Are you looking to take your blog to the next level and make it more visually appealing to your audience? If so, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this blog post, we’re going to talk about the importance of high-quality images in blog posts and provide you with a list of the 40 best stock photo sites to find free images.
As you probably know, visual content is becoming increasingly important in the digital age. Studies have shown that people are more likely to engage with content that includes images or videos than with plain text alone.
Images can help to break up long blocks of text and make your content more readable and engaging. But not all images are created equal. You want to make sure that the images you use are of high quality and relevant to your content.
That’s where stock photo sites come in. These sites offer a wide variety of free images that you can use in your blog posts without having to worry about copyright issues.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list of the 41 best stock photo sites for bloggers and content creators.
Paid Stock Photo Sites
Maybe you are looking for specific or special images for your content. If you are not able to find the images you want and you are ready to spend a few bucks to get what you want, then consider using a paid stock photo site.
Here are the top 10 paid stock photo sites:
1. Shutterstock
With over 350 million images, Shutterstock is one of the largest stock photo sites on the web.
It offers a wide range of images, videos, and music tracks, with options for both individual and business users.
2. iStock
iStock is a popular choice for bloggers and small businesses, offering millions of images and graphics at affordable prices.
It also offers a variety of subscription plans and credit options to fit different budgets.
3. Getty Images
Getty Images is a well-known name in the stock photo industry, offering high-quality images and videos for editorial and commercial use.
It’s a good option for businesses and professionals who need exclusive or unique images.
4. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock offers a vast library of high-quality images, graphics, and videos, all seamlessly integrated with Adobe’s Creative Suite.
It’s a great option for designers or creative professionals who use Adobe software regularly.
5. Depositphotos
Depositphotos offers over 100 million high-quality images and videos, with affordable pricing and flexible subscription options.
It also offers a credit system for one-time purchases.
6. Bigstock
Bigstock offers over 100 million images and videos, with a focus on high-quality stock photos for businesses and professionals.
It offers flexible pricing options, with credits, subscriptions, and image packs available.
7. Dreamstime
Dreamstime offers over 155 million high-quality images, with a user-friendly search system and competitive pricing.
It also has a community of contributors who offer unique and exclusive images.
8. Stocksy
Stocksy is a cooperative owned by its contributors, offering a curated selection of high-quality, unique images and videos.
It’s a great option for businesses or individuals looking for exclusive, authentic visuals.
9. 123RF
123RF offers over 100 million images and videos, with flexible subscription plans and credits available.
It also has a community of contributors who offer unique and exclusive visuals.
10. Canva Pro
Canva Pro is a design platform that offers access to a library of over 75 million photos, graphics, and videos, as well as design tools and templates.
It’s a great option for small businesses or individuals who need to create a lot of visual content.
Pros and Cons of Using Paid Stock Photo Sites
Using a paid stock photo site can offer several advantages, including access to exclusive or unique images, a wider selection of images, and higher quality visuals.
However, it can also be more expensive, and some images may require additional licenses or permissions for certain uses.
It’s important to weigh the pros and cons and choose a site that fits your specific needs and budget.
Free Stock Photo Sites
If you’re looking for high-quality images but don’t have the budget for paid stock photo sites, there are several great free options available. Here are the top 10 free stock photo sites:
11. Pexels
Pexels offers a large library of high-quality, royalty-free images that you can use for personal and commercial purposes. It has a user-friendly search system and offers new photos every day.
12. Unsplash
Unsplash offers a curated selection of high-resolution, free images that you can use for personal and commercial purposes. It’s a popular choice among bloggers and social media marketers.
13. Burst (by Shopify)
Burst is a free stock photo site by Shopify, offering a wide selection of high-quality images that you can use for personal and commercial purposes. It’s a great option for e-commerce businesses or anyone looking for product or lifestyle photos.
14. PikWizard
PikWizard offers over 1 million free stock photos and videos, with new content added daily. It also offers a design tool for creating custom graphics and visual content.
15. Reshot
Reshot offers a unique collection of handpicked, high-quality images that you won’t find on other stock photo sites. All images are free to use for personal and commercial purposes.
16. Rawpixel
Rawpixel offers a wide selection of free images and illustrations, as well as premium content available for purchase. It also offers a design tool for creating custom graphics and visual content.
17. Freepik
Freepik offers over 1.8 million free resources, including images, vectors, icons, and PSD files. It also offers premium content available for purchase.
18. PicJumbo
PicJumbo offers a wide selection of free stock photos, with new photos added daily. It also offers a premium membership for access to exclusive content.
19. Kaboompics
Kaboompics offers a selection of free stock photos and flatlays, with a focus on lifestyle and interior design themes. It also offers a premium membership for access to additional content.
20. Splitshire
Splitshire offers a unique collection of free stock photos and videos, with a focus on landscape, nature, and architecture themes. It also offers a premium membership for access to additional content.
Pros and Cons of Using Free Stock Photo Sites
Using a free stock photo site can offer several advantages, including cost savings, a wide selection of images, and ease of use.
However, some free images may have limitations on their use or require attribution, and the quality of free images may not be as high as paid ones.
It’s important to carefully read the terms and conditions of each site and choose images that fit your specific needs and requirements.
Other Stock Photo Sites
Aside from the top 20 stock photo sites, there are also several other great options available. Here are the remaining 21 stock photo sites worth considering:
21. ISO Republic
ISO Republic offers a selection of high-quality, free stock photos and videos, with a focus on nature and urban themes.
22. StockSnap
StockSnap offers a large library of free, high-quality stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license, which means they can be used without attribution.
23. Foter
Foter offers a selection of over 335 million free stock photos, with a user-friendly search system and easy-to-use attribution tools.
24. New Old Stock
New Old Stock offers a selection of vintage photos from public archives that are free to use for personal and commercial purposes.
25. Superfamous
Superfamous offers a selection of high-resolution, free stock photos and videos that are released under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
26. Picography
Picography offers a selection of high-resolution, free stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license.
27. Life of Pix
Life of Pix offers a selection of high-quality, free stock photos, with new photos added weekly.
28. Skitterphoto
Skitterphoto offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos, with a focus on nature and landscape themes.
29. Morguefile
Morguefile offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos and videos that can be used for personal and commercial purposes.
30. Jay Mantri
Jay Mantri offers a selection of free, high-resolution stock photos, with a focus on nature and landscape themes.
31. Gratisography
Gratisography offers a selection of high-resolution, free stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license.
32. Little Visuals
Little Visuals offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that can be used for personal and commercial purposes.
33. Magdeleine
Magdeleine offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license.
34. Snapwire Snaps
Snapwire Snaps offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license.
35. LibreShot
LibreShot offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license.
36. Cupcake
Cupcake offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license.
37. FoodiesFeed
FoodiesFeed offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are focused on food and culinary themes.
38. Barn Images
Barn Images offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are focused on rural and country themes.
39. NegativeSpace
NegativeSpace offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are released under the Creative Commons CC0 license.
40. ShotStash
ShotStash offers a selection of free, high-quality stock photos that are focused on business and technology themes.
What Sets These Sites Apart
Each of these sites offers something unique, whether it’s a focus on a particular theme or a specific type of license.
Some sites offer vintage or retro photos, while others focus on food or rural themes.
It’s important to consider what type of images you need and what kind of license you require before choosing a site to use.
Conclusion
With these 41 fantastic free photo websites, you’re sure to find the perfect image to enhance your content or elevate your social media marketing game.
And in case you don’t, don’t worry, as there are many other high-quality free photo sites out there to explore.