Images are the lifeblood of any website and can be powerful tools for engagement, storytelling, and even SEO on any WordPress site

They play a pivotal role in engaging audiences and conveying messages effectively.

They’re not just decorative accents; they’re storytellers, attention-grabbers, and mood-setters.

Stock image websites are online repositories that provide a wide range of high-quality photographs, illustrations, vectors, and sometimes videos for users to license and use in their creative projects.

They are also known as stock photo websites or stock photography platforms.

These platforms act as a marketplace connecting photographers, illustrators, and other content creators with individuals or businesses in need of visual content for various purposes.

The images are typically free or sold for a small fee, with different licensing options available depending on your needs.

Think of them as a giant library of visual assets you can readily tap into, instead of spending time and money hiring a photographer or creating illustrations yourself.

How to use stock image websites

  1. Free vs. Paid: Free stock image websites offer a vast library, but paid options often boast higher quality and unique selections. Consider your budget and image needs.
  2. Search with detailed keywords: Use specific keywords relevant to your content when searching for images.
  3. Quality counts: avoid blurry, pixelated images. Opt for high-resolution photos with good lighting and composition.
  4. Relevance is key: Choose images that directly relate to your content and resonate with your target audience. Avoid using generic or overused images.
  5. Image editing: Edit the images to make them your own. You can crop, resize, and add filters to the images to make them unique to your project.
  6. Mood Matters: Consider the overall tone and message of your content. Upbeat articles might benefit from vibrant, energetic images, while serious topics might call for more subdued visuals.
  7. Licensing and copyright: Always check the licensing terms of each image before using it. Free stock images often have specific attribution requirements, while paid licenses might allow for more unrestricted use.
  8. Credit the photographer (if required): This is especially important if you are using a free stock image website.

Free stock image websites

With free stock websites, you can ignore expensive stock sources.

Most come with a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, meaning you’re free to copy, adapt, and share them in any way you can imagine.

No photographer’s permission is needed, just pure creative freedom.

1. Pixabay

With its intuitive interface and massive library of over 2.7 million images, Pixabay reigns supreme in user-friendliness.

Its vibrant community regularly contributes fresh, high-quality photos, making it ideal for finding trendy visuals and keeping projects up-to-date.

Another big advantage of Pixabay is that they also offer free vectors and illustrations.

2. Stockvault

Looking for vintage vibes?

Stockvault’s treasure trove of over 850,000 retro-inspired photos has you covered.

From grainy film textures to faded Polaroid aesthetics, it’s a goldmine for creatives seeking a nostalgic touch in their projects.

3. Pexels

Simplicity and quality take center stage at Pexels.

This curated platform offers a smaller but meticulously chosen collection of over 3.2 million photos, ensuring every image exudes professionalism and artistic merit.

Perfect for projects demanding a touch of class.

In addition, they have free stock videos! Pexels is the go-to image source for many bloggers.

4. Picjumbo

Need stunning visuals for free? Picjumbo delivers.

This platform offers a treasure trove of over 20,000 high-resolution photos across diverse themes.

All the photos were meticulously captured and edited for maximum impact.

Picjumo includes a free and paid version of its library of stock photos.

5. Nappy

Stepping into the spotlight of representation, Nappy shines as a haven for free, high-quality images featuring black people in all their everyday glory.

It was founded by Taylør Okato to tackle the harmful stereotypes that plague traditional stock photos.

It celebrates the multifaceted nature of black existence and showcases black professionals, families, and individuals in authentic and empowering ways.

6. Kaboompics

Stand out from the crowd with Kaboompics.

This quirky platform throws convention out the window, offering a vibrant collection of over 80,000 unconventional and eye-catching photos.

Ideal for adding a playful and unexpected twist to your projects.

You can download images for free using your specified image width.

7. Moguefile

A veteran in the free stock scene, Morguefile boasts a vast collection of over 800,000 images, encompassing every imaginable theme.

Perfect for finding classic, everyday visuals, it’s a reliable go-to for bloggers and businesses needing basic but effective photos.

8. Picography

Looking for a touch of artistic flair?

Picography’s curated collection of over 16,000 photos oozes artistic merit.

This platform showcases stunning landscapes, minimalist compositions, and unique perspectives, perfect for injecting creative energy into your visuals.

Picography is a relatively new player among stock photography sites online, but it’s provided millions of copyright-free downloads in just the last three years.

9. Iwaria

Celebrating the vibrant tapestry of African cultures, Iwaria offers a curated collection of royalty-free images capturing the essence of Africa in all its richness.

From stunning landscapes and diverse ethnicities to bustling street scenes and traditional practices, Iwaria provides a powerful counterpoint to stereotypical portrayals of the continent.

10. Stocksnap

Freshness is the name of the game at Stocksnap.

This rapidly growing platform boasts over 2 million photos, with 1,000 new images added daily.

Perfect for staying ahead of the curve and finding trendy visuals for fast-paced projects.

It was created for writers and designers looking for free images for a blog post, website, or client project.

Freemium stock image websites

1. Freepik

Elevate your visuals with Freepik’s buffet.

