Websites using Dreamstime

Okay, let s break down Dreamstime, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Dreamstime: Overview

• What it is: Dreamstime is a microstock agency providing royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, and audio files. They operate as an online marketplace where photographers and artists can sell their work and buyers can license these assets for commercial and personal use.
• Key Features:
  • Large Library: A vast collection of assets, with millions of images and other media.
  • Royalty-Free Licensing: Images are typically offered under a royalty-free license, meaning you pay a one-time fee for the right to use the image in multiple projects without paying additional royalties each time.
  • Subscription and Credit Options: They offer both subscription plans for regular users and credit packs for occasional needs.
  • Contributor Community: A platform for photographers and illustrators to earn money from their work.
  • Advanced Search: Tools for searching specific images, including filters for orientation, category, number of people, etc.
  • Editorial Use: Offers images suitable for editorial purposes (news, commentary, etc.).
  • AI Image Generator: Recent addition, allowing users to generate images using AI.

Revenue (Estimated)

• Dreamstime is a privately held company, so exact revenue figures are not publicly available. However, industry estimates suggest they are a significant player in the microstock market, generating tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue. They are considered to be a mid-tier stock photo agency in terms of market share and revenue compared to industry leaders like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.

Alternatives to Dreamstime

Here s a list of popular alternatives, categorized by their strengths:

• Major Players (Large Libraries, Wide Variety):

  • Shutterstock: One of the largest stock photo agencies, known for its extensive collection and competitive pricing.
  • Adobe Stock: Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud; offers high-quality images and tight integration with Adobe software.
  • Getty Images: Known for high-end, premium stock photography and editorial content. Often more expensive than microstock agencies.
  • iStockphoto (Getty Images Subsidiary): Offers a mix of exclusive and non-exclusive stock photos at various price points.

• Mid-Range Options (Good Balance of Price and Quality):

  • Depositphotos: Similar to Dreamstime, offering a good selection of images at reasonable prices.
  • 123RF: Provides a wide range of stock assets, including photos, vectors, and videos.
  • Pond5: Strong in video and audio content, but also offers a large selection of photos and illustrations.

• Free Stock Photo Sites (Limited Selection, but Useful for Budget Projects):

  • Unsplash: High-quality, free photos contributed by photographers.
  • Pexels: Another popular source for free stock photos and videos.
  • Pixabay: Offers a wide variety of free images, videos, and music.
  • Note: Always check the licensing terms on free stock photo sites, as they can vary. Attribution may be required.

• Niche Stock Photo Sites:

  • Consider niche sites if you need very specific types of images (e.g., food photography, travel photography). A simple web search will help you identify these.

Pricing

Dreamstime offers two main pricing models:

1. Subscriptions:

   • Variable: Price depends on the number of images you need per month and the length of the subscription.
   • Common Examples (Illustrative - Check Dreamstime for Current Pricing):
     • A small subscription (e.g., 5 images per month) might cost around $25-$35 per month.
     • A larger subscription (e.g., 25+ images per month) could be in the $100-$200+ range.
   • Benefits: Cost-effective for regular users.
   • Drawbacks: Use it or lose it – unused downloads may not roll over.

2. Credit Packs:

   • Variable: You purchase a pack of credits, and each image costs a certain number of credits. Credit packs are priced according to the number of credits you buy.
   • Benefits: Good for occasional users who don t need a subscription. Credits often don t expire for a year or more.
   • Drawbacks: Can be more expensive than subscriptions if you download images frequently.

Important Pricing Considerations:

• Image Size/Resolution: Some agencies (including Dreamstime) may charge more credits for larger image sizes or higher resolutions. Check the details before you download.
• Extended Licenses: If you need to use an image in a way that goes beyond the standard royalty-free license (e.g., for merchandise, large print runs, or sensitive uses), you may need to purchase an extended license, which will cost extra.
• Promotions and Discounts: Dreamstime often runs promotions and offers discounts, especially for new customers. Look for these deals.

Customer Care Details

• Website: The primary source of information is their website: www.dreamstime.com
• Help Center/FAQ: They have a comprehensive Help Center (often linked in the footer of the website) with answers to common questions about licensing, accounts, payments, and technical issues. Start here for self-service support.
• Contact Form/Email Support: They typically offer a contact form or email address for submitting inquiries. Look for a Contact Us or Support link.
• Live Chat: Some stock photo agencies offer live chat support, but I couldn t confirm if Dreamstime specifically offers this.
• Phone Support: Dreamstime doesn t generally advertise a direct phone number for customer support on their website. They primarily rely on online support channels.
• Social Media: You might be able to get assistance through their social media channels (e.g., Facebook, Twitter/X), although this is not their primary support method.
• Response Times: Expect response times to vary depending on the complexity of your request and their current support volume. Simple inquiries may be answered relatively quickly, while more complex issues may take longer.
• Community Forums/Blogs: Check if they have community forums or blogs where you can find answers to common questions or get help from other users.

To get the most up-to-date and accurate customer care information, I strongly recommend visiting the official Dreamstime website and looking for their Contact Us or Support page. The information provided there will be the most reliable.