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Stock footage earnings calculator
Estimate a year of video sales on Shutterstock, Adobe Stock and Pond5 with each agency's published royalty rates, including Shutterstock's yearly levels. Enter your own sales and prices.
/ Estimated yearly earnings
$950
- Shutterstock
- $240
- Adobe Stock (35%)
- $560
- Pond5 (30%)
- $150
Shutterstock, level by level
| Level | Licenses | Share | Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 15% | $30 |
| 2 | 40 | 20% | $160 |
| 3 | 10 | 25% | $50 |
The starting numbers are examples to show how the calculator works, not typical earnings. Enter your own sales. Prices vary by license type and buyer plan.
The royalty rates behind the calculator
| Agency | Your share for video | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock | 15% to 40% | Six levels by video licenses sold in the calendar year, reset on January 1 |
| Adobe Stock | 35% of the net price | Photos, vectors and illustrations earn 33% |
| Pond5 | 30% non-exclusive, 40% exclusive | Tiered video prices, where your price is one factor among several; paid on the 15th from $25 |
| Level | Video licenses in the year | Your share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to 10 | 15% |
| 2 | 11 to 50 | 20% |
| 3 | 51 to 250 | 25% |
| 4 | 251 to 5,000 | 30% |
| 5 | 5,001 to 25,000 | 35% |
| 6 | More than 25,000 | 40% |
Reading the estimate
The result is only as good as the numbers you enter. Use your sales reports for the license counts and average prices. If you are starting out, the calculator is more useful for comparing agencies than for predicting income: the same sale earns 15% at Shutterstock level 1 and 35% at Adobe Stock.
For a side-by-side view of Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, read Shutterstock vs Adobe Stock for video. For where else to sell, see the best sites to sell stock footage.
Rules this tool applies
Official agency pages. Rules change: when in doubt, the agency's own page wins.
- [1]Shutterstock contributor earnings (payouts)Page without a date, read on 11 October 2026.
- [2]Adobe Stock: Royalty rates for assets · page updated 13 Jul 2026
- [3]Pond5: Payout overviewPage without a date, read on 11 October 2026.
- [4]Pond5: Tagging and pricing your filesPage without a date, read on 11 October 2026.
Questions
How much does Shutterstock pay per video?
A share of each license price, from 15% to 40%. The share depends on how many video licenses you sold in the calendar year, and the count resets on January 1.
How much does Adobe Stock pay contributors for video?
35% of the net price of each video license, according to Adobe's royalty page. Photos, vectors and illustrations earn 33%.
How much does Pond5 pay?
30% of each video sale for non-exclusive contributors and 40% for exclusive ones. Payouts go out on the 15th of each month once your balance reaches $25.
Why do I have to enter the average price myself?
License prices vary with the license type and the buyer's plan, and agencies do not publish an average. Your own sales history is the only reliable figure.
Does the Shutterstock level apply to all my sales retroactively?
No. Each license is paid at the level you have reached when it sells. The calculator counts your licenses in order through the levels.