Summary: Today I’ll guide you through the top 16 places for getting your stock photos, highlighting the best sources for your projects. My 3 favorite picks are:
- Envato: The best library with millions of high-quality photos and unlimited downloads.
- Pixabay: Best place to get free photos.
- Depositphotos: Features a big collection of royalty-free photos with flexible pricing plans.
If you're looking to elevate your creative projects with high-quality images, these platforms are excellent for anyone looking to enhance their projects with top-notch imagery, whether you're on a budget or in search of a wide variety. Dive into the world of stock photography with these top picks and bring your creative vision to life.
TOP 16: best places to get stock photos
- Envato Elements (Top Pick) – Paid
- Pixabay – Free
- Depositphotos – Paid
- Pexels – Free
- Unsplash – Free
- Creative Market – Paid
- Stocksnap.io – Free
- Shopify Photos – Free
- Vecteezy – Free & Paid
- Getty Images – Paid
- Reshot – Free
- Icons8 (Moose) – Free & Paid
- EyeEm – Paid
- Flickr – Free
- Canva – Free & Paid
- Shutterstock – Paid
1. Envato Elements
The best platform for any type of digital assets. Huge library offering unlimited downloads for amazing price.
- Free or paid: Paid
- Size of library: More than 10 milions of photos & other assets
- Type of media: Stock photos, videos, music and sound effects, fonts, graphic templates, presentations, wordpress, and much more.
- About: Envato Elements is literally my most favorite place to get anything. They offer a huge collection of stock photos alongside other creative assets like videos, templates, music, graphics, and fonts, all available through a subscription model. The price is around 16 dollars per month and you get unlimited downloads, which is one of the cheapest on the market. Envato is revolutionary library opening doors for many creatives, designers, websites or creators.
2. Pixabay
A platform for free, high-quality, royalty-free photos, illustrations, and vectors.
- Free or paid: Free
- Size of library: Up to millions
- Type of media: Stock photos, illustrations, videos, and music.
- About: Pixabay stands out as a popular platform for free stock photos, illustrations, vectors, and videos under Creative Commons CC0 licensing, allowing for unrestricted use without attribution. Its extensive library contains user-generated content as well as professional contributions, catering to a wide range of themes and styles, making it a go-to resource for bloggers, designers, and marketers.
3. Depositphotos
Offers millions of high-quality, royalty-free images, videos, and vectors.
- Free or paid: Paid
- Size of library: 281M+ photos, vectors, videos, music and SFX
- Type of media: Photos, vectors, illustrations, collections, videos, music & SFX and lots of tools.
- About: Deposit Photos offers a comprehensive selection of royalty-free stock images, vectors, and videos, available for purchase on a pay-per-download or subscription basis. With millions of high-quality assets sourced from professional photographers and illustrators worldwide, it provides diverse options suitable for commercial projects, advertising campaigns, and editorial use.
4. Pexels
Free high-quality stock photos and videos provided by talented creators.
- Free or paid: Free
- Size of library: 10.9K+ photos & 1.5K+ videos
- Type of media: Stock videos, photos.
- About: Pexels provides a large collection of high-quality stock photos and videos, all under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, enabling free and unrestricted usage for personal and commercial projects. Its user-friendly interface and robust search functionality make it easy for creatives to find the perfect visuals for their needs, whether it's for web design, social media, or presentations.
5. Unsplash
Free, beautiful images contributed by photographers for any use.
- Free or paid: Free
- Size of library: 5M+ photos
- Type of media: High-resolution photos and images
- About: Unsplash is renowned for its vast library of high-resolution, royalty-free images contributed by a generous community of photographers. With a focus on quality and aesthetic appeal, Unsplash images are widely used across various platforms, from websites and blogs to marketing materials and print media, making it a top choice for accessing stunning visuals at no cost.
6. Creative Market
A marketplace for unique design content from independent creatives.
- Free or paid: Paid
- Size of library: 57,1M+ photos & other assets
- Type of media: Stock photos, videos, fonts, graphics, templates, icons, illustrations, and more.
