If you want to create content nowadays, you won’t be able to do it by just looking for keywords on Google Images as that imagery usually doesn’t have any uniqueness along with an extremely high chance of getting that image flagged with copyright. This makes designers and content creators change their old tactics and imagery sources. Right now there’s only one simple rule if you want to have good imagery for your content, and that is using free photo banks.
Nevertheless, until what point are they actually free? Which one of them is functional and worth it? You will find that out right here, and right now, if you keep reading.
Pixabay
- Website: https://pixabay.com/;
- Registration: Not needed.
- Formats available: png, jpg, eps, ai;
- Amount of photos: 1.9+ Million;
- Types: illustrations, photos, vector graphics, along with music and animations;
Pixabay is the most popular free photo bank available. It is distinguished by two main features, its incredibly huge imagery database and diversity. At your service aren’t just mere pictures and illustrations, but several effects that will allow you to decorate the imagery.
A little tip: Pixabay’s search engine is mostly designed to work in the English language, along with that, a few of the images have been taken down to be used as illustrations.
Free Images
- Website: https://www.freeimages.com
- Registration: Not needed for the 40% of the imagery available, you need to activate your account for the percentage left.
- Formats available: png, jpg, eps.
- Amount of photos: More than 300K.
- Types: Incredibly filled with photos and illustrations.
Free Images is a general platform that doesn’t really have any specialization. Nevertheless, this is not the best free photo stock platform, mainly because more than 50% of the imagery is restricted under a free royalty license. Meaning that you will have to pay for the image if you want to use it for commercial use, although, we recommend you to buy the imagery on sets, as it’s cheaper.
However, the platform offers you a lot of possibilities, for example, you can edit the photos directly in the window, add effects to it, choose the size, or compress them.
Stockvault
- Website: https://www.stockvault.net
- Registration:: Partially needed.
- Formats available: png, eps, ai, jpg, cdd;
- Amount of photos: More than 140K;
- Types: Mainly illustrations, low amount of photos, but there are a lot of photos in the collections.
Not the biggest free photo bank available, but it has an interesting imagery database. Along with that, all the imagery is in high resolution. Meaning that there isn’t really a difference in quality between paid and free content. Commercial content operates under a standard license with direct purchase and is royalty-free.
We recommend using this platform for searching entire series for large articles or other purposes.
Pexels
- Website: https://www.pexels.com/
- Registration: Not needed.
- Formats available: Basically all of them.
- Amount of photos: More than 400K.
- Types: Photos, and even short and long videos.
This is a free photo bank with a separate section for paid commercial imagery. It has a lot of content and it’s completely divided by categories and sections. There are also collections of imagery that aren’t just divided by topics or niches but by authors. Try to focus on the author’s rating when you’re looking for good photographs.
The platforms have works from professionals, students, and amateurs on designing and photography, so the quality of the content might differ a lot.
ISO Republic
- Website: https://isorepublic.com
- Registration: Needed for downloading.
- Formats available: Mainly JPG and PNG.
- Amount of photos: More than 200K.
- Types: Videos, photos, and animations.
This free photo bank also has some paid functions, having entire separate collections for commercial use. The free imagery is limited in quantity (the limit depends on the account), and you won’t be able to download the image in its highest resolution.
Nevertheless, is an effective free photo stock platform. Especially if you need individual illustrations. Bear in mind that editing is limited, but it is available in the app.
PicJumbo
- Official website: https://picjumbo.com
- Registration: Useful but not needed.
- Formats available: Png, eps, dem, Jpg;
- Amount of photos: More than 100K
- Types: Illustrations, pictures, and effects.
If you’re looking for free photo stocks with no copyright, then this is a good fit. Just a few of the imagery is under a paid license. And even in the collections, there are a few free examples you can take.
Editing on the basic plan is too limited, and we don’t really recommend their search engine, focus on the categories and tags instead.
Bear in mind that you can just use the free imagery, but if you want to support the authors, you can donate them directly and you’ll be helping the author to keep bringing up quality imagery for you to use.