Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Shutterstock VS Matterbase

Compare Shutterstock VS Matterbase and see what are their differences

Shutterstock logo Shutterstock

Shutterstock is a provider of stock photos, illustrations, and vector art. The website allows individuals to purchase a subscription and download copyrighted art for creative projects. Read more about Shutterstock.

Matterbase logo Matterbase

Material sourcing and specification software for interior designers and architects. Create material boards, spec sheets, and client presentations in one platform.
  • Shutterstock Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-20
  • Matterbase Project management
    Project management //
    2026-01-16
  • Matterbase Material board
    Material board //
    2026-01-16
  • Matterbase Specification tools
    Specification tools //
    2026-01-16
  • Matterbase AI rendering canvas
    AI rendering canvas //
    2026-01-16

Matterbase is a comprehensive, cloud-based platform designed to revolutionize the material sourcing and specification workflow for interior designers and architects. Built to eliminate the time-consuming administrative tasks associated with FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) management, Matterbase allows design professionals to shift their focus from tedious data entry back to creative design.

The platform centralizes the entire material process, starting with its intuitive Material Board feature. Designers can use simple drag-and-drop functionality to build photorealistic mood boards from a vast, constantly updated library of materials, furniture, lighting, and hardware. Crucially, every item placed on the board is instantly linked to the Specification Schedule, which updates in real-time. This seamless integration removes manual data entry, drastically reducing errors and ensuring that project specifications are always accurate and ready for procurement.

A key differentiator is the Matter AI Rendering Canvas, which allows users to generate and edit high-quality design visualizations directly within the platform. By leveraging Matter AI, designers can quickly apply their selected materials and mood boards to concept renderings, accelerating client presentations and design iteration cycles. This feature transforms the process of collecting inspiration and assembling presentation materials into a fluid, integrated experience.

Matterbase is trusted by design studios of all sizes to manage their projects from initial research to final specification. By providing a single source of truth for all material data, Matterbase empowers designers to spec smarter, collaborate more effectively, and ultimately, spend less time on paperwork and more time on impactful design.

Shutterstock

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

Matterbase

$ Details
freemium $25.0 / Monthly (Plus)
Release Date
2026 January
Startup details
Country
Hong Kong

Shutterstock features and specs

  • Large Library
    Shutterstock offers millions of high-quality images, videos, and music tracks, providing a diverse and extensive selection for users.
  • Search Functionality
    Advanced search and filtering options make it easy to find exactly what you're looking for quickly.
  • Flexible Pricing Plans
    A variety of subscription plans and on-demand options allow users to select a payment method that fits their budget and needs.
  • High-Quality Content
    Stringent quality controls ensure that users have access to professional and high-resolution media.
  • Royalty-Free License
    All content is royalty-free, providing users with the peace of mind of knowing they can use the media without ongoing costs.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those who are not tech-savvy.
  • API Access
    Shutterstock provides API access for businesses that need to integrate media directly into their own applications.

Possible disadvantages of Shutterstock

  • Cost
    Shutterstock can be relatively expensive, especially for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets.
  • Subscription Limitations
    Some subscription plans have limits on the number of downloads per month, which can be restrictive for high-demand users.
  • Stock Feel
    Some users feel that the images and videos can have a 'stock' or generic appearance, which may not suit all creative projects.
  • Watermarked Previews
    Previews of media assets have watermarks, making it difficult to fully assess an image's suitability before purchase.
  • Occasional Inconsistency
    Despite quality controls, there can be occasional inconsistency in the quality of available media.
  • Overused Content
    Popular images and videos may be widely used across multiple platforms, reducing originality in projects.
  • Complex Licensing for Commercial Use
    While content is royalty-free, licensing terms for commercial use can sometimes be complex and require careful review.

Matterbase features and specs

  • Material Board Creation
    Create photorealistic design mood boards using simple drag-and-drop functionality.
  • Real-Time Specification Schedules
    Automatically generate and update project specification schedules based on material board selections, eliminating manual data entry.
  • Matter AI Rendering Canvas
    Generate and edit high-quality design renderings using Matter AI, applying selected materials and mood boards instantly.
  • Online Material Library
    Access a vast, constantly updated library of materials, furniture, lighting, and hardware ready for specification.
  • FF&E Management
    All-in-one platform for managing Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment data from research to final specification.
  • Cloud-Based Collaboration
    Secure, cloud-hosted platform allowing design teams to collaborate on projects and specifications from anywhere.

Analysis of Shutterstock

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Shutterstock is considered a good resource for individuals and businesses seeking diverse and quality digital media assets.

Why this product is good

  • Shutterstock provides a vast collection of high-quality images, videos, and music tracks, catering to a wide range of creative and commercial needs. It offers flexible licensing options and easy-to-use tools for editing and customizing content. The platform is known for its reliability and the comprehensiveness of its library.

Recommended for

  • Graphic designers looking for stock images and vectors.
  • Content creators needing royalty-free music and video clips.
  • Marketing professionals seeking visuals for campaigns.
  • Web developers requiring images for websites and mobile apps.
  • Businesses of all sizes in need of customizable and scalable media solutions.

Analysis of Matterbase

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified, up-to-date information about a specific product or service called 'Matterbase' at matterbase.com, so I can't confirm whether it's good or provide an accurate assessment. I'd be fabricating details if I tried to review it without reliable data.

Why this product is good

  • Unable to verify the existence or current offerings of this specific website
  • No confirmed details on features, pricing, or user reviews
  • Recommend checking the site directly, looking at recent user reviews on independent platforms, and verifying company legitimacy before use

Recommended for

  • Users should independently research and verify this service before making any decisions, such as checking domain registration info, looking for reviews on trusted third-party sites, and testing any free trial cautiously

Shutterstock videos

How Much Money Can You Make on SHUTTERSTOCK in Your First Year? Earnings, Best Sellers, and Thoughts

More videos:

  • Review - Stock Photography for Beginners | Is Shutterstock Worth it in 2020?
  • Tutorial - Shutterstock Contributor Tutorial and Tips for Beginners

Matterbase videos

No Matterbase videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Shutterstock and Matterbase)
Image Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Photos & Graphics
100 100%
0% 0
Interior Design
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Shutterstock and Matterbase.

What makes your product unique?

Matterbase's answer:

Matterbase is unique for its seamless, real-time integration of creative and administrative workflows. It is the only platform that instantly links photorealistic material boards to a live specification schedule, and includes an integrated Matter AI for on-the-fly design rendering. This unification eliminates manual data transfer and external tools.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Matterbase's answer:

Choose Matterbase for its modern, visual-first approach and powerful AI. Unlike spreadsheet-heavy competitors, Matterbase provides an intuitive design environment that automates specification and includes built-in AI rendering, saving designers significant time on manual data entry and external visualization work. Itโ€™s a design tool, not just a database.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Matterbase's answer:

The primary audience is professional interior designers, architects, and design-build firms. It serves both solo practitioners and mid-to-large studios that require a single, reliable platform to manage complex material specifications and maintain team-wide consistency from concept to procurement.

What's the story behind your product?

Matterbase's answer:

Matterbase was founded to solve the fragmentation in the design workflow. Tired of designers juggling multiple tools (mood boards, spreadsheets, rendering software), the founders created a unified "smart sourcing" ecosystem. The goal was to build a single platform where data flows naturally from initial inspiration to final procurement, all accelerated by modern AI.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Shutterstock and Matterbase

Shutterstock Reviews

12 Best Sites Like Freepik For Downloading Photos
You must have heard of Shutterstock before and if not, itโ€™s high time that we make it familiar to you. Headquartered in New York, Shutterstock is one of the biggest such websites out there. More than 1 million users worldwide share their content on the platform. More than 1 billion images, video clips, and music tracks have been downloaded through the platform. Also, stock...
Source: www.devdude.com
The best Freepik alternatives 2023
Shutterstock provides over 400 million stock images compared to Freepikโ€™s 41 million. It also offers more advanced features, flexible licensing options, and higher maximum image resolutions. The drawback is that Shutterstock is more expensive. But with its vastly larger library and premium features, it can be worth it for professional needs.
Source: photutorial.com
The Complete List of Video Marketing Tools (Updated for 2022)
Shutterstock is arguably the largest stock-anything site with more than 14 million stock footage, music, and images available in their library. If you know youโ€™re going to need many stock content, you canโ€™t go wrong with Shutterstock.

Matterbase Reviews

We have no reviews of Matterbase yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Shutterstock seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 19 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Shutterstock mentions (19)

  • [HELP!] I need your feedback about my creations!
    Other reputable places to sell vector artwork online are shutterstock.com, and stock.adobe.com Each will have their own requirements and tutorials for submitting artwork. You can also start your own page on Etsy.com. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I just started my first freelance job. Am I expected to source my own stock photos or do I ask?
    "Freelance" means, "You're on your own, kid." However, all of the things you ask are possible--access to your client's assets, buy your own and bill them, source free images. shutterstock.com is one of my favorites. I was searching for free/royalty free images endlessly until I just bought a monthly subscription. The time savings makes up for the time spent scouring the internet. Good luck and have fun!... Source: over 3 years ago
  • "you coolio" is too offensive i guess
    Just found out the image had "shutterstock.com" on it. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Y2K Aesthetic - how do I create a Y2K computer browser?!
    Go to shutterstock.com and type in these exact keywords. Vaporwave, windows 98, y2k computer browser. You should get a ton of vector assets that will help cut your design time in half. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Where to find graphics like blood splatter, dirt, lightning etc. for use in photoshop?
    Look for royalty-free images. You may try shutterstock.com if you need more and are ok to make a subscription or unsplash.com if you want free images. Moreover you may try deviantart.com or google search for blood splatter. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

Matterbase mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Matterbase yet. Tracking of Matterbase recommendations started around Jan 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Shutterstock and Matterbase, you can also consider the following products

Adobe stock - Search Adobe Stock for millions of royalty-free stock images, photos, graphics, vectors, video footage and more. Try risk-free today. Homepage - Buy this stock .

Programa.Design - Purpose-built by and for interior designers, Programa removes headaches and distractions so you and your studio have the freedom to design.

Depositphotos - Depositphotos offers you over 50,000,000 stock photos and vector illustrations for as low as...

HomeDesigns.ai - AI-powered home design tool that transforms room photos into redesigned spaces. Visualize interior, exterior, and landscaping styles in seconds.

Pexels - Find the best free stock images about Browser Home Page. Download all photos and use them even for commercial projects.

ReRoom - interior design tool try ideas before hiring designers