Free Pictures for Your Ads

Stock image websites or services usually have photos, drawings, and pictures in a plethora of sizes and formats. The only common thing in this ocean of graphics is that the images are free to use. This means that you can download, transform, share, and use them however you like without stepping on anyone’s toes. Let’s take a peek at some of these services that provide users with access to millions of pictures (sometimes free of charge).

Free access image banks

Pixabay

Pixabay is a platform where authors share images, videos, and music for free. All files are distributed under the Pixabay license. This makes them okay for commercial use. There is no need to ask for permission or request the transfer of rights.

Advantages:

• A variety of search filters;
• Download without registration;
• You can link a social media account;
• Choose the resolution of an image prior to download;
• More than 1 million high-quality images and videos.

Pexels

Pexels is a stock website where you can download photos and videos for free without a license. You can uniqualize photos and videos from Pexels with the help of free image editors.

Advantages:

• Content creators have various challenges and contests which allows for faster growth of the database;
• User-friendly interface;
• You can download covers, static and animated backgrounds;
• Download without registration;
• The platform is localized into many languages.

Flickr

Flickr is a photo download service that has been on the market since 2004. This platform works with a variety of licenses, so not all content you can find on Flickr is free to use for commercial purposes. To download free license photos, set the appropriate filter in the search.

Advantages:

• You can follow creators and get notified about new images;
• It’s possible to order a print of any image on paper, metal, or canvas;
• There is a mobile app for iOS and Android;
• You can filter by tags;
• There is a page with trending content.

Burst

Burst is a free photo stock based on Shopify. All photos are available for commercial use without attribution.

Advantages:

• There is a support team that will help you find the image you need or to add to the website something they don’t have;
• There is an inspiration page for entrepreneurs;
• You can download photos, wallpapers, and textures;
• You can subscribe to follow themed images;
• All pictures are divided into themed sections.

Unsplash

Unsplash is a free image hosting service with more than 2.5 million photos in its database. Unsplash focuses on working with photographers, which really beneficial for affiliate marketers and media buyers: the platform has high-quality photos that do not require further editing.

Advantages:

• More than 20 categories of images;
• There is a similar image search feature;
• You can link your Twitter and Facebook accounts;
• High-resolution photos;
• There is a section with 3D images.

Freerange Stock

Freerange Stock is a free stock image platform that has been out there since 2007. Here you can find photos, textures, and images available for commercial use without attribution.

Advantages:

• In-house photographers who work for Freerange Stock;
• According to the owners, all licensed images are provided directly by the creators and copyright owners;
• There is an adjacent website dedicated to vintage images;
• More than 100 thousand high-resolution images;
• You can leave comments that can be seen by other users and the content owners.

Reshot

Reshot is a service with free icons, illustrations, and designs. Files are available for download in SVG or PNG formats.

Advantages:

• You can filter photos by orientation, and icons — by a single file or sets;
• More than 25,000 high-resolution photos;
• Many unique images on a white or transparent background will come in handy for landing pages and creatives;
• Various topics to browse through.

Paid subscription image banks

Shutterstock

Shutterstock is an image service that provides access to 370 million pictures, photos, videos, music, etc. You can download the first 10 images for free, then you need to purchase a subscription.

Advantages:

• Design tips and tricks on the Shutterstock blog;
• There are templates or pre-made layouts. Shutterstock templates can be edited: change text, replace some elements, change the markup, upload in JPG, PNG, PDF, or TIFF format.
• The platform supports PDF files with vector graphics;
• Users have access to Shutterstock Editor, a free image editing tool;
• Vector backgrounds, clip art, icons, and illustrations in scalable EPS format.

Tariff plans:

For one user:

• Image Subscription: from $29 per month
• FLEX 25 Subscription: $49 per month
• Individual packages: from $49 per month

For multiple users:

• For teams: from $39 per month (depending on the number of participants)
• Corporate subscription: determined individually

Adobe Stock

Adobe Stock is a stock image service from Adobe, Inc. You can download 10 pictures for free after registration.

Advantages:

• Stock videos in 4K and HD formats that are suitable for film projects;
• Templates compatible with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and other software;
• A section with free content available for download;
• “Premium images” section where you can download content in extra high quality;
• A database of universal fonts and a library of 3D content;
• You can also purchase a corporate subscription.

Tariff plans:

Individual users:

• 10 standard assets per month: $29 per month
• 40 standard assets per month: $40 per month
• 750 standard assets per month: $199 per month

Teams:

• 10 standard assets per month: $29.99 per month
• 40 standard assets per month: $79.99 per month
• 750 standard assets per month: $199.99 per month

Depositphotos

Depositphotos is an international photo bank where you can download photos, videos, illustrations, templates, sound effects, and audio tracks. Big companies, including Bosch, TripAdvisor, Subaru, etc. work with this platform.

Advantages:

• You will have access to a free online tool to delete backgrounds with no special skills;
• Image search to find high-quality royalty-free versions of your favorite photos;
• A free AI tool for enlarging images that improves their resolution and quality;
• Advanced search filters;
• Multilingual search;
• More than 227 million files are available on the platform.

Tariff plans:

Photos and vectors:

• 10 images: $9.99 per month
• 75 images: $69 per month
• 150 images: $99 per month
• 750 images: $199 per month

Video.

• 5 videos: $89 per month
• 10 videos: $149 per month
• 5 videos: $89 per month

Music and sound effects:

• Unlimited: $12.99 per month

123RF

123RF is a photo stock service where you can find more than 110 million content units: photos, vector graphics, audio, and video clips.

Advantages:

• Automatic enhancement options that allow you to edit photos to perfection before downloading;
• AI Cutout tool to remove background;
• 90,000 units of content daily from 300,000 creators;
• Corporate rates for teams;
• Filters and effects are available in the built-in editor.

Tariff plans:

Subscription plan (recommended for casual users who don’t work with graphics very often):

• 10 images: $30 per month
• 50 images: $89 per month
• 150 images: $129 per month
• 350 images: $169 per month

Package download (recommended for those who work with graphics a lot):

• 3 images: $27 per month
• 10 images: $45 per month
• 25 images: $89 per month
• 100 images: $299 per month
• Individual tariff plan

iStock

iStock is a photo stock website that provides access to photos, video clips in HD and 4K format, editable vector files, and much more.

Advantages:

• Video search, which allows you to find files with similar sequences;
• iStock Video Editor — Built-in video editor tool;
• Ready-made templates for video creatives;
• “Boards” for storing downloaded content;
• A blog with guides and tutorials that cover all iStock tools, as well as trending design solutions.

Tariff plans:

By the number of images:

• 6 images: $29.89
• 18 images: $89.49
• 60 images: $297.89

Monthly subscription:

• 10 images: $24.90 per month
• 25 images: $62.25 per month
• 25 images: $99 per month

POND5

POND5 is a service with downloadable images, videos, audio, sound effects, special effects, etc.

Advantages:

• The support team helps with all technical issues;
• The photo stock is available in 7 languages;
• Customizable PSD files;
• Animated After Effects templates;
• Regularly updated discount promo codes. You can find them on the website in the Media section.

Tariffs (determined individually):

• Video: from $25 
• Music: from $5 
• Special effects: from $5
• Photos: from $1
• Sounds: from $2
• 3D: from $5

Conclusion

Image banks are diverse and numerous, some you can access for free, others require a subscription. The main difference lies in the size of the database and the number of available advanced tools. If you just need some pictures to flick through — any of these services will be a decent choice. If you choose a paid tariff, pay attention to the terms of use and the number of images that are included.