₹2,500/mo
Free trial
Compared with iStock
- Starts ₹500/mo higher (₹2,500/mo vs ₹2,000/mo)
Design tools · Alternatives
Best iStock alternatives in India (2026)
iStock is a design tools product from Getty Images, Calgary, priced at ₹2,000/mo. We compared 20 alternatives on published price, free plan, platforms and made-in-India support: 0 have a free plan, 1 are built in India, and 11 start cheaper or free.
Quick answer
The closest alternatives to iStock are Shutterstock (₹2,500/mo), CorelDRAW (₹2,000/mo), Adobe Illustrator (₹1,700/mo), Adobe InDesign (₹1,700/mo) and Axure RP (₹2,000/mo). Published prices in this list start at ₹800/month.
Why businesses look for a iStock alternative
Cost
iStock starts at ₹2,000/mo. 11 alternatives start lower or have a free plan.
Indian support and GST
iStock is built in Canada. 1 alternatives are made in India, where GST, TDS and UPI are usually handled natively and support runs on IST.
A mobile app
iStock does not list an Android app. 1 alternatives do.
iStock alternatives compared
Ranked by how closely each product matches iStock's category, pricing model, platforms and business size, then by rating. Prices exclude GST.
| # | Software | Starting price | Free plan | Platforms | Made in India | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | iStock (current) | ₹2,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | — |
| 1 | Shutterstock | ₹2,500/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 2 |  CorelDRAW | ₹2,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.5/5 | |
| 3 |  Adobe Illustrator | ₹1,700/mo | No | Web | No | 4.5/5 | |
| 4 |  Adobe InDesign | ₹1,700/mo | No | Web | No | 4.5/5 | |
| 5 |  Axure RP | ₹2,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 6 |  Proto.io | ₹2,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 7 |  Sketch | ₹900/mo | No | Web | No | 4.5/5 | |
| 8 |  Adobe Photoshop | ₹1,700/mo | No | Web | No | 4.5/5 | |
| 9 |  Envato Elements | ₹1,500/mo | No | Web | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 10 |  Tailor Brands | ₹800/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 11 |  Balsamiq | ₹800/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 12 |  Brandmark | ₹2,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 13 |  Looka | ₹1,600/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 14 |  Designs.ai | ₹2,400/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 15 |  Placeit | ₹800/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 16 |  Capture One | ₹1,800/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 17 |  Affinity Photo | ₹6,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 18 |  Affinity Designer | ₹6,000/mo | No | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 19 |  Lightroom | ₹800/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 20 |  Indian Type Foundry | Pay as you go | No | Web | Yes | 4.5/5 |
Top 10 iStock alternatives in detail
2. CorelDRAW
Alludo · Ottawa · Design tools · 4.5/5
Vector illustration suite popular in Indian print shops.
₹2,000/mo
Free trial
Compared with iStock
- Starts ₹300/mo cheaper (₹1,700/mo vs ₹2,000/mo)
₹1,700/mo
Free trial
Compared with iStock
- Starts ₹300/mo cheaper (₹1,700/mo vs ₹2,000/mo)
Compared with iStock
- Starts ₹1,100/mo cheaper (₹900/mo vs ₹2,000/mo)
₹1,700/mo
Free trial
Compared with iStock
- Starts ₹300/mo cheaper (₹1,700/mo vs ₹2,000/mo)
₹1,500/mo
Free trial
Compared with iStock
- Starts ₹500/mo cheaper (₹1,500/mo vs ₹2,000/mo)
₹800/mo
Free trial
Compared with iStock
- Starts ₹1,200/mo cheaper (₹800/mo vs ₹2,000/mo)
iStock alternatives by what you need
Cheaper than iStock
Indian alternatives to iStock
How to choose a iStock alternative
- Match the tool to the user: Canva for marketers, Figma for product teams, Adobe for professional creatives.
- Check brand-kit and template governance for teams.
- AI features are now standard — compare quality, not presence.
iStock alternatives — FAQs
What is the best alternative to iStock in 2026?+
The closest matches to iStock on App Advisor are Shutterstock (₹2,500/mo), CorelDRAW (₹2,000/mo), Adobe Illustrator (₹1,700/mo). They are ranked by how closely their category, pricing model, platforms and target business size match iStock, then by rating. The best choice depends on your team size and budget.
Is there a free alternative to iStock?+
None of the 20 closest alternatives to iStock has a free plan. Most offer a free trial instead, so ask for one before you commit.
What is the cheapest alternative to iStock?+
Among alternatives that publish a price, Tailor Brands starts lowest at ₹800/mo, compared with ₹2,000/mo for iStock. Prices are read from each vendor's website and exclude GST.
Is there an Indian alternative to iStock?+
Yes. 1 alternatives are built in India, including Indian Type Foundry (Pay as you go). Indian products usually handle GST, TDS and UPI natively and bill in rupees.
iStock vs Shutterstock: which is better?+
Shutterstock is the closest match to iStock in our catalogue. Key differences: Starts ₹500/mo higher (₹2,500/mo vs ₹2,000/mo). Compare them side by side before you book a demo.
How were these iStock alternatives chosen?+
Every product listed sits in design tools or a category iStock also covers, and Getty Images's own products are excluded. Prices, free plans and platforms come from each vendor's official website. App Advisor does not sell any of this software.
Free shortlist
Not sure which iStock alternative fits?
Tell us your team size and budget and we'll send a shortlist of three.
Related alternatives
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