Pexels
Clean frames and a straightforward license—the stock library people reopen without overthinking. Free high-quality photos and videos for websites, social posts, and commercial design comps.
Site Overview
Pexels is a free stock library for creators, focused on copyright-free images and free video assets.
Images can be used commercially and attribution is optional, making them suitable for blog illustrations, design drafts, and social media right out of the box.
Core Features
1. A massive collection of free photos with a pleasant visual quality
The site mostly features real-shot high-resolution images and stock photos. Search by keyword and usable results show up quickly; free photos cover common scenarios such as lifestyle, business, and nature.
2. Video assets are also free—enough for short videos
Besides static images, there are plenty of video assets available for download. For editing short clips, making covers, or laying down backgrounds, you can put together a version without looking for a paid footage library.
3. Simple licensing: free for commercial use, attribution generally not required
You can use them for free and also modify them. Attribution is not a hard requirement, but crediting the photographer is more respectful. Commercial images basically cover everyday use cases.
4. A free API is available for embedding into products
Developers can use the Pexels API to connect the image library to their own apps or websites. The API itself is free and has default request limits; increasing the quota also goes through a free application but requires proper attribution. New key applications may currently be paused; refer to the official site for details.
Pricing Model
Downloading photos and videos is currently entirely free; no per-image payment or membership wall has been observed
Searching, previewing, and downloading free assets incur no charge.
If pricing is adjusted, the official site shall prevail: https://www.pexels.com/
Comparison with Similar Platforms
Unique advantages
- Low copyright barrier: the path for copyright-free and free commercial use is clear, reducing everyday worries about licensing wording.
- Images and videos in one place: you can find photos and free video assets on the same site, with less platform switching.
- Developer-friendly: a public API makes it suitable for embedding design assets into product workflows.
Practical highlights
- The interface is clean and search terms are accurate, making blog illustrations and social media images quick to find.
- The license page states plainly "what you can do / what you cannot do," understandable even for non-lawyers.
Objective shortcomings
- Cannot be resold as-is or redistributed as a stock site: unmodified images cannot be directly sold as poster products, nor can they be moved to another stock library for resale.
- There are still boundaries regarding people and trademarks: identifiable people cannot be disparaged or used to imply endorsement; brand elements in the frame cannot simply be used as your own trademark. The music library is less complete than some competitors.
Comparison with similar sites
| Site | Resource focus | Degree of free content | Standout features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pexels | Free photos + video assets | Entirely free | Commercial-friendly, no attribution required, free API |
| Unsplash | Mainly high-quality photography | Entirely free | More consistent aesthetics, strong brand feel |
FAQ
Q: Can Pexels images really be used commercially for free? A: Yes. The official license allows free image downloads for personal and commercial use. Do not sell unmodified original images as standalone products, and do not imply that people or brands in the image endorse you.
Q: Is attribution required? A: Under the license, it is not mandatory. Leaving a thank-you to the photographer or Pexels is friendlier and makes it easier for them to keep sharing their work.
Q: How do I choose between Pixabay, Unsplash, and Pexels? A: If you want photos plus videos and clear licensing explanations, Pexels is very convenient. If you care more about photographic aesthetics, look at Unsplash; if you also need illustrations, vectors, and sound effects, Pixabay has more varied categories.
Q: Do I need to register to download? A: Browsing and downloading are mostly lightweight. Features such as uploading work, managing favorites, and applying for an API usually require an account.
Q: Is the API paid? Can I still apply now? A: The API itself is free and has hourly and monthly request limits. The official site says quota increases are free but require displaying attribution. New key issuance is sometimes paused; refer to the current notice on the API page.
Q: Which uses are easy to get wrong? A: Printing and selling an unmodified original image, uploading the image to another stock site to sell, or turning the image into your own trademark—these are not allowed. When real people appear, avoid offense and false endorsement even more.