Anyone who ever wrote, designed, or otherwise contributed to a website or blog knows that having high-quality images available for your content is absolutely crucial. Especially for social media engagement, a well-placed image can do more for you than any amount of SEO optimization, sponsored posts, or razor-sharp copy.
Any decent web designer or content creator spends a sizeable amount of their life looking for the perfect images for their sites. High-quality stock photography can easily be accessed online, but often these pictures get very expensive, which can be a hindrance to those operating on a tight budget (or no budget at all).
Thankfully, if you know where to look there are an abundance of free images of superb quality available for you to use.
Most of these images fall either under a Public Domain classification, which means they aren't owned by anyone and can be used freely, or are protected under Creative Common License, which means you are allowed to utilize the image for free but are obligated to attribute the image to their creator or owner. If you want to modify an image that falls under Creative Common License, you need to double-check that its license allows you to do so.
To save you some work for your next design job, we've put together a list of our top 10 free stock image websites, ready to serve all your picture needs.
This page is seriously any web designer's dream. It hosts an abundance of brilliant high-resolution photos, vectors, and illustrations, is easy to navigate with high-functioning search features, and best of all – it's absolutely free. You have the option to either browse as a guest or get a free membership, which will allow you to bypass the Captcha. Most images need no attribution, but make sure you check for each one you use, as there are a few exceptions.
Searchable: Yes // Attributions: No (for almost all images)
Unsplash is also a website featuring an abundance of high res images free to use for personal or commercial purposes with no attribution. Their huge selection of great-looking photos can be narrowed down through categories like "people", "technology" or "nature". You can also get a subscription and have 10 new photos delivered directly to your inbox every 10 days. So convenient!
Searchable: No // Attributions: No (licensed under creative commons Zero)
Think of this monthly stock photo email as the best spam you could ask for. Sign-up is easy, and free – just supply your email address and you're good to go. You even get a free photo pack as a special welcome gift straight away! At first glance, these photos may look a bit generic, but the subjects and styles of the images make them ideal for uses like background images on websites. The only real downside is that you have no way of searching exactly what you're looking for, so be prepared for some rummaging if you're after something specific.
Searchable: No // Attributions: No
IM Creator is an online website building tool, but they also put together a small library of premium photos for use in your designs. Their well-organized collections feature images that are of the same, if not better, quality as paid stock imagery, and are free to use for personal and commercial use. Take note that attributions are required for images from this site, but their exceptional quality makes those well worth it.
Searchable: Yes // Attributions: Yes (licensed under creative commons)
Most of these free-to-use images fall under a creative commons license, so be mindful of correct attributions when using them on your website. If you want to feature these images in your own original designs, make sure you find out if alteration is allowed and if you need to indicate any changes you've made. Also be respectful of registered trademarks, as these follow different rules to creative commons licenses. While there is no direct search function, the images are categorized really well and even specify styles, design templates, and the camera that was used to capture an image.
Searchable: No // Attributions: Yes (licensed under creative commons)
This huge, and still growing, collection of images by creator Viktor Hanácek is easy to navigate and features free stock photos that mostly don't require attribution. The site is funded entirely by ads, which allow it to keep running and for Viktor to travel the world and take his photos. This site is especially great for food shots, so if you're running a food-related business or blog, this might be the answer to your prayers.
Searchable: Yes // Attributions: No (for almost all images)
You can thank the good folk at the Canadian advertising agency Leeroy and its network of photographers for this collection of public domain, high res images because they donate all of them. There is no copyright restriction, the site gets updated weekly, and they even have a link to a related site for free-to-use stock videos! Don't you just love it when people are kind?
Searchable: No // Attributions: No
The main aim of this website is to showcase and discover treasures by great photographers, so if you're looking for generic "shutterstock" images, you'll be disappointed. Instead, you get a collection of 100% free vintage and modern photographs of the highest quality. Not too bad!
Searchable: No // Attributions: No
This collection of stock photography mostly features spacious landscapes and images great at creating a specific atmosphere. With no attributions necessary, this can be a great tool for web designers. If you don't find what you're looking for, check back next Thursday, which is when 7 new photos will be uploaded every week. While you don't get a search function on subcategories, you do get to access an archive with a smaller grid layout, allowing for quick scanning of images that may suit your purpose.
Searchable: No // Attributions: No
These 100% free stock images are a gift to you from photographer Ryan McGuire. Without a search function, you will have to scroll for a bit to find what you are looking for, however, since many of the images have a touch of humor to them you won't get bored too easily. You also get to choose between different categories to speed up your search. This site operates on a courtesy system – neither attribution nor payment are required, but shout-outs are appreciated and donations to his coffee fund gratefully utilized, because he takes "better pictures when caffeinated".
Searchable: No // Attributions: No
Bonus
PikWizard holds a stunning library of over 1 million stock images and videos. What makes PikWIzard stand out is you can take each image and edit it on graphic design software, Design Wizard. And the images of people are also great! There's no attribution required, meaning you can use each image and video as you please. There are Adobe and Shutterstock sponsored images on the website, but these are clearly labeled when you hover over the image.
Searchable: Yes // Attributions: No
Finding the perfect image for your project can be a real hassle and take up huge amounts of time, energy, and money. Hopefully, with these sites on your side, you can get on with your designs without a problem. Perform a similar image search to find visually related content that matches your needs. However don't forget that if you want to modify images, you need to have the license to do so.
Comment on This Article:
Agree with our selection? Are you using a free stock image library we haven't mentioned? Please share it with us in the comments!
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Written by Divya Abe on Monday, July 13, 2015
Divya Abe is an expert graphic designer ready to share her knowledge with the crowd. Besides spending quality time on the internet she enjoys anything to do with cats. Get in touch via Google+.
