Royalties

Selling Stock Has Never Been Easier

iStockphoto pays contributors a base royalty rate of 15% for each file download and up to 45% for exclusive contributors. Files are licensed three ways:

Pay As You Go

When someone licenses your content using a credit card or their PayPal account, you earn your royalty based on the net amount paid to download your image.

iStock Credits

When your content is licensed with iStock Credits, you earn your royalty based on the net value of the credits used to download your image.

Subscriptions

We pay your royalty level based on how much of the subscriber's daily limit was used to download your file, with a minimum value of $0.65.

How Much Does a Non-Exclusive Contributor Make?

iStock pays royalty rates of between 15%-20% to its non-exclusive contributors. For more information please see the royalty schedule

How Do I Get Paid?

iStock pays in U.S. dollars. You can convert your earnings to iStock credits at any time at a 1-1 ratio. When your account balance reaches $100 USD, you can submit a payment request which is payable in one of the following three payment methods:

Curious About the Full Royalty Structure?

See iStockphoto's royalty schedule.

Exclusive Contributors Make Up to 45%

If you're eligible for exclusivity, your royalty rate can reach up to 45%. To become an exclusive photographer or illustrator, you must have 250 downloads and a minimum 50% approval rating, or 500 downloads. Audio contributors can become exclusive after they reach 10 downloads. Video contributors are eligible for exclusivity immediately. Once eligible, contributors must apply to join the exclusivity program.

Build Your Reputation

Every time one of your files is downloaded your Canister icon gets a little closer to the next level. The number of files you can upload to iStock each week increases as your Canister level moves up.

Shoot for higher canister levels

Photographers:

Illustrators:

Flash artists:

Videographers:

Sound artists: