Images are a fundamental part of any website, blog or social media content. Unfortunately, it can be a bit of a faff trying to dodge copyright infringement and cheesy stock photos on the journey to finding the perfect pics. Supersede to the rescue! We’ve carefully curated a list of 25 sites for copyright-free images that you should be using right now. Let’s dive in!
Best sites for copyright-free images
- Unsplash
- Duotone
- New Old Stock
- Gratisography
- Pexels
- StockSnap
- Pixabay
- Negative Space
- ISO Republic
- Picjumbo
- Burst
- Free Nature Stock
- Reshot
- Stokpic
- Kaboompics
- Libreshot
- SplitShire
- FOCA Stock
- Rawpixel
- Life of Pix
- Freerange Stock
- Foodiesfeed
- Freestocks.org
- Picography
- Skitterphoto
About image licenses
At the time of writing this article, the photographs from the following sites are free from copyright restrictions or listed under Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0). What this means is that you can copy, modify and distribute most of the photos—even commercially—without needing permission.
There are some sites that use their own type of licensing, which we’ll be sure to point out, but they still fall under the ‘free to use for personal and commercial purposes’ umbrella. They might just add requirements like attribution (sharing a link to the website or photographer) or redistribution restrictions.
Though we have endeavoured to highlight the rules of each website clearly, it’s still your responsibility to triple-check their guidelines to ensure you don’t fall foul of the rules.
Now, without further ado, and in no particular order, we’ll get started with our list…
1. Unsplash
Image source: Julius Carmine (via Unsplash)
With over 2 million free high-resolution images available, it comes as no surprise that Unsplash is the first port of call for most people looking for the perfect picture. It doesn’t matter if you choose to sign up and join their community, or stay on the sidelines, you have access to their full library of images.
To start your search, you can use the search bar, trawl through editorial picks or make use of the site’s handy categories. Once you’ve found your image, you can download it in its original dimensions or pick from a range of sizes.
2. Duotone
Image source: Maarten Deckers (via Unsplash)
If you’re looking to stick to a specific colour palette on your website, blog or social media, look no further than Duotone. This online tool allows you to apply a duotone effect to an image of your choice. You can pick images from Unsplash, or upload your own image.
Once you’re happy with your customised image, you can download it as a PNG. Do remember to optimise any images that you upload beforehand, though, to avoid being stuck with large file sizes.
3. New Old Stock
Image source: Archives of the Law Society of Ontario (via Flickr)
One of the slightly more niche copyright-free image websites on our list, New Old Stock offers up a selection of vintage photos from the public archives. If you’re getting tired of using the same types of images as everyone else, this is a great way to break the mould.
Additionally, the creator has provided a few vintage photo collections that are ‘optimized, cropped and edited for quick use’. They will, however, cost you anywhere between $5 to $35. These can be downloaded in a zip file containing JPGs.
4. Gratisography
Image source: Gratisography
Sick of the usual selection of stock photos? Gratisography might just be your saving grace. They eschew traditional stock photos in favour of a quirky, creative collection of high-resolution pictures. In order to become a Gratisography image, a picture has to bring something new to the table, so you can be sure that whichever ones you pick will stand out from the crowd.
To get started, you can use the search bar or make use of their categories feature, such as animals, business and fashion. Once an image has caught your attention, you’ll be able to download it as a JPG at no extra cost.
5. Pexels
Image source: Og Mpango (via Pexels)
Pexels is a site that is dedicated to providing free stock photos to help people across the world to create beautiful products and designs. All photos are hand-picked from ones uploaded by Pexels users or sourced from other free image websites—so you can be sure you’re looking at the best of the best. New high-resolution photos are added every day, so you don’t have to worry about the selection getting stagnant.
To find the perfect match, you can browse through popular photos and searches. All photos are tagged, searchable and easy to discover. You can even browse by colour, if you’ve got a particular palette in mind. When you’ve found the right picture, you can download it in original, large, medium, small or custom sizes.
