Table of Contents

    How to Get a Shutterstock Refund

    The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Shutterstock Refund (shutterstock.com)
    By
    Angelique. P
    |
    Published
    June 20, 2025
    |
    Updated
    July 1, 2025

    Overview

    Shutterstock is a company that offers a huge collection of creative content like photos, videos, and music all in one place. They have over 450 million items made by a large community of creators. People can use Shutterstock to find and download images, video clips, music tracks, and even 3D assets for all kinds of projects. They also have helpful tools and services to make creating and working with this content easy and fun. Basically, Shutterstock is like a one-stop shop for anyone needing cool and high-quality visuals and sounds for their creative work.

    Difficulty

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    The information from Shutterstock's official about page clearly explains their main services in a simple and straightforward way. It matches the needs of explaining to a consumer what Shutterstock offers without using technical business jargon.

    How to Get a Shutterstock Refund: Step by Step

    If you purchased through Shutterstock.com (Direct Card Purchase):

    1. Log in to your Shutterstock account at shutterstock.com.
    2. Scroll to the bottom of the Shutterstock Help Center page and locate the contact information.
    3. Call Shutterstock Support at +1 918-230-7629 (US) to request a refund for your membership or subscription.
    4. When speaking to the representative, mention that your subscription renewed without explicit notice or that your account was unused to increase refund approval chances.
    5. Follow any instructions provided by the representative to finalize the refund process.

    How to Contact Shutterstock

    If you need assistance, here’s how you can get in touch with Shutterstock support team:
    Get help with your refund
    Thank you! Your submission has been received!
    Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
    “This app saved me $127 in minutes”

    Tips and Tricks for Getting a Shutterstock Refund

    • Contact customer support promptly and be polite but firm; some users report cancellations within minutes if done quickly.
    • Use clear, concise language explaining your reason without hostility; mention you didn’t intend to continue the subscription if applicable.
    • Leverage your rights if possible, for example, some mention a California law requiring online cancellation of automatic renewals and use VPNs to appear from California to cancel online.
    • Attempt proactive payment methods such as adding a gift card or a virtual card with near-zero balance to avoid unwanted charges.
    • If support is unresponsive or refuses refund, consider disputing the charge with your bank or credit card company; ensure you are truthful in your dispute.
    • If threatened with fees or complications, complain firmly about the difficult cancellation process; some users mention threatening or referencing legal action as a last resort may work.
    • Timing matters: Contact support immediately after an unwanted charge or as close to subscription renewal as possible; early and quick action improves chances of refund.
    • Document all communications and keep records of emails, chats, or support tickets to escalate if needed.
    • Be persistent and escalate politely, asking to speak to supervisors if initial reps refuse refunds.
    • Offer immediate remediation if applicable, for example, clarifying no misuse in licensing disputes, which may de-escalate conflicts and smooth refund process.

    Why Do People Request Refunds from Shutterstock

    • No downloads made: Refunds processed when customers did not download any content after purchase.
    • Subscription auto-renewal without notice: Customers request refunds when annual subscriptions renew automatically without proper notification.
    • Unauthorized subscription enrollments: Refunds sought due to enrollments without customer consent causing unexpected charges.
    • Misleading advertising and unclear pricing: Complaints about confusing credit systems and pricing leading to refund requests.
    • High cancellation fees: Customers dispute the fairness of 50% early cancellation fees and request refunds.
    • Disputes over charges: Payment disputes and refund chargebacks often result in refund requests and account issues.
    • Customer service issues: Refunds requested due to poor customer support and refusal to assist with refund disputes.

    Shutterstock Refund Script

    Script
    Copy
    Hello Shutterstock Support,

    I hope this message finds you well. I recently noticed a billing issue with my account that resulted in an accidental charge. I believe this may have been a mistake as I did not intend to make any additional purchases at this time.

    I would greatly appreciate your assistance in processing a refund for this charge. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.

    Best regards,

    Shutterstock Refund Policy

    Shutterstock's refund policy states that they typically do not issue refunds once a purchase is completed, except when required by law. However, they may provide refunds for customers from the European Union and other specific cases, but generally, all sales are considered final after 14 days or once a plan is used.

    The Easiest Way to Get a Shutterstock Refund

    If you’re frustrated trying to get a refund from Shutterstock—or if you didn’t even realize you were being charged—Chargeback can help. Chargeback is a personal subscription manager that automatically detects hidden, recurring charges like Netflix, Hulu, and hundreds of others. With one click, we can cancel unwanted subscriptions, flag suspicious billing, and even initiate refund requests on your behalf. No more waiting on hold or navigating confusing help pages. Just connect your bank or card account, and we’ll take care of the rest.

    Start reclaiming your money today with Chargeback

    Get help with your refund
    Thank you! Your submission has been received!
    Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
    “This app saved me $127 in minutes”

    Editorial Note: These articles reflect the opinions of Chargeback's writers. Everyone's situation is unique; therefore, it is important to conduct your own research and note that our self-help tools are not guaranteed to help with any specific problem.