Images: Low Cost Images

Adobe Stock has monthly subscription plans, but also allows you to buy credit packs if you want to buy just a few images with either a standard or enhanced license.

iStock by Getty Images helps you tell stories with all kinds of visual clips. iStock has monthly subscription plans if you regularly need images, but they offer the option to simply buy an image when you need it. When you download a file, you get the standard license that lets you use the file for personal, business or commercial purposes. That means you can use the content in advertising, marketing, apps, websites, social media, TV and film, presentations, newspapers, magazines and books, and product packaging, among hundreds of other uses.

They provide symbols that are created and uploaded by graphic designers around the world. While basic icon downloads are free, additional features such as editing color are available for a small fee.

Shutterstock has monthly subscription plans, but also allows you to purchase limited packs (2 images, 5 images, 25 images) with standard or enhanced licenses so you can download images when you need them.