Cancel Istock: Easy Method

What is Istock

Overview

Istock is a stock content service that sells photos, illustrations, vectors, videos and music under licence. It is part of the Getty Images family and targets individuals and businesses needing licensed creative assets.

Main offerings

Istock offers subscription plans (monthly or annual), credit packs for pay-per-use downloads, and free trial options for new customers. Licensing covers commercial and editorial uses according to iStock terms.

How to cancel Istock

Cancel a web subscription (annual or monthly)

• Sign in to your account at iStock.
• Go to Account settings > Subscriptions or Overview page.
• Turn off Auto-renew to stop future renewals. Note: turning off auto-renew does not cancel the current contracted term.
• If you are within a contracted annual term, you generally cannot cancel before the term ends unless local law requires it.

Cancel a free trial (web)

• From the Overview page select “Cancel free trial” before the free trial month ends.
• If you prefer, contact iStock support requesting trial cancellation; keep records of the request.
• Downloaded assets during the free trial remain licensed to you even after cancellation.

Contacting support

• Use the iStock help or support pages to submit a ticket; include account email and order details.
• If cancellation via the site is unclear, request confirmation in writing (email) so you have proof of the request.

What happens when you cancel

Access after cancellation

If you cancel a subscription during an active paid term, you typically retain access until the end of that paid period. For non-renewed accounts, access ends when the billing period finishes.

Renewal and billing

Turning off auto-renew prevents future billing but does not stop charges for the current contracted term. Annual contracts generally remain active for the full year unless local laws permit earlier termination.

Account data and downloads

Downloaded files and licence records remain yours per licence terms. You should save invoices and licence receipts before account changes for future proof of purchase and rights.

Will I get a refund?

Subscriptions and credit packs

Istock’s policy: no refunds for monthly or annual subscriptions or credit packs unless local law requires a refund. Expect refunds only in limited circumstances.

Free trial and conversion to paid

• If your trial converts to a paid annual subscription you may face administrative fees and limited refund options.
• If you downloaded no content during trial and paid period, you may be eligible for a refund in some cases.
• If you downloaded content during trial or paid period, refunds are commonly denied and administrative fees may apply.

File downloads and technical issues

Downloaded files are generally non-refundable and non-recreditable. Refunds for file issues may be considered only for technical faults at iStock’s discretion.

Istock plans and pricing

Plans table

Pricing notes

Prices shown are in EUR and were converted from USD. Exact billing currency and amounts may vary by region and account settings.

Users in Nigeria are often billed in USD unless they select an EU billing region. Check your invoice for the charged currency and exchange details.

Your consumer rights in Nigeria

iStock policy for Nigeria

Istock does not specify a statutory cooling-off or refund right for Nigeria in its public policy. The company’s default stance is no refunds except where local law requires them.

Local law and practical steps

If you believe Nigerian consumer protection law applies, document your case and contact iStock support. Consider seeking local legal advice or contacting a consumer protection agency if needed.

Customer experiences

Positive feedback

Many users praise the quality and variety of images and creative assets available on iStock. High-quality editorial and commercial content is a frequently noted benefit.

Common complaints

Negative reviews often cite difficulty cancelling subscriptions, unexpected charges after trials, aggressive auto-renew billing, and slow or unhelpful customer service.

Specific issues include being charged despite cancelling, administrative fees after trial conversion, and denial of refunds when a single image was downloaded during trial.

Documentation checklist

For cancellations

• Account email address and username.
• Subscription ID or plan name and last four digits of payment method.
• Screenshot or confirmation showing auto-renew was turned off (if applicable).

For refund disputes

• Order numbers, invoices and billing receipts.
• Evidence of downloads (or proof of no downloads) during trial/paid period.
• Copies of any communication with iStock support and time-stamped screenshots.

Common mistakes

Cancellation timing errors

Many users assume turning off auto-renew cancels the current term. In reality, auto-renew off prevents future renewal but does not stop charges for the active contracted period.

Refund and download misunderstandings

Downloading even one asset during a free trial can often remove eligibility for a refund. Users sometimes assume trial cancellation later will still qualify for a refund despite downloads.

Communication and record keeping

Not keeping written confirmation of cancellation requests is a frequent error. Always save emails, screenshots and support ticket numbers to support any future dispute.

Comparative recap

Summary table

Quick takeaways

• Turn off auto-renew early if you do not want another term, but expect access to continue until the paid period ends.
• Cancel free trials before the trial ends to avoid conversion; avoid downloading if you hope to keep refund options.

After cancelling

Immediate actions

• Save licence receipts, invoices and any download confirmations for your records.
• Export account billing history and take screenshots of subscription status showing cancellation or auto-renew off.

Help and further steps

If you need help, contact iStock support via the help centre: iStock Help.

For billing disputes, provide documented evidence and request written confirmation of any refund or closure decision from iStock support.

Address

Registered address

iStockphoto Inc.

1240 20 Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 1M8

Postal contact guidance

If you plan to send postal correspondence, include account identifiers and a concise summary of your request. Allow time for processing and keep copies of everything you send.