10 Best Websites Like Pexels for Free Stock Photos and Video

Introduction to Pexels and Why Seek Alternatives

Pexels is widely recognized as one of the top free stock photo and video platforms for creatives, marketers, and entrepreneurs. Its vast, high-quality library—contributed by photographers around the globe—comes with a user-friendly license that makes visual sourcing simple and flexible.

However, depending on websites like Pexels exclusively may limit your creative variety and originality. At times, you might require:

• Different creative styles and aesthetics
• Specialized niches not fully represented on Pexels
• Alternative licensing terms
• Fresh, undiscovered content sources

That’s where exploring other platforms becomes valuable. In this guide, we’ll introduce 10 of the best Pexels alternatives, each with unique strengths to expand your creative possibilities.

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Key Features to Look for in Stock Photo & Video Sites

Before diving into the list, it’s important to know what makes a stock photo or video site truly useful. Several factors influence whether a platform works best for your needs:

1. Licensing and Usage Rights

Always scrutinize licensing policies. Many free sites adopt Creative Commons Zero (CC0) or custom open licenses with broad usage allowances. Still, be sure to:

• Confirm whether attribution is needed
• Verify commercial use permissions
• Identify any redistribution restrictions

2. Quality of Content

Resolution, sharpness, and professional post-processing significantly affect how effectively an image elevates a project.

3. Diversity of Media Types

Some sites strictly host photos; others include videos, illustrations, vectors, or PSD templates. A diverse media range saves you effort searching multiple sources.

4. Search and Filtering

A platform with robust filters, keyword accuracy, and organized content categories improves your workflow.

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Unsplash – Massive Library of Free Images

Unsplash rivals Pexels in size and quality, featuring millions of high-resolution images contributed by a global creative community.

Highlights:

• Extensive variety of visual subjects and moods
• CC0-style licensing for hassle-free personal and commercial use
• Integration with tools like Figma, Trello, and Medium

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Pixabay – More Than Just Photos

Pixabay offers photos and beyond, featuring vectors, illustrations, music, and videos—all under a liberal license.

Key Features:

• 2.6+ million free images and videos
• Built-in Pixabay Editor for online edits
• Advanced search filters for color, size, and orientation

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Freepik – Free & Premium Visual Assets

Freepik blends free and premium content, making it ideal for both professionals and casual users. Free plans require attribution, while premium gives unrestricted use.

What You’ll Find:

• Stock photos
• Vector art and icon sets
• Editable PSD templates
• Detailed illustrations

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Burst by Shopify – Curated for Entrepreneurs

Burst caters to entrepreneurs and e-commerce creatives, providing high-quality photos focused on business and lifestyle themes.

Advantages:

• Industry-specific collections like fashion, fitness, and tech
• Perfect for branding and product promotion
• Clear commercial-use licensing

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Reshot – Truly Unique Stock Photos

Reshot features exclusively curated, non-generic images that stand apart from traditional stock libraries.

Why Choose Reshot:

• Unique, authentic photography
• No attribution required
• Well-tagged categories for quick discovery

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Life of Pix – Artistic Contributions

With global photographer contributions, Life of Pix offers copyright-free images that emphasize creativity.

Special Features:

• Weekly photographer spotlights
• Beautiful landscapes, portraits, and abstracts
• Linked sister site, Life of Vids, for stock video

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Kaboompics – Colors and Lifestyle Imagery

Kaboompics is popular among bloggers and designers for its stylish lifestyle and interior photos—paired with a custom color palette tool.

Benefits:

• Cohesive colors help with brand consistency
• Strong focus on design and aesthetics
• No attribution needed for commercial use

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Gratisography – Quirky and Playful Shots

Gratisography by Ryan McGuire offers whimsical, artistic, and out-of-the-box photography.

Reasons to Try:

• Stand-out visuals with personality
• Free for commercial and personal use
• Unique art direction unlike typical stock

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StockSnap.io – Fresh & Trending Content

StockSnap.io consistently refreshes its collection, adding hundreds of free, high-quality images weekly.

Highlights:

• In-depth tag system for easy search
• Trending section to find popular themes
• CC0 licensing for simple use

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Comparison of Websites Like Pexels

Here’s a quick overview of the alternatives side-by-side for easy reference:

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Conclusion: Choosing the Right Alternative

The websites like Pexels that work best for you will depend on your project goals:

• For breadth and volume: Unsplash, Pixabay
• For editable design files: Freepik
• For authentic, original imagery: Reshot, Gratisography
• For lifestyle branding: Kaboompics
• For frequent content refresh: StockSnap.io

You can maximize creativity by combining resources, ensuring your visuals are fresh, relevant, and compelling.

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Tips for Crediting and Respecting Licenses

Even if credit isn’t legally mandatory, acknowledging the creator demonstrates respect and builds rapport within the creative community.

Best Practices:

• Always verify licensing terms before use
• Credit photographers in captions, footers, or metadata
• Never resell or claim ownership of free assets
• Archive license info for each asset used in commercial work

By following these practices, you’ll safeguard your projects legally and ethically—while nurturing positive relationships in the creator ecosystem.

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Expand your creative library today—try a few of these Pexels alternatives and discover hidden gems that resonate perfectly with your brand voice and design needs.