Stock Images Market Report 2026

The stock images market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.38 billion in 2025 to $8.1 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of digital marketing and online advertising, expansion of media and publishing industries, increased internet penetration, rising demand for cost-effective creative assets, globalization of branding and communication.

The stock images market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $11.65 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growth of social media and influencer marketing, increasing demand for video-first content, expansion of e-commerce platforms, rising adoption by small and medium enterprises, growing need for rapid content localization. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for authentic and diverse visual content, growth of subscription-based licensing models, increased adoption of video and motion stock content, expansion of user-generated and creator-contributed libraries, growing preference for niche and industry-specific image collections.

The growing adoption of e-commerce platforms is expected to propel the growth of the stock images market going forward. E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods or services online, which requires visually appealing, high-quality content to attract and engage customers effectively. The rise in adoption of e-commerce platforms is driven by the expanding online retail sector, increasing smartphone penetration, and consumers’ preference for digital shopping experiences, which fuels the need for compelling visual content. Stock images support e-commerce businesses by providing ready-to-use, diverse, and customizable visuals for product listings, advertisements, and promotional campaigns, ensuring higher engagement and conversion rates. For instance, in August 2025, according to the Census Bureau, a US-based government agency, total retail sales reached $1.86 trillion, with e-commerce accounting for 16.3% of total retail sales, up from 15.5% in 2024. Therefore, the growing adoption of e-commerce platforms is driving the growth of the stock images market.

Major companies operating in the stock images market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as AI image generators, to allow users to create and customize unique visuals tailored to specific creative or branding needs. AI image generators are tools that use artificial intelligence to automatically produce realistic or artistic images based on text descriptions or input data. For instance, in January 2024, Getty Images, a US-based visual content creator and marketplace, launched Generative AI by iStock, an AI image generator. The platform enables users to produce customized AI-generated stock photos suited to their specific requirements. It is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, offering a cost-efficient way to obtain high-quality visuals using Nvidia’s text-to-image technology. Beyond creating new visuals, users can also edit existing images for enhanced personalization. The service supports API integration for smooth use within existing apps and plug-ins, with a rate of $15 for every 100 images created.

In October 2023, Freepik, a Spain-based provider of digital visual content, acquired EyeEm GmbH for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Freepik aims to strengthen its photography offerings and expand its library of authentic and diverse stock images while maintaining EyeEm as an independent business. EyeEm GmbH is a Germany-based stock photography company.

Major companies operating in the stock images market are Adobe Inc., Canva, Getty Images nc., Shutterstock Inc., Stocksy, FreePik Co., Dissolve Inc., Dreamstime LLC, VectorStock Media Ltd., Picfair, Ivory Mix, Startup Stock Photos, Styled Stock Society LLC, Pikwizard, Nappy, Pixistock LLC, Haute Stock, Morguefile, She Bold Stock, Skitterphoto, New Old Stock, ShotStash, The Jopwell Collection, CreateHER Stock, LibreShot, Foca Stock, ClipSafari.

North America was the largest region in the stock images market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the stock images market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the stock images market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The stock images market includes revenues earned by providing services such as custom photography and shoot services, digital asset management services, image retouching and editing services, content curation, licensing consulting, and AI-based image generation services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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