6. StockSnap
Image source: StockSnap
Looking to create compelling, eye-catching work? You can’t go wrong with StockSnap. This site provides a free, ever-expanding collection of high-resolution images for users worldwide. If you’re a photographer, you can even join up and submit your own work for other creatives to download!
With new images added weekly, you won’t have to worry about running out of great images. To start your search for the next centrepiece to your work, you can look at recently added photos or take a look at popular searches on StockSnap. They’ve even got a tag-based category system to help you refine your search technique. Downloading, as with the sites above, is as simple as one click.
7. Pixabay
Image source: guvo59 (via Pixabay)
Pixabay is yet another great choice for bloggers and content writers looking to liven up their sites. It provides a wide collection of photos, vector graphics, illustrations and videos, giving you plenty to take advantage of. They boast a vibrant community of creatives dedicated to submitting high-quality images. You can join this community with a quick sign-up process.
It couldn’t be any easier to browse through everything that Pixabay has to offer. You can look at image type or browse by category. Downloading is as easy as pie. All you’ve got to do is specify the size and voilà—it’s yours! If you’ve found an image that’s not quite right, you can view related images and restart your search.
8. Negative Space
Image source: Wyncliffe (via Negative Space)
Negative Space provides users with beautiful, high-resolution stock photos that have been taken by photographers from the Negative Space community. The website actively encourages photographers to contribute their work in the hope of inspiring creatives worldwide, so if you’re looking to showcase your own work, it’s your time to shine!
It’s easy to find the perfect picture with Negative Space. The latest images uploaded onto the site are shown at the top of the page and they even provide a categories list for you to trawl through. Once an image has caught your eye, all you’ve got to do is click “download free stock photo” and you’re good to go. If you’re looking for a regular fix of photos, you can even sign up to get the latest stock photos sent directly to your inbox!
9. ISO Republic
Image source: Matt Bango (via ISO Republic)
ISO Republic is the perfect destination for anyone looking for the perfect image to take their website, blog or social media content to the next level. With thousands of pictures to choose from, you’ll be completely spoiled for choice. And that’s not all! ISO Republic even provides a selection of free stock videos that you can use to further elevate your projects.
To start your journey, search via tags or photo categories, ranging from animals to sport. You won’t be able to complain about what’s on offer—they’ve got a careful quality-control process in place. All submissions are carefully vetted to make sure that everything on the site is high-quality and high-resolution (minimum of 3,000 pixels wide). Once you’ve got your sights set on an image, all it takes is a simple one-click download to get your hands on it.
10. Picjumbo
Image source: Viktor Hanacek (via Picjumbo)
Picjumbo is a free stock photo site that was created in 2013 by Viktor Hanacek. Almost all of the pictures on the website were taken by Viktor, which means you can be sure that they are genuine and not stolen from other stock photo websites or photographers. The site doesn’t just offer free images, though: it also provides premium content. If you join Premium, you can receive exclusive photos every month and get the opportunity to download premium photo collections.
As with the other websites on our list, you can look for images with the search bar, or via categories like abstract images, holidays and technology. If you’ve decided that Picjumbo is your new go-to site for copyright-free images, you can forgo the trial of downloading files one by one with the All In One pack which contains over 4,000 images in several zip files. It’ll set you back $15, but it means you can create your own photo library and support Picjumbo!
11. Burst
Image source: Brodie Vissers (via Burst)
Burst is a free stock photo platform powered by Shopify. Its goal is to build the best free image library online. With such a wide collection of free, high-resolution images on offer, it’s certainly coming close to achieving it! Photographers across the world are constantly submitting their best work, meaning that its collection keeps on growing. If you’d like first access to these photos—and other Burst content—simply subscribe.
You can get the top free pictures of the week at the top of the homepage. Alternatively, you can browse through full photo collections, ranging from food to nature to backgrounds. Found the one? Download your image in either high or low resolution.
