Stock Sites That Accept AI Images: Submission Requirements and Earnings Compared

Images generated with artificial intelligence (AI) can be submitted for sale to stock sites that accept generative AI content, including Adobe Stock, Freepik's Magnific contributor service, Dreamstime, 123RF, and Vecteezy. However, AI labeling rules, restrictions on images of people, application reviews, and payout requirements differ by platform. This comparison is for contributors who want to sell AI images.

Can you sell AI images on stock sites?

Selling through a stock site generally means granting buyers a license to use an image and receiving a share of the revenue from the transaction or download. A contributor is a creator who submits content to the platform. For an introduction to stock sites and licenses, see our guide to stock content sites and image licensing.

A platform accepting AI submissions does not mean that every image will be approved. Contributor application review determines whether you can participate as a seller, while content review assesses each file's quality, rights, and metadata. Even when an approved image appears in search, actual downloads and earnings are a separate matter.

A site's own AI image generator and its acceptance of AI images from outside contributors are separate services. For example, Shutterstock offers AI generation tools but does not accept AI-generated content from contributors. Shutterstock's AI content policy explains this distinction.

Stock sites that accept AI images at a glance

The following five platforms explain their AI submission policies in official contributor documentation. This is a comparison of submission requirements; the order does not indicate a ranking. Also check the application screen for your account and the review standards for each content type.

A megapixel (MP) is one million pixels. For example, 3,000 pixels wide × 2,000 pixels high equals six million pixels, or 6MP. This differs from file size measured in megabytes (MB). Increasing the resolution does not guarantee approval if the resulting details look blurred or distorted.

Identical percentages can refer to different earnings calculations. Distinguish between a percentage of a transaction's net revenue, subscription revenue shared according to downloads, and a fixed payment per download. The amounts below are platform payout thresholds and may differ from the final amount deposited into your local bank account after taxes, payment service fees, and currency conversion.

The official links in the platform sections below explain the sources and exceptions for each row. Royalty rates alone cannot predict your actual income. The buyer's plan, how often your images are selected, and when you meet the payout requirements all matter.

Submission requirements and selling on each platform

Adobe Stock: check AI labels and content classification

You can join Adobe Stock Contributor with an existing Adobe account. The official requirements include being at least 18 years old and having an active email address, phone number, and payout method. Photos, vectors, illustrations, and other files must meet their respective technical requirements and pass review. The contributor registration guide explains what to prepare.

AI content requires the Created using generative AI tools label. Submit realistic images that could have been captured with a camera as Photos, and other generated images as Illustrations. For fictional people who look realistic but are not based on real individuals, check the People and Property are fictional option. Depictions of identifiable real people require checking the relevant release requirements. Generative AI content cannot be submitted to the Illustrative Editorial collection. The Adobe Stock generative AI FAQ explains these distinctions.

Files submitted as photos must be JPEGs with an sRGB color profile, a resolution of 4–100MP, and a maximum file size of 45MB. Vectors and transparent PNGs have separate specifications, so do not apply photo requirements to every file type. See the photo submission requirements for formats and dimensions.

Standard photos, vectors, and illustrations earn 33% of the net price per license. Custom agreements and non-standard plans may use different calculations. To request a payout, you need at least US$25 in earnings and must have waited 45 days since your first sale. Payoneer is the required payout provider for contributors in South Korea. Check both the official royalty rates and payout requirements.

On Adobe Stock, you also need to manage submission limits and files waiting for review. If uploading pauses or the submission button becomes unavailable, our guide to Adobe Stock upload limits and resuming submissions explains the possible causes and next steps.

Freepik / Magnific: prepare for the initial review and editable files

Freepik's contributor documentation and service currently direct users to Magnific Contributor. The official FAQ asks new contributors to submit 150–200 assets for their first review. Consider that preparation requirement if you want to test sales with only a handful of images. Submit photos as JPGs. Vectors require an Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file and a JPG preview with the same filename; PSD submissions require the editable file and a matching JPG preview. The contributor FAQ covers the initial review and file combinations.

