Finding the right image for a blog post or website mockup is one of the hardest parts of the job. Most of us reach for Google Images first. However, Google doesn’t own most of those photos, so copyright still applies to them. As a result, using them without permission can get you charged or penalized.
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That doesn’t mean you have to avoid Google entirely, though. Google indexes an enormous pool of images across the web, and plenty of stock photo sites let you dig through that pool without any copyright risk. These sites offer royalty-free images you can use freely, and this guide covers the five best ones.
Whatever your profession, keeping a shortlist of reliable stock photo sites on hand always pays off.
How “Free” Is a Free Photograph?
Not every free photo works the same way. Some sites let you download images for private use only, like a desktop wallpaper, but block you from using them commercially on a business card, website, or poster. To avoid that trap, stick to sites that offer images under Creative Commons CC0.
“The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.” — CreativeCommons.org“
Creative Commons CC0 covers every website on this list, either fully or in part. In other words, the photographers behind these images have waived their rights, so you can modify, edit, and reuse them without any copyright backlash.
1. Pixabay
Pixabay pulls together images from multiple image-hosting sites into one repository. The team curates the best free stock images for both personal and commercial use. Once you register, you can download as many images as you need and use them however you like. On top of photos, Pixabay also offers illustrations, vector graphics, and even video clips, so it works well as a one-stop resource.
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2. Pexels
Pexels launched in 2015 with a simple goal: give creators free access to beautiful photography. Since then, it has grown into one of the most reputable stock photo libraries online. Its mission statement sums up the approach well.
We help millions of designers, writers, artists, programmers and other creators to get access to beautiful photos that they can use freely which empowers them to create amazing products, designs, stories, websites, apps, art and other work. We call it: ‘Empowering Creators'”—Pexels.com
3. Unsplash
Crew, an online marketing agency, launched Unsplash as a side project to help designers find better images. Today, the platform hosts over 3 million high-resolution photos spanning categories like backgrounds, wallpapers, fashion, animals, and landscapes. Because contributors upload new work constantly, the library stays fresh, so you’re likely to find something that fits your project without much digging.
4. Freerangestock
Freerange Stock set out to prove that free stock photos can still be good photos, and it built its entire library around that idea. Ad revenue funds the platform, so photographers earn money whenever users click the ads next to their submissions. In turn, this model lets Freerange keep every image free for both commercial and non-commercial use.
5. StockSnap
StockSnap offers an excellent, extensive library of free stock imagery, and the team behind it adds hundreds of new high-quality photos every week. That pace alone sets it apart from more casual photography outlets.
Snappa’s team runs StockSnap, and every single image on the site stays free to use. Given the size and quality of the collection, you’d struggle to find a better image repository elsewhere.
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