Author Topic: Adobe Stock Contributor Bonus 2025 (Read 3368 times)

JustAnImage · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2025, 10:32 »

Hello Raul,

Thank you for the information about the 2025 bonus program - it's great that it's taking place again!

In my case it was close this year with 7,175 countable downloads (6,497 images / 226 videos*3) - lucky me

Thanks, Michael

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2025, 12:02 »

I'm really disappointed - I no longer qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock.

I had fewer downloads in 2024 than 2023, so I was aware I'd probably slip back to the single app plan, which wasn't a big deal.

However, I never imagined there'd be such a big leap in the number of approved assets required to qualify - the last two years 20+ was enough to qualify as an active contributor.

I've never been a high volume contributor but only had 117 approved assets in 2024 which isn't enough.

I had 5739 downloads - that's where Adobe Stock makes 70% of what they llicense my content for, but that doesn't count for anything?

Right now I'm angry and thinking of closing my account, but I'll go away and try and calm down to think about what's in my best interests.

The flood of new content Adobe Stock has been accepting suggests they aren't short of new material. But some newbie who had 350 downloads the whole year gets the free software and I don't? And when you announce the program after the year is over, there's no chance to do anything to add some uploads?

It's just utterly disrespectful of contributors who make sales, IMO.

mike123 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2025, 12:37 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 15, 2025, 12:02

I'm really disappointed - I no longer qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock.

Same here, with over 6000 downloads and around 30 added files in 2024 I don't qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock. I only upload stuff that I think will sell - thus I never upload a lot of content and I think with a portfolio of < 1k assets and > 6k downloads I wasn't that wrong in the past.

The new bonus rules really prefer AI spammers. So this year I might simply upload a ton of ugly LCV cr*p from my phone, just to qualify for the 2026 bonus - if this is what Adobe wants us to do. $:-\$

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2025, 12:41 »

Quote from: mike123 on January 15, 2025, 12:37

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 15, 2025, 12:02
I'm really disappointed - I no longer qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock.

Same here, with over 6000 downloads and around 30 added files in 2024 I don't qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock. I only upload stuff that I think will sell - thus I never upload a lot of content and I think with a portfolio of < 1k assets and > 6k downloads I wasn't that wrong in the past.

The new bonus rules really prefer AI spammers. So for this year I might simply upload a ton of ugly LCV cr*p from my phone, just to qualify for the 2026 bonus - if this is what Adobe wants us to do. $:-\$

Oh nice how they make these up, without notice and drop the gift on us. It would have been nice to know the targets in advance.

Here are the details:

If you had between 350 and 6,999 downloads during the 2024 calendar year, you qualified to receive a complimentary code for a one-year plan for Creative Cloud Photography (20GB), Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, or After Effects.
If you had 7,000 or more downloads in 2024, you qualified to receive a complimentary code for a one-year plan for an Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps.
Only Contributors active in 2024 are eligible for the opportunity. To be considered active, you must have uploaded and had approved a minimum of 150 new assets.
Please note that video downloads are equal to 3 downloads in consideration of the qualification.
If you are eligible for the bonus opportunity you can expect to see the blue banner in the Contributor Portal with your redemption code on January 14, 2025.

Heck, I didn't keep count or try to make a quota. I can understand 350 DLs and being "active", but they changed the rules, without notice. Also they made it harder to get anything approved with the slow reviews and vague rejections for Quality Standards.

Downloads aren't a problem, but changing the new files requirement, blind is kind of a slap in the face.

Injustice for all · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2025, 12:49 »

I was somewhat expecting it,because I had already noticed a change in the minimum requirements from last year,perhaps I wasn't expecting this kind of difference,especially in the minimum number of approved contents.

In any case,I far exceeded the minimum requirements,and I already have the blue bar in my dashboard,before redeeming I will wait for the last day of the expiring plan.

Thank you!

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2025, 13:12 »

Quote from: mike123 on January 15, 2025, 12:37

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 15, 2025, 12:02
I'm really disappointed - I no longer qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock.

Same here, with over 6000 downloads and around 30 added files in 2024 I don't qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock. I only upload stuff that I think will sell - thus I never upload a lot of content and I think with a portfolio of < 1k assets and > 6k downloads I wasn't that wrong in the past.

The new bonus rules really prefer AI spammers. So this year I might simply upload a ton of ugly LCV cr*p from my phone, just to qualify for the 2026 bonus - if this is what Adobe wants us to do. $:-\$

Exactly my boat.

cobalt · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2025, 14:26 »

It would be really helpful if the requirements could be posted at the beginning of the year, not as an afterthought.

Would also motivate a lot more people.

I qualify easily for the full suite this year, so thank you very much from me!!!

But please consider „playing“ more fairly next time.

Why not announce what is needed in Dec 2025 for 2026?

Many good people upload slow and steady, no need to punish them or prefer the ai spammers.

I will upload a lot and hopefully never be without cc until I retire. If I ever retire.

PinHead · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2025, 14:50 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 15, 2025, 12:02

I'm really disappointed - I no longer qualify for anything free from Adobe Stock.

I had fewer downloads in 2024 than 2023, so I was aware I'd probably slip back to the single app plan, which wasn't a big deal.

However, I never imagined there'd be such a big leap in the number of approved assets required to qualify - the last two years 20+ was enough to qualify as an active contributor.

I've never been a high volume contributor but only had 117 approved assets in 2024 which isn't enough.

I had 5739 downloads - that's where Adobe Stock makes 70% of what they llicense my content for, but that doesn't count for anything?

Right now I'm angry and thinking of closing my account, but I'll go away and try and calm down to think about what's in my best interests.

The flood of new content Adobe Stock has been accepting suggests they aren't short of new material. But some newbie who had 350 downloads the whole year gets the free software and I don't? And when you announce the program after the year is over, there's no chance to do anything to add some uploads?

It's just utterly disrespectful of contributors who make sales, IMO.

Same as me, 120 clips approved for 2024...I am uploading only 3d animations (difficult to render, it takes a lot of time to make them)...1000 + downloads and NOT ELIGIBLE. Thank you Adobe for all the effort we put in

(

wordplanet · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2025, 15:41 »

Bummed as I had over 450 downloads, fewer than last year, but enough to qualify for the bonus ... except...

I have a relatively small portfolio with a little over 1,000 assets which I've built up slowly, adding 116 accepted assets this year. Wish I'd known in advance the change from 20 to 150 new assets as I would have concentrated my efforts on increasing my numbers to get another 34 online.

I've appreciated the free plan these past several years and the LR/PS combo is certainly worth paying for, but I'm really disappointed that the goalposts changed so drastically without any warning. Given the overwhelming number of new images on Adobe Stock and the crazy waiting times (I had some that took as much as 3 months to approve, and some that took a couple of days - never know what to expect) the change was really unexpected.

Please tell us in advance what we need to qualify for 2026. The bonus is a really nice perk.

gnirtS · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2025, 16:16 »

Quote from: cobalt on January 15, 2025, 14:26

It would be really helpful if the requirements could be posted at the beginning of the year, not as an afterthought.

This is fair, if its changing criteria, especially something users can do something about (ie number of uploads) it would be useful to know whats needed and how to get it.

The current setting means the mass text-prompt spam from Pakistan, Bangladesh etc where they submit 10,000 assets in a few months and just about scrape 350 sales will get it vs actual photo contributors who for whatever reason might have had a slow upload year BUT sold thousands of assets in the same calendar year.

Fairplay · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2025, 16:21 »

I had more than 6200 downloads and more than 20 approved assets = Nothing

Downloads going down, requirements going up???

Zero Talent · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2025, 18:59 »

About 190 assets uploaded and 14,277 downloads (excluding video downloads counted three times).

Glad to qualify for the full package, although besides Photoshop and Lightroom, I only use Adobe Encoder.

Nice!

f8 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 15, 2025, 20:11 »

Firstly, how can anyone get any content accepted with the extremely ridiculous long inspection times? It has become a joke.

Firstly (again) this totally stinks like a Getty/Istock manoeuvre of slowly upping the requirements to even get paid and slowly but surely nickel and diming us to death. Death by a thousand cuts.

Adobe is like any other corporation I suppose, sheer greed and solely for the benefit of its shareholders.

Don't forget kids, we are only a means to an end. Sooner than later we will for the most part be expendable to AI and ultimately this is the Adobe end game.

I got my bonus but I can see the writing on the wall.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2025, 20:19 »

Most of my 2190 downloads were video but probably just missed the 7000 download requirement.

Still I am very happy to receive the code for a single free app as it gives me one year of Premiere Pro to continue editing video.

However I do agree with comments here about the upload requirements as I currently have 100 contents sitting and waiting review with a couple over 2 to 3 months in queue.

Contributors of commercial photos / images and video do not have control over the lengthy review process times and we have expressed our concerns about this during the 2024 year, including (at least in my case) in response to the AS Contributor Survey in December.

Please consider the review process for contributors of non-AI content.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #15 on:** January 15, 2025, 20:20 »

Apologies, inadvertent double post.

Injustice for all · « **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2025, 02:12 »

my guess is that they don't know it in advance either,here's why they can't say it in advance.

I obviously can't know,but it's plausible to think that the minimum requirements for bonus contributors are calculated at the beginning of the new year,based on total uploads and total sales.

there will probably be a threshold of maximum number of software codes that can be given away for free,and this year the minimum requirements have increased quite a bit because in the last year more has been sold and much more has been uploaded than in previous years.

in fact,I suppose that they also tried to keep the minimum requirements as low as possible,but I don't see any reason why they don't communicate the minimum requirements in advance,so in my opinion the only explanation is the simplest:

Adobe can calculate and know the minimum requirements for the contributor bonus only at the beginning of the new year.

cobalt · « **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2025, 02:27 »

I doubt that they cannot make a simple prediction or at least an assumption of what requirements they have?

What would the worst case be, a few hundred too many people having a free licence for a year?

People who will be happy and motiivated…how horrible…

Injustice for all · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2025, 03:04 »

Cobalt,you know you have all my respect,but what are your doubts based on,or how do you know they can't make a simple prediction?

What do you think are the reasons why they don't communicate the minimum requirements in advance?

If they really wanted to,they wouldn't give free software to anyone.

In your opinion,if Adobe could,wouldn't communicate the minimum requirements in advance,at the beginning of the year?

for what obscure reason should they do so?

it is much more plausible to think that they don't know until the new year begins.

I'm also sorry that many long-time contributors have not received free software,but I just can't see the reason why Adobe can't communicate the minimum requirements in advance at the beginning of the year,so it's very,very likely that they simply can't,they don't know either until the beginning of the new year.

indeed,knowing Adobe,I believe that they will probably also look for a solution to this issue,to try to communicate these minimum requirements in advance if possible,but if it is possible to do it of course!

kuriouskat · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2025, 03:32 »

Well I qualify for the single app again, but the constant moving goalposts for all apps are really frustrating.

Every year I've fallen just below the threshold, as it moves higher and just beyond reach each time.

I've never been able to use the Adobe free offer, because I need more than one program. I pay monthly, year after year, and feel resentful that my near 1k uploads and 6k downloads in 2024, are not enough to get me anything I can use.

I guess we are getting used to the stock sites pulling the rug from under us.

angelacat · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2025, 03:37 »

If anyone does video or animation you can download Davinci Resolve. There is a *free* version that has plenty of functionality, the paid license for life is around $300.

Her Ugliness · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2025, 03:52 »

I think Adobe only wants to give out a fixed number of free licenses each year and that's why they do not tell us the requirements in advance.

Adobe softwear is still their main business, not stock images, they still want to sell licenses and earn money with it.

So let's say they want to give out 200.000 free licenses (I have absolutely no idea if that number is acurate, maybe it's just 10.000, maybe it's a million, I am just making up a random number), but if they determine the requirements from the start, like 'upload 30 new assets and have 5000 downloads" and suddenly, at the end of the year, it turnes out that 5 million people met the requirements, they will have to give out 5 million free licenses.

So they can only look at the numbers at the end of the year, see where the minimum lies so that they would only need to give out 200.000 free licenses and set the requirements there.

Of course that sucks for contributors who don't submit much, but have quality content that is in demand. From a "quality over quantity" point of view it doesn't even seem logical to tweak the upload requirement that much instead of the download requirement.

But the direction Adobe is going into with the mass of AI images is clearly "quantity over quality".

mike123 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2025, 04:02 »

Quote from: angelacat on January 16, 2025, 03:37

If anyone does video or animation you can download Davinci Resolve. There is a *free* version that has plenty of functionality, the paid license for life is around $300.

Second that.
I am planning on doing a lot of video work this year, which is new for me, and I was waiting to see if I'll get the free full Creative Suite plan to decide whether to learn Premiere Pro or Davinci Resolve (I would have qualified for the full plan with my current numbers and the goals from a year ago - now not getting anything with my 30 uploads in 2024

). So at least now it's clear - I will teach myself Davinci Resolve and not use any Adobe products for video production.

kuriouskat · « **Reply #23 on:** January 16, 2025, 04:43 »

Quote from: Her Ugliness on January 16, 2025, 03:52

But the direction Adobe is going into with the mass of AI images is clearly "quantity over quality".

I think that's exactly the problem. They will be giving free software to those who have uploaded 100s of images, and they only have to average a sale a day. Many won't even claim it, because they will produce via Midjourney or similar, then upscale with any number of free/paid tools, and never go near an Adobe product.

What looks generous from that end of the scale will probably not cost Adobe anything.

Quote from: mike123 on January 16, 2025, 04:02

Quote from: angelacat on January 16, 2025, 03:37
If anyone does video or animation you can download Davinci Resolve. There is a *free* version that has plenty of functionality, the paid license for life is around $300.
Second that.
I am planning on doing a lot of video work this year, which is new for me, and I was waiting to see if I'll get the free full Creative Suite plan to decide whether to learn Premiere Pro or Davinci Resolve (I would have qualified for the full plan with my current numbers and the goals from a year ago - now not getting anything with my 30 uploads in 2024 ). So at least now it's clear - I will teach myself Davinci Resolve and not use any Adobe products for video production.

I think I will also try Da Vinci for video, as I don't do much, and can't justify continued costs for the full Adobe suite, particularly after the recent price hikes. I'll take the free PS/LR combo, pay for Illustrator as one app, as I use it regularly, and switch to Da Vinci for footage processing.

cobalt · « **Reply #24 on:** January 16, 2025, 05:22 »

The fixed budget/number of licenses thing could be part of the reason why they announce retroactive.

But it only rewards the ai spammers and longtime experienced producers who have a good sales/port size ratio look like they are being left out.

The most important factor is the number of downloads.

If they give that number out in advance a lot more people will try to reach more downloads and have more sales.

Wouldn't that be a positive thing?

i.e. wouldn't any higher license number to give out be compensated by the sales?

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Adobe Stock Contributor Bonus 2025 (Read 3368 times)

Raul.Ceron

JustAnImage

Jo Ann Snover

mike123

Uncle Pete

Injustice for all

Sean Locke Photography

cobalt

PinHead

wordplanet

gnirtS

Fairplay

Zero Talent

f8

Pacesetter

Pacesetter

Injustice for all

cobalt

Injustice for all

kuriouskat

angelacat

Her Ugliness

mike123

kuriouskat

cobalt

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors