Stock Earnings Calculator: 12 Platforms, Real 2026 Data
If you are deciding whether stock photography or video is worth your time, you need numbers that come from people actually selling files, not from the marketplaces themselves. Every figure here is sourced from independent 2026 contributor reports. Numbers shown are revenue per image (RPI) and revenue per clip (RPC) after platform commission has been deducted. They are not list prices and they are not gross sales. Compare any two platforms head to head from the comparison links below.
All 12 Platforms
- Shutterstock
- Adobe Stock
- Pond5
- iStock
- Depositphotos
- Dreamstime
- Alamy
- Envato Elements
- Vecteezy
- Freepik
- Motion Array
- Artlist
Real Earnings Scenarios
100 assets
across all platforms, average scenario
1,000 assets
across all platforms, average scenario
10,000 assets
across all platforms, average scenario
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I go exclusive on one platform or distribute across many?
For most contributors, non-exclusive distribution across three to five platforms outperforms exclusivity. The exception is iStock or Dreamstime where exclusivity meaningfully boosts commission.
Are AI-generated images viable on stock platforms in 2026?
Yes on Adobe Stock, Freepik, Depositphotos and Pond5; no on Shutterstock and iStock. AI content typically earns thirty percent of the per-asset rate of original photography due to oversupply.
How accurate are these earnings estimates?
Estimates are calibrated against published contributor reports from 2026 and reflect typical earnings for mature portfolios with proper keywording. Individual results vary by up to fifty percent depending on niche, file quality, and metadata.
Why do the numbers vary so much between low, average, and high scenarios?
Stock earnings follow a power-law distribution. Top niche specialists earn five to ten times more per asset than generic contributors. The range shown reflects that reality rather than averaging it away.
Can I really earn the high-scenario numbers?
Yes, but only with deliberate niche focus on high-demand categories such as healthcare, drone aerial, business, or technology, combined with disciplined keywording and at least two years of portfolio growth.