Finding high-quality images for your projects without breaking the bank can be challenging. Fortunately, numerous free stock photo websites offer extensive collections of professional images that can be used for personal and commercial purposes. Here’s a detailed look at some of the best free stock photo websites available today.
Unsplash
Unsplash has grown from a small Tumblr blog to one of the most popular free stock photo sites in the world, offering over 3 million high-resolution images.
Pros:
- Exceptionally high-quality, artistic photographs
- Simple and elegant user interface
- All photos are free for commercial and non-commercial use
- No attribution required (though appreciated)
- Regular updates with new photos daily
- Powerful search functionality and curated collections
Cons:
- Limited selection of business-oriented or specific niche images
- Popular photos are used widely, potentially reducing uniqueness
- No vector graphics or illustrations
Pexels
Pexels offers a vast library of free stock photos and videos that can be used for both personal and commercial projects.
Pros:
- Large selection of high-quality images and videos
- User-friendly interface with excellent search capabilities
- Simple licensing (all photos can be used commercially)
- Curated collections and trending searches
- API available for developers
- No attribution required
Cons:
- Less artistic variety compared to Unsplash
- Some images appear on multiple free photo sites
- Limited advanced search filters
Pixabay
Pixabay hosts over 2.6 million high-quality stock images, videos, music, and illustrations, all released free of copyright restrictions.
Pros:
- Diverse content including photos, illustrations, vectors, and videos
- Large international community of contributors
- Available in multiple languages
- Advanced search filters
- No attribution required
- Images for virtually every topic
Cons:
- Quality can be inconsistent
- Some images have a slightly dated aesthetic
- Sponsored Shutterstock images appear in search results (requiring payment)
StockSnap.io
StockSnap offers a large collection of beautiful free stock photos with hundreds of new images added weekly.
Pros:
- High-resolution, high-quality images
- New photos added daily
- No attribution required
- Convenient search functionality
- View trending and popular photos easily
- Track views and downloads for each photo
Cons:
- Smaller library compared to major sites like Unsplash or Pexels
- Less frequent updates than some competitors
- Limited specialized categories
Burst by Shopify
Burst is a free stock photo platform powered by Shopify, specifically designed to help entrepreneurs create websites, marketing campaigns, and social media content.
Pros:
- Business-focused collections ideal for e-commerce
- High-resolution, contemporary images
- Includes business case studies with photos
- All images can be used commercially
- No attribution required
Cons:
- Smaller library than major stock photo sites
- Limited to photography (no vectors or illustrations)
- Less diverse content outside of business categories
Gratisography
Gratisography offers free high-resolution pictures with a unique, whimsical style that stands out from other stock photo sites.
Pros:
- Truly unique, quirky, and creative images
- All photos taken by the same photographer (Ryan McGuire)
- High-resolution quality
- No attribution required
- Ideal for projects needing distinctive imagery
Cons:
- Very small library compared to other sites
- Limited search functionality
- Not ideal for conventional business usage
- Infrequent updates
Kaboompics
Kaboompics offers free high-quality stock photos with a focus on lifestyle, interior design, and complementary color palettes.
Pros:
- High-quality images with consistent aesthetic
- Color palette provided with each photo
- Detailed categorization
- Related photos easily accessible
- Good for interior, fashion, and lifestyle content
Cons:
- Smaller collection compared to major platforms
- All photos by one photographer (limits variety)
- Less ideal for business-specific imagery
Website: Kaboompics
New Old Stock
New Old Stock provides vintage photos from public archives free of known copyright restrictions.
Pros:
- Unique collection of authentic vintage photographs
- Historical value and distinctive aesthetic
- No attribution required for most images
- Great for historical projects or vintage aesthetics
Cons:
- Limited search functionality
- No contemporary images
- Smaller collection
- Less consistent image quality (due to age)
- Some images may have unclear copyright status
Life of Pix
Life of Pix offers free high-resolution photos with no copyright restrictions, created by the LEEROY creative agency and its network of photographers.
Pros:
- High artistic quality
- Weekly new photo additions
- Carefully curated collection
- Complementary video site (Life of Vids)
- No attribution required
Cons:
- Smaller library than major sites
- Less extensive search capabilities
- Limited category selection
Reshot
Reshot focuses on providing distinctive, non-stocky free images specifically designed for startups, designers, and creators.
Pros:
- Handpicked, unique images that avoid clichéd stock photo looks
- Simple, clean interface
- All photos free for commercial use
- Quick download without registration
- Good search functionality
Cons:
- Smaller image library
- Less comprehensive category coverage
- Newer platform with growing collection
Tips for Using Free Stock Photos
- Check licenses carefully: Even with “free” sites, always verify the specific license terms.
- Consider attribution: Though often not required, crediting photographers is good practice.
- Modify images: Make stock photos your own by cropping, filtering, or adding text.
- Combine resources: Use multiple sites to find the perfect image for your project.
- Download in appropriate resolution: Select the right size for your specific use case.
- Be cautious with images of people: Some may require model releases for certain uses.
By leveraging these free stock photo websites, you can enhance your projects with professional visuals without incurring additional costs.
