Cancel Shutterstock the easy way

Overview

Shutterstock is a stock content platform that sells licensed images, video and music for commercial and editorial use. The company supplies assets to businesses, media organisations and creators through subscriptions, on-demand packs and enterprise integrations.

Key services

Shutterstock provides licensed stock images, editorial content, video clips, music tracks and an API for integrations. The platform targets professional use by organisations and individual creators.

Company facts

Web cancellation (if available)

1. Sign in to your Shutterstock account at the account page.
2. Open Billing or Subscription settings and locate the active plan.
3. If a Cancel button is visible, follow the on-screen prompts to cancel and save any confirmation text or screenshot.
4. If no cancel option exists, use the Help Center or contact support as described below.

Cancel on iOS (Apple-managed subscriptions)

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap your name.
2. Tap Subscriptions, find Shutterstock and tap Cancel Subscription.
3. Keep the Apple confirmation email or screenshot as proof.

Cancel on Android (Google Play-managed subscriptions)

1. Open Google Play Store on your device and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap Payments and subscriptions then Subscriptions, select Shutterstock, then Cancel subscription.
3. Save your Google Play confirmation receipt.

Cancel by phone

1. Locate Shutterstock support phone details in your account or on the Help Center.
2. Call and request cancellation; ask for a reference number and confirmation email.
3. If phone details are not published, use the postal option below.

Cancel by email or web form

1. Use the Shutterstock Help Center contact form or recorded support email to send a cancellation request with account email and full name.
2. Request written confirmation and a final invoice showing no future charges.

Cancel by post (registered letter)

1. Write a signed letter including account email, full name, subscription ID, and the explicit statement: "I request cancellation of my Shutterstock subscription."
2. Send by registered post to Shutterstock, 4 Borough High Street, SE1 9QQ LONDON, United Kingdom and keep the proof of delivery.

For help articles see Shutterstock's support hub: Can I get a refund if I cancel my plan?

Cooling-off period (changed mind)

If you bought a Shutterstock subscription online in the UK, you have a 14 day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. To exercise it, tell Shutterstock you cancel within 14 days of concluding the contract and request a refund. If you agreed to immediate digital content delivery and lost the right, state that in your request. Refer to the Regulations: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

End of commitment

If your plan is a fixed 12 month contract reported in customer complaints, cancellation at the end of the fixed term should be allowed without penalty. Provide the subscription start date and request confirmation of non-renewal. Disputed automatic renewals can be escalated under UK consumer protections.

Price increase

If Shutterstock increases the price mid-contract without a contractual right to do so, you can argue for cancellation. Gather billing statements showing the price change and request cancellation and refund. The CMA treats unclear auto-renewal or unfair price hike practices as potential breaches of consumer law.

Death of subscriber

If the account holder has died, submit a copy of the death certificate and a clear written request from the executor or next of kin asking for account termination and refund of any unused period. Shutterstock's specific process is not published; use the postal address above for formal requests and keep proof of posting.

Moving abroad

Moving location is not an automatic statutory right to cancel a subscription under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. You can request cancellation on compassionate or practical grounds and include proof of move such as a utility bill or tenancy agreement; Shutterstock's acceptance is not publicly published.

Legitimate ground or service failure

If Shutterstock fails to provide the service with reasonable care and skill, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies. Provide screenshots or evidence of faults, copies of support tickets and ask for contract termination and refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Before you cancel - negotiate

Research does not report specific retention offers Shutterstock routinely makes. Customer reports focus on difficulty cancelling and early fees rather than retention discounts. When you contact support, request a downgrade, pause, or a retention discount; ask for any offer in writing before accepting.

What cancellation saves you - yearly saving examples

Shutterstock published GBP subscription pricing is not publicly disclosed in the research data. Example competitor pricing you can compare to is below to estimate savings from cancelling Shutterstock.

Example alternative 1 - Adobe Stock Standard 10 assets monthly plan: £29.99 per month. Calculation: 29.99 x 12 = £359.88 per year.

Example alternative 2 - Depositphotos 10 images per month plan: £9.99 per month. Calculation: 9.99 x 12 = £119.88 per year.

Example alternative 3 - Unsplash: free (no subscription fee). Calculation: 0 x 12 = £0 per year.

Choose the alternative that fits usage. If Shutterstock billed you an annual fee you want to avoid, cancelling and switching to Depositphotos at £9.99 per month would save the difference between Shutterstock annual cost and £119.88 per year.

Key UK laws

Your rights for online subscriptions in the UK include the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 - 14 day cooling-off period for distance contracts and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for services requiring reasonable care and skill. See the Regulations here: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

Auto-renewal and hard-to-cancel subscriptions

The Competition and Markets Authority flags hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms as potential unfair practices. If you face an unfair early cancellation penalty, the Consumer Rights Act 2015's unfair terms protections may apply.

How to escalate

Step 1 - Complain to Shutterstock in writing and request written resolution. Step 2 - If unresolved, contact Citizens Advice for guidance: Cancelling a service you arranged. Step 3 - Use your card issuer for chargeback or Section 75 claim for qualifying card payments. Step 4 - Report unfair practices to the CMA or consumer protection bodies.

Recent enforcement

The US Federal Trade Commission settled allegations against Shutterstock in 2026 about cancellation practices; see the FTC release here: FTC press release on Shutterstock 2026 settlement.

Confirm access and final billing

After cancellation, keep the written confirmation and final invoice showing no future renewals. Check the billing statement for any recurring charges during the next billing cycle and dispute any unauthorised charges with your card issuer.

Download and backup assets

If you have licensed content, download any required assets and save license records before cancellation if you need them for future use. Licensing terms generally survive cancellation for already licensed items.

Data and account re-activation

If you want to reactivate later, sign in to your account and follow re-activation steps. Keep copies of any correspondence about refunds or credits in case of later disputes.

Follow this checklist to cancel and protect yourself.

• Locate your account email and subscription ID.
• Attempt cancellation via account settings; save screenshots or confirmation text.
• If using Apple or Google billing, cancel via Apple Subscriptions or Google Play and save receipts.
• If no online option, send a signed registered letter to Shutterstock, 4 Borough High Street, SE1 9QQ LONDON, United Kingdom and keep proof of delivery.
• Request written confirmation and final invoice showing no future charges.
• If charged after cancellation, start a chargeback with your card issuer and keep correspondence.
• If Shutterstock refuses fair cancellation, contact Citizens Advice and consider reporting to the CMA or using legal remedies under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.