{"id":6704,"date":"2024-03-05T00:50:43","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T00:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tup.kxe.temporary.site\/39-of-the-best-free-stock-photo-websites\/"},"modified":"2024-03-05T00:50:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T00:50:43","slug":"39-of-the-best-free-stock-photo-websites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdesign.ca\/en\/39-of-the-best-free-stock-photo-websites\/","title":{"rendered":"39 of the Best Free Stock Photo Websites"},"content":{"rendered":"


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You might be the most amazing social media manager in the world, with an impeccable social strategy<\/a> and well-honed posting schedule<\/a> \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t mean you know how to take a picture. Maybe you should be looking into free stock photography instead.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s okay! We\u2019re not blaming you! We can\u2019t all be good at everything. (For example: even Grammy-winner Michael Bubl\u00e9 doesn\u2019t know how to eat corn like a normal human<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019ve studied up on how to take good Instagram photos<\/a>, sometimes it\u2019s just best to leave imagery to the professionals. Which is where free stock photos come in.<\/p>\n

And, lucky for you, the internet is chock-a-block with gorgeous, royalty-free, copyright-free photos, just waiting for a chance to dazzle your followers.<\/p>\n

In fact, we\u2019ve managed to round up 39 (thirty nine!) of the best free stock photo websites to share with you. So if you\u2019re looking for photos for commercial use that don\u2019t cost a penny but will make your social feeds look like a million bucks, read on.<\/p>\n

(Looking for free stock video sites? We\u2019ve got you covered there, too.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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Bonus: Get the always-up-to-date social media image size cheat sheet.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0The free resource includes recommended photo dimensions for every type of image on every major network.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

How to know if a stock photo is free to use<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you go on a shopping spree (or\u2026 whatever it\u2019s called when the thing you\u2019re shopping for is totally free), it\u2019s important to clearly understand how to know if a stock photo is free to use<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you accidentally share something that doesn\u2019t give you commercial rights, you might be in violation of copyright law \u2014 which could mean some serious consequences for your brand, or even you personally.<\/p>\n

And unfortunately, \u201cI didn\u2019t know\u201d won\u2019t fly as a legal defense.<\/p>\n

So look for clear descriptions on the stock photo website that say \u201ccommercial use allowed,\u201d \u201ccommercial use and modifications allowed,\u201d or \u201cno known copyright restrictions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anything licensed under the Creative Commons or public domain is fair game too.<\/p>\n

But when in doubt, read the fine print.<\/p>\n

You can dig more into understanding image copyright here<\/a>, but here\u2019s a handy flowchart that cuts to the chase:<\/p>\n

\"understanding<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: Hootsuite<\/em><\/p>\n

And now, onto the good stuff: free resources for social media photos that will wow your followers and get those likes rolling in.<\/a><\/p>\n

39 free stock photo websites<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Unsplash<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Gorgeous, editorial style pics are everywhere here. Photographers upload their content in hopes of catching someone\u2019s eye for future paid work. In the meantime, low- or no-budget brands can benefit from the wealth of stylish shots. Not sure what to search for? Browse featured collections like \u201cAthletics,\u201d \u201cTravel,\u201d or \u201cTechnology\u201d to spark some inspiration.<\/p>\n

\"two<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: Kevin Lang on <\/em>Unsplash<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Gratisography<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Gratisography is really pushing the whimsy here. Download any of their free high-resolution stock photos for whatever use you want, thanks to a \u201cpeace of mind\u201d license. Lots of illustrations are available, too.<\/p>\n

\"person<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: Gratisography<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Adobe Stock Free Collection<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Find free photos, vectors and videos courtesy of Adobe, which all meet the exact same licensing standards as the company\u2019s paid content. Some shots look a little more posed and stock photo-y than others\u2026 but maybe that\u2019s what you\u2019re going for!<\/p>\n

Heads up: you do need to create a (free) Adobe account to download.<\/p>\n

\"smiling<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Adobe Stock Free Collection<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Pikwizard<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

You guessed it: more free stock photos for editorial or commercial use. No attribution required at all here, so if you don\u2019t want to give credit to the person who shot this person holding a pumpkin, you don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n

\"person<\/a>
Source: <\/em>Pikwizard<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

5. RawPixel<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

RawPixel has a decent collection of Public Domain images (either photos that have fallen out of copyright, or has been dedicated to the public domain). You might find just what you\u2019re looking for here\u2026 though you do need to sign up with a free account to get it.<\/p>\n

6. Splitshire<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Instantly download free high-resolution stock photos. Good news, because when you\u2019re in a rush to get that Instagram post scheduled, sometimes there\u2019s no time <\/em>to log-in!<\/p>\n

\"traveller<\/a><\/h3>\n

Source: <\/em>Splitshire<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

7. Burst (by Shopify)<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Shopify wants its clients to have nice looking websites, so they\u2019ve helped \u2018em out with a collection of sleek, high-quality photos. A lot are (surprise) retail or service focused.<\/p>\n

\"retail<\/a>
Source: <\/em>Burst<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

8. Reshot<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

25,000-plus photos and 1,500-plus vector illustrations are at your fingertips here\u2026 including this chubby sea lion!<\/p>\n

\"sea<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Reshot<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

9. Pixabay<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Pixabay has some beautiful shots\u2026 millions <\/em>of them, in fact. What more do you need to know?<\/p>\n

\"view<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Pixabay<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

10. FoodiesFeed<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Sometimes, you want your free stock photo site to focus. FoodiesFeed exclusively offers beautiful food photos. Not a great place to be looking if you\u2019re reading this round-up just before lunch, FYI.<\/p>\n

\"maple<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>FoodiesFeed<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

11. StockSnap.io<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Hundreds of new, free, high-resolution stock photos are added weekly here, in categories like \u201cNature,\u201d \u201cDog,\u201d and \u201cFamily.\u201d<\/p>\n

12. Pexels<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Talented creators share their best free stock photos on Pexels. You can even explore the most-viewed photos for a hint of what\u2019s really resonating with audiences at any given moment.<\/p>\n

13. Snapwire Snaps<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Seven new stock photos are uploaded each week. It\u2019s a mixed bag, but they\u2019re all beautiful\u2026 and, as you probably guessed, they\u2019re all free.<\/p>\n

14. Barn Images<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

While they do have images of barns, they also have images of other things: hands holding cell phones, beautiful vistas, and cups of coffee on a messy office desk.<\/p>\n

\"cowshed<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Barn Images<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

15. Freestocks.org<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Three photographer pals create stock images in their spare time. You\u2019ll find a lot of documentary-style shots here, which can give a social feed a much-needed dose of authenticity. <\/p>\n

\"cyclist<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Freestocks.org<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

16. Picspree<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Okay, I\u2019m going to start getting repetitive at a certain point, because it\u2019s hard to say something new about another collection of royalty-free images and stock photos. But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not worth doing a little search here for some Insta-inspo!<\/p>\n

17. Life of Pix<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

A \u201cphotographer of the week\u201d feature puts the spotlight on Life of Pix\u2019s talented contributors weekly.<\/p>\n

18. Jay Mantri<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Photographer Jay Matri has made a large selection of his photos available for free commercial use (\u201cDo anything,\u201d he says). We hope you like trees and waves!<\/p>\n

\"misty<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Jay Mantri<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

19. ISO Republic<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

No restrictions on any of the ISO Republic photography \u2014 download to your hearts\u2019 content and get to posting.<\/p>\n

\"person<\/a><\/h3>\n

Source: <\/em>ISO Republic<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

20. Styled Stock<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Self-described as \u201cfemine\u201d stock photography, the collections here are airy, bright, and generally have an \u201cInstagram influencer making smoothies in the \u2018burbs\u201d vibe. Which sometimes is exactly what you need.<\/p>\n

\"influencer<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Styled Stock<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

21. Negative Space<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

People, places, things: all the usual fare you would want from a free stock photo website.<\/p>\n

22. IM Free<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

One neat distinction from IM Free is that they also offer free web templates and icons, in addition to royalty-free imagery.<\/p>\n

