30 kick-ass websites to find free high quality stock photos
The Internet is full of incredible images, but not all of them are up for use.
Sometimes the difficult part in content creation is knowing where to find great images you can use that are of high quality and creativity without fear of getting hit with legal consequences down the road.
How do you find high-quality images that don’t have copyright restrictions?
Where do you find personality-filled images for your next blog post, website or commercial project?
That’s the question and I’ve got the answer.
There are multiple website out that that contain one hundred percent free images with high resolution created by photographers.
It is just about knowing where they are and I’ve put together a list of websites of just where you can find them.
Places to Find Free Stock Images
1. Gratisography
This website features high resolution photographs that you can use for personal or commercial projects totally for free. Upside? The site is updated with new pictures every single week. Downside? There is no categories or search capabilities to find particular images.
2. Picjumbo
This website provides a large collection of images available for either personal or commercial projects for free. Additionally, you can register so that those images land right in your email inbox! They have both a category and tag function making your search for a particular photo easy!
3. New Old Stock
This website is where all the vintage photography is at. Taken from public archives, these black and white, sepia or colored images are free of copyright restrictions. They are categorized making searching easy but more than anything, they provide an intriguing and exciting perspective of the past.
4. Snapographic
This website features photographs taken by the talented Thomas Mühl who has waived copyright restrictions for personal or commercial use. Because of this, the images can be used without a backlink and the option is available to buy all current photos in a zip file for only $15!
5. Snapwire Snaps
This website uploads seven new photos every week with all of them available for personal and commercial projects for free. When you register, they’ll email the images to you weekly and they also welcome contributions for all the aspiring photographers! Their website setup does make searching difficult as it uses just a simple search tool.
6. Death to The Stock Photo
This website links you to a free registration to be added to the Death to The Stock Photo email list to receive their monthly pack of photography with the stories to go along with them. They creatively offer invitations to be a part of their premium plan for $15/month or to “fund a trip” and receive access to 200 photos. Though, it is impossible to download any photos without registering.
7. Pexels
This website promotes itself as having “the best free stock photos in one place” and they upload five new photos every single day which is more often than most free websites. Each of the photos are free to use under the Creative Commons Zero license (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) and they are searchable through keywords and tagging.
8. Splitshire
This website contains a large collection of free images for personal or commercial projects as long as you don’t try and resell the images of your own. The images are easy search, categorized and easy to download!
9. Jaymantri
This website hosts a library of free photos all from the talented Jay Mantri. The images are provided under the Creative Common Zero License (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) but there is no way to search for specific images.
10. Stokpic
This website contains free photos for your use under the Creative Common Zero License (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) and they are downloadable from the homepage. There are also categories, for easy searching!
11. Unsplash
This website provides high resolution images under the Creative Common Zero License (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) and they upload ten new photos every ten days. Want them in your email inbox? Just register. Want to contribute? You can submit your photos!
12. Tinyography
This website is full of photographs taken by an iPhone to use for personal or commercial projects. To download the high resolution versions, you simply click on an image! The photographs are clear and gorgeous, but no categories on this one.
13. ISO Republic
This website contained high resolutions photos free to use for personal and commercial projects. It was created in hopes to empower designers and developers who are working on awesome, independent projects. Images are loaded by page or category and they accept both donations and submissions!
14. Pixabay
This website hosts gorgeous quality photographs under the Creative Common Zero License (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) and are hands down probably the most easy-to-use and free stock photography website. You can search through images using filter, type, category, orientation and color!
15. Picography
This website features both intriguing and clear photos for free legal use, though the search function can be a real hit or miss.
16. Get Refe
This website free and for-sale photographs for your use listed under multiple categories. To access the images, make sure to click the ‘REFE’ button at the top right.
17. Foodies Feed
For all the food-lovers out there, this is the stock photography website for you.
18. Travel Coffee Book
This website has record of some stunning travel moments captured in high resolution images. Whether you subscribe to their emails, download all their photos or pick and choose, the options are open. All the photos are on one page so there is no search function.
19. Magdeleine
This website contains a large array of images under eight categories; some under the Creative Common Zero License (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) and some require credit. The images span contributors and are curated. As well, there is plenty search function including category and hashtags.
20. JeShoots
This website offers trendy and quality photographs under the Creative Common Zero License (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) and are listed under eight categories. The website does also contain premium images which will cost you some coin.
21. CupCake
This website features a small quantity of photographs by Jonas Nilsson Lee and are free to use under the Creative Common Zero License (which means as long as you’re using them legally, they’re free!) but they are not categorized.
22. MorgueFile
This website hosts hundreds of thousands of images (a lot more than some of the others!) and a lot of them are available for free. Most users find this website difficult to use though with searching and tagging. Paid images are also available to purchase.
23. Kaboompics
This website features a collection of images that are easy to search and well tagged. The website is easy to use and contains high resolution work.
24. Plixs
This website contains a very large selection of photos, but also videos! They offer the opportunity to contribute and get paid for it as well.
25. Life of Pix
This website is simple and relevant with many quality images that are easy and free to use and share. It uses a strong search function, making it easy to find images you may be looking for.
26. StockSnap
This website is similar to Pexels and Kaboompics providing high quality images with awesome search tools.
27. FancyCrave
This website is one of my very favorites for free stock photography. Not only do they offer free images, but also photo packs to download where you name your price at as little as $0! They are a great source for creatives of all kinds.
28. GoodFreePhotos
This website is helpful especially if you’re searching for travel photography for your content. The images are placed into categories by location.
29. LibreShot
This website stands out with their gorgeous photos especially with muted tones. If that fits your aesthetic, this might be your new favorite place!
30. Idpinthat
As you can take from the name, this website was created to help bloggers create images to the likes of those seen on Pinterest. Providing the right tools, they help anyone create a great pin!
Out of these many options, what are my top favorites?
Hands down, Pixabay, Plix, Pexels, StockSnap.io, Picjumbo and FancyCrave!
When looking for free stock images, the best thing to do is find websites that explicitly state that they are free for both personal and commercial projects. The last thing you want is to get caught up in a legal battle you never asked for.
All the sites we listed here fit that requirement. Free to use.
Now the only question left is, what will you create?
