Best Pixabay Like Sites for Free Stock Photos and Videos

Introduction to Free Stock Content Platforms and Pixabay Alternatives

In today’s fast-moving digital landscape, free stock content platforms are indispensable for creators who need compelling visuals without stretching their budget. High-quality images and videos enhance blogs, marketing campaigns, websites, and social media posts — but relying on one source can limit variety.

Among the most popular platforms is Pixabay, which offers millions of free photos, videos, and illustrations under generous licensing. Still, creative professionals often seek Pixabay alternatives to tap into different styles, features, and niche content not always found in one library.

Why You Might Want Alternatives to Pixabay

While Pixabay’s depth and ease of use make it a go-to resource, exploring other sites can help you:

• Increase variety: Different contributors and styles broaden your creative palette.
• Find niche material: Some sites excel in specific themes like business, food, or nature.
• Explore licensing options: Understand how “free” varies across platforms.
• Gain access to unique tools: Advanced search filters, color palettes, or curated collections.
• Avoid overuse: Highly popular Pixabay images may appear on multiple websites, reducing originality.

Key Factors When Choosing a Stock Content Site

Before diving into leading Pixabay-like sites, keep these criteria in mind:

Licensing Terms

Check whether content requires attribution or has restrictions, such as non-commercial clauses. This ensures your work remains compliant.

Resolution and Quality

Professional projects benefit from higher resolutions. Some platforms limit sizes for free downloads or require free sign-up.

Niche Specialization

If your brand has a particular tone or theme, look for sites with collections that support that style — from minimalist imagery to bold, colorful compositions.

Search Features and Usability

Efficient filters for color, orientation, size, or tags can save valuable time during searches.

---

Unsplash: Massive Library of High-Quality Photography

Unsplash boasts over three million free, high-resolution images contributed by photographers worldwide. Its categories span nearly every industry and topic.

• Pros: Exceptional clarity, modern compositions, no attribution required (credit is appreciated).
• Cons: Widely used, which can lead to repetitive visuals.

---

Pexels: Photos and Videos for Every Project

Pexels offers a rich collection of both images and videos, making it ideal for projects that need multimedia assets.

• Pros: Commercial use allowed, high-quality video clips, intuitive filtering options.
• Cons: May have fewer hyper-specific categories compared to niche-focused platforms.

Pro Tip: Access Pexels’ library directly within Canva and other design tools for faster workflow.

---

Burst by Shopify: Tailored for Entrepreneurs

Burst focuses on business-friendly stock imagery, catering to online stores, entrepreneurs, and marketers. Its thematic collections target growth-oriented projects.

• Pros: Retail, startup, and digital marketing themes; high-resolution files.
• Cons: Smaller total library than large-scale sites.

---

Gratisography: Bold and Whimsical Stock Photos

For standout designs that embrace unusual perspectives, Gratisography delivers colorful, eccentric shots unlike those on mainstream stock sites.

• Pros: Distinctive style well-suited to creative campaigns.
• Cons: May be too playful for formal corporate contexts.

---

Life of Pix: Artistic Photography with Personality

Life of Pix curates beautiful, high-art images from talented photographers, often featuring architectural and natural scenes.

• Pros: Great for editorial and artistic projects; weekly fresh uploads.
• Cons: Limited non-photo assets like vectors or illustrations.

---

SplitShire: Consistent Vision from a Single Photographer

Created by Daniel Nanescu, SplitShire offers thousands of stock photos that maintain stylistic cohesion due to their single photographer origin.

• Pros: Authentic look and consistent tone.
• Cons: Smaller variety of visual themes.

---

Rawpixel: Diversity and Vintage Collections

Rawpixel focuses on inclusivity and representation across demographics, featuring both free and premium tiers.

• Pros: Diverse and inclusive subjects; access to vintage image archives.
• Cons: Premium watermark or limited free downloads in some searches.

---

Kaboompics: Lifestyle Imagery with Matching Color Palettes

Kaboompics offers lifestyle and interior-oriented stock photos, paired with a unique color palette tool to aid brand consistency.

• Pros: Stylish, cohesive shoots; downloadable color swatches.
• Cons: Some uses require attribution.

---

Picjumbo: Varied Themes from Food to Tech

Launched by photographer Viktor Hanacek, Picjumbo regularly updates its diverse library that includes categories from travel to abstract art.

• Pros: Broad range of topics; regular new uploads.
• Cons: Premium upsell and some limited free categories.

---

Tips for Finding the Best Stock Assets

Whether using Pixabay or alternatives, streamline your search process with these strategies:

• Use targeted keywords: “Flat lay coffee laptop” finds more specific images than “coffee.”
• Browse curated collections: Many sites assemble seasonal or topic-based galleries.
• Filter results: Narrow by size, color, or orientation to match design needs.
• Check multiple platforms: Broaden your selection and avoid overused images.
• Build a favorites list: Save for easy access in future projects.

---

Giving Credit to Photographers Ethically

Even if a license doesn’t require it, crediting the creator is professional and respectful. Benefits include:

• Boosting creator visibility.
• Supporting ongoing content availability.
• Strengthening community collaboration.

Example credit:

Photo by Jane Doe on Unsplash

Place credits in captions, footers, or a dedicated “Image Credits” section of your project.

---

Conclusion: Comparison Table and Recommendations

Here’s a quick reference table summarizing each platform’s specialties:

Best Picks:

• Videos: Pexels, SplitShire
• Creative Flair: Gratisography
• Business Use: Burst, Kaboompics
• General Projects: Unsplash, Pixabay

By incorporating multiple Pixabay-like platforms into your workflow, you’ll have access to a richer variety of styles, formats, and creative tools. This not only keeps your designs fresh, but also ensures they truly stand out in a crowded digital space. Start exploring these resources today to elevate your visual storytelling.