23. Freerange<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Freerange promises \u201cgreat photos\u201d: what\u2019s not to love? New free images daily.<\/p>\n

24. Free Images<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

I mean, the name really says it all, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

\"basketball<\/a>
Source: <\/em>Free Images<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

25. Deposit Photos<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

All these free stock photo websites kind of look the same too\u2026 it\u2019s like one endless collection. But that\u2019s good! It means you have infinite sources to find exactly what you need to build engagement.<\/p>\n

26. Flickr Commons<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a trick to find free photos on Flickr: search for images that photographers have labelled with \u201cCreative Commons\u201d licensing! Or, just poke around the Flickr Commons, a database of public photography from around the world.<\/p>\n

\"old<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Flickr<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

27. Magdeleine<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Beautifully lit, high-resolution photos that have been \u201chand-picked,\u201d whatever that means!<\/p>\n

\"curious<\/a>
Source: <\/em>Magedleine<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

28. Picography<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

They\u2019re gorgeous, they\u2019re high-resolution, they\u2019re (you guessed it) freeeee.<\/p>\n

29. New Old Stock<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Want to give your social feeds a vintage flair? Grab some of these free historical photos from the public archives.<\/p>\n

\"historical<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>New Old Stock<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

30. Realistic Shots<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

A lot of disembodied-hands-holding-smartphones. A lot of beaches. A lot of women in beachy hats. It\u2019s a stock photo treasure trove!<\/p>\n

31. Jeshoots<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Photographer Jan Vasek shares their work, free for websites or commercial projects.<\/p>\n

\"person<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Jeshoots<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

32. SkitterPhoto<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Explore the wide world of public domain through SkitterPhoto\u2019s library. One cool feature: you can see how many downloads an image has had\u2026 helpful for avoiding an embarrassing copycat situation<\/p>\n

33. Little Visuals<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

The late photographer Nic Jackson\u2019s work remains available to use any way you want \u2014 his family has ensured all of his images will stay accessible and open to the public.<\/p>\n

34. Morguefile<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Morgue file was started back in \u201896 as a free image exchange for creative professionals and teachers. It\u2019s still alive and well, with images now available for anyone and everyone to use however they see fit. There\u2019s a lot of amateur stuff here, but also lots of hidden gems.<\/p>\n

35. Picjumbo<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Want Picjumbo to just choose photos for you? Sign up for their newsletter and they\u2019ll deliver free stock to your inbox weekly.<\/p>\n

\"woman<\/a>
Source: <\/em>Picjumbo<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

36. Kaboom Pics<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Find stylish (and very Instagrammable) photoshoots here at Kaboom. Hot editing idea: some of the textured photos could make cool backdrops or borders for any of these other stock photos you\u2019ve just downloaded.<\/p>\n

\"close<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Kaboom Pics<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

37. Freepik<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Looking for high-quality images, icons, vectors and templates? Freepik\u2019s got you covered.<\/p>\n

Note: Freepik operates on a freemium model, which means you don\u2019t have to pay a monthly fee to use it\u2014but if you want to access every feature, you\u2019ll have to become a paid member.<\/p>\n

38. The Gender Spectrum Collection<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

To help improve representation of gender in all its forms, Vice has compiled a collection of Creative-Commons-lisenced photos of gender-diverse and non-binary models for anyone to use.<\/p>\n

\"two<\/a>
Source: <\/em>Vice Gender Spectrum Collection<\/em><\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

39. Nappy<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Another cool initiative to improve representation in stock photography, Nappy only features photos of Black and brown models.<\/p>\n

\"Black<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Nappy<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Whew! If you can\u2019t find a stock image to suit your needs in this exhaustive list of resources\u2026 well, we don\u2019t know what to tell you. Maybe consider using a stock video instead?<\/a><\/p>\n

Found the perfect images? Use Hootsuite to easily upload, schedule, and promote them across multiple social networks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get Started<\/a><\/p>\n

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Do it better with Hootsuite<\/strong>, the all-in-one social media tool. <\/strong>Stay on top of things, grow, and beat the competition.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n