didn't cancel during my free month. I only had the trial for 2 days. I expected some kind of email reminding me of the coming end of the trial period. So their "free trial" is extremely misleading. Beware.

Thumbnail of user mahsar2
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 29th, 2024

Oh my God, I can not believe they are professional liars and big scammers. However, they first show that it is based on law and the contract you agreed to. They are professional in lying. Just keep away

Products used:
forced subscription!

Thumbnail of user anouar.drid
1 review
2 helpful votes
January 6th, 2024

Had an incredibly negative experience with iStock. I am initiating legal proceedings against their website. I used their service for only an hour and clicked the button to not renew. However, the renewal was for a year, not monthly, and it was not clearly displayed. The cancellation email went to spam, so I never received it. I mistakenly thought that clicking the cancel button was for the monthly payment. I strongly advise against using their service in the future.

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Thumbnail of user elisabetht76
1 review
5 helpful votes
January 3rd, 2024

I recently tried iStockPhoto with a supposed 1-month free trial, only to encounter a nightmare when attempting to cancel. Little did I know, I was roped into a 12-month plan that proved impossible to cancel, a fact conveniently missing from their initial offer. Not only that, but their failure to include VAT in the monthly plan violates Norwegian law. Transparency and compliance are evidently not priorities for them. Ordering online should also include a scheme according to local regulations, which iStockPhoto lacks. This experience has left me deeply dissatisfied, and I'll be taking this matter up with the authorities. Beware of their deceptive practices and disregard for legal obligations.

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Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user kharchafi.i
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 16th, 2024

I signed up for a free trial but forgot to cancel before it ended, leading to a surprise 29 euros charge for the first month.

What's upsetting is that to cancel the plan, they hit me with a big 145 euro fee. This felt like too much.

I get rules, but I think there should be some understanding. I just wanted one photo during the trial, and now I paid way more than expected.

During the trial, I downloaded only one photo, and that was my intention.

I hope my story helps others know what they might face with iStock.

Tip for consumers:
no free cancellation after the free trial.

Products used:
a photo

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user gnterg3
1 review
1 helpful vote
February 1st, 2024

Unprofessional business practices. As many other here, their main revenue is from scamming people into a years subscription. This needs to be looked into from legal perspective.

Products used:
Trial subscription

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Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user apepperdesign23
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 12th, 2024

It's unacceptable that they don't allow any exceptions to refunds when trying to cancel the free trial the day you get charged and didn't use any of the credits. What a rip off!

Products used:
Photo download

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Value
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jorb1
1 review
3 helpful votes
December 6th, 2023
Verified purchase

I thought I cancelled the trial subscription, I never used their services. Then I saw they were subtracting money from my account. When I emailed them about it, they said I needed to pay 135(!) euros to cancel the contract, even though they saw I NEVER used their services. Will keep calling them until they cancel. But stay away from them. They are not interested in doing business, they are interested in scamming people. Will take legal action. *******.

Tip for consumers:
Stay away from them, they're scammers!!!!!!

Products used:
Nothing, I accidently got their subscription, but never used anything

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Value
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Thumbnail of user ccoa.c
1 review
1 helpful vote
December 12th, 2023
Verified purchase

Once they have your payment option in their system, they will not allow you to cancel. What's more, they will not talk with you. Their "cancelation team" is unavailable by phone and only sends automated emails. You cannot reach them. After having been a customer for some time, I am quite disgusted that they treat their customers like this.

Products used:
one year with free trial month

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Value
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Thumbnail of user guitarlady77
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 19th, 2024

This company is just awful. I downloaded just ONE IMAGE and they charged me $70 for it! Who would ever pay that much for a picture? What's REALLY awful is that they said when you subscribe, "the DEFAULT PLAN is the $70 one", so if you're not paying attention, they automatically sign you for that one, even though they have a plan for $29...
Not to mention with ANY plan, you're supposed to get 10 images, but after charging me $70, they are giving me NO credit toward 9 more images (which I don't even need to begin with!)

Products used:
I downloaded just one image, but I didn't cancel the subscription within the time limit. Problem is, I didn't subscribe to the plan they said I did. They trick you when you are looking to download something, because if you're not paying close attention, they automatically sign you up for a $700 per year subscription! SMH...

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user therealclabaughs
1 review
0 helpful votes
November 22nd, 2023

They have an "introductory" offer that if you do not cancel in the time period you are automatically contacted to a year at 10 month payments of $70/month. They NEVER tell you that in the trial offer unless you read the fine fine print. We feel so taken by them and they refuse to issue you a refund or let you out of the terms. SCAM.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user fancyenglishpants
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 23rd, 2024

I would give a zero if I could. As a reviewer below stated, this site preys on forgetfulness. Not to mention it's extremely expensive so basically they stole $75 from me.

Thumbnail of user aerseymour
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 5th, 2024

This site is a total scam and I honestly can't figure out how it's even legal. They rope you in with a GIANT banner about their (oh so generous) free trial. After that, it's $70 per month. This is where it gets tricky, because even though it's $70 per month, they won't let you cancel it for a year. I don't understand how something like an online photo gallery can have such a high monthly fee and then require that you pay it for a whole year. I used one photo from their gallery during my free trial, which I have now paid $70 for. After going back and forth with them with no success, I finally had to cancel my credit card so I wouldn't end up paying them $700 for that one photo. To add to the ridiculousness, their photo gallery isn't even that great. I have a pro Canva subscription that rivals it, and I pay way less money for so much more value. I usually always read reviews before signing up for something, but I was in a time crunch with my website and needed an image that I didn't have readily available. It was a pricey lesson learned, but a lesson nonetheless. I promised them I would be posting negative reviews, so I'll need to repost this in a few places, and then off to the fun task of contacting all my monthly subscription services and creditors to give them my new credit card info.

Products used:
1 photo download

Service
Value
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user dawnmflower
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
December 18th, 2023

Awful company, awful people, awful business model. Do NOT sign up for ANYTHING and do NOT give them your credit card info. You will live to regret it. They are untrustworthy and unreasonable and exist only because they take advantage of the small businesses stupid enough to use them.

Products used:
Nothing worth while

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user nicolas.roisne
1 review
2 helpful votes
June 14th, 2023

Offer free trial for a month promising a reminder before the end of the month to cancel. The intentionally forget to send the reminder and then charge for a full year subscription. If you ask to cancel within 14 days they still charge the first month and hide behind customer service rep and Terms and conditions of their own.

Thumbnail of user rumbie.mudzonga
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 2nd, 2024

They make it difficult to cancel your free trial and usually end up charging you. They have terrible customer service and will not refund your money if you have issues. Stay away!

Tip for consumers:
If it was possible to put zero stars, I would have. This company has atrocious bussiness practices.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user beng949
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 3rd, 2024

After seeing that the website was "by Getty Images" I mistakenly assumed this would be a valid business with a business plan and some sort of structure and culture attempting to sell a service or a product.
The misleading signup process led me to believe I had signed up for the FREE Trial and then afterwords would be on a basic monthly plan. The flow of the checkout somehow led me to default to the mid level plan on an annual billing cycle...OK. All of this is fair game in my opinion and I should have paid more attention.
Where they become a low rent money grab site is this...I contacted them and notified them I had only downloaded 1 item during my free trial and the item did not work. So I had not logged in since then and had not used their services and had gained nothing from them and used nothing of theirs and generated no cost for them. When I requested a refund they denied me and said flatly it was against policy.
This company has no confidence or belief in the product hey have created. Their goal is to use recurring billing to make money from customers who forget to cancel or are unable to cancel regardless of whether customers are satisfied with their products and services. It is the exact opposite of everything I have designed my own businesses to stand for.

Products used:
none...billed but used none of their products.

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Thumbnail of user benm1181
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 3rd, 2024

Signed up for a free trial subscription to download ten free photos. I forgot to cancel it and was billed $70.00. Based on the invoice I received I believed it was $70 per year and I had been charged a full-year upfront so I decided to keep the subscription. I was then charged another $70 a month later. It was not clear to me on the invoice it was $70 per month. It appeared confusing to me and I stare at invoices all the time. I submitted a cancellation request via their website and received an email back saying I would have to pay a $70 "administrative charge" to cancel the subscription. I was told it was a year long contract and I would be billed every month for the full-year unless I paid the fee. I had to put a stop payment on payments from them through the bank. The email was very generic and offered zero customer service and was not even signed by a company representative. If you need photos from them, buy them individually, do not become duped into a contract subscription.

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Thumbnail of user laszlol11
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
January 6th, 2024

Extremely expensive auto renew if you forget to cancel the trial. Rather than going into a monthly renew, you are put into a yearly plan for $70/mo.

Products used:
None

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Value
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Thumbnail of user jbiedebach
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 8th, 2023

Shame on me for not quitting the free trial in time, but it was a $700 lesson and do not appreciate learning. They lock you in for a year, hitting your credit card every month. If I was Getty I would be embarrassed. They are a terrible company with terrible service. Avoid them like the plague. I wish I had never met them.

Tip for consumers:
Stay away. Avoid them at all costs

Products used:
I downloaded a few photos for a chool project and got stuck with a $700 bill. These guys suck

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Thumbnail of user anonymousk1334
1 review
1 helpful vote
December 19th, 2023

This is the worst website ever. Do not make an account with them. They will rope you in to a one year subscription and keep charging you without giving you any way out. I hope their website closes down because they steal the money from innocent users.

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Thumbnail of user anonymous.5
1 review
1 helpful vote
November 16th, 2023

I needed to use this website once for photos for my child's project. I did not realize that it was for an annual subscription. Now I am being charge over $100 each month and I emailed Sarah to kindly let her know that I had not used the website since September and wished to discontinue my subscription asap however she was not flexible at all and in fact suggested that I upgrade my membership. I feel quite frustrated with this lack of understanding on their part.

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1.2
184 reviews
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