- About: Creative Market is a marketplace for digital assets, including stock photos, fonts, templates, and more, catering to designers, marketers, and entrepreneurs. Its curated selection of premium-quality images from independent creators ensures a diverse range of styles and themes, providing unique options for branding, advertising, and creative projects.
7. Stocksnap.io
Free, high-resolution stock photos added weekly.
- Free or paid: Free
- Size of library: Not specified, but extensive
- Type of media: High-resolution photos
- About: Stocksnap.io offers a collection of high-resolution stock photos curated from various sources, all available for free download and commercial use under the Creative Commons CC0 license. With its user-friendly interface and frequent updates, it provides a convenient resource for finding contemporary and relevant visuals for websites, blogs, and marketing campaigns.
8. Shopify Photos
High-quality, royalty-free stock photos for businesses, by Shopify Burst.
- Free or paid: Free
- Size of library: Thousands of high-resolution, royalty-free images
- Type of media: Photos and images.
- About: Shopify Photos provides a curated collection of stock images tailored specifically for e-commerce businesses, offering high-quality visuals that enhance product listings and brand identity. Integrated seamlessly with Shopify's platform, it simplifies the process of finding and licensing images for online stores, helping merchants create professional-looking websites and marketing materials.
9. Vecteezy
Free and premium vector art, stock photos, and videos with easy editing tools.
- Free or paid: Free & Paid
- Size of library: Thousands of free vectors, photos, images
- Type of media: Photos, AI generated images, vectors, videos, templates, etc.
- About: Vecteezy specializes in vector graphics and illustrations, offering a diverse range of editable artwork suitable for various design projects. In addition to vectors, it also provides a selection of stock photos and videos contributed by a community of artists, making it a valuable resource for designers seeking customizable assets for their creative endeavors.
10. Getty Images
A leading provider of premium stock photos, illustrations, and editorial images.
- Free or paid: Paid
- Size of library: Millions of images and photos.
- Type of media: Photos, images, illustrations, videos and music.
- About: Getty Images is a leading provider of premium stock photos, illustrations, videos, and music, serving diverse industries including advertising, publishing, and entertainment. With an extensive archive of high-quality content sourced from professional photographers and filmmakers worldwide, Getty Images offers licensing options tailored to different usage needs, from individual downloads to enterprise solutions.
11. Reshot
Unique, handpicked free illustrations and icons not found on typical stock photo sites.
- Free or paid: Free
- Size of library: 1.500+ illustrations & 40.000+ icons
- Type of media: SVG icons and vector illustrations.
- About: Reshot stands out for its handpicked collection of authentic and non-stocky images contributed by emerging photographers and artists. With a focus on creativity and originality, it offers a refreshing alternative to traditional stock photography, providing unique visuals suitable for startups, small businesses, and creative projects seeking a more genuine aesthetic.
12. Icons8 (Moose)
Offers customizable stock photos and design resources.
- Free or paid: Free & Paid
- Size of library: Over 1M images
- Type of media: Photos, icons, illustrations, 3D models, music.
- About: Icons8, formerly known as Moose, offers a diverse range of design assets, including icons, illustrations, photos, and music, all available for free with attribution or through a premium subscription. Its library of high-quality visuals caters to designers, developers, and content creators looking to enhance their projects with professional-grade assets across various themes and styles.
13. EyeEm
Connects photographers with brands for high-quality, authentic imagery.
- Free or paid: Paid
- Size of library: Not specified, but extensive
- Type of media: Stock images and photos.
- About: EyeEm is both a photography community and a marketplace, connecting photographers with brands and agencies seeking authentic and compelling imagery. With a focus on real-life moments and diverse perspectives, EyeEm offers a unique selection of stock photos suitable for editorial, commercial, and creative projects, empowering photographers to monetize their work while providing clients with engaging visuals.
14. Flickr
A photo-sharing platform with a vast collection of images from photographers worldwide.
- Free or paid: Free
- Size of library: Not specified, but extensive
- Type of media: Photos and images.
- About: Flickr is a long-standing platform for photographers to showcase their work and connect with a global community of enthusiasts and professionals. While primarily known for its social networking features, Flickr also serves as a repository of millions of user-generated images available under various licensing options, making it a valuable resource for finding unique and eclectic stock photos for diverse creative projects.