Boasting over 8 million vectors, icons, and photos, this platform offers both free and premium resources, satisfying casual needs and pro-level demands.

Millions of graphic resources are available to download and can be used in any personal or professional design project.

In addition, Freepik’s search engine has powerful filters, helping to find any type of resource, orientation, color, style, etc.

Users can download graphic resource formats compatible with Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

2. Deposit Photos

A well-established player in the premium stock game, Deposit Photos offers over 200 million high-resolution images, vectors, and videos at competitive prices.

Its extensive search tools and curated collections ensure you find the perfect visual, while its flexible subscription plans cater to individuals, teams, and businesses of all sizes.

3. Freeimages

Freeimages, a haven for classic visuals, delivers over 600,000 high-resolution photos spanning a broad range of themes.

Free downloads with attribution ensure basic visual needs are met, while affordable premium options unlock exclusive content and features.

4. Pikwizard

Don’t just find an image; create it!

Picwizard empowers you to personalize photos with AI-powered editing tools.

Remove backgrounds, add objects, and adjust colors, all within this platform.

Free features let you experiment, while premium options unlock advanced editing magic.

5. Unsplash

Unsplash is another crowd-sourced site for free images submitted by photographers.

This curated community of photographers offers breathtaking, high-resolution photos under a generous free license.

Its database currently contains about 550,000 original, copyright-free images.

Free downloads and stunning visuals make it a favorite for creators seeking professional-grade aesthetics without breaking the bank.

6. Rawpixel

Rawpixel specializes in unique patterns, textures, and backgrounds, all with a touch of artistic flair.

Free images are available for download with a Rawpixel watermark.

You would need to upgrade to remove the watermark.

Their free model provides a generous selection of free downloads, while premium plans unlock an extensive library of premium textures for diverse creative projects.

Premium stock image websites

One of the biggest advantages of using premium stock image websites is that they offer a wider selection of high-quality images than free stock image websites.

Additionally, premium stock image websites often have more flexible licensing terms, allowing you to use their images for commercial purposes without having to credit the photographer.

However, premium stock image websites can be expensive, especially if you need to download a large number of images.

1. Shutterstock

The industry giant Shutterstock throws back the curtain on an expansive library of royalty-free assets, including photos, vectors, music, and footage.

It boasts a staggering library of over 360 million images and videos, covering every imaginable theme under the sun.

Its robust search tools and curated collections make finding the perfect visual a breeze, while its flexible subscription plans cater to both individual and team needs.

2. Istockphotos

Renowned for its editorial excellence, iStockphotos offers a carefully curated selection of over 120 million high-impact images and videos.

It captures current events, trends, and diverse cultures.

Its focus on storytelling and authenticity makes it a go-to for brands and creatives seeking impactful visuals for campaigns and projects.

3. Adobe Stock

Seamlessly integrated with the Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Stock provides a one-stop shop for creative professionals.

With over 200 million high-quality photos, illustrations, vectors, and 3D assets, it lets you browse, license, and edit within the familiar Adobe interface.

Its subscription plans offer flexible options for individuals and teams, making it ideal for streamlined creative workflows.

4. Getty Images

Getty Images, the industry leader in iconic and historical photography, houses a treasure trove of over 80 million images.

The library includes legendary works by renowned photographers.

Its focus on archival material and exclusive content makes it a must-visit for projects requiring historical depth or a touch of timeless prestige.

5. Dreamstime

Offering exceptional value for budget-conscious creators, Dreamstime boasts a vast library of over 112 million images and videos at competitive prices.

Its flexible royalty-free and subscription plans cater to a wide range of needs, making it a popular choice for startups and individual entrepreneurs.

6. Envato Elements

Beyond just images, Envato Elements unlocks a universe of creative assets with its all-in-one subscription service.

Over 83 million photos, videos, music, graphics, fonts, and more await, offering endless possibilities for web design, presentations, marketing materials, and more.

Its comprehensive nature makes it a cost-effective solution for agencies and creative teams with diverse needs.

7. Createherstock

Empowering women through visuals, CreateHerstock champions diverse and authentic depictions of black women in professional, creative, and everyday settings.

Founded by Stephanie Young, it dismantles harmful stereotypes of hypersexualization and victimhood

It aims to shatter the tired tropes of hypersexualization and victimization often associated with black women in traditional media.

Creatherstock offers images that celebrate black women as leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and everyday heroes.

8. Storyblocks

Injecting motion into your projects, Storyblocks provides unlimited downloads of royalty-free stock footage, music, and sound effects.

Its curated library of over 2 million high-quality videos and 400,000 audio tracks covers a wide range of genres and moods, making it perfect for adding dynamism and emotional impact to your storytelling.

Its flexible subscription plans cater to both individual creators and large productions, making it a versatile choice for video-centric projects.

9. POCStock

Recognizing the need for broader representation across ethnicities, POCStock features a diverse library of royalty-free images showcasing people of color from various backgrounds and cultures.

From families and professionals to artists and activists, POCStock provides a valuable resource for creators seeking imagery that reflects the richness and complexity of the human experience.

POCStock caters to a broader audience, featuring diverse ethnicities and cultural backgrounds within the black community.

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