Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 changes this month
Pond5 3.1Silver 45 pts
The largest marketplace for stock video footage, also covering music and sound effects. Contributors set prices on footage and keep a revenue share.
Good for PhotographersVideo editors and animatorsMusicians and producers
- Free to joinNo sign-up fee
- Open worldwideWorldwide
- Easy sign-upQuick profile or ID check
- Pays via PayPal+2 more ways to get paid
- Work from homeOnline, from anywhere
- Since
- 2006 20 yrs
Based in- New York, United States
- Web rank
- #17,053 worldwide
Can you join Pond5?
Answer two questions and we check them against Pond5's sign-up rules.
Pick your country and age then press Check. Your answer shows here and in “Can I join?” below.
Pond5 is a stock video marketplace where anyone can register to start earning, and the work can be done remotely. Fees are 30% royalty (40% exclusive video), the minimum payout is $25, earnings are typically paid out monthly on the 15th and you can withdraw via PayPal, Payoneer and Bank transfer. Founded in 2006, Pond5 is based in New York, United States. It is available worldwide.
Last updated
Getting paid
What the platform takes, when you get your money and how
Not verified yet: Payment protection Know the answer? Tell us
From the published fees above, before payment-processing, currency or withdrawal charges. Work out your own amount →
What people actually earn on Pond5
Sourced figures from the platform, filings and independent studies
Figures published by Pond5 or by independent studies and surveys, as dated. Individual earnings vary widely.
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
2 updates · latest Nov 1, 2026
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
Every change we make to this listing, with the official page we checked. Recent updates across all platforms →
How complete is this profile?
We have 11 of the 17 things we track for every platform. Fees, payouts, join rules, countries and real earnings count most.
- Plain-English overview
- Payment protection
- Review ratings
- Support channels
- Mobile apps
- Social accounts
- What kind of platform it is
- Year founded
- Headquarters
- Fees
- Minimum payout
- How fast you get paid
- Withdrawal methods
- Join requirements
- Countries it accepts
- Real earnings figures
- Wikipedia or reference page
Every fact is checked against the platform's own pages. How we check →
Our rating
Worked out from the facts on this page, the same way for every platform
Strong on access and track record. Weaker on fees.
- Fees1.5
- Getting paid2.8
- Access4.8
- Track record4.0
- Proof of earnings2.5
Not a review of service quality: a score from verified fees, payouts, access, track record and earnings data. How the rating works
Achievements
45 of 100 points from 6 of 14 achievements, Silver tier. Earned from verified facts, never paid for
Open worldwideAccepts people from almost every country+10
Why it matters Most earning platforms only take people from a handful of countries. This one lets almost anyone join.
How we check The platform's own terms or sign-up pages say it accepts people worldwide, with no more than eight countries left out.
Pond5 Worldwide
Every platform with this badge →Free to joinNo fee to sign up+5
Why it matters Paying to join is a red flag on many work sites. This one costs nothing to start.
How we check The platform's sign-up and pricing pages show no fee to register as an earner.
Pond5 free
Every platform with this badge →Clear feesPublishes its cut as a percentage+5
Why it matters You can work out what you keep before you start.
How we check The platform publishes its cut as a percentage on its pricing or help pages, which we record as a range when it is tiered.
Pond5 30–40%
Every platform with this badge →10 years runningFounded at least 10 years ago+5
Why it matters Platforms that have lasted a decade are less likely to vanish with your balance.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 10 years ago.
Pond5 Founded 2006
Every platform with this badge →20 years runningFounded at least 20 years ago+5
Why it matters Two decades of paying people is a strong track record.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 20 years ago.
Pond5 Founded 2006
Every platform with this badge →Fully documentedFees, payouts, countries and company details all verified+15
Why it matters Everything you need to decide is verified here, not left as guesswork.
How we check Fees, payouts, minimum payout, who can join and the company details are all recorded from official pages.
Every platform with this badge →Verified earningsA sourced figure for what people earn or are paid there10
Why it matters You can judge the pay from a real number instead of the platform's own promises.
How we check We need a figure for what earners are paid, earn typically, or how many people earn, with a link to the filing, pay page or study it came from.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Pond5.
Every platform with this badge →Low cutTakes 10% or less of what you earn10
Why it matters More of every payment reaches you. Many marketplaces take 20% or more.
How we check The highest percentage the platform names in its published fees is 10% or less.
Pond5 30–40%
Every platform with this badge →Low payout barLets you cash out $10 or less5
Why it matters Small earnings are not left stuck in your account waiting for a high threshold.
How we check The platform's published minimum withdrawal is $10 or less, or it has no minimum.
Pond5 $25
Every platform with this badge →Fast payoutsPays out instantly, daily or on demand5
Why it matters Money arrives when you need it, not weeks later.
How we check The platform says payouts are instant, same-day, daily or on demand.
Pond5 Monthly on the 15th
Every platform with this badge →Payment protectionHolds or guarantees payment before you work10
Why it matters Something stops you working for nothing, such as client money held before the work starts.