Mark AI content using the upload screen's AI button or the _ai_generated tag in a CSV file. CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values: a text file that stores information such as filenames, titles, and keywords in a table for application to multiple files. Adding AI generated to the title is optional, but the AI tag is still required. EPS and PSD files containing AI elements also need to be labeled. Vector elements must be individually selectable and editable; avoid simple automatic tracing results or paths broken into tiny fragments. Follow the AI resource submission guidelines.

Earnings use a PPD (Pay Per Download) model that accounts for downloads and net subscription revenue. This differs from receiving a fixed percentage of a fixed sale price for each image. The FAQ lists payout thresholds of US$25 or €50 and payment through PayPal or Payoneer. Do not assume that reaching the threshold produces an immediate payment that month: also check the invoicing and subsequent payment schedule. These conditions are explained in the contributor FAQ linked above.

Dreamstime: restrictions on generated people's faces matter

The Dreamstime contributor guide explains how to register a free account and submit files. AI images must be JPGs with a minimum resolution of 3MP. Select the Illustrations & Clipart / Generative AI category and clearly disclose AI generation in the title or description.

Do not assume that realistic faces of generated people are accepted. The official AI guidelines restrict generated human faces and describe exceptions, such as cartoon or anime-style characters, back views with no visible face, and body parts without identifying features. Side views are not included in that exception. AI editorial content is also prohibited. If you plan to create people-centered images, start with the AI section of the contributor FAQ.

Ordinary non-exclusive transactions pay 25–50% of net revenue, while exclusive files and exclusive contributors have separate terms. You can request payment once your balance reaches US$100. The contributor FAQ lists payment methods including PayPal, Payoneer, and Skrill. Royalty rates and exclusivity are explained in the selling guide linked above. If you want to upload the same images elsewhere, review the agreement before choosing an exclusive option.

123RF: a dedicated AI category and earnings by contributor level

You can register as a seller through the 123RF contributor page. The official FAQ describes ID verification and an initial review of 10 images. Ordinary photo files must be JPEGs with at least 6MP, and the AI image guidelines also require a minimum of 6MP. Check the registration and file requirements FAQ.

AI images must be submitted to the Ai Generated Images category. Verify that your generation tool grants the rights needed to license the content to third parties, and ensure that the images do not infringe rights involving real people, trademarks, places, or property. Using real people's or brands' names in titles and keywords is also restricted. Avoid near-duplicate variations, broken text, watermarks, and distorted objects. The 123RF AI content guidelines include specific rejection examples.

Credit sales pay 30–60%, depending on your contributor level, while subscription downloads pay a fixed amount by level. This does not mean you receive 60% on every download. The official earnings table distinguishes the two calculations.

The contributor agreement sets minimum payouts at US$50 for PayPal or Payoneer and US$100 for Skrill. Payments are automatic once you have configured a payment method and met the threshold. Also check country availability and any separate fees charged by the payment provider.

Vecteezy: photorealistic AI photos and the right earnings program

The Vecteezy contributor application guide asks applicants to submit 10 of their best assets. Individual files must still meet the content standards after your account is approved. In the Add Data step, check AI-generated and select the program used to create the content.

AI photo content must be photorealistic; illustrated photo content is not accepted. If you used a real person's photo or name, check the model release requirements. If you used a reference image, check your rights to the original and the property release requirements. The guidelines state that releases are not required for content created from text prompts alone, but this does not permit trademark or copyright infringement. AI content cannot be submitted to the Editorial collection. Review the Vecteezy AI guidelines for your submission type.

The earnings programs are Pro and Free. According to the contributor application page, Pro uses a 50% subscription revenue share, while Free photos and vectors earn US$5 per 1,000 downloads. Buyers can download content free through the Free program while contributors receive separately calculated earnings. Check which program your files are approved for: Free download counts cannot simply be used to calculate Pro earnings.