15. Canva
A graphic design platform that also offers stock photos within its design tools.
- Free or paid: Free & Paid
- Size of library: Millions of free and premium stock photos and other assets.
- Type of media: Photos, images, icons, graphics, templates, video & audio, and much more.
- About: Canva offers a user-friendly design platform equipped with a vast library of stock photos, illustrations, and templates, catering to individuals and businesses seeking to create professional-looking graphics without extensive design expertise. With its drag-and-drop interface and customizable templates, Canva empowers users to effortlessly incorporate high-quality visuals into their designs for presentations, social media posts, marketing materials, and more.
16. Shutterstock
A global marketplace for royalty-free images, videos, and music tracks.
- Free or paid: Paid
- Size of library: 425M+ photos and others images
- Type of media: Photos, vectors, illustrations, & editorial images, videos, music, sound effects and much more.
- About: Shutterstock is a leading global provider of stock photography, illustrations, vectors, videos, and music, serving businesses, agencies, and creatives across various industries. With millions of high-quality assets sourced from a diverse network of contributors, Shutterstock offers flexible licensing options and advanced search functionality, making it a go-to destination for finding premium stock content tailored to specific project requirements.
Paid vs free stock photos: Which is better?
When comparing paid and free stock photos, it's essential to weigh the benefits and limitations of each. Free stock photos, such as those from Pixabay, are convenient for occasional needs, offering a cost-effective solution without upfront expenses. However, they may not match the quality, uniqueness, and comprehensive licensing assurances provided by paid services like Envato Elements and Depositphotos. A significant drawback of free images is their widespread use, reducing the originality of your project. Additionally, the risk of unclear copyright status looms, posing a potential legal headache if the image was improperly uploaded by a third party. In contrast, paid stock photos guarantee high-quality, unique imagery with clear licensing, making them a superior choice for professionals seeking to elevate their projects above the common fray.
What are stock photos usually used for?
- Website Design Enhancement: Stock photos play a crucial role in website design, providing designers with visually appealing imagery that complements and enhances the overall aesthetic and user interface. These images help in creating a visually coherent theme that aligns with the website's brand and message.
- Marketing and Advertising Efforts: In the realm of marketing and advertising, stock photos are indispensable. They are used to create engaging and compelling promotional materials, both in print and online, helping businesses convey their message, attract their target audience, and stand out in a competitive marketplace.
- Social Media Engagement: The use of stock photos in social media content is pivotal for businesses and individuals looking to elevate their online presence. High-quality images can significantly enhance the visual appeal of posts, banners, and profile pictures, increasing engagement and follower interaction across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
- Corporate Presentation Visuals: Stock photos are extensively used in corporate presentations and reports to add visual interest and support the conveyed information. They assist in breaking up text-heavy slides, making data and insights more accessible and memorable to the audience.
- Blog and Article Illustrations: For bloggers and online publishers, stock photos are essential in illustrating written content. They make articles and blog posts more engaging, helping to draw in readers and keep them interested in the content. The right image can effectively complement an article's theme, making complex topics more relatable.
- Product Packaging Design: In product packaging, stock photos offer a cost-effective solution for high-quality imagery. They are used to design attractive packaging that captures the essence of the product, making it more appealing to consumers and helping it to stand out on retail shelves.
Conclusion
If you're searching for the right stock photos, I recommend checking out these three options: Envato Elements is great if you're after a wide variety of high-quality images and you're okay with a subscription model. Pixabay offers a wealth of free images, making it ideal for occasional needs or if you're working with a tight budget. And Depositphotos provides a mix of flexibility with their pricing plans, from subscriptions to on-demand packs, catering to both frequent and occasional needs.
Choosing the right platform is about balancing your project's visual requirements, budget, and how often you need new stock photos. Take your time to explore these options and let your creative instincts guide you. Each platform has something special to offer, ensuring your project shines with the perfect imagery. Happy exploring, and here's to finding those perfect images that truly bring your ideas to life!
