October was my 2nd best month ever (August 2024 still holds the top spot). Even though I had about 30% fewer downloads compared to the same month last year, I believe the Unlimited Plan has affected my download numbers. Overall, though, I'm quite happy with how Shutterstock is performing for me.

I can't complain either.

What I can say is that earnings from the unlimited plan is increasing every month. I wouldn't be surprise if it will soon be the main earnings for contributors who participate in that model.

It doesn't really bother me.

Actually, now since my entire portfolio is available for unlimited download on SS, I will upload more videos on artlist that i didn't want to upload previously to keep them more exclusive on SS and AS. So I will further increase my earnings on Artlist which is a great earner for me. I make the same amount of money on Artlist as on AS and SS with 10 times less videos.

Quote from: DaLiu on November 01, 2025, 02:14
Even though I had about 30% fewer downloads compared to the same month last year, I believe the Unlimited Plan has affected my download numbers.

I opted out of the unlimited downloads plan and my downloads are up 8% from October 2024 (15 years and 6500 images). As for earnings, an average month, I haven't had many sales >$20 (and that's what makes the difference on SS).

Earnings are 55-60% down from average. Downloads are on record low ever since I started making stats in 2012. Big sales are completely gone like my port has been switched off

There seems to be a wide range of positive vs. negative experiences with SS. When the pole results used to be visible here, it seemed on average that SS had declined.
I wonder if the large differences in experiences we are seeing in the forums is geographic?....perhaps SS does much better in certain parts of the globe than in others?

Quote from: wds on November 01, 2025, 14:26
There seems to be a wide range of positive vs. negative experiences with SS. When the pole results used to be visible here, it seemed on average that SS had declined.
I wonder if the large differences in experiences we are seeing in the forums is geographic?....perhaps SS does much better in certain parts of the globe than in others?

Yes, and possibly what kind of images that we have. I have no video on SSTK. I have 90% Editorial. I made more some days, in 2012-2014 than I make some months now. So I'm one of the ones who's down.

Maybe Leaf can bring back the poll some day. It went away when the verification came in. But the forum is much better and works now, instead of being pounded by thousands or bots, trying to scrap messages and data, all day long.

I'm participating from Turkey. I think participants here are still not allowed to participate in the unlimited download program? Does anyone have any information?

Nearly half way through November and only $16.

1-2 years ago it was between $100 - $200
2+ years ago it was between $200 - $300
5+ years ago it was consistently closer to $1000

Well done SS, breaking new records.

Quote from: danielvisuals on November 01, 2025, 05:36
I can't complain either.

What I can say is that earnings from the unlimited plan is increasing every month. I wouldn't be surprise if it will soon be the main earnings for contributors who participate in that model.

It doesn't really bother me.

Actually, now since my entire portfolio is available for unlimited download on SS, I will upload more videos on artlist that i didn't want to upload previously to keep them more exclusive on SS and AS. So I will further increase my earnings on Artlist which is a great earner for me. I make the same amount of money on Artlist as on AS and SS with 10 times less videos.

I am still not able to opt in to the unlimited subscription, sales still down 50% since that was announced

I looked at my data for Shuttestock from January to October for each year going back to 2020 to 2025. 2020 was my second year in stock so had much smaller port. Here's what the numbers look like: 

2020   $1171.79
2021   $1010.62
2022   $2230.13
2023   $4937.39
2024   $3096.97
2025   $2257.56
 
I've also attached what it looks like graphically with a chart. So even with many more contents uploaded earnings are falling. I have stopped uploading images with my last photo uploaded to this agency in January 2025. 

I've also attached today's SSTK share price which shows its dropped again below the initial opening price back in October 2012 - where it belongs. 

Quote from: Pacesetter on November 14, 2025, 00:49
I looked at my data for Shuttestock from January to October for each year going back to 2020 to 2025. 2020 was my second year in stock so had much smaller port. Here's what the numbers look like: 

2020   $1171.79
2021   $1010.62
2022   $2230.13
2023   $4937.39
2024   $3096.97
2025   $2257.56
 
I've also attached what it looks like graphically with a chart. So even with many more contents uploaded earnings are falling. I have stopped uploading images with my last photo uploaded to this agency in January 2025. 

I've also attached today's SSTK share price which shows its dropped again below the initial opening price back in October 2012 - where it belongs.

