Updated for 2025 by Creative Photo Connect
Introduction
If you’re looking to maximize your photography earnings in 2025, chances are you’ve considered Alamy and Getty Images. Both are industry giants—yet the contributor experience, earning potential, and type of content that sells on each platform can be vastly different.
In this head-to-head comparison, we’ll break down the pros, cons, and realities of uploading your photos to Alamy versus Getty Images. Whether you’re an editorial shooter, a commercial artist, or somewhere in between, this guide will help you decide where your work belongs.
What Sets Alamy and Getty Apart?
Alamy has built a reputation for being contributor-friendly, highly inclusive, and home to the world’s broadest stock photo library. Known for minimal exclusivity requirements and generous royalty splits, Alamy is ideal for photographers who want freedom and variety.
Getty Images is the juggernaut of premium stock—known for ultra-strict curation, exclusive content deals, and supplying images to high-profile news, commercial, and creative outlets globally. It’s an aspirational platform for many pros, but not without its challenges.
Contributor Experience
Alamy
- Sign-up & Submission: Open to all, minimal barriers. Quick registration. No portfolio review required for new contributors—just pass a technical quality check.
- Exclusivity: You can upload non-exclusively. Images can be sold elsewhere.
- Upload Workflow: Drag-and-drop web uploader, simple keywording tools. Editorial and commercial content both welcome.
- Support: Direct email and responsive forums. Helpful contributor dashboard.
Getty Images
- Sign-up & Submission: Application required, with a portfolio review. Only a fraction of applicants are accepted.
- Exclusivity: Strongly encourages exclusive content (higher payout), but does allow non-exclusive under iStock.
- Upload Workflow: Proprietary system, slightly more complex. Strict metadata and keywording required. Content reviewed for technical AND creative standards.
- Support: Pro-level support, but more impersonal. Getty’s size can mean slower responses.
Payouts & Royalties
| Platform | Non-exclusive Royalty | Exclusive Royalty | Payout Threshold | Payment Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamy | 40% (photos) | 50% | $50/£30 | PayPal, bank, Skrill |
| Getty | 15-20% (non-excl. via iStock), 20% (Getty) | 25-45% | $100 (varies by region) | PayPal, bank |
- Alamy: One of the most generous non-exclusive splits in the industry. Fewer sales, but often higher single-image payouts (especially for editorial or niche work).
- Getty Images: Higher payouts possible for exclusive, high-demand images. Most contributors sell through iStock (owned by Getty), where royalty rates are lower.
Content Acceptance & Curation
Alamy
- What Sells: News, travel, landscape, conceptual, and niche subjects. Editorial work (real-life, unposed) accepted.
- Curation: Lower rejection rate. Focus on technical quality; creative/artistic content welcome.
- Editorial Sales: Breaking news and real-time uploads do very well.
Getty Images
- What Sells: Premium commercial concepts, lifestyle, and high-demand editorial. Clients expect polished, agency-grade work.
- Curation: High. Many rejections, especially for technical or creative misses. Portfolio must “fit” their needs.
- Editorial: Elite-level, but highly competitive. Used by top media outlets.
Pros & Cons Table
| Alamy | Getty Images | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | High royalties, open to all, accepts editorial/commercial | Access to premium clients, higher prices, pro status |
| Simple uploads, non-exclusive allowed | Exclusive deals, global exposure | |
| Cons | Fewer sales than microstock, slower payouts | Difficult acceptance, lower base royalty |
| Must handle own keywording/titles | Strict curation, high rejection rate |
Who Should Choose Alamy?
- New and intermediate photographers
- Those with unique, editorial, or niche images
- Contributors wanting to sell the same images across multiple platforms
- Photographers seeking a steady, low-pressure passive income stream
Who Should Choose Getty Images?
- Experienced photographers with a strong, polished portfolio
- Creators aiming for premium clients and commercial exposure
- Photographers comfortable with exclusivity and strict review processes
- Anyone wanting their work featured in major publications, advertising, and media
Verdict: Which Is Better in 2025?
Alamy is unbeatable for flexibility, creative freedom, and generous payouts—perfect if you want to maximize your library’s reach or test different markets. Getty Images remains the best bet for photographers who want to play at the industry’s highest level, but you’ll need to invest in portfolio curation and accept a tougher path to approval.
Pro tip: Many pros start with Alamy, build a portfolio and track record, then apply to Getty for exclusive deals when ready.
Explore More Stock Photo Options
Want to compare even more platforms? See our complete guide to the Best Stock Photo Sites for Photographers in 2025 for side-by-side reviews, payout info, and contributor tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which site pays more: Alamy or Getty Images?
A: Alamy offers higher percentage royalties for non-exclusive content, while Getty Images (especially via exclusivity) can lead to bigger, high-profile sales if you have the right portfolio.
Q: Is it easier to get accepted on Alamy or Getty?
A: Alamy is open to nearly everyone who passes their technical review; Getty Images is highly selective.
Q: Can I upload the same photos to both platforms?
A: Only if you choose non-exclusivity on both. Exclusive content on Getty cannot be sold elsewhere.
Q: Which site is better for editorial photography?
A: Both are strong. Alamy is less restrictive and faster to publish; Getty offers higher prestige and global news distribution.