Looking for FREE stock photos for your website or blog, but don’t know where to look?
Below, I’ve gathered 20 of my favorite resources for FREE stock photos online.
Let’s get right into it. I know as a busy business owner or blogger, you probably don’t have much time to waste.
And I can appreciate that.
So, without further adieu, here’s the list.
1. Unsplash
This is my go-to site for getting stock photos because it’s beautifully designed and easy to use. Unsplash doesn’t disappoint in quality or variety.
2. Pexels
Another great option with high-quality images (some free and some paid). Pexels allows you to modify their images and use them for personal or professional purposes without attribution.
3. Pixabay
Pixabay’s images are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CCO), which means you can use the photos for whatever you want without crediting the creator (but you really should).
4. Canva
While its most known for allowing you to create beautiful designs and content for your business, Canva also has a stock photo section where you can browse and download images (some free and some at cost).
5. StyledStock
Need feminine or chic images for your next project? StyledStock offers free images for personal and commercial use.
6. StockSnap.io
This site uses a Creative Commons license and you can use the photos in any capacity since they’re free to download, edit, and use.
7. Burst (Shopify)
A free stock photo site for entrepreneurs, created by Shopify. All of the images are royalty-free and free of cost.
8. CreateHER Stock
Stock photos for women of color, you say? CreateHER stock was actually introduced to me by my sister, who’s also a business owner of TheVisionPreneur. Receive free images every month when you sign up to their newsletter.
9. Crello
Crello is similar to Canva in that you can use it to create amazing content for social media or your blog. But it also has free images you can use.
10. FoodiesFeed
Are you a food blogger? This is the stock photo site for you.
11. FreeImages.com
Browse over 300,000 free stock photos in a variety of categories. The company has its own license and some images are restricted, so check before you use them.
12. Snappa
Another photo editing site that has free stock photos. I use Snappa to create some of my blog graphics (like the one at the top of this page).
13. Life of Pix
Get high-res images that make you stand out from the competition. Thanks to a partnership with Adobe, you can get even more free (and paid) stock photos.
14. Gratiosgraphy
Another site with its own free photo license, Gratiosgraphy provides free photos are added weekly and taken by Ryan McGuire of Bells Design.
15. Kaboom Pics
Another site with its own license, Kaboom Pics is a great option for small business owners and solopreneurs. One downside is that Kaboom Pics has its own license and it states that you can’t redistribute the photos, which could be a deal-breaker depending on what you want to use them for.
16. Picspree
Royalty-free images you can use for personal or business projects.
17. Getty Images
Free and premium stock photos for anything you might be working on.
18. PicJumbo
One great thing about this one: no registration required. Download free images in a number of different categories. Use them for whatever you can think up. They also have a premium photo collection once you take things up a notch.
19. Reshot
A huge library of free stock photos that you can use for any project, personal or professional. Perfect for startups, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creatives. There’s no attribution required.
20. Death to Stock
Instead of a gallery that you can browse through, Death to Stock sends you 20 new photos every month when you sign up for their newsletter.
Before You Use Free Images: A Disclaimer
Before you use free images from any site, you should understand what some of the terms associated with them actually mean.
What is Royalty Free?
Royalty-free doesn’t always mean free. Usually, you’ll have to pay a one-time licensing fee in order to use the image. This fee gives you the rights to use it in any capacity as many times as you want. Royalty-free just means that you don’t have to pay royalties to the owner to continue using the image.
What is Creative Commons?
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that allows people to share and use different forms of creative media by sharing it with the public. A Creative Commons license might state that you can use a certain image with no attribution (without crediting the photographer or creator). Sometimes it might state you can use the image as long as you don’t make any changes. Sometimes it might state that you can only use it for certain things. Make sure to read the licensing or requirements for any photos you use.
What is Public Domain?
Public domain images or works can be described as anything with an expired copyright. It could also mean the copyright was forfeited. Public domain images can be used for anything for any period of time. There’s no licensing to worry about so go crazy! One downside to public domain images is that they may not be of the highest quality.
Finding Your Perfect Photos
Before you download any new photos to use in your business, make sure you read the license and fully understand how the photos are allowed to be used. Otherwise, you could get yourself into serious legal trouble.
Now that you’ve got the stock photos down, learn which website mistakes to avoid so you can create a website people visit again and again.