12. Free Nature Stock
Image source: Adrian Pelletier (via Free Nature Stock)
As you probably guessed from the name, Free Nature Stock is your one-stop source for nature-related photos. Created by Adrian Pelletier and updated daily, Free Nature Stock has everything from mountains to the Milky Way. If that wasn’t enough, it even provides 4K and HD nature stock videos for those looking to add extra flair to their content.
Get started by using the search bar, or by heading to Explore for a hefty list of categories! When you click on an image, you’ll see its file size, dimensions and file type. If you’re happy with it, you can download it in a single click!
13. Reshot
Image source: thatoseabi (via Reshot)
If you’re looking for a wide selection of unique, hand-picked photographs, you can’t go wrong with Reshot. This site prides itself on offering “non-stocky images”, so you can be sure you’ll find something different to the usual variety of photos you use. The site gives emerging photographers a platform for sharing their best work, giving you the chance to get the cream of the crop.
To find an image that’s worthy enough for your next creative project, simply use the search bar. Alternatively, you can sift through them via categories like people, nature and lifestyle. If time is of the essence, you’ll love Reshot’s quick download option, getting the show on the right right away!
14. Stokpic
Image source: Ed Gregory (via Stokpic)
Stokpic was set up by photographer Ed Gregory, with the purpose of sharing high-quality images with people across the world. There’s certainly plenty on offer to add some pizzazz to your content and wow your loyal readers. If you subscribe to Stokpic, you’ll get 10 new photos sent directly to your inbox every 2 weeks.
If you don’t have a particular subject in mind, you can search for images through the site’s different sections, including free stock photos, the latest 100, and favourites. Of course, if you know exactly what you’re looking for, you can look via categories—ranging from backgrounds to fashion to transport. Simply select your chosen image and click download!
15. Kaboompics
Image source: Karolina Grabowska (via Kaboompics)
Kaboompics, created by photographer Karolina, is one of the best sources for lifestyle and interior design images. Since its inception, the site’s photographs have been downloaded over 30 million times. With over 23 thousand images to choose from, you won’t know where to start! If you’d like to stay in the loop, you can subscribe via email and get exclusive free photos sent to your inbox.
To search for your ideal image, you can look at the latest batch of featured images or sort through entire photoshoots. Alternatively, you can use the search bar. They’ve even got a great feature that displays the palette of colours present in every photo. This is handy if you’re trying to stick to a particular colour scheme or aesthetic. You can then download your chosen photo in original, medium or custom size.
16. Libreshot
Image source: Martin Vorel (via Libreshot)
Libreshot is the go-to source for free fine art photography, created by Martin Vorel. All of the photos on the site were taken by Vorel, which means you can rest assured that any image you download has a guaranteed origin. Though the website isn’t updated as regularly as others on our list, there’s still plenty to keep you busy.
It’s simple to browse through all that’s on offer at Libreshot. You can start your search for the perfect photo via search bar or category. No sign-ups are necessary on Libreshot, so all you have to do is click on an image and start downloading immediately.
17. SplitShire
Image source: SplitShire
SplitShire has a pretty simple mission: “helping you to be awesome out there with great content”. Indeed, their selection of stock photos is sure to help you give your projects a little extra oomph and make an impression with your target audience. With hundreds of photos on offer, SplitShire shows no signs of slowing down just yet.
Browse through SplitShire’s collection using simple categories like landscapes, street and still life. Alternatively, if you don’t know what you’re looking for just yet, head on over to their top best photos or new stock photos. Once you’ve found an image that you just know belongs on your site, click on it and select “download”.
18. FOCA Stock
Image source: FOCA Stock
Previously known as MMT Stock, FOCA Stock was launched in 2014 by Jeffrey Betts. It provides free photos and videos for websites, themes, projects and much more. You don’t have to be concerned about getting bored with FOCA’s content either: with new images being uploaded every week, the fun never ends!
To start your hunt for the right image, you can filter by type, category, tags, colour and orientation. It certainly caters to those who are slightly more picky with their image choices! A simple one-click download is all it takes to nab whatever’s caught your eye on FOCA Stock.