Nearly 5K in 2023, congrats to you. Back then I bet you thought it was all going according to plan

Quote from: Pacesetter on November 14, 2025, 00:49
I looked at my data for Shuttestock from January to October for each year going back to 2020 to 2025. 2020 was my second year in stock so had much smaller port. Here's what the numbers look like: 

2020   $1171.79
2021   $1010.62
2022   $2230.13
2023   $4937.39
2024   $3096.97
2025   $2257.56

Tough break. Just when you think you got it made with this line of work, it all disappears from underneath you. Same picture for other agencies or is this SS specific?

Quote from: stocker2011 on November 14, 2025, 11:30

Quote from: Pacesetter on November 14, 2025, 00:49
I looked at my data for Shuttestock from January to October for each year going back to 2020 to 2025. 2020 was my second year in stock so had much smaller port. Here's what the numbers look like: 

2020   $1171.79
2021   $1010.62
2022   $2230.13
2023   $4937.39
2024   $3096.97
2025   $2257.56
 
I've also attached what it looks like graphically with a chart. So even with many more contents uploaded earnings are falling. I have stopped uploading images with my last photo uploaded to this agency in January 2025. 

I've also attached today's SSTK share price which shows its dropped again below the initial opening price back in October 2012 - where it belongs.

Nearly 5K in 2023, congrats to you. Back then I bet you thought it was all going according to plan

Yep I actually made well over 5k in 2023 (with November and December added) I just didn't use those months for this example as it is not an accurate comparison with the completed months so far in 2025. Started going downhill in December 2023.   

Quote from: SimonSays on November 14, 2025, 12:40

Quote from: Pacesetter on November 14, 2025, 00:49
I looked at my data for Shuttestock from January to October for each year going back to 2020 to 2025. 2020 was my second year in stock so had much smaller port. Here's what the numbers look like: 

2020   $1171.79
2021   $1010.62
2022   $2230.13
2023   $4937.39
2024   $3096.97
2025   $2257.56

Tough break. Just when you think you got it made with this line of work, it all disappears from underneath you. Same picture for other agencies or is this SS specific?

Pond5 is the other agency. iStock is not doing as well as previous years though the fall is not anywhere near Shutterstock and Pond5. Adobe Stock showed much better results in 2024 and 2025 compared to previous years  - and this seems to be the situation with a lot of contributors.   

one of the worst months regarding rpd for videos:
Nov: 14 sales for 18.81$, rpd: 1,35$.

For comparison:
Oct: 18 sales for 148.7$, rpd: 8.26$.

For this month, all sales (except 1 for 3.5$) are low as the following: 3 x 1.7$, 5 x 1.17$, 4 x 1$ and 1 x 0.36$(!).

I think the unlimited subscription model is hurting in the most video sales, especially previously common individual sales. The biggest video sales I'm getting this months are around $10. Time will tell if this is the new normal.

Quote from: danielvisuals on November 19, 2025, 00:37
I think the unlimited subscription model is hurting in the most video sales, especially previously common individual sales. The biggest video sales I'm getting this months are around $10. Time will tell if this is the new normal.

Could be, but for most it's been on a continual downward spiral for years now.

For a company with (according to Ai) that has at least 1/3 share of the entire microstock industry but pays out so little to contributors, then there's something not right going on, or some kind of shenanigans at play IMO.

If the merger goes ahead all I'm hoping for at the very least is that iStock shakes things up on a managerial level at SS HQ to hopefully straighten things out.

I just got a new contributor fund of 500$

286$ here...

It looks like SSTK has unleashed the same bot. Except they accepted the JPG and rejected the EPS. While IS did the opposite, rejected the JPG  and accepted the EPS.

Rejection reasons (1)

AI Generated Content: AI generated content is prohibited. Repeated submission of such content will result in account suspension and/or termination.

$288.6 contributor fund payment. Nice addition to this month's income.

I got contributor fund too. What exactly is this thing?

Could it be the training bonus we've all been waiting for on pond5 this year...

Quote from: danielvisuals on November 26, 2025, 05:19
Could it be the training bonus we've all been waiting for on pond5 this year...

Does Pond5 pay us by Shutterstock?

4 digits here 

Quote from: PeteStock on November 26, 2025, 13:00
4 digits here 

4 digits for the fund...
I hope it doesn't hurt too much