Quick answer
- Popular free stock photo sites include Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay, which offer free licenses that allow commercial use.
- Always read each site’s license: some images can’t be used for certain purposes, such as implying endorsement or selling unaltered copies.
- Credit the photographer when you can, even if it isn’t required.
- Original photos and screenshots still beat stock photos for trust and SEO.
Good images make blog posts easier to read and share. Here are reliable places to find free stock photos, and the license basics to keep you safe.
Best free stock photo sites
| Site | Good for |
|---|---|
| Unsplash | High-quality, artistic photos |
| Pexels | Photos and free stock videos |
| Pixabay | Photos, illustrations and vectors |
| Wikimedia Commons | Historical and educational images (licenses vary) |
| Openverse | Search across openly licensed images |
Understand the license
- Check that commercial use is allowed.
- Check whether attribution is required (for Creative Commons images it often is).
- Don’t use images of people in a way that implies they endorse something.
- Avoid images with visible logos or trademarks in commercial contexts.
- Keep a note of where each image came from.
Tips for using stock photos
- Choose images that add meaning, not just decoration.
- Resize and compress before uploading.
- Write descriptive alt text.
- Use the same style across your blog.
Better than stock: original images
Screenshots, diagrams and your own photos show real experience and help your content stand out. A tool like Canva makes simple graphics easy. See our best blogging tools.
FAQs
Yes, under each site’s license, but read the terms.
Not always, but it’s appreciated. Creative Commons images often require it.
On sites like Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay, generally yes. Check each license.
Not freely. Most images found there are copyrighted.
No, but original images can help your content stand out.
Resize and compress them before uploading.
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