When it comes to visual content marketing, having high-quality images and videos is a must, and stock photo sites are widely used by marketers to source aesthetically pleasing photography and images to supplement written content. In fact, research conducted by Venngage found that 40% of marketers highlighted stock photography as the most used element in their visual content. The reason for this is simple: consumers respond positively to quality images and branding. According to MDG Advertising, 67% of customers say that the quality of product images directly influences their purchasing decisions.
While there are dozens of free image creators marketers can use to create custom graphics, the market for done-for-you stock photography is massive. Luckily, there are options available that can meet the needs of any publisher, from large-scale enterprise projects to individual creative work for personal use. Some stock photos are covered by the Creative Commons (CC0) license and can be used for nearly any project, free of charge, while others offer stock photos under other Creative Commons licenses with different permissions. For instance, some require attribution but are free to use for commercial and non-commercial uses. Others don’t allow commercial use or prohibit derivatives or adaptations, meaning you can’t add your company logo and use it as part of your Facebook header or your Instagram profile photo, for example.
There are also many paid stock photo sites offering varying permissions at different price levels. Some stock photo sites have customized license arrangements, so be sure to read the specific policy before any downloading an image and inquire about any trademark, logo, or model releases that may be necessary.
To help you source top-notch photos and images to supplement your content, we’ve compiled this list of the 50 best stock photo sites. You’ll find some great options here to help you source images for your next project. The stock photo sites below include both free and paid options and are listed in alphabetical order within each category, but otherwise they’re not ranked or rated in any way.
- Free Stock Photo Sites
- Paid Stock Photo Sites
Free Stock Photo Sites
1. Burst
Burst, from Shopify, offers an extensive gallery of free, open source images that can be used for any personal or commercial use. There’s an active community of photographers who are constantly adding new images to the library, and you can sign up for a newsletter to get the latest updates.
Key Features:
- All images are free for commercial use
- High-resolution photos
- A Business Ideas collection for e-commerce customers
Cost: Free
2. FancyCrave
The FancyCrave website includes free travel photo collections that can be used by content creators. The images are curated into specific collections, such as flowers, people, and nature. All of the images can be easily downloaded in medium resolution with a single click, and a premium membership is also available for accessing additional collections and high-resolution photos.
Key Features:
- New collections added weekly
- Easy image download
- Simple descriptions for each photo
Cost: Free
FOCA Stock is a collection of royalty-free images that can be used for all print and digital purposes. Users are also free to distribute the content with no attribution required and use the photos for any commercial project. The free web-based FOCA Editor can be used to create custom photo posts and designs based on the images you have selected.
Key Features:
- A free web-based editor
- Featured photo collections
- Library includes videos and templates
Cost: Free
4. Foter
Foter was created as a source for interior design ideas and includes an impressive database with over 335 million free images. This site is an excellent resource for journalists and graphic designers who are looking for product photos. Users can browse categories such as appliances, furniture, and lighting to find just the right photos for their project.
Key Features:
- Images for popular products and design ideas
- Curated by interior design experts
- Over 335 million free images
Cost: Free
5. Freerange
Freerange has a great collection of free photos and illustrations that are well-suited for commercial use. Freerange welcomes contributors of all kinds, and it’s easy to browse the newest additions and most popular photos. Images can be downloaded directly from the website in a variety of sizes or sent directly to PIXLR for easy editing on the fly.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-use image search engine
- An active community of over 725,000 users
- A unique Equalicense that differs from CC0
Cost: Free
Freestocks.org is an easy-to-use website for sourcing high-resolution royalty-free stock images for personal and commercial use. The site has a simple, blog-style layout with a search feature for finding specific types of images. Content for Freestocks.org comes from a team of three photographers and may offer some unique images that you’re not likely to find from other sources.
Key Features:
- Completely free for commercial and personal use
- Popular categories such as animals and fashion
- No attributions required for any images
Cost: Free
Gratisography prides itself on being the worlds quirkiest collection of free stock images. The curated galleries of high-resolution photos cover span categories such as whimsical, urban, and business. Visitors can view trending images or sign up for a newsletter to receive alerts when new photos are added to the library.
