8 of the Best Websites for Free Stock Photos.
Finding quality stock photos without breaking the bank can be difficult, but luckily there are plenty of options available if you know where to look.
Finding the right photo to illustrate your blog post, website, or social media content can seem like an impossible task sometimes. The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to license high-quality photos and graphics anymore; there are plenty of websites where you can find and use royalty-free photos and images for free! Here are eight of the best places to get free stock photos for any project.
1) Unsplash
Unsplash is a free site with high-quality photos that can be used commercially. Users are allowed to download and use their photos under a Creative Commons Zero license, which means you don’t have to credit the photographer or pay any licensing fees. The images on Unsplash are organized by categories like Adventure, Animals, People, and Black & White. You can search through the library by keywords like business, transportation, or children. The uploads come from people who want to share their work with others online. New photos are added regularly so it’s worth checking back frequently if you need something specific. Some users will even provide the original photo raw file (RAW) in addition to downloading options if desired.
2) Stocksnap
Stocksnap is a fantastic website for finding high-quality stock photos. It has a huge selection, is updated weekly with new images, and offers both amateur and professional options. There’s also an iPhone app available to download so you can access it anywhere.
3) Death to The Stock Photo
Photography is one of those things that doesn’t come naturally to most people. If you’re not a photographer, sourcing high-quality images can be hard work. And with limited budgets and tight timelines, shelling out $150 per image or even more is often not an option. Enter Death to The Stock Photo (DTTP), a newly launched website that seeks to solve these problems by offering creative commons licensed photos for both commercial and personal use.
4) StartUpStocks
StartUpStocks provides a search engine and directory, designed to help you find the perfect image. You can filter by color, mood, focus, and even upload your photo. The company also has millions of images that are free to use! And because it’s free to download their stock photos, they offer high-resolution downloads. With StartUpStocks, you can spend more time doing what you love while still creating professional presentations and publications. Searching through StartUpStocks couldn’t be easier: browse our featured images or enter your keywords into our search bar below to find that perfect image.
5) Jay Mantri
My personal favorite is Unsplash. All photos are high-quality and offered to you under a public domain license, meaning that you can use them without worrying about getting sued or having to pay royalties. The catch: they offer 10 new photos each week, and there are some weeks when they don’t have any new photos.
6) Niice
We all know that having a variety of photos available on your blog can bring in new readers. However, purchasing stock photos from sites like iStock or Getty Images can get expensive and also limit you to their limited number of images. Luckily, there are many other sites out there that offer free stock photos. These websites have a plethora of images with different topics and styles which will help you avoid image burnout.
7) Search For a License to Save Time
When you license an image, you have permission to use it. It can be done with a CC0 license which means there are no restrictions and it’s free to use as long as you credit the creator. If that isn’t possible or appropriate, you’ll need to get explicit permission from the creator. Check out sites like Shutterstock, Dreamstime, and The Hub NYC for some good options if that’s what you’re looking for.
8) MorgueFile
MorgueFile is a free stock photo site where you can find high-quality, curated images for any project you have. Their photos are conveniently organized by category, so it’s easy to find the perfect image. You can even download them straight from the website. They make sharing photos an easier process, too. Instead of manually sending someone a link, simply send them a MorgueFile direct message with all your desired images attached and they’ll be sent automatically to their email or social media account when they’re done viewing them.
