Alamy taking 80% commission — is it still worth selling there?
Hi everyone,
I’ve been selling stock photography on Alamy for a while, and I recently noticed something that honestly surprised me.
I’ve made several sales on Alamy, totaling around $190 USD, but after commissions/charges, only about $41 USD of that has gone to my balance. My account currently shows an 80% commission for Alamy / 20% for the contributor.
My cleared balance has also been sitting around $49 USD for more than six months, and because it hasn’t reached the payment threshold, I still haven’t received a payout. I recently made three additional sales, but the majority of that money is still not cleared.
I understand that Alamy needs to take a percentage, and I’m aware that commission rates can depend on contributor levels and other factors. But 80% feels extremely high, especially compared with other stock agencies.
So I’d really like to hear from other contributors:
- Have you experienced the same 80/20 commission split?
- How long does it usually take you to reach the payment threshold?
- Do you still consider Alamy worthwhile in 2026?
- Have your earnings on Alamy improved over time?
- Are there ways to move into a better commission tier?
- Do you think the current commission structure is fair for contributors?
I’m not necessarily trying to criticize Alamy. I’m genuinely trying to figure out whether it makes sense to continue investing time in uploading and maintaining a portfolio there.
For those who have been selling on Alamy for several years: would you continue uploading there, or would you focus your efforts on other agencies?
Thanks!