The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text! Meaning an image is worth more than a 1000 words 😉.
Good photos are vital for grabbing attention and getting your message across. Check out the best of 2022's free stock photo websites!
1. UNSPLASH
One of our favorites with a collection of over 300,000 beautiful, high-resolution images from more than 50,000 contributors. Top quality photos from around the world. One of our favorites
2. PIXABAY
This site has a very large database of high-quality images. It’s somewhat more oriented towards business and marketing than Unsplash, which is often helpful for content marketers and bloggers. Another big advantage of Pixabay is that they also offer free vectors and illustrations.
3. PEXELS
We can't do a post on free stock images without mentioning The Pexels collection is a vast, well-organized collection of free stock photos is one of the best curated on the internet. In addition, they have free stock videos! Pexels is the go-to image source for many bloggers.
4. GRATISOGRAPHY
They pride themselves on being the “world’s quirkiest collection of high-resolution free stock images.” Images are a little more authentic and they excel at offering free photos that are unique and less “stocky” than what you see elsewhere.
5. MORGUEFILE
This site is also somewhat different. The photos are not curated and not as professionally produced as on Unsplash, Pixabay or Gratisography. You’ll find pictures of random people and everyday objects, super authentic vibe. Morguefile is great spot if you need a random picture of everyday things like brushing your teeth, doing the dishes etc.
6. STOCKVAULT
The Stockvault collection offers stock photos, wallpapers, and textures. The collection is a little bit smaller than the top 3 but has new additions daily. This site also has a good search engine and is well-organized for browsing by category.
7. PICJUMBO
PicJumbo is now a thriving free stock photo community with a big selection of beautiful free photos.
8. PIKWIZARD
Besides having a huge collection of unique stock images, Pikwazard also offers a design wizard that allows you to make basic edits like adding text overlays before downloading. While the basics are free, they also have paid version that's a full-feature online image editing tool.
9. RAWPIXEL
Rawpixel claims to have the most diverse collection of stock photos in the industry — and it may be true. They also have vectors, PSD mockups, and even public domain content.
10. RESHOT
Reshot aims to give emerging photographers a platform to share their creativity with those who need it. Their curated collections are extensive, stunning, and completely free.
What about usage rights on free stock photos?
Nearly all images on these free stock sites have a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license. This means you can copy, adapt or distribute the images — even for commercial purposes — without requiring author consent. In other words, do whatever you want with them!