How we check The platform publishes how it protects earners' payments: escrow, guaranteed pay or a dispute process.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Pond5.
Every platform with this badge →Loved appA mobile app rated 4.5 or higher5
Why it matters A well-rated app usually means smooth day-to-day work and fewer payout problems.
How we check The platform's app is rated 4.5 or higher on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Pond5.
Every platform with this badge →Top 10K websiteAmong the world's 10,000 most visited sites (Tranco)5
Why it matters Big platforms have more clients and buyers, and a lot to lose from treating earners badly.
How we check The site ranks in the world's 10,000 most visited on the Tranco list, a research-grade ranking.
Pond5 #17,053 worldwide
Every platform with this badge →Public companyListed on a stock exchange, with audited filings5
Why it matters Listed companies publish audited accounts, so their finances and risks are public.
How we check The company has a stock ticker on a public exchange, with filings we can read.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Pond5.
Every platform with this badge →
How achievements and tiers work · Open any badge for the details
Can I join Pond5?
Age, countries, equipment and how sign-up works
Yes.
Your profile is reviewed before you start. First payout: 30+ days.
Enter your country and age in the quick check and we will tell you here whether Pond5 accepts you. Your answers stay on your device.
Check with my countryWe have not verified which countries Pond5 accepts yet.
No special equipment listed.
- Sign upFree
- Quick profile or ID reviewBefore you can start
- Do your first workJobs, tasks or sales
- First payout30+ days
Good to know: Earnings are paid on the 15th of each month once you reach $25, via PayPal, Skrill or Payoneer.
Pond5's official requirements ↗Every platform you can join →
How Pond5 compares
Against similar platforms in our directory
Not enough comparable data yet to rank Pond5 against similar platforms.
Compared with the stock marketplaces in our directory. See them all →
Is Pond5 legit?
What we could verify about the company
Pond5 is a real, operating platform. What we could verify:
- Operating since 2006 (20 years)
- Headquartered in New York, United States
- Has a Wikipedia article
- Its domain pond5.com was registered in 2005 (registry record)
- Among the world's top 100,000 websites by traffic (Tranco rank #17,053)
Listing last updated October 2026 · how we verify platforms · Missing or out of date? Tell us
Pond5 in public records
Company filings, web traffic and app store data
- Website rank
- #17,053 worldwideAmong the top 100,000 sites (pond5.com)
- Domain registered
- Jan 2005pond5.com, 21 years ago
Sources: Tranco · RDAP registry. Retrieved October 29, 2026.
Pond5 timeline
Founding, funding, milestones and news
-
Founded
Pond5 founded
Headquarters today: New York, United States
-
Milestone
40% exclusive royalty
Pond5 video artists who go exclusive earn a 40% royalty share, up to 70% with its Referral Program, per the official contributor portal.
Source ↗ -
On FreelanceSites
Added to the FreelanceSites.net directory
Checked against its official pages before listing.
From the platform's own reports and press coverage we checked, plus company records on Wikidata. Know a milestone we're missing? Tell us
Guides
Step-by-step help for this platform
No step-by-step guide for Pond5 yet. Browse all guides or find the right way to earn for you.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Pond5
How much does Pond5 charge?
Pond5 fees: 30% royalty (40% exclusive video).
How do you get paid on Pond5?
Pond5 pays out via PayPal, Payoneer and Bank transfer. Minimum payout: $25. Timing: Monthly on the 15th.
Which countries is Pond5 available in?
Worldwide.
Is Pond5 legit?
Yes, Pond5 is a real, operating platform: operating since 2006 (20 years), headquartered in New York, United States and has a Wikipedia article. As with any platform, check its current terms before relying on it for income.
What are the best Pond5 alternatives?
Similar platforms include Freepik, Dreamstime, Alamy and Depositphotos. Compare their fees and payouts in the alternatives section below.
Compare Pond5 with…
Pond5 alternatives
More stock marketplaces like Shutterstock
FreepikA Spanish graphic resources platform whose contributor program pays for vectors, photos, PSDs, and AI-generated content based on downloads.
Fees 50% revenue share per downloadfreepik.com
DreamstimeOne of the oldest stock photo communities, with royalties that rise as an image sells more. Open contributor sign-up with image review.
Fees 25-50% royalty, up to 60% exclusivedreamstime.com
AlamyA UK stock agency known for paying contributors some of the highest royalty shares in the industry, with an unedited collection of hundreds of millions of images.
Fees 20-50% commission by tieralamy.com
DepositphotosA stock content marketplace with 200+ million files, paying contributors per download with levels based on portfolio performance.
Fees 30-38% royalty by leveldepositphotos.com
Adobe StockThe stock marketplace built into Creative Cloud, where contributors sell photos, illustrations, vectors, and video to millions of Adobe users. Uploads are reviewed and earn a royalty per license.
Fees 33% royalty on images, 35% on videostock.adobe.com
ShutterstockOne of the largest stock content marketplaces, with open contributor sign-up for photos, vectors, video, and music. Contributors earn royalties every time their work is licensed.
Fees Royalties 15%-40% by contributor levelshutterstock.com