How to Cancel Your
Shutterstock Subscription
Cancel Shutterstock in under 3 minutes. Watch out for early termination fees on annual plans. Here are the exact steps.
Quick Overview
Difficulty
MediumTime
~3 minutes
Method
Website / Chat
Refund
Early termination fee
Cancel Shutterstock on the Website
Log in to Shutterstock
Go to shutterstock.com and sign in with the account that holds your subscription.
Go to Account Subscription
Click your profile icon, then navigate to Account and select Subscription. You can also go directly to shutterstock.com/account/subscription.
Click Cancel Plan
Find your active subscription and click Cancel Plan. Shutterstock may redirect you to a chat support agent or show a cancellation flow. Annual plans may display an early termination fee before you can proceed.
Review fees and confirm
If you are on an annual plan, review the early termination fee before confirming. Monthly plans can usually be canceled without extra fees. Confirm the cancellation and wait for a confirmation email.
Subscribed Through Apple or Google?
If you subscribed to Shutterstock through an app store, cancel through that platform instead.
Cancel via iPhone / iPad
- 1. Open Settings on your iPhone
- 2. Tap your name at the top (Apple Account)
- 3. Tap Subscriptions
- 4. Tap Shutterstock in the list
- 5. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm
Cancel via Android
- 1. Open the Google Play Store app
- 2. Tap your profile icon (top right)
- 3. Tap Payments & subscriptions
- 4. Tap Subscriptions then Shutterstock
- 5. Tap Cancel subscription and confirm
What Happens After You Cancel Shutterstock?
Downloaded images remain licensed
Images you downloaded during your active subscription keep their license. You can continue using them in your projects according to the license terms, even after canceling.
Unused downloads are forfeited
Any remaining downloads in your monthly allocation are lost when your subscription ends. Use your remaining downloads before your plan expires.
Annual plans may have termination fees
If you are on an annual commitment plan and cancel early, Shutterstock may charge an early termination fee. The fee is typically the remainder of your contract at a discounted rate. Monthly plans do not have this issue.
Your account remains active
Your Shutterstock account is not deleted. You can still browse the library, create lightboxes, and resubscribe at any time. You just cannot download new images without a plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shutterstock early termination fee?
Annual commitment plans may charge an early cancellation fee equal to a percentage of the remaining contract value. The exact amount depends on your plan and how many months remain. Monthly plans have no termination fee.
Can I switch from annual to monthly instead of canceling?
You may be able to switch to a monthly plan at the end of your annual commitment. Contact Shutterstock support or check your subscription settings for plan change options.
Do I keep my download history?
Yes. Your download history remains in your account. If you need to re-download a previously licensed image, you can resubscribe and access it from your download history.
Can I cancel Shutterstock by phone or email?
Shutterstock may require you to cancel through their website or chat support. Phone cancellation may not always be available. Start by going to your account subscription page online.
Are there free alternatives to Shutterstock?
Yes. Free stock image sites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay offer high-quality images for free. However, they have smaller libraries and may not offer the same editorial or video content.
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