Ever spent an hour looking for a photo and ended up using the same tired image everyone else uses? Yep—been there. Whether I’m crafting a blog post, designing a pitch deck, or just trying to make something look less boring—I’m always hunting for that perfect image.
One image speaks a thousand words, so that time spent searching is often time well spent. The good news? There are plenty of sites offering free photos.
Of course, I’m not pretending AI tools don’t exist. In a lot of cases, AI image generators are more than enough for what I need. They’re shiny, fast, and sometimes hilariously weird. But here’s the thing: AI is awesome when you already know what you want. What do you do when you don’t? That’s when browsing these sites is a lifesaver.
True story—I once asked an AI for “people collaborating in a modern office,” and it gave me a group of humans with three arms each and chairs that looked like they were melting. Cool? Maybe. Usable? Not so much.
If you’re building a website, revamping your social profiles, or creating some marketing material, free stock photo sites are a total game-changer. No fees. No legal drama. Just gorgeous, easy-to-use images.
Where to Find Free, Gorgeous Stock Photos
Here’s a curated list of sites that offer stunning, free-to-use images. Whether you’re branding, blogging, or just making your next email campaign less… meh, these are the tools to keep in your back pocket.
Burst (by Shopify)
Need crisp, themed photos for your startup or side hustle? Burst is made with small business owners in mind. It offers collections like fitness, tech, and small biz scenes. Everything’s free, no strings attached. Great for eCommerce and marketing visuals. Give it five minutes—you’ll probably download ten.
Death to the Stock Photo
Not your average stock site. Sign up for their newsletter and get monthly photo packs delivered straight to your inbox. It’s like a creative care package. The license is unique, so give it a quick scan. Who doesn’t like free inspiration in their inbox?
FoodiesFeed
Mouthwatering food photos for days. Perfect for food blogs, restaurant sites, or Instagram posts that need a little extra flavor. (Getting hungry yet?) I once spent 10 minutes scrolling here and walked away with dinner plans.
FreeImages
One of the OGs. Formerly stock.xchng, it has a massive archive of images and even some illustrations. Just double-check the licensing—some require attribution or have usage limits. It’s kind of like a thrift shop: dig deep, and you’ll find gems.
Freestocks
Small collection, big quality. Every image is under the super-permissive CC0 license. Plus, they’re active on Twitter with fresh updates. Great if you like following your photo source for new drops.
Gratisography
Weird and wonderful. Photographer Ryan McGuire fills this site with quirky, bold, and playful images. If your project needs a little personality, this is your stop. (Heads-up: license is custom, so give it a quick read.) Honestly, some of these are so strange you have to smile.
ISO Republic
Looking for sharp, versatile images? ISO Republic has a nice mix of free and premium options. Licensing is custom, so peek at the fine print before using commercially. I once found the perfect tech photo here—modern, clean, and somehow still warm.
Jay Mantri
Low-key and artsy. Jay’s collection is full of moody, travel-inspired shots. There’s no search—just scroll and let inspiration find you. Think of it like flipping through a photo journal rather than searching a database.
Kaboompics
A designer’s dream. Gorgeous lifestyle and interior shots, complete with color palettes and searchable by hue. Free for personal and commercial use. Ever matched your website colors to a photo? It’s weirdly satisfying.
Life of Pix
Created by a Montreal ad agency, this site serves up fresh, artistic photos every week. No search bar, so be ready to explore. Totally worth it. Treat it like a weekend flea market—you’ll never know what you’ll stumble across.
Magdeleine
One photo a day—often moody, minimal, and beautifully composed. Browse by color or category. Some images require credit, so check the license. If you’re the type to color-match everything, this one’s for you.
Morguefile
Old-school but still kicking. Morguefile offers raw, unedited shots—great if you want to crop, tweak, or use them as a base layer. Less polished, more behind-the-scenes. Think B-roll for photos.
Openverse
This open-source tool by WordPress lets you search a huge catalog of openly licensed and public domain content. It’s perfect when you need something a bit more niche or academic—and the built-in license filters make things super easy.
Pexels
An all-time favorite. Clean layout, gorgeous images, and a CC0 license that means no fees, no credit needed. Just grab and go. Honestly, if you only bookmark one, make it this.
Pixabay
Huge library. Over 600,000 free photos, plus illustrations and videos. Sure, not every image is a winner—but dig a little and you’ll usually strike gold. It’s like panning for visual gold.
PxHere
All images on PxHere are released under the CC0 license, which makes usage stress-free. The interface isn’t the flashiest, but the variety is solid—and there are some real gems if you keep scrolling.
StockSnap.io
Sleek, searchable, and filled with crisp high-res images under CC0. New photos are added often. Great for finding the perfect shot fast. I’ve used this one for everything from blog headers to client decks.
Stockvault
Packed with photos, textures, and graphics. Not everything is CC0, but licensing is clearly labeled. A solid option for creative projects with a twist. If you’re into grunge textures or artistic edits, start here.
Unsplash
The indie darling of stock sites. Every photo looks like it belongs in a movie. Moody, cinematic, and beautifully composed. No credit required, just stunning shots ready to use. I once built an entire homepage around a single Unsplash photo—it was that good.
Wikimedia Commons
A global archive of media files. Not the easiest site to navigate, but if you’re after historical images or rare finds, it delivers. Always check the usage rights—licenses vary. It’s kind of like Wikipedia for images—nerdy, vast, and weirdly useful.
Depositphotos (Free Section)
While Depositphotos is mostly a paid platform, it has a rotating library of free stock photos available with a free account. These are typically top-quality images—worth checking in on every so often.
Freepik
Freepik is packed with not just stock photos, but also icons, vectors, and templates. Attribution is usually required for free users, but the quality and range are fantastic. Think of it as your design toolkit, all in one place.
Canva (Free Photos)
If you use Canva, you already know it includes a ton of free photos right in the design platform. It’s a solid one-stop-shop if you’re creating social posts, presentations, or anything visual. The search and filter tools are intuitive, too.
Flickr (Creative Commons Search)
Flickr might not be top of mind for stock photos, but it’s home to millions of images—many of which are Creative Commons licensed. Use the advanced search to filter for usable content, and always double-check the license type.
What to Look for in a Free Stock Image License
So you’ve found the perfect photo—but before you hit download, pause for just a sec. Not every “free” image means “do whatever you want with it.” Some come with a few strings. Here’s what to check for:
Royalty-free? That means you don’t have to pay every time you use it. Handy, especially if you want to reuse the same image across a product page, your ads, and every social channel under the sun.
Commercial use allowed? Basically: are you using the image to help make money? If yes (and if you’re running a business, the answer’s probably yes), make sure the license covers commercial use.
Creative Commons? Great! But read the fine print. Some Creative Commons licenses let you edit and use images for business. Others say no to edits or require credit. A quick check can save you a legal headache later.
Attribution required? If so, give the creator a shout-out. Usually it’s just a quick credit line near the image or in your footer. Easy—and respectful.
Bottom line: if you’re not sure, double-check. Most sites are super clear about licensing, and it only takes a few seconds to be safe.
No Budget? No Problem.
You don’t need deep pockets to create something beautiful. These free stock photo sites give you access to eye-catching visuals that elevate everything from blog posts to brand decks.
There’s no blurry clip art, no licensing nightmares—just solid, scroll-stopping imagery. And let’s be real: half the fun is the hunt. One click leads to another, and suddenly you find the image that ties your whole project together.
So bookmark this list. Keep it close. And the next time someone says you can’t design something amazing for free? Just smile—and show them that a great eye and a free download can beat a big budget any day. I’ve done it. You can too.