Photography is an integral part of website design, and high-quality photos are vital for highlighting written content. If you lack photographic talent or equipment, free stock photo websites provide access to striking original images in the public domain.
Thanks to generous and talented photographers, there are now several excellent resources for free stock photos. This guide covers the 10 best websites for finding images without risking copyright issues.
Unsplash
Unsplash is one of the most popular free stock photo websites with over 3 million high-resolution images. All photos are free to use for commercial and personal projects without attribution required. The collection includes everything from nature and architecture to business and technology.
Visit UnsplashPexels
Pexels offers thousands of free stock photos and videos from talented creators. The simple search and curated collections make finding the perfect image easy. All content is free for personal and commercial use with no attribution required.
Visit PexelsPixabay
Pixabay provides over 2.7 million free stock photos, illustrations, vectors, and videos. The platform offers a diverse range of content for any project. All images are released under the Pixabay License, making them safe for commercial use.
Visit PixabayBurst by Shopify
Burst is Shopify’s free stock photo platform designed specifically for entrepreneurs and businesses. The collection focuses on lifestyle, product, and business imagery perfect for ecommerce websites, marketing materials, and social media.
Visit BurstKaboompics
Kaboompics offers a carefully curated collection of free stock photos with a complementary color palette for each image. The aesthetic-focused collection is perfect for bloggers, designers, and content creators looking for cohesive visuals.
Visit KaboompicsStockSnap
StockSnap features hundreds of high-resolution images added weekly. All photos are free from copyright restrictions and can be used for any purpose. The site tracks views and downloads to help you find trending and popular images.
Visit StockSnapReshot
Reshot offers handpicked, non-stocky free images that look authentic and natural. The collection avoids the clichéd corporate look, providing unique visuals that stand out. Free for commercial and editorial use.
Visit ReshotGratisography
Gratisography features quirky, creative, and unique free stock photos by photographer Ryan McGuire. The collection offers images you won’t find anywhere else, perfect for projects that need to stand out from the crowd.
Visit GratisographyLife of Pix
Life of Pix provides free high-resolution photos with no copyright restrictions. Created by the LEEROY creative agency, the collection features beautiful photography donated by their network of photographers.
Visit Life of PixNegative Space
Negative Space offers free stock photos with new images added every week. All photos are shared without copyright restrictions under the CC0 license. The searchable, sortable collection makes it easy to find what you need.
Visit Negative SpaceRelated Design Resources
- Free Design Resources Guide – Complete toolkit
- Website Color Scheme Guide – Choose perfect colors
- Instagram Photo Sizes – Optimize your images
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free stock photos really free?
Yes, all websites listed here offer genuinely free images. Most use Creative Commons Zero (CC0) or similar licenses that allow commercial use without attribution. Always check each site’s specific license terms.
Do I need to credit the photographer?
Most free stock photo sites don’t require attribution, but it’s a nice gesture to credit photographers when possible. Some sites encourage but don’t require attribution.
Can I use free stock photos for commercial projects?
Yes, all sites listed here allow commercial use. However, some restrictions may apply (like not selling the photos as prints). Always review the license terms for your specific use case.