Dreamstime
Dreamstime is a vast royalty-free stock image, illustration, video & audio marketplace—with hundreds of millions of assets, flexible pricing and contributor-driven submissions. It’s ideal for creators, authors or marketers looking to licence visual and media content quickly and affordably.
What is Dreamstime?
Dreamstime is a royalty-free stock marketplace offering photos, illustrations, vectors, and footage. Use advanced filters to discover on-brand visuals for listings, ads, blogs, and packaging. For POD sellers, Dreamstime can supply background images, patterns, and artwork—licensed for commercial use when you choose the correct license.
Includes: Photos, illustrations, vectors, editorial images, footage (select audio)
Cost: Credits (pay-per-download) or subscriptions
Skill Level: Beginner–pro (download & use immediately)
File Types: JPG/PNG (raster), EPS/SVG (vectors), MP4 (footage)
Workflow: Search → preview (watermarked) → license → download
Key Features
Huge Library & Filters
Refine by orientation, colors, people, releases, keywords, and more to find exactly what you need.
Vectors for Print
Download scalable EPS/SVG artwork that stays crisp on tees, posters, and large formats.
Flexible Pricing
Choose subscriptions for volume or credits for one-offs; multiple sizes to fit your use case.
Editorial & Commercial
Access both model-/property-released (commercial) and editorial-only imagery for news and blogs.
Lightboxes & Teams
Save sets of candidates, share with collaborators, and keep projects organized.
Freebies & Deals
Browse rotating free images and periodic discounts to stretch your creative budget.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Large, diverse catalog of commercial and editorial assets
- Strong search tools and similar-image recommendations
- Vector options ideal for print quality
- Credit packs or subscriptions to match workflow
Cons
- Popular images can feel generic without customization
- Extended licenses for merchandise can add cost
- Editorial assets are not allowed for products or ads
Best For
POD sellers and marketers who need dependable stock visuals for backgrounds, patterns, lifestyle scenes, and design elements—especially when vector files are preferred for high-quality print.
Pricing & Access
Pick subscriptions for consistent volume (lowest cost per file) or buy credits for occasional needs. Download only the size you require; larger files cost more credits.
Licensing & POD Use
Standard royalty-free licenses cover web, ads, and most packaging/print uses with quantity limits. For merchandise for resale (POD), many assets require an Extended/Enhanced license; editorial images cannot be used on products or in ads. Always review the license on the file’s page and keep records of your purchase.
Where Dreamstime Fits in Your POD Stack
Treat Dreamstime as your asset library for backgrounds, textures, and illustrations. Pair with Canva/Kittl for editing, Placeit/Smartmockups for product visuals, and your marketplace (Etsy/Amazon/Shopify) for publishing.