19. Rawpixel
Image source: Rawpixel
Looking for a wide range of image types to use in your work? Rawpixel might be your new fave. It’s the perfect site for helping users get creative with free and premium images. Indeed, you might find yourself overwhelmed with the selection! Unlike other sites we’ve listed, Rawpixel requires you to sign up to start downloading photos. There are three different plans: free, casual and premium.
To start looking for free images, head directly to the free images page—otherwise you might get your heart set on a premium image. At the end of your search, simply pick your image size and start downloading!
20. Life of Pix
Image source: Maxim Boldyrev (via Life of Pix)
If you’re looking for stunning, high-resolution images and interested in joining a tight-knit community, Life of Pix could be the place for you. Not only does it offer up a wide selection of free images and videos, it actively encourages users to join up to share their own photographs, build a portfolio and follow their favourite photographers.
To get started on your journey to finding the perfect picture or video, simply scroll through the featured list and categories, use the search bar or check out the photographer of the week. Once your search is complete, you can download your picture in a single click!
21. Freerange Stock
Image source: NappyStudio (via Freerange Stock)
Freerange Stock has been around since 2007 and provides high-quality images to a community of over 750,000 registered users. The site hasn’t grown lazy in the many years since its inception, however. It continues to add to its collection of free stock photos on a daily basis, so you’re never going to leave empty-handed!
It couldn’t be any easier to start looking for images on Freerange Stock. You can use the search bar or filter for the newest or most popular images. You can also take advantage of their category feature. To download an image—in full size, medium or small—you’ll need to register.
22. Foodiesfeed
Image source: Jakub Kapusnak (via Foodiesfeed)
Another one of the more niche websites on our list, Foodiesfeed, as the name suggests, offers up a huge collection of high-quality images of food. Whether you’re looking for pictures of vibrant veggies, decadent desserts or cheeky cocktails, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for here!
You can either look via the search bar, trawl through trending photos or have a look at popular tags. To download your image, you can select “Free download full resolution”, which will take around 10 seconds or so to start, or you can sign up to enjoy instant downloads.
23. Freestocks.org
Image source: Joanna Malinowska (via Freestocks)
If you’re tired of generic, cliché stock photos, you might want to have a gander at Freestocks.org. It provides users with a range of images that are “fresh, up-to-date and versatile in style”. It doesn’t matter how niche or broad your project is, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for here.
You can start looking by using the search bar, or through tags and categories. If you select an image, only to find it’s not the right fit, you can scroll down to look at images that you might also like. Once you’re happy, simply click “download” and Bob’s your uncle!
24. Picography
Image source: Humphrey Muleba (via Picography)
We’re almost at the finish line now! The penultimate site on our list for copyright-free images is Picography. Chock full of high-resolution images taken by professional and semi-professional photographers, this site caters to millions of people across the globe. If you’re looking to join in on the fun, it could certainly take your projects to the next level!
As with other websites on our list, Picography makes it incredibly easy to search for that all-important image. You can use the search bar and look at popular searches, or you can use categories and tags. After clicking on your chosen image, simply select “Download the Free Photo” and get started on your new project immediately!
25. Skitterphoto
Image source: Peter Heeling (via Skitterphoto)
Featuring a carefully curated collection of copyright-free images, Skitterphoto is the perfect site to end our list with. Launched in 2014, Skitterphoto is a hotspot for photographers looking to showcase their work and people looking for the perfect picture to elevate their work.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, you can browse Skitterphoto’s featured list and admin picks—filtering them by highest ranked, date and number of downloads/likes/views—or you can do it the old fashioned way by using the search bar and/or category feature. Once you’re happy, you can download your image in one click!
As you can see, there are plenty of websites offering copyright-free images. So, say goodbye to those cheesy stock photos and start using images that will set your site apart from the rest.
Looking for more handy resources or tips? Keep a close eye on the Supersede Blog!