Key Features:
- Unique and whimsical photo themes
- An easy-to-understand free photo license
- Download images with a single click
Cost: Free
8. ISO Republic
ISO Republic has thousands of free high-resolution photos and videos that are covered under the CC0 license. They can be used freely for any personal or commercial project and have been thoughtfully curated with a focus on quality. The site includes collections that cover themes such as travel, sports, and virtual backgrounds.
Key Features:
- Popular topics like travel, animals, and people
- Download photos in full resolution
- Images covered by the CC0 license
Cost: Free
9. Kaboompics
Kaboompics not only gives you free stock photos but also includes a complementary color palette with each one. This is a great feature for graphic designers and web developers who often need to incorporate media that fits a particular theme or color scheme. Visitors can download images in their original resolution or select from medium size or custom dimensions.
Key Features:
- A color palette included with each image
- Convenient tags for exploring similar themes
- Easily connect with individual photographers
Cost: Free
10. Life of Pix
Life of Pix is a complete library of high-resolution photos that can be used without copyright restrictions. It’s easy to search the collection by keyword or browse by photographer or gallery. The work of a different photographer is featured on the homepage each week, and a complementary Life of Vids website can also be accessed for finding free video content.
Key Features:
- Curated galleries covering popular themes
- Completely copyright-free photos
- Images from hundreds of photographers
Cost: Free
11. Little Visuals
Little Visuals is a small collection of free high-resolution images that can be used for any commercial or personal use. This website is maintained by the family of Nic Jackson who originally created the site. There have been over 15.5 million image views on the page, so you might just find the perfect image for one of your projects here.
Key Features:
- A small curated gallery
- Abstract and creative images
- Free for any commercial use
Cost: Free
12. Morguefile
Morguefile is a free photo archive that was first developed in 1996 and continues to serve as an excellent resource for creatives. Images covering a wide range of themes are available for use in any project, including commercial work. You can also submit image requests, called quests, that Morguefile can submit to the photographer community for new content about a specific topic.
Key Features:
- A community-based site
- Over 400,000 free stock photos
- Images covered on the Morguefile license
Cost: Free
13. NegativeSpace
NegativeSpace seeks to provide a place for photographers to share their work with a larger community. All images available on the site are complete free and can be used for any use without restriction under the CC0 license. The quality of the photos is excellent, with images spanning popular categories like abstract, food, and landscapes.
Key Features:
- Popular categories including virtual backgrounds
- Browse photos by color palette
- Download images with a single click
Cost: Free
14. New Old Stock
New Old Stock is a unique site featuring vintage photos that are in the public domain and free of any copyright restrictions. These images are curated from Flickr and are governed by the Flickr Commons rules. They may be used for any personal or non-commercial use, and there is a link provided for each image to access more information.
Key Features:
- Curated pro photo packs available
- One of the few resources with vintage photos
- All images have a minimum width of 1000px
Cost: Free
15. Pexels
Pexels is an excellent resource for free photos and videos that are royalty-free and perfect for commercial projects. One of the main benefits of Pexels is that it’s extremely easy to access and use the extensive library from a number of platforms. Users can download an Android or iOS app or install plugins for Photoshop, Microsoft Office, or WordPress.
Key Features:
- Android and iOS apps
- Large community of active creators
- A Pexels API
Cost: Free
16. Picjumbo
Picjumbo was created in 2013 and has had nearly 8 million free image downloads since then. New photos are released frequently and include popular trends such as digital nomad, abstract, and millennial. A premium membership is available for receiving exclusive images, and you can also find free wallpapers and mockups on the site.
Key Features:
- Photo categories for recent trends
- Instagram story templates
- A design resources tab
Cost: Free
17. Picography
Picography has a nice selection of completely free high-resolution photos that are easy to browse thanks to its simple page design. These images are covered by the CC0 license and can be used for any personal or commercial use. Picography includes photos across many categories such as technology, business, abstract, food, and nature.
Key Features:
- Images covered by CC0 license
- No image attribution required
- Easily browse similar tags for each photo
Cost: Free
18. Picspree
Picspree has a large collection of royalty free images, illustrations, and vectors that can be used for personal and commercial projects. The photos can be downloaded directly from the main screen by hovering over the image, making them super easy to save. Featured categories on Picspree include landscapes, science and technology, and vintage photos.
Key Features:
- Over 20 image categories
- Easy image downloads
- Site available in 15 languages
Cost: Free
19. Pixabay
Pixabay is a Germany-based royalty-free image provider that has over 2 million photos, videos, illustrations, and vector graphics in its collection. All of the files are completely free to use, and there is an open API available for integrating this content into a website or application. An editor’s choice gallery features a curated collection with some of the most impressive shots.
Key Features:
- An active community of artists and contributors
- Library includes illustrations and vector graphics
- An open API is available
Cost: Free
20. Reshot
Reshot is a platform that was designed to help connect emerging photographers with creative professionals. The images in the collection represent highly visual and unique styles and are completely free. They also offer convenient image packs that can be downloaded for quick access to content related to a particular theme.
Key Features:
- An active feed of trending photos
- Convenient image packs
- A powerful search feature
Cost: Free
21. RGBStock
RGBStock is a collection of image galleries that can be accessed with a free subscription. Users can download and contribute photos, and images sourced here can be used for any basic personal or commercial project. There is also a convenient link provided with each image for contacting the photographer to discuss any unique projects or specific uses.
Key Features:
- Regularly updated with new photos
- Easily message photographers directly
- Website supports 5 different languages
Cost: Free
22. Skitterphoto
Skitterphoto was launched in 2014 and showcases the work of photographers who offer their images to other creatives for free. All photos on the website are in the public domain and covered under the Creative Commons CC0 license. The site blends free images with premium photos from iStockphoto, and you’ll receive recommendations as you browse.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-use search feature
- A curated feed of admin picks
- Regular updates with new photos
Cost: Free
23. StockSnap
StockSnap.io has an impressive number of free photos that cover popular topics like business, nature, and design. The images can be used for any use, including commercial projects, and they clearly communicate the license information on the site. There are an extensive number of tags that make it easy to search for images related to any keyword.
Key Features:
- A tag-based category system
- Hundreds of images added weekly
- An active community of contributors
Cost: Free
24. Styled Stock
Styled Stock features beautiful stock photography that has a feminine vibe. You can easily search the images by keyword or browse by categories that include lifestyle and fashion. The Styled Stock team also maintains an active social media presence, so you can follow the company to receive updates on new free image releases and premium photo packs.
Key Features:
- An easy to browse interface
- Filter images by color
- Features feminine-styled photos
Cost: Free
25. Unsplash
Unsplash has become a popular site for free high-resolution photos, and there are over 1 million images in its collection. These photos are covered by the Unsplash license and can be used for most personal and commercial purposes. The Unsplash API can be used for integrating the photo library into a websites, applications, or any high-volume workflow.
Key Features:
- Over 1 million curated photos
- Work from over 158,000 photographers
- An Unsplash API
Cost: Free
Paid Stock Photo Sites
26. 123RF
123RF has a large library with over 110 million different stock photos, vectors, audio files, and video clips. The intelligent search makes it easy to find just the right file for your project, and there are additional features for companies such as the Corporate+ platform. Downloading images from 123RF is fast, and they have worked with many impressive Fortune 500 companies.
Key Features:
- Over 110 million files for download
- An intelligent search engine
- Customized plans available for businesses
Cost:
- $29 – $199/month subscription
- $0.92 – $1.13/credit
27. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is a curated collection of over 180 million high-quality stock assets, including photos and video footage. As one of the largest libraries available, Adobe has developed a complete resource for creatives looking for stock photos. The program is integrated with the entire Abobe Creative Suite, allowing users to access images from their other apps.
Key Features:
- Library includes 4K video and royalty-free music
- Integrated with the Adobe Creative Suite
- Customizable enterprise solutions
Cost: $29 – $249/month subscription
28. Alamy
Alamy is considered the world’s most diverse stock photo collection with over 56 distinct categories. This site is known for its simple pricing model that avoids subscriptions or credits and simply charges a licensing fee for each photo. The price you pay depends on the media type, quality, or requested rights and is unique to each item.
Key Features:
- A simple pricing structure
- Easily download preview images
- 360-degree panoramic images
Cost: $19.99 – $639.99 for individual image licenses
29. Bigstock
Bigstock offers a large collection of over 99 million royalty-free images and video files. The main page of the website features a selection of popular photos and illustrations along with trending topics such as COVID-19. They offer a 7-day free trial to get you started, and you can easily save your favorite images to a favorites list for later review.
Key Features:
- Nearly 100 million images
- Related keywords are shown for each photo
- Extended license use available for some images
Cost:
- $79 – $99/month subscription
- Additional fees per image vary with plan
30. Canva Pro
Canva Pro expands on their popular free design software and gives users access to a number of useful content marketing tools. Included with the subscription is a library of over 60 million photos and elements. Additional features include more than 1,000 fonts and a complete brand kit that makes it easy to organize and use your content.
Key Features:
- A library including illustrations and icons
- Over 20,000 premium design templates
- Integrated animation and image resize tools
Cost: $9.95/month
31. Creative Market
Creative Market is a design marketplace that includes over 4.5 million products. The site currently supports a network of over 7 million members, and the most popular product categories are photos, templates, web themes, and fonts. There is also an extensive collection of 3D modeling assets available in a wide variety of file formats.
Key Features:
- Over 2.9 million photos
- Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop add-ons
- Social media templates
Cost: $25 – $500 credit packages
32. Crestock
Crestock is a visual content provider that focuses on royalty-free stock photography. Crestock’s goal is to help creatives and agencies with small budgets find affordable images. With over 2.5 million assets in their library, it’s easy to search and find just the right kind of media for your projects without overspending for additional content or rights you may not need.
Key Features:
- Find and download files in minutes
- Transactions as low as $1
- Three different payment options
Cost:
- $1 – $30 individual licenses per image (based on size/format)
- $199 – $1,799 subscription packages (per month or per year)
- $0.75 – $1/credit
33. Death to Stock
Death to Stock is an artist-owned co-op that seeks to provide unique and creative content while funding talented artists. At least 50 new images are added every 30 days to keep the library fresh, and all of the work is curated to ensure the highest quality. The site features an easy to understand usage license, and there are unlimited downloads with each plan.
Key Features:
- Over 4,500 high quality photos
- Unlimited downloads with a subscription
- Custom plans available for large enterprises
Cost:
- $12 – $15/month
- $399/year agency plan (limited to 20 new agencies per month)
- Enterprise plans available (contact for a quote)
34. Depositphotos
Depositphotos has a library over over 174 million royalty free images, vectors, and videos. A new flexible subscription plan is available that gives users access to 30 images a month at a flat monthly rate of $29. There are also some great plans available for companies and individuals who need large image quantities.
Key Features:
- Over 174 million files
- Illustrations, vector art, and backgrounds
- Editorial and news images
Cost:
- $69 – $199/month subscriptions
- $29/month or $299/year for flexible plan
- $2.99 – $4.90/image on demand (standard license)
- $63.96 – $89/image on demand (extended license)
35. Dreamstime
Dreamstime has the world’s largest stock photo community with over 31 million international users. Downloads on this platform start at $0.20 per image, and the collection includes photos, vectors, and illustrations. You will also find some completely free image downloads offered on the site, and there’s an easy-to-use app for accessing content on the go.
Key Features:
- Image tools powered by AI and machine learning
- iOS and Android apps
- Editorial images from around the world
Cost:
- $23 – $197/month subscriptions
- $1,724/year plan for 750 images/month ($9,000/year)
36. Envato Elements
Envato Elements is a subscription-based service for creatives with over 53 million assets. Users can download an unlimited number of files for one simple monthly fee or sign up for a free account and get 12 free files each month. The site also features almost 3,000 add-ons such as actions, brushes, and layers for popular graphic design programs.
Key Features:
- A simple commercial license
- Graphic and presentation templates
- 50% of revenue shared with independent designers
Cost: Individual plans from $16.50/month
Fotosearch is a premium stock photography website that offers extended legal rights for its media. The major stock categories on Fotosearch include royalty-free photos, illustrations, video clips, and rights-managed images. With over 22 years in business, this company is a dependable resource for your stock image needs.
Key Features:
- Over 61 million stock photos
- Rights-managed and royalty-free images
- Work from over 90 publishers
Cost:
- $39+/week
- $99+/month
- $499+/6-months
- $796+/year
- $1.31 – $1.50/credit
38. Getty Images
For over 25 years, Getty Images has been a prominent source of stock photography for creatives worldwide. The quality of content in this library is exceptional, and you can integrate Getty Images with WordPress using a free plugin. A unique feature of the website is a Visual GPS storytelling guide that finds images and video that match with current trends.
Key Features:
- A large selection of editorial images
- Plugins for Adobe Creative Cloud and Dropbox
- A Getty Images API
Cost:
- $150 – $175/download (small images)
- $300 – $375/download (medium images)
- $425 – $499/download (large images)
39. iStock
iStock is a stock content marketplace that offers an extensive library of user-generated stock photos, vectors, and illustrations. There are over 160,000 global contributors who are constantly adding new images to the collection. In addition to photos, users can also access video clips with popular categories covering sports, time-lapse, and aerial photography.
Key Features:
- Save images to custom boards
- Updated Coronavirus resources
- Part of the Getty Images group
Cost:
- $8.67 – $11/credit
- $29 – $199/month essential images only
- $70 – $399/month for all images
40. MegaPixl
MegaPixl is part of the Dreamstime network and maintains a collection of over 37 million stock photos. In addition to photos, you can also download vectors, clipart, and videos directly from the site. Subscriptions are offered with a simple pricing structure, and you can also inquire about extended licenses by clicking on the link next to each image.
Key Features:
- Search by popular keyword
- Descriptions provided with each photo
- Numerous image sizes available
Cost: $25 – $219/month subscriptions
41. OFFSET
OFFSET is a premium stock photo and illustration site that was created by Shutterstock and includes work from many prominent photographers and artists. The website features curated collections throughout the year, and users can browse over 30 different categories including nature, adventure, and portraits. They offer a “per image” licensing plan with pricing that varies depending the order quantity and image quality.
Key Features:
- Curated collections
- Featured artists and illustrators
- Discounts available with image packs
Cost:
- $211.90 – $249/download (small images @ 72dpi)
- $299.90 – $349/download (large images @ 300dpi)
42. Photocase
Photocase offers high-quality royalty-free stock photos that focus on human emotion. You can find a wide variety of subjects in their stock library that includes an extensive number of diverse images featuring real people with real emotions. Photocase offers pricing and licensing options that can be adapted to the needs of any individual or large agency that is looking to utilize its images for specific projects.
Key Features:
- Image use in social media included
- Pay per download or purchase credit packages
- A simple change of licensee process when required
Cost:
- $14 for 5 credits (small images @ 72dpi)
- $28 for 10 credits (medium images @ 300dpi)
- $42 for 15 credits (large images @ max resolution)
- Volume discounts available for all credit levels
43. Pond5
Pond5 is the world’s largest video marketplace, featuring over 17 million video clips and 26 million images and illustrations. In addition to images and video, you’ll also find music, sound effects, and 3D objects available for purchase. It’s easy to browse trending images and popular search terms to find just the right images for your needs.
Key Features:
- Modern mock-up images for brands and applications
- Vectors, illustrations, and PSDs
- Enterprise licensing plans available
Cost:
- $250 – $2,500 credit packages
- $199/month or $99/year for subscription plan
44. Shutterstock
Shutterstock maintains a massive library of over 330 million royalty-free stock images. Nearly a million new images are added each week, and the website is available in over 150 countries and in 21 languages. Users can begin with a free account and test image layouts with watermarked samples prior to purchasing in larger volumes or sizes.
Key Features:
- An online image editor for quick designs
- API integrations through Shutterstock developer
- A free Photoshop plugin for accessing images
Cost:
- $49 – $249/month subscriptions
- $9.16 – $14.50/image on-demand packs
Stock Photo Secrets is a curated stock image database that includes photos, videos, fonts, and vectors. The site has a number of easy-to-browse galleries that feature popular topics and categories. Images can be purchased as part of a subscription plan or with available credits, and there’s an option to add an extended license in most cases.
Key Features:
- A basic commercial royalty-free license included in all plans
- Download photos, vectors, fonts, and videos
- Extended licenses are available
Cost:
- $35 – $105/month subscriptions
- $99 – $999/year subscriptions (paid annually)
46. StockUnlimited
StockUnlimited is a subscription-based site for downloading royalty-free graphics, images, icons, textures, and more. The service is managed with simple monthly plans that have no daily limits or additional fees. Key features include a database of over 800,000 royalty images and a free StockUnlimited editor for creating and saving your own designs.
Key Features:
- A simple subscription-based licensing model
- No download caps with any plan
- A free image/vector editor
Cost:
- $19/month or $79/year or 169/3-years subscription
- $0.50 – $0.90/image (download packs)
47. Stocksy
Stocksy is an art-forward agency that features a curated collection of beautifully shot images and video content. Each piece of media is hand-selected by Stocksy’s creative community, and you can find images related to trending topics such as outdoor fitness and mental health. This site is also an artist-owned cooperative that gives 50-75% of licensing fees back to the contributors directly.
Key Features:
- Curated images with an artistic focus
- Content from locations in over 65 countries
- An artist-owned co-op
Cost:
- $15/download (small image @ 0.5MP and 72dpi)
- $30/download (medium image @ 2MP and 300dpi)
- $75/download (large image @ 5.7MP and 300dpi)
- $125/download (x-large image @ 12+MP and 300dpi)
48. Storyblocks
Storyblocks is an extensive image, audio, and video library that is geared toward creators and agencies. There are over 1 million pieces of media in the library, which also includes 4K video footage and Adobe After Effects templates. The flat pricing model is easy to understand and allows customers to select from the right mix of images and content based on their needs.
Key Features:
- Licensing options to fit projects of any size
- Easily organize and share image folders
- Custom licensing plans available for enterprises
Cost:
- $8.25 – $39/month (individual plans)
- Contact for an enterprise quote
49. TONL
TONL is a source for culturally diverse stock photos that highlight stories from everyday people of various ethnic backgrounds. The high-quality images are curated and arranged by topics such as tone, tradition, and travel. One of the best features on the site is a narratives tab that shares photos along with text that explains the background stories behind the photos.
Key Features:
- A culturally diverse image collection
- Narratives which capture unique stories
- An excellent selection of portrait photography
Cost:
- $29 – $105+/month subscriptions
- $25/image for editorial use
- $250/image for commercial use
50. Westend61
Westend61 is a German company that offers premium lifestyle photography throughout Europe. The company has been in business for nearly 20 years and has accumulated a network of over 500 international photographers that regularly contribute content to its library. Westend61 prices its royalty images based on size, and you’ll find an excellent selection of photos that are especially relevant to a European audience.
Key Features:
- Curated collections of their best images
- Flexible pricing based on image size
- View individual photographer portfolios
Cost:
- 19€ – 169€/image for standard license (priced by image size)
- 69€ – 269€/image for team license (priced by image size)
- 319€ – 469€/image for extended license (large and x-large images)
Now that you’ve taken the time to find the perfect images to support your written content, encourage your website visitors to share your images across social media (with a link back to your website to ensure you get proper credit for your work) with our easy-to-install image share buttons. They’re free to use, and they make it easy for your visitors to share your best images with a single click across their favorite social media networks – driving more traffic to your website!