Payments require at least US$25 after taxes and an approved tax form. Payment methods are PayPal or Payoneer. If you set a higher minimum payout threshold, that setting also affects when you receive payment. See the minimum payout threshold guide.

Major stock sites that do not accept AI submissions

Shutterstock does not accept AI-generated content from outside contributors. Its image generation service for customers operates separately from ordinary contributor submissions. Refer to the official AI content policy.

The contributor application guidance for Getty Images and iStock requests original content that has not been created or modified with generative AI. It distinguishes limited retouching of your own originals from generating or changing content with generative AI, so this should not be interpreted as a blanket prohibition on every editing tool with AI features. Check the permitted editing scope in the official contributor guide.

Alamy also prohibits content created with AI image generation tools. This is stated in the content provisions of its contributor agreement. Approval on another platform does not make the same file eligible for submission to these sites.

What to check before submitting

Metadata is information that describes an image, such as its title, description, and keywords. Manage this information and the rights requirements alongside image quality. The following sequence helps you account for differences between platforms.

1. Check your generation tool's resale permissions. Look beyond a statement that commercial use is allowed. Check whether the terms permit supplying the image to a stock platform for licensing to third parties. If you used a reference image, check its usage rights separately. Adobe's AI FAQ also makes contributors responsible for reviewing their generation tool's terms.
2. Match the image to the submission type. Distinguish photorealistic images, illustrated images, editable vectors, and transparent-background assets, then check the destination site's format and resolution requirements. Changing a JPEG filename's extension to EPS does not create an editable vector.
3. Inspect quality at the original size. Zoom in to check hands, faces, object structures, broken text, repeated patterns, edges, and backgrounds. Exclude or fix images with problems, and review similar versions for sufficiently different compositions and uses. The Adobe, 123RF, and Vecteezy guidelines linked above explain generated-image quality and restrictions on similar submissions.
4. Apply each site's AI labels, titles, and keywords. Do not reuse one platform's CSV unchanged on another. Match the categories and mandatory AI tags. For example, AI wording in the title is optional on Magnific, but Dreamstime requires disclosure in the title or description. Do not add people, brands, or places absent from the image merely to gain search visibility.
5. Keep payout and submission records. Check country-specific payment methods, tax forms, and minimum balances. Keep records of filenames, tools, prompts, reference materials, submission sites, and review results. If content is rejected, read the reason and check the site's resubmission rules first. Vecteezy specifically states that content rejected for Technical Quality cannot be resubmitted.

Creating an image with AI does not automatically resolve rights involving people, trademarks, or existing works. It also does not mean every generated person requires a release. Consider whether real people or reference materials were used, whether the subject is entirely fictional, and which platform and content type you are submitting to.

Which stock site should you start with?

If you are starting out, narrow the options by your image type and the preparation required to apply. The following suggestions are based on the submission requirements above; they do not rank platforms by sales or income.

• To create a few images at a time and learn individual file review: Start by reviewing the registration and submission processes on Adobe Stock and Dreamstime. Apply Dreamstime's generated-face restrictions before preparing people images.
• If you have editable vectors or PSDs and enough initial assets: Review Magnific's application requirements and file functionality standards. Prepare assets with distinct uses instead of repetitive variations merely to meet the submission count.
• If your main focus is photorealistic AI images: Compare the photo requirements on Adobe Stock and Vecteezy. Vecteezy restricts illustrated photo content, so do not assume you can submit fantasy illustrations under the same content type.
• To sell the same images on multiple sites: Check non-exclusive agreements and file-level exclusivity options. Vecteezy describes its contributor program as non-exclusive, and the 123RF FAQ also permits selling through other stock sites. Review Dreamstime's exclusive-file and exclusive-contributor options separately.

For example, if you create an image of a futuristic city without people, first decide whether it is photorealistic or illustrated and choose a platform that accepts that type. Then check resolution, trademarks, and visual errors before applying the site's AI labels and metadata. Start with one or two platforms, record approval and rejection reasons and the time spent preparing submissions, and expand to more sales channels as your capacity to manage them grows.