ShutterstockReviews 533

This company is an absolute disgrace. They are not transparent in their contract
Terms and pricing. You end up getting charged for something which is overpriced and then they make it close to impossible to get out of a plan. They keep renewing plans without your consent and you can't even turn off the auto renew feature in your account when you log on. When you ring to ask how you can cancel your account they say they will have to charge some massive fee to cancel your plan. The customer service is not much better. The customer service at this company DO NOT go out of their way to help. When you ask simply how to cancel a plan they just tell you it can't be done. If you don't want to be taken advantage of then DO NOT use this company. They are so dishonest.

I've used shutterstock for a couple of years now and built up a library of a thousand or so images. Those of you using shutterstock for occasional images will have some idea of how much that has cost.

However some months ago they reported software issues. I cant download the images i've paid for. It's an issue their end, and when you speak to support they always tell you it will be sorted it 48 hrs and that there is nothing more they can do. I assume it's scripted as numerous support staff have told me exactly the same thing over recent months.

I've given shutterstock a one star review because they are expensive and it's inexcusable to charge a lot of money for images then not provide them due to an IT issue their end - and to add insult to injury not fix that issue months down the road. Shame on you shutterstock.

Already, paying $30 a month for access to literally 10 photos max is a bit high, but my client requested I use this site so I did. Little did I know when that client could no longer afford to pay me that I would have to keep paying Shutterstock forever. There is no cancellation my friends, unless you are willing to pay a ridiculous month to month price.
I emailed them requested cancellation, they didn't respond, but they did send a link to a survey asking if their customer service was sufficient.
The link didn't work, but as I didn't see another monthly charged, it seemed I had cancelled.
Nope! 2 weeks later, charged again. I called explaining I needed out (at this point I have paid almost $200 for the use of exactly 4 photos) and that my client dropped me. She said sure, for the low price of $60 they could cancel. She claimed I did receive an email back (I combed through my spam on the date she told me it came- nothing.)
SO I paid $60 to get out of an overpriced service I wasn't using anyway! Seriously?
I'm all about paying artists for their work- I AM one- but make no mistake. Shutterstock is the one making the money here. And ripping off the artists on the paying end as well.
Don't get tied up in their BS. Use anyone else.
I wish so much I had looked up reviews first.

I recently paid for a 5 image subscription because I needed a few images for a website I was building. A co-worker did not know how the subscription worked and downloaded 30 images (for a separate site) which essentially means that they were, unbeknownst to them, paying $50 for each set of 5 images being downloaded. There was no notification or anything letting them know that this was the case, so in total he ended up racking up around $300 for pictures. I tried calling and seeing if the images could be added to the unused package but I was told that this was impossible. For a fairly large customer that continues to purchase photos, you would think that something could be worked out given that the pictures were erroneously purchased. Nope. Not only was the service rep rude and flippant but she also told me that a manager would be calling me back. It's been a week and I've received no such call. Shutterstock has lost a customer for life, and I will make sure that I recommend other services (pretty much any service) over them. Shutterstock is a scam under the guise of a legitimate company. I hope the small amount of money you get from scamming customers is worth aliening loyal users!

I wish to give no star. Bad customer service. I ordered a month-to-month plan. The customer service person told me, I "accidentally" brought an annual plan._WTH_I ask for cancel it, they said, I can switch to the monthly plan and then cancel. Which I cannot even find the switch button on the site. Then, the person told me, if I want to cancel it now. They need to charge me $40 for cancellation.
This is definitely a scam business! PLEASE DON'T USE IT.

First, on ANY monthly plan, you lose your credits if you do not use them all by the end of the month. (And don't expect a refund for unused credits!)

Second, if you try to cancel your subscription they will CHARGE YOU MORE for a cancellation fee! And mind you, there is no way to cancel your subscription yourself. You have to get a hold of someone in customer support during their limited business hours to help cancel.

I tried sending an email but got NO RESPONSE until AFTER they charged me again! How convenient is that! Then, they refused to reverse the charge even though I had emailed their support team 2 weeks before the charge was processed. They basically hit me with a... "well we're only cancelling your subscription going forward as a courtesy so we don't have to refund the previous payment even though we ignored your request for 2 weeks!"

This company has COMPLETELY missed the mark when it comes to customer experience AND product value. They are a SCAM and will continue to charge your card on their terms regardless of whether or not you are even using their services.

I have been a customer for over 3 years and unfortunately, my experience has been TERRIBLE. (recently made the mistake of signing up for a subscription) There are so many other BETTER photo companies to spend your money on. STEER CLEAR OF SHUTTERSTOCK!